Offshore from Cebu, Ponson Island is part of the Camotes Archipelago. It is a rustic getaway for visitors in the Philippines, offering secluded beach houses and nature-based activities.
Ponson Island is the farthest east of the Camotes Islands, closest to the neighboring island of Leyet. The only town on Ponson is Pilar, best known for its nostalgic ancestral house. Constructed of wood, this house dates to the colonial era.
Accommodation on Ponson is basic and low-key, consisting mostly of rental houses, beach bungalows and a few proper hotels. The best places dominate spacious tracts of white-sand beach and offer limited facilities.
Most visitors don’t stay on Ponson Island, but visit as part of a chartered island-hopping tour revealing historical sites, mangrove forests, caves and secluded beaches along the way. The bulk of the Camotes attractions are on the Poro and Pacijan islands, which are more accessible and connected by a paved road.
Getting There & Away
Getting to the Camotes requires boarding a boat from either Cebu or Leyte, and travel time can take as little as 45 minutes or as long as 4 hours depending on the speed of the vessel. The easiest way to get in and out is through Cebu, home to the second-largest international airport in the Philippines.