BLOG-a-GAB: Calaguas, Camarines Norte

May 25-27, 2013

My friends at work asked me if I want to go with them on a Calaguas trip, although I had other plans for the long weekend I was very much eager to join the group. I like spur of the moment travel plans and they told me that the goal of the group was to keep the travel expenses to at least PHP2000.00? Hmmm… quite a challenge, right?

Other bloggers travel experience to this place helped us a lot and I want to thank every bloggers contribution on how to get to this place. I have heard of this spot first from Cherry Bacolod, My previous trainer in Chase and this is where I had the urge to feel the powdery sand that Cherry was trying to draw image to us based from her experience.

Now where exactly is Calaguas Island again?

According to Wikipedia Calaguas is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Camarines Norte. From Manila to Camarines Norte, just the thought of the distance between the two is already a challenge and with the budget in mind, our group was already thrilled to know what kind of experience we‘re going to face during this trip.

The groups meeting point was at Superlines Bus terminal in Cubao. We were there 7:00 PM hoping to catch the earliest bus.

We had to take into consideration the travel time, because it’s going to be an 8-10hrs land travel. And to our dismay the air-conditioned bus heading to Daet leaving at 8:30PM was already full so with the next bus scheduled to leave at 9:30PM and we were left with no choice but to take the non-air-conditioned ordinary bus heading to Paracale and mind you we were seated at the far end rear seat of the bus where you will get to experience the bumpy 10hrs bus ride, quite an ordeal but we had no choice (ginusto namin to)

the not so convenient, bumpy yet fun bus ride to Paracale
(photo courtesy of Kat Manlongat)

We arrive at Paracale Cam. Norte 7:00 AM, took our breakfast at one of the 24hrs restaurant along the highway while we were waiting for our boatman to pick us up. From the highway we took another tricycle ride heading to Paracale port which is just close to 3-5mins travel.

Paracale port is a not so enticing to look at port by the way because of the garbage and small mining activities happening within the area where you will see shanties along the shoreline where mining activities are done, and that’s another story to tell so enough of that.

Paracale port
(photo courtesy of:http://mambulaoansworldwidebuzz.blogspot.com/2012/11/latest-three-miners-die-as-pit.html)

We we’re picked up by Sam Melvin (as he introduced himself to us, sounds like Sam Milby isn't it? maybe he feels he looks like the actor so let's let him be), our boatman who was a very accommodating bangkero. Paracale port to Calaguas island is a 2hrs boat ride and was made at least safe and comfortable to us by Sam Melvin.

boatman Sam Melvin

travel mates Caren and Kat

the calm water during the boat ride with other campers heading to the island

From that sleepless bus ride travel, unpredictable bus ride temperature because you no longer know what to feel, it felt humid whenever the bus stops due to traffic and feels very cold on freeway, and the dust? I can sum it all up to describing the experience as “haggard”. But it was worth the ordeal we've gone through when we arrived at the beach and saw this...

Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Island

The powdery white sand was really for real and an unexploited island. There we’re other campers setting their tent along the cottages where you can rent from the locals maintaining the beach.

There's a store where you can buy food and cook “paluto” but a bit pricey for the corkage fee so it’s a must for you to bring enough water, rice, canned goods and other food and things you may need during your stay in the island. You can buy food, meat and veggies at Paracale market before heading to the island as well.

Calaguas sunset

Calaguas is a remote and secluded but comforting place for a person who loves nature. The beach has an artesian well to rinse off and toilets enough for campers use, has a generator to light up the beach at night but only up until 11:00PM and Cellphone signal is not stable. If it’s more like of a “Survivor” vacation you’re up to, then Calaguas trip is for you.

the smiling face of the sunset

A perfect night, full moon by the beach we even planned to sleep by the shoreline that night but good thing we decided not to because it rained.

That 3:00 AM while we were asleep, we were woken up by a guy who was shouting venting his frustrations to “Pia” his love interest. The scene was like us hearing the drama over a transistor radio.

“Kai: You just don’t know how much I wanted to let my friends know you, we have been planning this since January, You don’t consider other people’s feelings, you’re so selfish Pia”

Kai was the guy shouting his heart out to Pia his love interest

We really thought it was a radio drama to our surprise it was a drunken guy who was fighting with her GF near our cottage, some of us were no longer able to get back to sleep because of him and we were so eager to see how he looks like that morning and maybe tell him bluntly he woke us up that early. Too bad I could’ve been a” Kaiparazzi “that time but I was not able to take a picture of him.

We left Calaguas 12:00PM the following day head back to Paracale to reserve seats for the bus heading back to Manila,too bad the next air-conditioned bus was already full, instead we took a ride to Daet, Camarines Norte to catch the next AC bus heading back to Manila and good thing we were able to reserve out seats leaving at 9:30PM that. We decided to explore Daet to spend the vacant hours we have.

Food trip

1^st stop:

Terrace Grill- Daet, Camarines Norte