Legazpi is one of my bucket list which I planned to visit next year but luckily, we got a free travel voucher from CebuPac and chose this amazing place.
Warning: Long Post ahead 👀
Transportation
From Cebu, we booked a flight going to Legazpi but we should have booked a flight via Naga as our first destination is going to Caramoan. You see why Legazpi is a haven for adventure seeker? It's because you can travel from Legazpi going to CamSur, Sorsogon, Caramoan and many more. But I chose Caramoan for now coz I missed the beach.
Cagsawa Ruins
Arrived at the Legazpi airport at 5PM and we decided to have a quick stop at Cagsawa Ruins as the Mayon volcano teases us to visit (we are just worried the Mayon won't show up on the next and just grabbed the chance to have a quick snap on it). We took a tricycle for 75 PHP and I know it was a bit expensive as we are not the only passenger in the tricycle. Renting the tricycle will cost you 150 PHP. At first, the driver offered 450 PHP for a ride and somehow surprised on the price. Good thing he lowered it a bit and I learned that visiting Legazpi requires haggling skills.
Entrance in Cagsawa Ruins: 20 PHP; 10 PHP for kids 7 years old and below; parking 10 PHP
Visiting Cagsawa also means buying souvenir items.
Take a bus at Legaszpi bus terminal bound to Naga. Form Naga, take a bus going to San Jose (1st trip will be at 1:30 AM) then from San Jose, tell the conductor you are heading to the Sabang Port. Ride a tricycle going to Sabang port and the first trip will be at 6AM. Be sure to be early as the next trip will be at 11AM depending on the number of passengers. From Sabang Port, take a motorboat going to Guijalo Port. After arriving at Guijalo Port, you will be asked to write your name first before entering. You can take a habl-habal or tricycle to take you to Sentro.
Summary
Legazpi - Naga - San Jose - Sabang Port - Guijalo Port - Sentro - whole duration of the trip will took you 7 hours.
Expenses
Legazpi to Naga - van ride 210 PHP
Bus Partido from Naga to San Jose - bus (Non aircon) 73 PHP
Tricycle going to Sabang Port - 20 PHP. you can also ride a jeep
Sabang Port to Guijalo Port - motorboat 120 PHP
Guijalo Port to Sentro - Habal-habal or tricycle - depends on your haggling skills
Environmental Fee: 30 PHP
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| Our bangka going to the Guijalo Port. It was a bit small and uncomfortable |
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| Upon return, the bangka was now huge and comfy but you have to pay a tip to the person who have to carry you from the bangka to the shoreline. |
What's good in Legazpi? Locals are very helpful and friendly. They told us we don't need to go to Legazpi bus terminal as buses in the road will stop to give you a ride So just walk going to the road for 10 minutes to look for a bus. You will see a bridge there with streaming water. We waited near the gasoline station and the gasoline boy, tricycle driver, security guard helped us in letting the bus stop to ask if we can take a ride. Unfortunately, it was already 7PM and we already waited for 1 hour but buses passing by won't accept passengers anymore so the locals told us to just take a jeep going to bus terminal as the buses are only available until 8PM.
Jeep ride from Daraga to Legazpi Bus terminal - 15 PHP
After arriving from the bus terminal, it was already 7:30 PM and there were no buses available to take off. I suggest to go there earlier than 7PM especially during low peak season. We decided to take a van but there were only a few of us who will take the van. The driver of the van told us we should cover for the cost of the vacant seats so he can proceed to drive us going to Naga. Whole duration of the ride will took 2 hours.
Van ride going to Naga - 210 PHP but we paid 300 PHP to cover the cost of the vacant seats.
First bus trip going to San Jose will be at 1:30 AM but we just call it a day and got some rest as the first trip from Sabang port going to Guijalo port is 6 AM. You won't be worrying where to sleep at Naga as there are inns nearby. Wake up time at 3AM and took a bus going to San Jose. From there, we told the conductor if he can drop us off near the Sabang Port. From the port, we are so lucky enough to catch the 1st trip coz it was already 6:30 AM and the boatman told us the boat will be leaving. Two and a half hours struggling as the space was so limited.
From Guijalo port, again, prepare that haggling skills.
Day Two
Caramoan
Excited for the island hopping and explore the place where the reality show "Survivor" shoot. The place is like mini El Nido and after all the van ride, bus and Bangka, it was all worth it!
Lahus Island
Our first drop off and locals told us that during high tide, this mini paradise will be covered with bodies of water and that is how it got its name, "Lahus" which means pass by in English.
Second stop and took our lunch here. The island is the largest among the three we visited. Explore the place as there are mini islands that are just near and waiting for you to explore.
Boatman let us choose which place to go. A place full of corals or fishes? We had a tough time as I love them both but seeing the fishes might be an excellent choice (as seeing the corals might be too deep and the life jacket is not that reliable. Yeah, I don't know how to swim).
Our last destination and the place is covered with powdery sand. The place is the smallest but the place amazed us by its beauty. Tranquility of the place makes you want to stay a little bit longer.
ATV time and honestly speaking, I am not that excited and even hoped we will not push through. But I am glad I tried ATV and thankful to the locals who encouraged and believed that I can do it. We chose the black lava trail and the whole duration of the adventurous ride plus the stopover will be 3 hours.
ATV 200 cc - 1,200.00 PHP
ATV 150 cc - 1,000.00 PHP
Environmental Fee - 50.00 PHP
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| Practice session |
Sumlang Lake
One of the best place to photograph the Mayon Volcano but as you can see on our taken shot below, the shy volcano hid on the clouds. So again, please go there as early as 9am so you can have a good view of the breathtaking Mayon.
Entrance Fee: 20 PHP
Parking Fee: 20 PHP
Kayaking: 50 PHP
Balsa Tour: 20 PHP
Floating Cottage: 300 PHP
A quick visit of the zoo.
Entrance Fee: 20 PHP
You might need to rent a motorbike as the road going to this place is very steep. This place is also a haven for adventure seekers. Zipline, ATV, Hanging Bridge, exploring the mini cave and a lot more. This place is also a great place to have a good view of the Mayon.
Entrance Fee: 25 PHP
Naga
Transient Hotel - it was just alongside the bus terminal and I recommend to stay at this place if you are staying long.
Sogo Hotel - 5 minutes walk from the bus terminal and may be a good place to stay especially if you will just stay for a short time. Love Hotel? I think it was more like a backpacker hostel.
Caramoan
Discovery Hotel - not a bad place to stay but it was quite too far from the island hopping site. You will have to ride a tricycle and that means another expense to prepare. No free breakfast but with Wifi connection.
Balay dela Rama - the place is superb and it was so spacious. The owner is also very friendly and
accommodating. They served free yummy breakfast with fruits. I highly recommend this place and I am sure you won't regret it. And oh, you can go to their balcony to have a good view of the Mayon.
Price: 1,600.00 PHP good for 2 persons. 1,900.00 PHP good for 3 persons
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| Sorry for our messy things ✌ |
You may want to check Glenn. I think it was a bit expensive for us but if you are in a group, it may not be that expensive.
Tip: Ask first before assuming. All I thought the tricycle service was part of the package tour but I was shocked when he asked us if we have paid the tricycle driver a fee of 150 x 4 (Guijalo port to the hotel - island hopping port back and forth - hotel to Guijalo port). I really assumed the tricycle was free 😅due to the place's location. But he gave us a discount of 120 PHP per ride coz we told him we are a bit short of budget since we are still planning to visit Albay. But other than the tricycle issue, Glenn was so accommodating and very friendly so I still recommend him if you wish to visit Caramoan.
Tour Package: 1,900 PHP each. Inclusive of Hotel and Island Hopping.
Contact# of Glenn: 0930 8979 606
For more pics on our travel, you may check on these hastags in IG #JessRoamsAround #JessRoamsAroundAlbayToCaramoan
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