Penghu: Excursão de um dia às Quatro Ilhas do Sul, Ilha Qimei e Gruta Azul

We were very lucky that our itinerary was upgraded that day, adding a survey activity on Dongji Island, which made the trip even more complete. There are two ways to explore Dongji Island: follow the guide on foot, climb the small "Bagua Mountain," and listen to the guide's humorous introduction to the unique flora and fauna, as well as the local customs and traditions of Dongji Island. It was very rewarding. From the Bagua Mountain weather station, you can overlook the entire harbor, and the scenery is beautiful. A small path next to it extends to the Dongji Island Lighthouse (unfortunately, due to limited tour time, we could only view it from afar and take photos). Finally, we followed the guide down the mountain back to the port. The second way is to rent a scooter (250 yuan per scooter) and explore the island on your own. This is the most free, time-saving, and labor-saving option, allowing you to fully explore all the attractions on Dongji Island. After the Dongji Island survey, the second itinerary was a cruise to the "Blue Cave." Unfortunately, the "blue sky index" was low that day, so we couldn't fully appreciate the beauty of the Blue Cave. The final itinerary was Qimei Island, and there were also two ways to explore it. One was to take a dedicated tour bus, with the driver providing a guided tour of Qimei's classic attractions – the Tomb of the Seven Beauties (a quick stop, no ticket purchase required). Along the way, we admired the strange igneous rock formations along the Qimei coast that resemble animals – crocodiles, stone lions, and dragon pan (three parts resemblance, seven parts imagination), as well as the "Little Taiwan" sea erosion platform that resembles the island of Taiwan. Finally, we arrived at the Twin-Hearts Stone Weir, which, with a bit of blue sky and clear sea, was also beautiful.

The Jinba Express boat was quite stable, and I didn't experience any seasickness. The 80-minute stop at Dongjiyu felt a bit rushed; we spent some time waiting for the restroom after disembarking. I recommend using the onboard restroom. We also paid an additional 250 NTD to rent a scooter to tour the island. The Blue Cave was beautiful, and the captain allowed us to go to the upper deck to enjoy the scenery and take photos, though not for very long. My favorite was Qimei. We chose to take a tour bus, which had the advantage of onboard commentary and air conditioning. However, the downside was that the tour bus only stopped at major attractions, so we returned to the pier quite early and had to kill time at 7-Eleven. This was the only minor disappointment. If you don't mind the heat, I recommend renting a scooter in Qimei for greater flexibility and to see every attraction on the island.

You will receive a text message about boarding and meeting time the day before. Remember to arrive 40 minutes early, as more people check in later. If you check in first, you can enjoy breakfast at your leisure without rushing. When boarding, remember to put the sticker in a visible place and you can also take a photo of it to avoid losing it. The first scenic spot takes about 40 minutes to reach, so remember to board quickly to get a good seat (by the window), as seats are not assigned. After each disembarkation, pay attention to the boarding time; boarding early will secure you a good seat. Initially, we didn't know this and always boarded on time, only to find everyone already seated. We ended up having to sit at the front of the boat (a lower deck with no windows, which made us worried about seasickness when it rocked). So, preparing in advance is a good idea! The rest of the trip was great. On Qimei Island, we chose to take a tour bus. We enjoyed the air conditioning and rested while listening to the guide's commentary. I found it very comfortable, and it was worth the small extra cost.🤣

The cost does not include transportation on Dongji Island. You can choose to rent a scooter, a golf cart (very limited in number, prioritized for the elderly, weak, women, and children), or walk. It is recommended to rent a vehicle to see the whole island. The tour leader, Ludan, is a very cute and enthusiastic person, providing detailed explanations along the way. After two days of heavy rain, the sea was clear and blue, perfect for taking photos. During the Blue Cave cruise, due to the deeper draft of the boat, we could only view the Blue Cave from a distance. We arrived around 10:15 AM, so we missed the time when the midday sun directly illuminated the Blue Cave, which was a bit of a shame. For Qimei transportation, you can choose between a tour bus or renting a scooter. The tour bus only stops at attractions with parking lots, allowing tourists to get off, take photos, and view them. Other attractions are viewed from the bus, with the humorous driver providing explanations. We happened to encounter a low tide at the Twin-Hearts Stone Weir, allowing us to see the complete stone weir.

Because we had to catch the 5 PM boat back to Taiwan, we chose Hai'an Yacht. We arrived at Magong Port around 3:30 PM, which timed perfectly. The Southern Four Islands are truly beautiful, and our speedboat got quite close to the Blue Cave. When we reached the Blue Cave, visitors were allowed to go up to the top deck to take photos! They really catered to tourists' photography needs. However, I bought tickets for two people for this trip, and one person felt unwell at the last minute and couldn't participate, and there was no refund available. I should have been able to enjoy services for two people! But when we got to Qimei Island, the tour bus was completely full, and someone even had to sit next to me. I paid for two people, so I should have had the enjoyment of two people! The operator is really good at calculating costs! They are clearly taking advantage of consumers!

It was quite a surprise. Two working days before departure, the staff informed us that the original tour didn't have enough participants, so they upgraded us to a more expensive tour that included a visit to Dongji Island 😆. Although I hadn't researched Dongji Island at all, thanks to the tour guide on Jinbada No. 10, "Dazhi," he led us on a walking tour to explore this special marine national park in 30-degree heat (there was also an option to rent a car or an electric scooter). After leaving Dongji Island, he also took us to view the Blue Cave from a distance. Before arriving at Qimei, as it was close to mealtime, he recommended several air-conditioned restaurants for us to escape the heat, and of course, he also introduced many other delicious eateries. Overall, the day's itinerary was 5-star satisfactory (but the air conditioning in the front cabin was a bit weak; those sensitive to heat are advised to sit in the cabin area with windows). Also, our guide Dazhi was really great and easy to talk to. The entire boat, except when stopped at the Blue Cave, swayed with the waves, and there was a bit more swaying due to larger waves before arriving at Qimei, but otherwise, it was super stable. On the return trip, it was so stable and gently rocking that I fell asleep 😂😂😂.

After boarding, I realized I couldn't rent a scooter without a motorcycle license. I immediately asked customer service if I could upgrade to a tour bus. The customer service representative quickly responded that they would check with the vendor. When the boat was almost at Qimei, I received confirmation that I could upgrade to a tour bus. After disembarking, I rushed to ask the relevant staff. They advised those who wanted to switch to the tour bus to go directly to the bus and ask the tour guide, to avoid the bus leaving and being unable to rent a scooter. I am very grateful for the quick response from customer service, which allowed us to enjoy our trip to Qimei. It's still advisable to take motion sickness medication when taking the boat to avoid seasickness. I also recommend boarding early and choosing a seat in the upper deck, further back, to minimize dizziness! The air conditioning on the boat was very comfortable. Along the way, it stopped at Tongpan Islet and the Blue Cave for everyone to take photos, but the boat didn't get too close to the Blue Cave, only viewing it from a distance. In Qimei, the first stop was for everyone to use the restroom. The entire tour bus itinerary, from boarding to disembarking, was about 2 hours, with each stop lasting 15-20 minutes. However, it was a bit of a shame that this tour bus itinerary didn't include Little Taiwan. The tour guide only informed us on the way back that large vehicles couldn't go there due to recent road construction near Little Taiwan. Not being told this at the beginning of the tour felt a bit surprising. Those planning to go soon should be aware of this.

The meeting time was 20 minutes before departure, scheduled for 7:40, but we actually departed at 8:00... because we were waiting for a group of tourists. There was a guide on the boat who walked with us, for example, we agreed on a time to follow her for the tour, and the service was quite good. However, on the return cruise, there was no introduction to the small islands we passed by!? We stayed on Dongji Island for 1.5 hours and Qimei for 3 hours (including self-arranged lunch), which was plenty of time! It was great~ The whole island-hopping day trip wasn't expensive either, highly recommended! 👍

This time, we chose to take the Hai-An yacht to Qimei Island. Along the way, we saw Tongpan Island and many other islands, and on the return trip, we saw the Blue Cave. On the island, we opted for a tour bus to stop at designated spots to view the scenery. There were restrooms at all the scenic spots along the way, as well as various local delicacies available for purchase, which was very convenient. The tour bus also had a guide who provided explanations, helping us understand a lot about the topography, landforms, and cultural customs. Although the island tour was shortened due to safety concerns caused by the periphery of a typhoon, it still felt like a very fulfilling experience!

This was a fantastic island-hopping experience in Penghu. I recommend that anyone prone to motion sickness take medication beforehand. First, we disembarked at Dongji Island, where our guide led us on a tour, providing humorous and engaging commentary along the way. Next, we viewed the caves from the boat before landing on Qimei Island. We opted for the tour bus, and less than a minute after boarding, it stopped in front of Shuntian Seafood Restaurant, where we were directed inside for lunch. This felt a bit odd. After lunch, we reboarded the bus for a round-the-island tour, enjoying many beautiful sights. The driver also provided diligent commentary. Overall, it was a wonderful itinerary.