With its long stretch of fine white sand beach and perfectly turquoise water, Calaguas Island will definitely make you fall in love with the place. This Calaguas travel guide will come handy for everyone planning to visit or revisit Calaguas Islands. Provided in this guide are relevant information that will make it easier for your to plan your trip. Know the updated travel requirements, information on getting there, accommodation, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more. Enjoy Calaguas!
Discover Calaguas Island
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 pristine beauty of the place.
Over the years, Calaguas has evolved from being an offbeat destination to being a go-to place of beach adventurers. The once quiet coastline is now beaming with life but despite all the activities, structures and crowd, its natural beauty still shines.
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 to Calaguas
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.
Calaguas 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), DLTB and Superlines buses offer Cubao/Pasay to Daet for an approximately 7-8 hours travel time. Fare cost differs, but ranging from P450 to P750.
You can book your bus from Manila to Daet or vice versa below:
BOOK YOUR BUS FROM MANILA TO DAET
By Air
Naga in Camarines Sur is closest airport with regular commercial flights via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. 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.
Calaguas 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 P60.00. Last trip from Daet to Paracale is 6PM and 5PM for Paracale to Daet.
If you are coming from Manila, Superlines has direct trip to Paracale/Panganiban (P515/pax, one-way, as of February 2016). 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 P3000 (good for five to six persons, overnight) 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.
Where to Stay in Calaguas
There are now plenty of cottages and resort in Calaguas Island including Cabañas of Waling-Waling Resort that offers air-condition room and cottages for at least P3,500 per room per night.
For campers, entrance fee ranges from P120 to P150 per person, tent pitching fee is P100 per tent and cottage is as low as P500.
If you plan to stay in Paracale before or after your Calaguas trip, Paliza del Rio Tourist Inn in Poblacion, near the market, has affordable rooms and open parking space. You can leave your car there if you are going to Calaguas Island for minimal fee.
What to Do in Calaguas
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 on its turquoise water, explore the island, bond with your friends and you will definitely appreciate the simple pleasures of the island.
Other activities include:
- Scuba diving/snorkeling (bring your own equipment)
- Island and Beach hopping
- Swimming
- Camping – bring your own camping equipments, enough food 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, Parola Island, Calalanay Island, Tabusao Island, Padoni Island, Flora Sandbar, Jaulo Island or Mercedes Group, etc.
- Swim in Gumaus Beach or Pulang Daga Beach of Paracale
- Check out Saltahan Falls, Palanas Falls, Malatap Falls, Burok-Busok Falls, Binuan Falls and other waterfalls of Labo
- Go spelunking in Mt. Cadig Cave also of Labo
- Head south towards Caramoan, Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex in Naga, Albay and Sorsogon
Sample Calaguas DIY Itinerary (via Paracale)
Estimated Budget: P2500 – P3,000
Day 0:
2100H: Departure at Superlines Cubao (Cubao to Paracale – P515/person)
Day 1:
0500H: Arrival in Paracale
0500H – 0800H: Arrival in Paracale/Find Boat/Shop for other needed items (ice, meat, fruits, fish, drinking water, etc)
0800H – 1030H: Paracale to Mahabang Buhangin, Tinaga Island, Calaguas by boat
1030H – 1300H: Set-up Camp / Lunch
1300H – 1800H: Free time: beach bumming, photo ops, swimming, snorkeling, trekking to viewpoint
1800H – 1930H: Dinner Preparation/Wash-up/Fix-up
1930H – 2030H: Dinner
2030H: Socials, Lights off
Day 2:
0600H – 0700H: Call Time, Breakfast
0700H – 1000H: Free time: explore, discover, play, pose, packup, prepare lunch
1000H – 1100H: Break camp, wash-up
1100H – 1330H: Calaguas to Paracale by boat
1330H – 1500H: Arrival in Paracale/wash-up/fix-up/late lunch
1500H – 1630H: Paracale to Daet by van
1630H – 1730H: Waiting time/snacks/rest
1730H: Departure from Daet to Manila
Day 3:
0230H – Arrival in Manila
Tips
- Boat rate is as low as P3,000/boat overnight for six persons, P5,000/boat overnight for 10 persons, P6,500/boat overnight for 15 persons. Contact Ate Nilda: +639486793920 (Paracale)
- Paliza del Rio Tourist Inn organizes private and open tours on fixed date to save cost, contact number 02-7855215 or +63923-8297096
- Barangay collects P20 per person as Environmental Fee in Calaguas Island
- Those coming from Paracale, a P20 fee is also collected by barangay for every tourist
- 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 are restrooms in the island
- The island have now more cottages and stores, entrance fee is P100 – P150 depending on where you will rent your cottage or pitch your tent, cottage is as low as P500/night, tent pitching fee is P100 per tent
- Waling-waling has rooms for at least P3,500 per room per night
- There is a small community (Barangay Mangkawayan) on the opposite side of the island, around 10 minutes by foot
- Superlines is the cheapest aircon bus line to Daet and Paracale, their Cubao to Paracale fare as of February 2016 is P515.00
- Please! Please follow the LEAVE NO TRAIL PRINCIPLE: TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES, LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS, KILL NOTHING BUT TIME
First Published: March 21, 2009; Updated: 09-Jul-2011 / 15-Nov-2011 / 12-Feb-2013 / 22-Feb-2016 / 30-Nov-2017
Great post. I linked you up. Cheers!
The TF Trip to Calaguas, Camarines Norte
[…] Destination: Calaguas Island >> Calaguas: Paradise on a Budget (A DIY Guide) >> Fall in Love in Calaguas Diverse and […]
>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
[…] island is a good sidetrip for those enroute to Mahabang Buhangin in Tinaga Island of Calaguas Group, approximately one hour away by boat. There is mobile signal in the island, albeit […]
hi!ask ko lng is it ok.if we go there this 0ct.22 di kaya maalon coz were bringing our kids 7 & 9 yrs old is it advisable for us na mag overnight stay?
Usually maalon talaga ang dagat during ber months, but I think it is still doable although expects big waves, lalo na kung sunny naman ang panahon and walang bagyo.
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?
[…] Lakwatsero describes the beach as “a picture perfect paradise with its long stretch of fine white sand […]
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!
Just want to ask, meron po bang source ng fresh water here where in we can make banlaw or ligo after swimming?hehe thanks
Yep, meron pong deep well 😉
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 🙂
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!
hi Mariel, negotiable ang price ko
@ Nel.
I’d like to inquire about your boat rental rate for Calaguas from Paracale. How can I get in touch with you? We’ll go to Calaguas on February 26, 2011. Here’s my email: [email protected].
Thanks.
sa lahat ng gustong magtanong kung magkano ang rate ng boat ko papuntang Calaguas island ito na po ang bago kung CP# 09203179315 Nelson Gomez.
we have calaguas island packages if you want… thanks.. here is my number +639292938154..