Firefly Watching: A Unique Experience

When I first heard about the firefly watching tour, I had mixed expectations. I wasn't sure I wanted to see a bunch of fireflies in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. The mere thought of paddling through a dark river was intimidating enough. I was sure there were other (better) ways of spending my 1,300. Then my thoughts wandered to magical movies (The Little Mermaid being on top of the list), and that fireflies song. Indeed, I wanted to find out if what would happen if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to go for it.

The drop off point is a sight to behold in itself. 

There are at least two Puerto Princesa Firefly watching tours available: the one in Iwahig and the one in Baywalk (jump off point). I initially went to the one in Iwahig. It is not easily accessible because of the distance from the city proper. The best way to get there is to hire a private van. The tours usually start at around 6pm, and runs up until the wee hours of the night (depending on the number of guests in queue).  You will also need to make prior reservations, otherwise you may have not choice but to wait until everyone else is done with their tours. This is the more intimate of the two tours, as each boat can only carry up to three guests. This is perfect for lovers who want a romantic escapade (just ignore the two guides), or for groups that are divisible by three. Villa Saturnina can arrange for this tour for groups of 6 persons or more. The package will also include a buffet dinner at one of the local establishments.

Discover how this tight space transforms into a comfortable dining area!

The second Firefly Watching Tour has a drop off point at Baywalk. In my opinion, this is the more organized tour. It also accommodates a bigger number of tourists on it's two daily runs. There are two big boats that leave at exactly 6PM. They cruise the bay for approximately 20 minutes right up to the entrance of the mangrove area. At this point, the big group is divided into two. One group will transfer to a smaller boat for the tour, while the remaining half will be served a sumptuous seafood dinner onboard. After about an hour, the groups will swap. Villa Saturnina can make reservations for this tour for individuals, small groups or large groups.

Relax at the BayWalk while waiting for your ride.

A word to the wise. If you are expecting ten million fireflies to hover around your boat while a mysterious voice crab sings "Kiss the Girl," then you are in for a huge disappointment. Expect, instead, to see mangroves that are illuminated by what seems like glowing christmas light after certain "triggers" are pushed. Learn more about these triggers as well as other interesting tidbits at the tour itself. Most of the fireflies stay on their trees, save the occasional renegade that ventures into the boat. Yes, I was lucky enough to catch one (with the help of the guide). Obviously, I had to let it go.