Travel Guide: Calaguas Islands (Updated)
On the northernmost part of Bicolandia is an unknown paradise that can rival the white sand beach of Boracay and the serenity of Pagudpud, still virgin and unspoiled- the beautiful and enchanting islands of Calaguas.
Calaguas is a group of islands in the Pacific under the jurisdiction of the town of Vinzons, Province of Camarines Norte, a merely two hour boat ride from the mainland. It boasts of powdery white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and unspoiled natural resources, a place where you can truly relax while enjoying the beauty and serenity of the place.
The long stretch of beach named Halabang Baybay/Mahabang Buhangin (Long Beach) by the locals, is a cove located in the Tinaga Island, it is a picture perfect paradise with its long stretch of fine white sand, dotted with volcanic rocks on its both ends, the place is the most frequented camping and swimming site by tourists.
Discover Calaguas Group of Islands, swim on its turquoise water, sit on its white sand, enjoy its magnificent view of sunset, explore its beauty… you’ll definitely find a reason to be happy.
How to Get There:
While there are travel/tour organizers offering Calaguas tour, a DIY trip is possible and the cheapest way to get to the island. The experience of doing it on your own for the entire journey adds thrill and excitement to what is already an exciting adventure.
Via Vinzons
Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte is the jumpoff point to Calaguas Islands if you are going there via Vinzons. From there catch a jeeney to Vinzons and get off at the fishport (pandawan). There’s a boat going to Barangay Banocboc daily, it departs the fishport at 11 AM, from Banocboc you can hire a banca to take you to Calaguas Islands for as low as P500.00 or even lower depending on your haggling skill. The return trip to Vinzons fishport leaves Banocboc at 6AM the next day.
Alternatively, you can hire a banca from Vinzons fishport to Calaguas Islands, price depends on the capacity of the boat. For a small boat that can fit four to five people, the lowest rate is at P2500-P3000.00. It is a two hour boat ride from the port.
Going to Daet from Manila, you have two options:
By Land
Philtranco, Amihan (Contact No: 3871792) and Superlines buses offers Cubao/Pasay to Daet for an approximately 7-8 hours travel time. Fare cost differs, but ranging from P450.00(~$10) to P750.00(~$17)
By Air
Naga in Camarines Sur is closest airport with regular commercial flights via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air. From Naga, Daet is around two hours drive. There are vans to Daet located in Naga Van Terminal, the earliest departs at 5AM and the last trip is around 7PM.
Via Paracale
Paracale, a Camarines Norte town popular for its gold, is fast becoming an entry point to Calaguas Islands. From Daet, the town can be reached in less than two hours by public vans, fare is around P100.00. But if you are coming from Manila, Superlines has direct trip to Paracale/Panganiban. Get off at Paracale and make your way to the fish port. Alternatively, you can ride a bus to Daet, get off at Barangay Talobatib in the town of Labo and ride another bus for less than an hour to get to Paracale town and walk to the fish port.
At the fish port, you can ask around for fishermen’s boats to Halabang Baybay (Mahabang Buhangin), Calaguas for as low as P2000 (good for five to six persons) or you may opt to ride a boat that goes to Barangay Mangkawayan, Calaguas for a cheaper fare of at least P50 per person. However there’s no regular public boat going to Barangay Mangkawayan but more of fisherman’s boat and the schedule is unpredictable.
Going to Paracale from Manila, Superlines and Philtranco have direct to Paracale trips. Alternatively, you can ride the Daet bound buses and get off at Talobatib junction where buses going to Paracale pass. Last trip from Daet to Paracale is 6PM and 4PM for Paracale to Daet.
Where to Stay
There is no commercial establishment in the island, so bring your tent (plus foods and drinking water) with you as most tourist spend the night in the island camping along the beach. Camping fee is P100.00 per person.
Activities
Calaguas is the best place to relax and unwind if you are not the party goer type or if you are a fan of a quiet beach scene. Just sit on the sand, swim in the water, explore the island, bond with your friends during a bonfire night, and you will definitely appreciate the place.
Other activities include:
- Scuba diving/snorkeling
- Island hopping
- Swimming
- Camping – just bring your own camping equipments, enough foods and water supply.
- Surfing in Daet’s Bagasbas Beach
- Visit the old churches St. Peter the Apostle Parish of Vinzons, St. John the Baptist Parish of Paracale and neighboring towns
- Island and beach hopping around Calaguas Group: Pinagtigasan Beach on the southern Tinaga Island, Cumalasag, Pinagtakpan, Pinagcastillohan, Guintinua, Huag, Cagbalisay, Bendita, Sang-atan, Balagbag Malaki, Balagbag Maliit, Calangcawan Sur, Mantigbi Beach and other white sand island beaches around
- Explore other islands in Camarines Norte: Maculabo, Mercedes Group, etc
- Head south towards Caramoan, Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex in Naga, Albay and Sorsogon
Travelogues
Our group went back to Calaguas via Paracale route last February 2010. For the details, itinerary and budget of the trip, read my blog post Calaguas: Paradise on a Budget (A DIY Guide).
For other Calaguas related posts, please see these posts:
- Fall in Love in Calaguas
- For the Love of Calaguas
- Top Picks: Five Best Adventures of 2010
- Top Picks: Five Best Beaches of 2010
Sample DIY Itinerary (via Paracale)
Estimated Budget: P2000.00
Day 0:
2100H: Departure
Day 1:
0500H: Arrival in Talobatib,Labo
0500H – 0600H: Breakfast in Talobatib
0600H – 0700H: Talobatib to Paracale by bus
0700H – 0900H: Arrival in Paracale/Survey for boat to Maculabo-Calaguas/Shop for other needed items (ice, meat, fruits, fish, drinking water, etc)
0900H – 1000H: Paracale to Maculabo by boat
0900H – 1330H: Explore Maculabo: beach bumming, photo ops, hill,
trekking, swimming, lunch
1330H – 1430H: Maculabo to Mahabang Buhangin, Tinaga Island, Calaguas by boat
1430H – 1530H: Set-up Camp
1530H – 1800H: Explore Mahabang Buhangin: beach bumming, photo ops, swimming, snorkeling
1800H – 1930H: Dinner Preparation/Wahs=up/Fix-up
1930H – 2030H: Dinner
2030H: Socials, Bonfire, Lights off
Day 2:
0700H – 0800H: Call Time, Breakfast
0800H – 1130H: Free time, explore, discover, play, pose, packup, prepare lunch
1130H – 1300H: Lunch
1300H – 1430H: Wash-up/Fix-up/Break Camp
1430H – 1630H: Calaguas to Paracale by boat
1630H – 1700H: Arrival in Paracale/Wash-up/Fix-up
1700H – 1800H: Paracale to Talovatib by bus/trike
1800H – 2130H: Dinner/Rest/Fix-up
2130H: Departure from Daet to Manila
Day 3:
0430H – Arrival in Pasay
0530H – Home Sweet Home
Tips
- We highly recommend Kuya Nelson, a boatman based in Paracale, you may contact him at +0920-3179315
- Best time to go is during summer and dry months (September to June)
- Try trekking to the nearby hill to see the beach from the higher vantage point
- There is a source of fresh water in the island
- There is restroom the island
- The island have now more cottages and stores
- Superlines is the cheapest aircon bus line to Daet and Paracale, their Cubao to Labo fare as of June 2011 is P520.00
*First Published: March 21, 2009; Updated: 09-Jul-2011 / 15-Nov-2011
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hi angel! nice entry. very helpful. I’ll use this for upcoming calaguas trip. gusto ko rin mag DIY. kaso ang prob ko, wala kaming tents. hehe
Thanks Izah. Ok lang yan, may mga cottages naman dun, just bring sleeping bags
Sila Chyng nakapagovernight dun nang wala ding tent
hi, were planning to go there this coming summer, just want to ask kung san po sakayan sa manila ng bus going there
You may ride the Amihan, Philtranco or Superlines in Pasay or Cubao
hi! We were planning to go at Calaguas on Holy Week, malaki kya ang place to accommodate the campers since holy week yun for sure madami tao.
Hi Daphne, I am quite sure that you’ll find your own spot there. The place is quite big
I miss calaguas. Its been a year. I will never forget our (with friends) vacation at this virgin and majestic island. The simplicity and the pureness is the best asset of that island. MORE FUN IN CALAGUAS!
True! Once you’ve been to Calaguas! Hahanap-hanapin mo
I miss Calaguas too! I hope to visit the place again this year 
angel, i miss calaguas. Bumalik kaba ulet?
I miss the place too riz. My last visit there was May last year
is there a place there to rest when you don’t have tents? or are there any people there that we can rent a tent?
there are cottages for rent, you can sleep there, it is open air but has roof. or you may join the package tours, they will provide tents and almost everything you will need
as much as i would like to get a package tour, they are charging us more than the usual because they don’t have scheduled tour in the date that will go to naga so we’ll just go there DIY. thank you for all the information you gave! cheers!
I agree! I, prefer DIY too
The cottages are good enough. I, myself, spent the night there 
Enjoy Calaguas sir
In Calaguas Islands, are there any barangays or people living there? It looks beautiful and at the same time desserted. Please reply asap. We are planning to go there. Thanks!
hi ela, based on the blogs I read, there are inhabitants there. May i know when do you plan to go there?
Yes dru is right. There is a community on the opposite side of the island, 10-15 of walking to reach that community.
ang ganda talaga sa calaguas kuya!
kelan ka nagpunta?
hi there…i find this blog very helpful. thank you for sharing!
I;ve been to Calaguas already last April 2011, via Vinzons (by drive). We’re planning to go back there in January. Which route would you advise, via Vinzons or Paracale? We’re going there this time by bus. So which do you prefer? Considering now that we’ll carry all our things, lots of things to bring there, and some are first timer.
Thank you for your help.
I always prefer the Paracale route since it is much cheaper and the waves are not as crazy compare toVinzons
There are buses now that go directly to Paracale from manila
ito ang isa sa mga ginamit naming guide nung pumunta kami ng Calaguas nila James.. Thanks po ng marami
wow! thanks din joan
Oooops forgot to ask, are there good snorkeling sites? Do we need a boat to get to these sites?
Thanks again.
I think you will need a boat, good snorkeling sites are far from the shore
I would like to drive from our place in Paranaque to Paracale. Is there a safe place to park our pick-up? We will bring our camping gear, food, water, etc. and stay for 4 days. Where at Paracale do we get the boat that we can hire to take us to Calaguas? Can the boat from Paracale accommodate 4 people and all the gear? Is the rate for the boat (around P3,000) for round trip? Does the boat wait for us or come back for us on the 4th day?
We would appreciate you reply. Thanks in advance.
hi san kau dito sa paranaque?tawagan mko 09182311699/09174067392.ty
Hi Bobby, you may ask Paliza del Rio hotel in Paracale if you can park your car there, for a cost of course. For the boat, contact Kuya Nelson at +0920-3179315, tell him I referred you to him. The boat can accommodate 4 and all the gear. Boat rate is P2000-P3000, it might not wait for the whole 4 days unless you will double or triple your pay, so I guess they will just return to fetch you.
Sir ask ko lang kung may source ng fresh water sa island? TIA =)
Yes, but not safe for drinking.
Hi,ngpaparent po kami ng boat w/lifevest na
contact # 09485726306 .
godbless
meron po kayang package tour for 4? from naga airport po…
hi natuloy n b kau sa calaguas?re package po from naga to calaguas pwede nyo ako contact 09182311699/09174067392
hi dru pasensya ka na knina lowbt cp ko.kung mabasa mo ito pwede mko twagan sa uli sa cp or sa landline 7761020.try ko return call sau pero big company daw un dko alam kung san ako ikokonek ng operator.ty!weng
o wow. the beach looks picture perfect! beautiful!