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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Calaguas Island - Beach Bum's Paradise

CALAGUAS ISLAND - Vinzons, Camarines Norte Bicol. I'm sooooo.. inlove!
























What I love in Calaguas Island is its shimmering grains of powder-white sand and its awesome turquoise waters. No doubt, these make me want to go back again!

It was January 2010 when a friend of mine invites me for a Vacay in their hometown in Bicol. He just visits the place once in a while so he asked my opinion for a good beach bumming place. There are a lot of beautiful resorts and beaches that showed up on google, but the indescribable beauty of Calaguas Island caught my attention. February 2010, we are four in the group who embarked on our Calaguas Island trip.

We left Manila at 3pm and it took us a 9-hour van ride to reach Guinacutan.  Guinacutan is one of the barangay in municipality of Vinzons, province of Camarines Norte. We decided to sleep over here at my friend's Aunt's house and head out to the island the next morning.
























We woke up at 6'oclock, had a quick coffee and went straight to the beach.  At first, my friend's relatives, warned us not to go to Calaguas, they're worried about us since we're not familiar with the place and that something not good may happen to us.  Beside, the two hours boat ride quite unsafe for us, they thought, since all of us four are not good swimmers, plus we don't know anyone in the island.  They also said that most of the locals in the island are "mambabarang"(necromancer), "manlalason" (poisoners) and even they didn't dare to go at once. These things somehow frightened us but our conviction to see the island is much stronger that we really want to continue on our journey. And as one's quoted,
"If you don't do it, you'll never know what would have happened if you had done it"'.
It was a long explanation before we finally got the relatives’ approval ^^.  So, Vámonos! It took us 30 minutes for a trike ride from Guinacutan to Vinzons where we’re going to rent a boat going to the island. Thanks to our buddy who speaks & understands "bisaya" he was lucky to bargained the bigger fishing boat for only P2,500.00 for a 2-way ride.
 It was a smooth ride, the waters were calm even when we reached the mid-part of the ocean, the waves are also not that high. Imagine us sailing, I dunno how to swim, and we're not wearing life jackets at all.  Ayt! Were almost in the middle of ocean yet we haven't seen a land, and its almost more than an hour past! It was really, scary! More bigger waves greeted us 40 minutes before we arrived  on the mainland. Finally after the 2 hours boat ride, we’ve had the view of the mainland, thank God! We are so excited that we want to jump out of the boat. ^^ The island has  given us instant relief and peace after that scary boat ride.


Here are some of my snapshots from my old Exilim 7.2 Megapixel point & shoot cam,  not bad! :p (click to enlarge)

How to Go:

We went there via private van, but lemme share you how to get to Calaguas Island from Manila by public transport.

I saw this instructions from journeyingjames and I regret I didn't see this one before. I will surely follow this once  I get back to Calaguas.

From Manila:
> Manila - Get off at Talobatib or Labo
> From Talobatib or Labo, take the bus going to Paracale (Php 35, 1 hour ride)
> From Paracale look for the fish port and ask around the boat trip going to Brgy. Mangcawayan (Calaguas).
> Take the passenger boat to Calaguas (Php100, 2-3 hours).
You will get off at Bgry. Mangcawayan (barrio), you can then walk towards Mahabang Buhangin.

From Naga:
> Take the van going to Daet (Php 188, 2 1/2 hours)
> From Daet take the tricycle to vans/bus going to Paracale (Php 50, 1 hour)
> From Paracale look for the fish port and ask around the boat trip going to Brgy. Mangcawayan (Calaguas).
> Take the passenger boat to Calaguas (Php100, 2-3 hours).
You will get off at Bgry. Mangcawayan (barrio), you can then walk towards Mahabang Buhangin.

Schedule of passenger boat:

> Paracale - Brgy. Mangcawayan: Between 1:00-2:00pm.
> Brgy. Mangcawayan – Paracale: 7:00am or earlier.

Fees:

Paracale – Bgry. Mangcawayan- Php 100
Beach Entrance- Php 100/head (per day)
Cottage- Php300
Baranggay fee: Php 20

30 comments:

  1. we're planning to go to Calaguas too.. will keep this detailed post for future reference..

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  2. that's a very beeautiful place! not to mention not crowded.. if ever I will visit Bicol, I think this will be on my list :)

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    Replies
    1. Yep, we're actually four in the island during that time. ^^

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  3. Looks good. There are really lots of places here in the Philip[pines that we can go to. Its more fun, REALLY, in the Philippines. ;-)

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  4. Awwww I miss going to the beach. This is so beautiful yet underrated (because everyone thinks Boracay, Boracay, Boracay). Buti nalang, para konti lang yung tao at mas malinis. :)

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  5. Love the photos! :D Wish I can visit this beautiful place some time soon. Thanks for the really helpful info.

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    1. thanks for dropping by sumi! my pleasures : )

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  6. wow Bicol! went there twice nung time na di pa uso ang digital camera.. hehe, but only 1 beach lang napuntahan ko yung may black sand somewhere near the volcano i cant even remember the name. this beach is so nice! hope to see this place in the near future! thanks for sharing! ;)

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    1. go Violy, Calaguas its really worth of visit : )

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  7. this is the place i actually been planning to visit. Hopefully magmaterialize lahat ng plans. Hirap din kasi gumawa ng itinerary. I will definitely use this iti

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    Replies
    1. sure! luv this quote,all our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them - walt disney.. ^^

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  8. Lakbayin ang Bicol! Super ganda talaga ang Calaguas! Pwede pa kayo pumunta ng CWC sa Pili at mag adventure sa Caramoan!

    http://travel-on-a-shoe-string.blogspot.com/2012/01/ba-nois-fresh-flavors-of-vietnam.html

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  9. the place reminds me of la union! clear waters, nice sands and big waves too.

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    1. never been to la union :| do you have some link on you're la union escapades? thanks!

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  10. such beauty, clear pristine blue waters and sea breeze simply relaxing

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  11. Reminds me of Bantayan Island.

    How nice that we have a lot of nice beaches in the Philippines, and even more yet to be discovered ..

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    Replies
    1. hi Ruth! do you have a link for your bantayan escapade? thanks!

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  12. looks pretty much secluded, peaceful and affordable :)

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  13. another must see in the south! love the beach!

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  14. What a hidden treasure! I want to go there.

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    Replies
    1. go! why not.. Calaguas Island is pretty accessible from Naga anyway.. *winks

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  15. Wow, that looks like an awesome Summer Vacation Destination! Hmm will consider this during summer break. Thanks for the heads up!

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  16. aaww, this is the calaguas we once knew. sabay pala tayo pumunta jan, feb2010 din!

    sadly, iba na ang calaguas ngayon. swerte natin we've seen it at its finest. ♥

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    Replies
    1. Hello Ms. Chyng! :) I'm such a fan of your blog! so inspiring! thank YOU for taking the time to comment :)

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  17. Hi! Eto yung kinikwento mong trip, mukhang ang sarap pa sa time na ito ahhhh parang kayo lang ang tao. Hindi pa ako nakapunta dito eh, siguto one of these days pag hindi na busu sa work.

    Nagulat lang ako sa comment ni Chyng last July na iba na ang Calaguas.... ano na kaya nangyari? nakabalik ka na dun?

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    1. oo.. Super! as in kame lang ang tao that time dun sa island..
      scary kase the fact na kame lang talaga pro it's a liberating experience that's hard to explain, really!

      Sad to say, hindi pa ko nakakabalik. And true, dami ko nga nababasa about sa Calaguas ngayun. Ibang iba na sya. Alam ko nabili na rin yung ibang part nung island to develop. Kaya ganun siguro.. Gone are the secluded feel of the island :/

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  18. What happen to Calaguas Island...?

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