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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boat rental from Paracale to Calaguas island contact new CP number 09203179315 Nelson Gomez
i so envy you. been wanting to travel but don’t have the time. sa sobrang daming magandang lugar sa Pilipinas..di ko alam ang uunahin..hehehe..
hats off to people like you. i’m so addicted to reading travel blogs and seeing pictures of happy people enjoying their adventures.
this is my new years resolution..explore the Philippines!! (goodluck to me)
first stop..Calaguas!
Wow! Thanks Dona
Woooot!
Yes, explore Pilipinas
super spectacular beach! wish i could overcome my fear of riding a boat across the Pacific. I once had a fieldwork that required me to ride a boat from Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon. It was a slow torture.
You should overcome your fear Yel. Calaguas is worth the “torture”
Hi, Angel.
I hope you can help us. Would you happen to know if “Pwede kaya magpasaing ng kanin for a certain fee kay Mang Bert, the caretaker on Calaguas?” maraming salamat
Hmmm, you can ask your boatman to cook for you
Kayo na lang bahala sa tip 
I am not sure about Mang Bert eh
hi,
me and my friends are going to calaguas on the 26th of february. we are 7 in the group. actually, we’ll be coming from bagasbas. so from daet we will take a jeepney or tricycle ride going to vinzons. can you please recommend someone from the port that can accommodate the 7 of us going to calaguas island?
Great post. I linked you up. Cheers!
The TF Trip to Calaguas, Camarines Norte
>boat rentals w/ lifevest<
from paracaLe to calaguas island
2hrs boat ride
contact #:09075255070
Thank you. =))
mylene if ever mabasa mo ang message ko how i wish na mag retire sa mangkawayan calaguas pagdating ng araw. sana makasama ko kayo ng mga bata. miss you so much
i miss so much na bumalik ng mangkawayan calaguas group of island vinzons camnorte. sa maikling panahon na andun ako maraming magagandang alaala sa akin. miss ko ang salen family esp. mylene whom i adore and values so much incl our kids edmar and michael
woohoo! i’m so proud of what our province has to offer!!!
ei tanong ko lng po kung mgkano ang mgagastos ung pinaka cheap lng po,sa mga nagpunta na po,tanong lng po,thx a lot
You can enjoy overnight camping in Calaguas for as low as P2000 on a DIY
Plano ko pumunta sa Calaguas sa Oct 29 to 31. Safe ba po ang dagat sa month nang October or November?
I think medyo ok na ang November, just watch out of the typhoons
@hiker, marami ba kayo, im also planning to go there on 30,can i join the group?
BOAT RENTALS PACKAGE (BACK & PORT)FROM PARACALE TO CALAGUAS ISLAND BEACH,,,PLEASE CONTACT MY NUMBER 09183617632…THANK YOU,,,JACKBAM
ai naku magaling b kau mag.entertain ng mga turista,…???
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..=)
bkit kailangan p ipublish n sau ung boat,..mary who kb???
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.
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.
)
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.
Thanks too AJ:
)
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
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.
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
Hi girlie, it seems that August is not a good month. try contacting Mang Nelson 09398351453 or Mang Rolly at 09205342129.
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!
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
)
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
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
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..
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.
50 pesos lang po ang entrance fee sa mahabang buhangin,kung gusto makatipid huwag pumasok sa 150 ang bayad.
Boat Rentals :contact 09182311699..weng.ty!