Calaguas Islands
Posted on 21. Mar, 2009 by Lakwatsero in Destinations, Luzon
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 Manila 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
SEA Air has seasonal trip to Daet, but Naga in Camarines Sur would be the closest airport with regular commercial flights via Air Philippines, 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 by bus to Daet, you can 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 then proceed to Paracale fishport by trike. You can ask around for fishermen’s boats to Halabang Baybay (Mahabang Buhangin), Calaguas for as low as P1000 or you may opt to ride the boat that goes to Barangay Mangkawayan, Calaguas for a cheaper fare of P50 per person. However these are not regular public boat with scheduled departure but more of fisherman’s boat going to Barangay Mangkawayan, and the schedule is unpredictable.
Boats in Paracale have no safety vests unlike some private boats in Vinzons that cater to tourists.
Going to Paracale from Manila, Superlines and Philtranco have direct to Paracale trips with non air conditioned buses. Alternatively, you can ride Daet bounde buses and get off at Talobatib junction where buses going to Paracale pass. Last trip from Daet to Paracale is 6PM, 4PM for Paracale to Daet.
Where to Stay
There are 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.
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 in Vinzons, 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 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
Tips
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).
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karen
Jul 29th, 2010
woohoo! i’m so proud of what our province has to offer!!!
Calaguas Islands has the best beach in Camarines Norte « loQal – Travel and Outdoors | Philippines
Jun 30th, 2010
[...] Lakwatsero describes the beach as “a picture perfect paradise with its long stretch of fine white sand [...]
jackbam
Jun 13th, 2010
BOAT RENTALS PACKAGE (BACK & PORT)FROM PARACALE TO CALAGUAS ISLAND BEACH,,,PLEASE CONTACT MY NUMBER 09183617632…THANK YOU,,,JACKBAM
hu
Jul 26th, 2010
ai naku magaling b kau mag.entertain ng mga turista,…???
mary
Jun 8th, 2010
sa lahat po ng gusto mag-inquire kay mang rolly ito na po new nO.nya 09075255070/09127870240,kmi po may ari ng boat na ginagamit ni mang rolly.
just text or call..=)
hu
Jul 26th, 2010
bkit kailangan p ipublish n sau ung boat,..mary who kb???
Carla Amor
Jun 3rd, 2010
hi lakwatsero, thanks for the info. I already called mang rolly and was answered by another guy called boboy cabate. he offered a boat ride, over night for 3 persons for 2,200… is this a good deal? we’re booked for july 8-9 and i hope the weather works well for us.
girlie
May 27th, 2010
hi again! may i just ask if can we cook on the island? do we need to bring pangluto or may pde rentahan na panluto sa island? walang washroom?
Hi girlie, if you will do a DIY trip you need to bring your own cooking set, but if you avail of the packages, no need. No washroom, just a “provincial” type comfort room, so don’t expect much.
)
AJ Tria
May 25th, 2010
Hi!
We went to Calaguas last May 8-9, 2010. My friends and I are fond of DIY trip. I, personnaly would like to thank you for a great post of the island.
thank you.
Lakwatsero
May 26th, 2010
Thanks too AJ:
)
Andy
May 24th, 2010
looks interesting…
is the 2-hour boat ride in an open sea quite bumpy / maalon?
yan kasi ang problema ko, takot ako sa maalon … hehehe
Lakwatsero
May 25th, 2010
During wet season, the wave is generally rough in the area. On dry season, Vinzons route is still rough, while the waves in Paracale route are tolerable.
girlie
May 22nd, 2010
hi! me and my friends are planning to go there on august.our worry is that baka super lakas na ng alon that time? is there any way we can know if maalon or not para hnd masayang punta namin sa calaguas? do u have the number of the boatman? ano mas safe na daan, via vinzons or paracale?thanks so much
Lakwatsero
May 23rd, 2010
Hi girlie, it seems that August is not a good month. try contacting Mang Nelson 09398351453 or Mang Rolly at 09205342129.
Marvin
May 25th, 2010
Mr lakwatsero,
ano po ang mas safe na route? paracale or vinson? same question…. tas pareho po bang me life jackets? hahah.
Tapos, may pwede kaya pagrentahan ng tent? hehhe. thanks! thanks!
Lakwatsero
May 25th, 2010
Hi Marvin,
Mas rough ang Vinzons na part. There are boats in Vinzons and paracale na may lifevests but not all.
If you avail of the packages from Daet to Calaguas that usually cost P1800 per person, included na ang tent. But for DIY, you have to bring your own tent
)
SwitKatie
May 20th, 2010
Hi, ask ko lang kung papa-arrange by TRavel/tour organizers, what Number can I contact them? Also I will be bringing with me my son and we dont know how to swim, do they have life vests there? thanks Lakwatsero
Lakwatsero
May 25th, 2010
Hi Switkatie, travel/tour packages have lifevests on their boats. I really don’t carry a travel/tour organizer since I am a proponent of DIY, but I know Travel Factor and the Melvic Brinas orgabnized Calaguas tours. Just try googling tem
mariel
May 16th, 2010
Hi Lakwatsero, AMAZING yang ngppost ng number nya ang pinaginquiran ko, syempre i’m looking for a best deal. And yet they are charging me 3500 for a boat that would fir for 4-6 person. Ano akala nya hindi ako marunong mgresearch.. Just a message to who ever you are “kasupog ka, imbes na dakul an magpaduman sa magayon na lugar pareho kan calaguas minaduwa duwa na sana ta dahil sa mga tawo na pareho mo”. Nagbiyahe na din ako sa ibang lugar and from personal experience kapag oportunistic ang mga tao isa sya mga lugar na ayoko nang balikan. shame on you!
Sorry lakwatsero, it really pisses me off, nakakainis ang mga taong pareho sa kanya..
Lakwatsero
May 16th, 2010
Exactly mariel, ako din turn off sa mga oportunistic na tao. I feel for you.
Anyway, katulad ng mga inaadvise ko sa mga nagtatanong sa akin, wag tayong pumayag being ripped off. Madami talagang oportunistic ngayon.
nel
May 19th, 2010
50 pesos lang po ang entrance fee sa mahabang buhangin,kung gusto makatipid huwag pumasok sa 150 ang bayad.
weng
May 15th, 2010
Boat Rentals :contact 09182311699..weng.ty!
andi
May 13th, 2010
Just want to ask, meron po bang source ng fresh water here where in we can make banlaw or ligo after swimming?hehe thanks
Lakwatsero
May 14th, 2010
Yep, meron pong deep well
harold
May 12th, 2010
since marami nang nakakaalam nito, i suggest na weekdays kayo pumunta like what we did. arrived wed and left friday morning, sarap solong solo namin ang island! so beautiful, in fact babalik ako this week hehe just in time for pahiyas festival in quezon
mariel
May 14th, 2010
Harold, meron ka contact number ng boatmen nyo? pede mo ba share dito? punta kami next weekend, i tried calling ung mga boatmen na nakapost dito at sa ibang blogs kaso nananaga na. saan kayo sumakay vinsons or paracale? thank you!
nel
May 14th, 2010
hi Mariel, negotiable ang price ko
hajel
May 21st, 2010
we have calaguas island packages if you want… thanks.. here is my number +639292938154..