Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Wanna a get away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Wanna bar receiving messages and fast from your Smartphone for a day?

Beach junkie or not, Calaguas Island is very worth your every while. From the turquoise water, to thunderous waves, to fine white sands and picture perfect panorama, this is just a treat. 

And I mean treat because the side trip happened just days before our birthdays. So Donna (travel buddy) and I agreed to have our leaves after our business by hook or by crook. Ehem. And swear they weren’t planned sick leaves but vacation leaves. Hoho!

Man delivering freshly cut and cleaned nipa leaves.

The Journey

Calaguas  Island is more or less a 2–hour ride from Daet depending on the waves.  Boats are available for P2000 per tour but we had it for P150 each as ‘chance passengers’. A local referred us to a friend who had a group tour.

The beginning of the journey was already an eye festival. Starting from lush green nipa leaves that stand as aisle of the emerald green waters leading you to the real deal as the pristine blue waters welcome you a couple of minutes after. Be prepared of getting drenched when the waves feel like bitching. No one escapes.

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte.

What to Prepare

Budget wise, Calaguas Island is one of the destinations that is supple in experience at less expense. The overnight stay costed me less than P1500 (See expenses below). For travelers who imprinted B (Budget) on their foreheads, you might spend lesser. If you have a tent and some food from home, you will surely save some bucks. Moreover, there is no problem if you have none as there is accommodation around.  There are cottages or you can rent a tent for P300 and dine with basic traveling foods at less than a hundred.

Our lunch for example were newly cooked rice and boiled eggs. We had opened a can of tuna and voila, happy tummy is in the air. Worry not if you got no cooking gears and utensils with you. The sari-sari stores around offering the goods are much willing to cook it for you and even serve it to your tent with plate, spoon, and fork.

Home by the Beach. Calaguas, Island, Camarines Norte

The Experience

The boat ride to the island was long and exhilarating.  My tummy was turning upside down every time huge waves rock the boat wiping the sunblock all over my body and leaving my eyes soaked in seawater. Like aww!

 I thought it was just my imagination over-exaggerating the waves but it dawned unto me it was real when the boatmen had difficulty in putting the ladder for disembarkation as we docked. In the end, they opted for us to jump from the boat because every of wave surge took the ladder away. It was there that I practiced timing and precision. As a waves pass, you have to hurry getting down and get on the shore before a new one will rip you off.

Donna and I had no itinerary for this trip. Our main goal was just reaching the island and will take it from there. Soon as we stepped foot on the island, we realized we had nowhere to go.  A group tour organizer was willing to adopt us for P3000 each including a place to stay and meals overnight but we think it was a bit pricey. She even scared us that we won’t be able to find a place to stay and food was scarce in the area leaving us to almost say yes… Just almost though.

There is no phone signal in the area so we had no friends to ask for help on what to do. Not to mention we were wet and hungry. We then headed to the nearest sari-sari store for possible meals and tent. We were so lucky to have been referred to Kuya Aron who set-up the tent for us at the most strategic location. His wife Ate Ruth, cooked our meal of boiled eggs and rice that we bought from their sari-sari store. 

Sea Salut! Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Now we have food and a home. Yeehey! Now time to explore the island. Had I mentioned it was very clean? And there is no need for human massage? Just stay near the water and let the waves do it for you.

There are a lot of things you can do in this virgin island. You can go sunbathing, snorkeling, hiking, or island hopping. Kuya Aron had referred us to a guide friend, Kuya King, who was having a group tour as well. He was willing to take us to the island and back to Daet (because getting back to the mainland had been our dilemma).

Generator is the only source of energy in the area hence light is scarce but is not a problem. If you are lucky like us, you could see the serene beauty of Calaguas as the moonlight bathes the island. The waves sing you to sleep and the sweet chirps of birds will wake up you the next day.

The Expenses (This is good for 2 pax already)

Tuna, Bread, Chips                      -P200

Boat Fare to Calaguas Island        -P300

Tent                                          -P300

Lunch                                        -P  65

Dinner                                       -P200            (We had dinner with Kuya Aron’s family)

Island Tour &

Boat Fare to Daet                       -P800

Total Expense:                          -P1,865

Bus Fare from Manila to Daet                   -P550

Jeep Fare from Daet to Vinzons               -P  15

(Photo credits to Donna Marie Legaspi)

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Experiencing Samal Summer Quickie

You can ride a boat directly to the resort of your option to easily get there.
Fare is only Php15 gainst RoRo's Php10.

Better late than never. The adage is effin’ shibboleth but the last week of May is indeed not too late to catch-up dating the splendid sea, sun, and sand! Besides, what are you gonna do to spare yourself from boredom while waiting for your flight?

My business trip to Tagum, Davao del Norte allowed me more or less 19 hours to visit and savour the pristine and crystal clear waters of Samal Island.

Right after our training my workmate, college friend, and I had a working snack at around 2 pm. It took us more than an hour to decide if we were to stay at Villa Amparo, Bluejaz, Bluewaters, Paradise Island, or Isla Reta. We were looking for a decent place without harassing our pockets. Our first choice was Isla Reta but given the time and budget we opted for Paradise Island.

Transportation

Tagum to Panacan Port – approx. 1.5 hours-  Bus fare Php90

Panacan to Samal Island –approx. 10 mins- RoRo fare Php10

Samal Port –Paradise Island – 3-5 min – Motorcycle fare Php30

Panacan Port I guess is just 10-15minutes away from the Airport.

Standard room accommodation.

Honestly, I preferred sleeping somewhere under the nipa hut with just a foam on together with fellow travelistas (fun way of meeting people) but we have our gadgets and   bathroom concerns to consider. What we got was the only standard room in the vicinity. In fact it is not even mentioned to be available. Deluxe and premiers range from Php3, 500- Php3, 900 with air conditioner and television of which I think were not essentials in our case.

Accommodation

Standard Room – overnight stay is Php2, 500 (good for two but you could get additional)

Food – dishes ranges from Php150-Php 300

We finally settled at around 5 pm. We agreed to visit the Bat Cave and Hagimit Falls but the three of us were quite drained from the morning activities so we slept for about 30 minutes instead. Our starving tummies dragged us to the restau hall and before we knew it we have devoured curry, ramyeon and gulped smoothies.

There were live acoustic band and fire dancing which I thought to be cool enough. We wished we still had energies to invade the nearby infinity pool (Bluejaz is just a few steps away). I and my friend tripped to the bar for a drink or two while my workmate chose to succumb in slumber.

Morning came and everyone seemed to be oblivious of the white sand outside because the bed wasjust too tempting to let go. If there are schools conducive for learning, this place must be conducive for sleeping. Nevertheless, I got up to catch the sunrise (crossed fingers because it was already 7 am) while both were at the dream land.

After a sumptuous breakfast (their buko juice fresh from the shell is heavenly thirst quenching), the clock began to tick. Oops! We barely had an hour and a half left to wander lust. Kayaking erased. Snorkeling too and all in the list! Time to dive and let our skin taste the salt water.

Lost in water.

I am a bit picky when it comes to beaches. The last time I had a plunged was four years ago. I hate the waves banging my body. More to the sea grasses and shrewd corals that hurt my feet. Thanks to the universe that the beach at that time had less of it. The water was as calm as the pool nestled in ivory ash. It was absolutely a spur of the moment idea. We came just for business and yet despite the limited time we still manage to escape. Never underestimate where boredom leads you!