HOW TO GET THERE:
By Land:
Cubao (Ali Mall terminal) to Naga City bus terminal 750-1,000 pesos
(est. 8+ hours)
Naga City bus terminal to Philcab van terminal via trike
Naga City to Sabang Port via van 100 pesos
(est. 1.5-2 hours)
Sabang Port to Guijalo Port in Caramoan 120 pesos
(est. 1.5-2 hours)
Note: The boat schedule in and out of Caramoan is only from 7AM to 11AM. There are no boat transfer schedule in the afternoon, so it's better to be very conscious of your time.
By Air:
It is a 45-minute flight from Manila Domestic Airport to Naga City. From the airport, you can take a bus or a jeep to drop you off at Philcab van terminal. Travel time is 15 minutes.
Naga City to Sabang Port via van 100 pesos
(est. 1.5-2 hours)
Sabang Port to Guijalo Port in Caramoan 200 pesos
(est. 1.5-2 hours)
After our almost one-hour plane ride, two-hour van ride from Naga to Sabang Port, and three-hour boat ride from Sabang Port to Guijalo Port, we were so glad and relieved to have finally arrived in the Caramoan Peninsula. Interestingly though, the boat does not have a docking area in Sabang Port so all the passengers were carried by the locals. Yes, from the shoreline towards the boat, and vice-versa.
Hotel transport picked us up at Guijalo Port, as arranged. We then went to our accommodation, Rex Tourist Inn. We were welcomed with a king's feast (sugpo, chicken adobo, and the fruitiest sinigang I ever tasted).
We had ourselves a room with two single beds, private bathrrom, TV, and AC. In the second floor of the building is a mini-conference hall/dining area. Alagang-alaga kami as all our needs were attended so well by the hotel staff. We were then assigned a personal tourist guide who would be our companion for our entire Caramoan tour.
Since we arrived more than an hour late than our arranged schedule with the inn, and it was already quite late for island hopping, we just decided to purchase souvenir items around the community. After getting some souvenir shirts and a few other items, and realizing that almost every establishment there closes at 7PM, we returned to the inn for another sumptuous dinner. We slept early because of the early island hopping schedule the next day.
THE ISLANDS OF CARAMOAN
As arranged, a motorcycle was already waiting for us early in the morning. Our packed breakfast and lunch has already been prepared by the hotel staff, and carried by our tour guide. We have a banca already waiting for us.
Hopping from one island to another is heavenly. Each island has its own character to love. The view is breathtaking. The whole place is serene.
First stop: Matukad Island
As the only visitors of the island when we went there, it meant FREEDOM!
Heading to our second destination, we passed by Gota Village Resort. According to our tour guide, four franchises of Survivor were currently being taped there (France, Israel, and I forgot the other two). Also, it takes around 4 to 6 months for a series to tape the 30-or-so Survivor days. And before the challenges are presented to the contestants, the first people to test those challenges are actually the locals, so as to assess whether these challenges are doable or too risky.
Note: I was informed by a blogger-friend that Gota Village Resort and Hunongan Cave is fully booked from February 2012 to August 2012. Several islands will also be inaccessible due to a special project on the same dates. The islands that won't be accessible for the mean time are: Sabitang Laya, Tayak, Pitogo, Catanhawan, Inayun-Ayunan, Matukad, and Lahos.
Gota Village Resort is managed by the Camarines Sur provincial government. Entrance fee is 300 pesos for tourists, and 150 pesos for Caramoan residents.
Second stop: Cagbalinad Island
The sand in Cagbalinad Island, as I have observed, is much finer and whiter than that in Matukad Island. There is a good spot where you can take a panoramic view of Gota Island across it.
Third stop: Manlawi Sandbar in Lahuy Island
Not having prior research about the different islands in Caramoan somehow proved to be a good thing for newbie travelers like us since we were surprised as to how fantastic Manlawi Sandbar is.
It is a long stretch of sand bar with powdery white sand, almost similar to that of Boracay's, or even better. A few nipa huts were set up for tourists to stay for lunch. This is definitely one of the highlights of our trip as we reached this island, all I could think of is the word paradise. Manlawi is paradise!
Fourth stop: Sabitang Laya Island
We were lucky enough to enter this island even though the set-up of some Survivor challenges were still there. As we went back home, we also passed by other islands with Survivor challenge set-ups, but were unavailable for tourists.
Here is the list of entries of our 3-Day Caramoan Islands Tour:
