Lakawon

Infobox Island
name = Lakawon


location = South East Asia
coordinates =
archipelago = Visayas
area = 13 hectares
country = Philippines
country admin divisions title =Barangay
country admin divisions = Cadiz Viejo
population =
population as of = 2000
density =
ethnic groups = Visayan

Lakawon, also called Llacaon, is a 13-hectare, banana-shaped island off the coast of Cadiz City in the northern portion of Negros Occidental, a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. A white sand beach resort on the island, a family-run business, is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists.

Etymology

The term "Lakawon" is derived from a Cebuano word "lakaw", meaning "to walk". The island may have gotten its name due to the fact that during low tide, one has to literally walk or wade a long distance to or from the main island.

Features

Lakawon is 48 kilometers north of Bacolod City, the provincial capital. The island is accessible from the coast of Barangay Cadiz Viejo via a 20-minute boat ride. Lakawon's white sand beach is claimed to rival that of Boracay, a popular island resort off the coast of Aklan in Panay. In stark contrast to its more famous counterpart, however, Lakawon has a smaller influx of tourists, and the island is not commercially developed.

The island is more akin to a sandbar. The white sand beaches are largely on the part of the island facing the island of Negros. The opposite portion, facing the open sea, is more rugged. There is a small fishing village on one side of the island. The inhabitants there earn their living from harvesting the sea's bounty and from working in the private resort.

As a destination

Getting to Cadiz Viejo, which is the nearest embarkation point to the island, may be done via private or public transportation. From Bacolod City, or any point of Negros, are numerous jeepneys available for hire, driver included. One may also take Ceres Liner buses from any of the cities and municipalities in the province. From the national highway in Cadiz Viejo, a dirt road leads to the shore. The island is visible from here and parking space is available. The ride to the island by motorized banca takes about 20 minutes. It is best to arrive in the morning during high tide–the waters will be calmer and there will be less wading required to get to the boat.

External links

* [http://www.cadizcity.gov.ph/Toursm2.html Cadiz City, Places to Visit]
* [http://www.travelsmart.net/article/100733/ Boracay Meets Lakawon]