a simple travel guide for Caramoan, Camarines Sur

Caramoan is considered as the top destination in Camarines Sur. It one of the municipalities in the 3rd district of Camarines Sur province and is situated at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula. It is located in Region 5, also known as the Bicol Region.


I'll share with you a simple travel guide on how to go to this beautiful place in the province of Camarines Sur.

Sabitang Laya Island

Sabitang Laya Island

How to get to Caramoan:

By bus:

From Manila, there are many bus companies that service the Manila to Naga route or Manila to Sabang route. You can go to Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City to find these buses or you can also check the bus terminals in Pasay City near the Pasay rotonda. The bus fare range from 500 to 1000 for air conditioned buses and 400 to 600 for ordinary buses. The travel time from Manila to Naga City is 8 to 10 hours.From Naga City, you can ride a bus bound for San Jose town, or you can also ride a van bound directly to Barangay Sabang, San Jose. The travel time from Naga City to San Jose town is 1.5 to 2 hours. And then from San Jose town, near the town church, you ride a jeepney bound for Sabang Port. It's a 15 to 30 minutes jeepney ride. And then from Sabang port, you will ride a boat bound for Guijalo port, Caramoan. The travel time for boat is about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. It's a small boat with a capacity of 25 to 50 person only. The boat departs every hour starting from 6am to 11am.

After arriving in Guijalo port, you'll need to ride a habal habal or a tricycle bound for Caramoan town or directly to Barangay Paniman, this is where most of the resorts are located and it's also near the Gota Village. Travel time from Guijalo port to Caramoan town center is around 15 to 30 minutes.

Another alternative route is via Nato port. From Naga City, you can ride a bus bound to Tigaon town. Travel time is around 1 to 1.5 hours. And then from Tigaon poblacion, look for tricycle or jeepneys bound for Nato Port or Sagnay. Nato Port is located in the municipality of Sagnay. The travel time from Tigaon to Sagnay is 15 to 20 minutes. There is a ferry plying the route Nato Port to Guijalo Port. Travel time is 2 hours. Be informed that the ferry only has 1 scheduled trip, that is 6:30am only. The ferry trip is on a daily basis. The ferry has the same size with the ferrys plying the Lucena to Marinduque route, and a little bit smaller than the ferry plying the Batangas to Calapan route.

By Plane:

As of today, there are now three airlines servicing the Manila to Naga route. These are Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways and Air Philippines. However, you can also choose to fly from Manila to Legazpi as these route is being serviced by 4 airline company. Philippine Airline, Zest Airways, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. From Legazpi airport, you proceed to Legazpi Transport Terminal and ride a bus or a van bound for Naga City, but you should tell the driver to drop you off at the crossing in Barangay Anayan, Pili town. This is the highway going to Nato Port, Partido Area. Travel time from Legazpi City to Anayan is 1.5 to 2 hours. And then from Anayan, you ride a bus bound to Lagonoy but be sure to get off at Tigaon town proper. Travel time from Anayan to Tigaon is 1 hour. You can also wait for a jeepney in Anayan bound directly to Nato Port.

By Train:

PNR has a daily trip from Manila to Naga City. You can check their Tutuban station or Pasay road station.   They only have 1 trip per day. The train departs in Manila at around 6:30pm and the travel time from Manila to Naga City is 10 to 12 hours. Fare range from 550 to 1000 pesos. And then from PNR Naga Station, ride a tricycle bound to CBD bus terminal or van terminal. It's just a short ride, 10 minutes ride. And then from the transport terminal you can ride a van or bus bound to San Jose or Sabang Port or Nato Port.

Caramoan, at a glance:

Lahus Island

Lahus Island

Lahus Island

sandbar

Hunongan Cove

Hunongan Cove

Barangay Paniman

View from Our Lady of Peace statue, Barangay Tabgon

The Boring Moment

Okay, okay, okay... so I'm here at the library doing nothing and nope you're wrong if you're thinking that I'm studying here at the library. I'm here because of the free wifi, it's a public library here in Iriga City and if you don't know where Iriga City is, then let me give you some info. Iriga City is located in Camarines Sur, Region 5 or Bicol Region. This is where Nora Aunor was born but Iriguenos doesn't hate Vilma Santos, hehehe! And by the way, here in Iriga City Library, they even have a Nora Aunor Section. I haven't check that section yet, but I guess I'll be checking that in the near future. Di ko kasi alam kung ano babasahin ko dun. hehe!

Well, for now, I'm just contented using the library free wifi access. I guess ito ang paraan para makabawi ako sa malaking income tax na binabayaran ko. hehehe! Anyway, I don't have a picture of the library, I'm too lazy to take pictures but the library is kind of a cozy place (for sleeping) ah, just kidding. The place is rather small, with only several tables and chairs, I think 20 to 30 people could fit in this library. I salute the lady City Mayor for reviving the Iriga City Public Library. Cheers for you, Mayora. Good job. And another thing, even the City Plaza has a free wifi access. No need to ask for security key/code just to access the free wifi, o di ba, astig noh? Another round of applause for you dearest City Mayor. Cheers!!

You can check these links for some iriga city library pictures. Thanks.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=521763&page=409
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=79221986

Checking Tanay and Morong

It's been almost a month since the last time I ventured out to explore cities or towns, and too bad for me, kung kelan madaming long weekend saka naman ako walang gala. So it's a 4 day holiday in the Philippines because of All Saints Day and I didn't travel back to my home province because it's one heck of a stressful time to travel during the yearly exodus of people from Manila travelling back to their home town. Just think of fully booked buses, planes, ships, etc. Oh, and not to mention the delays, long line of people in plane, bus and ships ticketing booth.

So since I had decided not to travel back to my home province, I was therefore stuck in our house. Spell BOREDOM! So after staying in our house for almost 2 days doing not-so-exciting things, I then said to myself that I can't take this anymore...drama..heheh! I then texted my travel buddy if she has a travel plan for the remaining 2 days of the 4 day holiday and just my luck, she was also wanting to go out of her house because she don't have any travel plan. Okay, so game na kami... lalakwatsa na kami.. I searched for the nearest place to visit where we can have some ADVENTURE and not spend too much. I searched for places of interest in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bataan, Bulacan and Rizal. (now talking about researching..kapagod)

After web browsing/researching the whole Sunday, I then texted my travel buddy that I had found a place to visit...it's the town of Tanay and Morong in the province of Rizal.

Monday morning, adventure time! I woke up at around 6 in the morning..(okay, this is unusual for me since I usually wake up at around 11am..talking about early bird.hehe!) Anyway, going back to my story, it's adventure time! Me and my travel buddy traveled to Tanay, Rizal and we're bound to Daranak and Batlag Falls. After the 2hours jeepney ride from Cubao, Quezon City to Tanay, Rizal, we arrived at Tanay central terminal and then ride a tricycle bound for Daranak, it's roughly a 15 to 20 minute tricycle ride. And then we have to walk for another 15 minutes to reach Daranak Falls.

Daranak Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Daranak Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

After taking photos of the beautiful Daranak Falls, we then decided to check out the other waterfalls nearby, it's Batlag Falls, it's another 15 to 20 minute hike from Daranak Falls. There is a 20 pesos entrance fee in Daranak and another 50 pesos if you want to go to Batlag Falls.

Batlag Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Batlag Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Batlag Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Batlag Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Batlag Falls, Barangay Plaza Aldea, Tanay

Now, after taking some pictures of the beautiful Batlag Falls, we took a dip on its cool water and then after 2 hours or so of swimming we then decided to go back to Daranak Falls, and as usual, lumangoy din kami sa Daranak Falls, sayang naman ng tubig di ba?.. hehe!

After swimming, it's time for us to head back to Tanay poblacion, and since it was only 2pm we then proceed to another town in Rizal, we boarded a jeep bound for Morong. We are planning to go to another waterfalls in Morong pero medjo kukulangin na kami ng oras kaya we then decided to visit instead the old church in Morong, it is the St. Jerome Church. Its facade is a beauty to behold. After visiting the church and taking some pictures, we then call it a day. At dyan nagtatapos ang maikling day trip namin ng aking travel buddy. 

St. Jerome Church in Morong, Rizal

St. Jerome Church in Morong, Rizal

St. Jerome Church in Morong, Rizal

St. Jerome Church in Morong, Rizal

PNR's Bicol Express

I was supposed to travel from Manila to Naga City by train, but since I don't have any information about the PNR's train schedule, I then decided to take the bus bound to Naga City. Two days after my arrival in Naga City, I decided to check personally the PNR Naga City office for the train schedule.

Naga City PNR Station

Good thing for me, upon arrival at Naga City train station, the train bound to Manila was at the station. The security guard allowed me to take photos of the train, and check out the different coaches of the Bicol Express train.

The Bicol Express

The Bicol Express train

The PNR calls the Manila to Naga and Naga to Manila train as Bicol Express train. The train plying this route has 3 coaches. One coach for reclining seats, and 2 coaches as the sleeper coach. The sleeper coach has a small room which can accomodate 4 person. The fare for reclining seat is 543 pesos and for the sleeper coach, it's 950 pesos.

Reclining seat coach

The Sleeper Coach

The Sleeper Coach

The Sleeper Coach

Both the reclining seat coach and sleeper coach are air-conditioned coach. The train also has several lavatories within each coach. Checking their lavatories, it is still clean and well-maintained and I hope the PNR management can maintain their train clean and well-maintained.

The Bicol Express train departs daily from their Manila Tutuban station at around 6:30pm and the estimated time of arrival in Naga City is 4:30am.  Also from Naga City station, a train also departs daily to Manila Tutuban at around 6:30pm and the estimated time of arrival in Tutuban is around 4:30am also. The Bicol Express train also have 1 to 5 minute stopover at these following PNR station. España, Pasay road, Alabang, Calamba, Biñan, San Pablo, Lucena, Gumaca, Tagkawayan, Ragay, Sipocot and Libmanan station.

Train schedule

Train schedule and fare

The PNR personnel also informed me that by the end of October, they might extend the route from Manila to Legazpi City, but as of now they are still rehabilitating the railroad track section from Ligao to Legazpi City. Aside from the Bicol Express train, there is also a train plying the route Sipocot, Camarines Sur to Ligao City, Albay, and vice versa.

Here are the contact information for PNR. Naga City station - (054) 319-0044
Tutuban Station - (02) 487-8778

Marinduque Travel Info's

Here are the info's related to my Marinduque province adventure...

From Manila, there is a direct bus trip going to Marinduque. JAC Liner Bus has a daily trip from Kamias, Quezon City Bus Terminal and from their Buendia, Manila Bus Terminal. The bus departs daily at around 5:30pm, but you need to make a reservation or you need to be at their terminal before 5:30pm. The bus will travel from Manila to Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City and then it will board a ferry from Lucena port to Marinduque.

JAC Liner Inc contact info. 0917-5225463 or www.jacliner.com

There are also several buses bound to Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City. You can go to Kamias Bus Terminal or Buendia Bus Terminal and just ask for buses bound directly to Talao Talao Port.

You can also ride a bus bound to Lucena City and from Lucena Grand Central Bus Terminal, ride a jeepney to Talao Talao Port or Dalahican Port.

From Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City, there are several shipping companies that operates the Lucena to Marinduque route.

Here are the list of shipping companies with their corresponding fare schedule and ferry/fastcraft schedule:

Starhorse Shipping Line

Schedule of Trips

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Balanacan Port, Mogpog, Marinduque 

Daily RORO trips. 10:30am, 2:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm

Fare: Regular - 260 pesos

          Senior Citizen - 208 pesos

          Student - 221 pesos

          Aircon - 310 pesos

          Half fare - 130 pesos. 3-6 years old

Montenegro Shipping Line

Schedule of Trips

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Balanacan Port, Mogpog, Marinduque 

Daily RORO trips. 4am and 12pm

Daily Fastcraft trip. 10am only

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Cawit, Marinduque

Daily RORO trips. 12am and 4pm

Fare:

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Balanacan Port, Mogpog, Marinduque

RORO Aircon: Regular - 260 pesos

                        Student - 221 pesos

                        Senior Citizen - 208 pesos

                        Half fare - 130 pesos. 3-7 years old

Fastcraft Aircon: Regular - 300 pesos

                          Student - 255 pesos

                          Senior Citizen - 240 pesos

                          Half fare - 150 pesos. 3-7 years old

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Cawit, Marinduque

RORO  Regular - 340 pesos

             Student - 289 pesos

             Senior Citizen - 272 pesos

             Half fare - 170 pesos. 3-7 years old

Sta. Cruz Shipping Line

Schedule of Trips

Fare:

Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City to Balanacan Port, Mogpog, Marinduque 

RORO                             Ordinary             Aircon

           Regular                290 pesos        310 pesos

           Student                247 pesos        264 pesos

           Senior                 232 pesos         248 pesos

           Half fare -           145 pesos         155 pesos

         3-6 years old

Fastcraft: Regular - 290 pesos

               Student - 247 pesos

               Senior - 232 pesos

               Half fare - 145 pesos. 3-6 years old

Sta. Cruz Shipping Line. For reservation. Lucena City - 09303513297 or 09482418050

                                                               Sta. Cruz, Marinduque - 09183420087

Boac Shipping Line

Schedule of Trip

Buyabod Port, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque to Talao Talao Port, Dalahican, Lucena City

RORO daily trip. 9am only

Fare: 300 pesos aircon

All fare schedule and trip schedule information is as of June 2011.

Dasol, Pangasinan

Dasol, Another not-so-known Philippine destination.

Mention Dasol to a tourist and most probably they would ask what and where Dasol is. The town of Dasol is a sleepy town in the province of Pangasinan. There are several destinations in Dasol. Tambobong beach and Culebra Island, just to mention a few. This destination in Pangasinan is not your usual destination because going to this destination is an adventure itself. You’ll have to endure long hours of travel by land and then an hour boat ride going to Culebra Island from Tambobong beach.

From Manila, you’ll have to travel north of Manila to the town of Alaminos, Pangasinan. There are several bus companies plying the route of Manila to Alaminos. Travel time is 5 to 6 hours. And then from Alaminos, Pangasinan province, ride another bus which is bound to Sta. Cruz, Zambales. The travel time is about an hour. Tell the bus driver that you are going to the town of Burgos. From Burgos town, ride or rent a tricycle going to Tambobong beach. It’s about an hour ride from Burgos market to Tambobong beach, Dasol. 

Tambobong Beach

Tambobong beach after the sunset

At Tambobong beach, there are only few resorts available. And at Culebra Island, there’s no available resort or any cottages, so you’ll have to bring your own tent if you’re planning to spend a night on the island. It is advisable to go there early in the morning or late in the afternoon in order to avoid the scorching heat of the sun, because there are only few trees that could offer shades to island visitors. At Tambobong beach, you can just rent a boat going to Culebra Island. All you need is your haggling skills. So that’s it! Enjoy the not-so-known beach of Dasol, Pangasinan!

Culebra Island

Culebra Island

Another view of Culebra Island

Culebra Island beach

Marinduque

Marinduque - The Heart of the Philippines

A few months ago, I was planning on a getaway since it was summer months then, and I was stuck at home just reading ramdom stuff online. And then an idea popped out of my mind and I say to myself, how about a weekend adventure to Marinduque.

Summer month of May. One lazy Friday evening. It was 11pm when I got to the JAM Bus Terminal in Kamias, Quezon City, and lucky I was, the bus bound to Dalahican port in Lucena City was about to leave. So I boarded the bus and slept. 2 hours later, I was already in Dalahican port.

Dalahican Port, Lucena City

Onboard Montenegro Ferry

I took some pictures of the port and then bought a ticket from Montenegro shipping lines, since it was the shipping company with the earliest trip. I bought a ticket for a ferry bound to Balanacan port in Mogpog town, Marinduque. By the way, there are 3 major ports in Marinduque. The  Buyabod port in Sta. Cruz town, the Balanacan port in Mogpog town and Cawit port in Boac.

My plan was to travel around the island province of Marinduque, and that is why I choose Balanacan port in Mogpog as my starting point, because I want to travel counterclockwise from the town of Mogpog and ending my travel in the town of Sta.Cruz.

I was supposed to be travelling with some friends but due to some conflicts of schedule and some misunderstanding on the estimated time of departure, I ended up travelling alone. Oh well, it doesn’t really matter because this would be my second solo trip.

Anyway, it was around 7am when the boat arrived in Balanacan port. Finally, a view of Marinduque! And since I just slept in the ferry for the entire 3hour journey, I have the energy to greet and discover the beautiful island province of Marinduque.

Upon arrival at the port, I check for jeepneys bound to Boac. This is my first stop. Boac town is where Moriones festival is being held every Holy Week. The jeepney ride from Balanacan port in Mogpog to Boac  is almost an hour.

Balanacan Port, Mogpog

Mogpog Viewdeck, Balanacan Port

At around 8am, I was already in Boac and taking some photos of the sleepy town. My first stop was the Boac Cathedral. I was supposed to go to some caves in Boac but the locals informed me that it’s kind of far. So after taking some photos of Boac Cathedral and having my breakfast on a small restaurant, I boarded another jeepney bound to the town of Buenavista. This town is known for hot springs and waterfalls, but I decided to just visit the two hotspring near the town center. 


The jeepney ride from Boac to Buenavista is almost an hour. In order for me to get to the hotsprings, I rented a motorcycle for about 100 pesos. The Marinduque hotspring resort is already a developed resort with several pools, hot, warm and cold pools. There are also several rooms and cottages in the resort. I didn’t stay long at the resort so I proceeded to another not-so-developed hotspring nearby. I just checked the pools but I forgot to take pictures of the two pictures. Too bad!

Boac Cathedral

Anyway, after checking on the 2 hotspring, I then proceeded to the next town named Torrijos.  It’s about 1.5hour travel by motorcycle. I was supposed to just ride a jeepney but the locals near the 2 hotspring that I visited informed me that jeepneys bound to Torrijos is scarce during weekends. So I then asked the motorcycle driver if he’s willing to drive and drop me off to Poctoy white beach. We agreed on the price and then off we go to Poctoy white beach.

It was 1pm when we arrived in Poctoy beach. I was really expecting a white sand beach like in Camiguin or Palawan, but the sand in Poctoy was light brown in color. And since it was already noon time when I arrived in Poctoy, I didn’t bother to swim at the beach. Instead, I just indulge myself with cold halo halo, adobong isda and 2cups of rice while enjoying the view of the beach.

Poctoy Beach

After finishing my lunch, I then proceeded to the highway to wait for a jeepney bound to Sta. Cruz town. There are a lot of caves and islands in Sta. Cruz so this is  where I’m planning to stay a bit longer.

After almost an hour waiting, a jeepney bound to Sta. Cruz finally appears. The travel time from Poctoy beach in Torrijos to Sta. Cruz is about an hour also.

At around 3pm, I arrived at the town of Sta. Cruz. I immediately look for motorcycle, tricycle or jeepney that is bound to the caves. However, the locals there informed me that since it’s a weekend, the last trip was 1pm, and if I would be renting a motorcycle it would cost me more than 500 pesos. That was then I decided that I just go to Maniwaya island to spend the night.

I then boarded a tricycle going to Buyabod port in Sta. Cruz and upon arrival, another unlucky notice, they informed me that the last trip going to island already left past noon time. I guess this is unlucky day for me. I was about to return to the town center when I suddenly saw this boat with several passengers boarding. I asked if they are going to Maniwaya island and they said, yes. I immediately boarded the boat and I was kind of wondering why they’re kind of starring at me out of curiosity and only after several minutes of chitchatting I found out that the boat was a rented boat and the passengers rented it because they’re a clan who have just attended a wedding in the nearby barangay.

Lucky for me, they allowed me to join them and they are even sharing to me the foods and drinks that they have in theboat, a typical Filipino hospitality. And another speck of luck, it’s a free ride to Maniwaya island and they even offer their houses for me to stay for the night. But I don’t want them to be bothered by my stay so I just informed them that I’ll be staying in the nearby resort. By the way, the travel time from Buyabod port, Sta. Cruz to Maniwaya island is about 30 to 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at the island, I gave thanks to the family who let me hitch a boat ride and then I proceeded to the nearby resort. After leaving my backpack at one of the cottages, I took some beach photos and sunset and then by around 7pm, I already slept because there’s nothing much to do in the island.

Maniwaya Island, Sta, Cruz

Sunset at Maniwaya Island

Next day, Sunday. The resort owner informed me the night before that the boat trip to Buyabod port is 6am. So I wake up early in the morning. I ate my breakfast, took some photos again and then proceeded to the boat which would bring me back to Buyabod port in Sta. Cruz.

My plan was to proceed to Sta. Cruz caves in the morning but upon arrival at Buyabod port, the locals informed me that the last trip of the ferry bound to mainland Luzon is 9am and if I won’t be able to make it, then I have to go to Balanacan port in Mogpog town which is about an hour and a half jeepney ride. So I then decided not to go to the caves and proceeded to the ticket booth and bought a ticket for a ferry boat bound to Dalahican port in Lucena City.

After 3 hours of ferry ride, I arrived in Lucena City just an hour after lunchtime. And at the port, there are already buses waiting which are bound to Manila. Bus ride from Lucena to Manila was almost 3 hours also since it was daytime plus heavy traffic.

And that ends my Marinduque solo trip adventure. It was fun and challenging due to the fact that transportation is a little bit difficult especially during weekends. JAM transit have buses bound directly to Marinduque. You can inquire at JAM bus for the bus schedule of direct trip from Manila to Marinduque.

Overall, Marinduque is a beautiful province. A not-so-typical vacation spot. But if you’re looking for a nice view and beautiful beach, surely, Marinduque offers the tourist a raw beauty.