Quinamanokan Island: There’s no chicken here!

The town of Vinzons in the province of Camarines Norte is famously known for the white sand beach of Calaguas. However, there is a small island located just 15 minutes boat ride from the mainland. It is called the Quinamanokan Island, an undeveloped island with a beige-colored to golden brown sand beach.

Quinamanokan Island

A few months ago, me and my friends was looking for a nearest island to spend our weekend and since we never been to Quinamanokan and it is the nearest from the mainland, we then decided to visit the island. Nagsimula kaming magbyahe from Naga City. We rode a public utility van bound for Daet and then from Daet we rented a tricycle to Barangay Sula. We paid 150 for the tricycle. From the barangay, we rented a boat to Quinamanokan. We agreed for a price of 1,500 pesos for 4 people. The boat travel took us almost an hour because there were huge waves that were hitting our small boat. Usually if the sea is calm, it will only take about 15 minutes to travel from the barangay shore to the island, and it will also cost less dahil hindi na iikot ng medjo malayo ang bangka para umiwas sa mga malalakas na alon.

The Sandbar, the beach facing the mainland Luzon

We arrived at the island around 3pm and we immediately prepared our dinner since there is no electricity in the island. Wala din pala source of fresh water sa isla at buti na lang umulan nung gabi kaya nakapagbanlaw kami ng fresh water. There are also lots of coconuts kaya may pwede din mainom na tubig.

We brought with us 2 tents but we didn’t use our tents because we prefer to sleep at the only hut in the island. The hut also serves as an overnight shelter for fishermen and for the Bantay Kalikasan. By the way, Quinamanokan island is also a marine sanctuary kaya laging may Bantay Kalikasan people na nakabantay dun 24 hours. When we had our overnight stay at the island, madami din kami kasabay na mangingisda na nakisilong sa kubo kaya madami kaming nagsiksikan sa kubo kasi maulan din nung gabi. But what really made our stay in the island exciting were the firelies that dances all night. It was a night of fun kasi naligo kami sa ulan kahit madilim at nanuod din ng mga lumilipad na mga firefly.

the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean

the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean

The rain did stop late at night and naging cloudless din ang sky kaya nakita din namin yung mga bituin at buwan at nakakita din kami ng mga shooting stars. We spend the rest of the evening laughing, wishing upon the stars at nagbilang ng mga shooting stars. It was also a great night because it was also a post birthday celebration for me and a pre-birthday celebration for one of friend.

We woke up early morning to prepare for our departure back to Daet. Around 8am kasi aalis yung night shift na mga Bantay Kalikasan kaya sasabay na kami sa bangka nila pabalik ng Vinzons and then from Vinzons, sasakay na kami papuntang Daet. Now, the reason kung bakit sa Bantay Kalikasan na kami sasabay instead of riding our own rented boat ay dahil yung bangka na nirent namin ay naputulan ng boat propeller habang bumabyahe kami papuntang Quinamanokan kaya after nila kami maihatid sa isla, umalis na din sila pabalik ng mainland para maipaayos ang bangka and they’d just referred us na lang sa mga Bantay Kalikasan para sa bangkang sasakyan namin pabalik ng Vinzons. Hindi naman kami magbabayad ng extra kaya okay lang naman para sa amin.

Before we left the island, I and one my friend decided to walk around the island. Inikot namin ang buong isla and I think it took us about an hour para maikot ang island. The best part of the beach is the one that faces the mainland, kasi yung sa side na nakaharap sa Pacific ay medjo mabato na at maalon pero may mga beach pa naman at same pa din ang kulay ng sand which is beige to golden brown. I tried to check the sanctuary pero masyadong maalon kaya medjo malabo din ang tubig at di ko makita ang ilalim and you will actually need to swim for a 100 meters from the shore para makita ang coral reefs. So after namin magikot at lumangoy ng konti, we then left the island and travelled to Vinzons, and this time we took a different route which is longer because we have to travel via the river in Vinzons. Pagdating namin ng Vinzons, sumakay na kami ng jeep to Daet and then from Daet we then boarded a van bound for Naga City. Ayan lang naman ang kwento ko tungkol sa Quinamanokan, boring noh?hahaha! pinagtyagaan mo naman..hahaha!