TRAVELS: Things to do in Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

I have post before about a trip in Calaguas Island last May 2013. Here's the link to that: Calaguas Island. This post is dedicated to what activities are in store for those who are planning to visit this wonderful paradise in Camarines Norte:

Things to do in Calaguas:

1. Camping: Since the island has no electricity and hotels are not readily available in here, visitors/tourists can enjoy camping. There were available package tours who offers inclusive use of tents or you can bring your own if you're not availing any of the package tours and you're traveling on your own.

Campsite

2. Stargazing: One you can truly enjoy in the Island is to enjoy the solemnity of the place, have a peace of mind and just stare at the beautiful sky. Though I can't provide you with a picture of the stars, this is one of the activities that I truly enjoyed. Just a thought of spending a night in a secluded island is fun and surreal in its own way.

3. Playing Frisbee Disc: Our Package tour offers a free use of Frisbee Disc, so we didn't miss any chance of playing this type of sports. You don't need to play by the rule. Just enjoy playing it with your friends.

Frisbee Disc

4. Playing Volleyball: Another enjoyable activity to play with your friends especially those who are in large group.

Playing Volleyball

5. Surfing Lesson:  Though Calaguas Waves is not as good as those in Bagasbas. There were available surf trainors in the Island in preparation to the the next activity in Bagasbas Beach, Daet the day after. Here's the link on my Bagasbas Surfing Experience: Surfing in Bagasbas Beach.

Surfing with Friends

6. Swimming: This is given already. Of course, this is the main reason why we go to the beach. The turquoise water is so tempting to swim into. So as soon as you reach this beautiful Island, I'll assure you that this is what you will look forward to, TO SWIM! The scorching heat of the sun is not a factor, the water is cold and dipping into this is an escape from the heat of the summer!

7. Snorkeling: Some of the travelers still managed to go snorkeling but unfortunate for us since we only had 2 days to squeeze in. But still for you guys who have so many time to spend in this Island, why not try snorkeling? The Philippines is blessed with coral reefs and natural resources so expect that you can find interesting in exploring this place.

 

8.  Night life with friends, bonding with friends: One of the best part of the package tour is this, free drinks after a sumptuous dinner. Though some were not fond of such heavy sound at night but this one lasts only till 12 midnight. Another thing is that you will have a lot of time after dinner to bond and chat with your friends.

Drinking and enjoying the night

9. Skim boarding: This by far is difficult to play with since it takes a lot of agility and balance. Using a skim board, you will need to glide into the shore and try your best to stay on your board.

Skim boarding..

These are just among the things I have listed based on my travel experience. You can still add some possible activities that you might have in mind. Feel free to comment below.

Will post more "Things to do" subject on my future posts! Thanks for reading :-)

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TRAVELS: Surfing in Bagasbas Beach

Bagasbas Beach located at Daet, Camarines Norte is one of the top surfing destination in the Philippines. The Long Stretch of waves makes it more ideal for surfing especially for beginners. The sand is gray and powdery. La Union and Baler are also the top spots for surfers. Bagasbas Beach waves is like automatic as if there's a machine underneath that creates waves every second.

Surfing is part of our tour package in Calaguas Island. A10 minute-15 minute drive from the port is what you need to reach this place. For the beginners, there are trainors who are ready to assist you and orient you on the basics of surfing. Don't know how to swim? Well this beach is not that deep, it might be just below your waist. So if you're frightened that you might get drown, well think again! Yours truly is not a swimmer, but I tried surfing!

It will you cost you Php400 for an hour of surfing with one-on-one trainor plus free use of the surf board. This is affordable especially for beginners like me!

Nothing to worry because before surfing, you will have a one-on-one briefing with the trainor on the basics of surfing. In this picture, I was getting my one-on-one session with my trainor.

The beach waves might be overwhelming at first, but when you started to finally stand up on the board and feel the adrenaline rush, it was really fun! That's me! Although my stand was improper. One foot should be facing the front of the board while the other foot is perpendicular.

We dine and checked-in in this place,which is just facing the bagasbas beach. The food for me is not that great especially the laing that they served, because I have tasted the best laing in town "my nanay tita's laing" who is a True Blood Bicolana. But the people who serves are friendly and accomodating. We just stayed here for the purpose of having a place to take a shower, had our lunch/dinner and to have our things secured.

With my surf trainor

Goodbye for now Bagasbas!. Definitely another unforgettable experience I had after I have tried wakeboarding in Laguna. Surfing makes you feel like a champion, you can conquer the waves and the fear once you get the flow.

Come and visit Bagasbas Beach! It's really more fun in the Philippines!


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TRAVELS: Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Calaguas Island located at Camarines Norte, which is at the Bicol region part of Luzon Philippines was our planned target destination this summer. This long beach, with its turquoise to clear blue water and fine white sands was said can rival the famous Boracay beach in Malay, Aklan. However, having been in Boracay twice, my first observation is that Calaguas island has its surreal feeling. The solemnity of the place made it uncomparable to the highly commercialized Boracay.

Our travel to Calaguas by land is 8 long hours of sitting on a bus. We did not book an air flight since we are on a budget trip so we decided to join a travel tour. A friend of mine suggested Kuya Melvic of Calaguasislandtour.weebly.com who caters packaged travel tours inclusive of food and transportation. I will enumerate the details on this post later.

Well going back to the beauty of Calaguas Island, the water is serene and no large waves can be seen so you can enjoy just dipping into the sea and enjoy swimming. The sand is fine and white and you will be not worried of the rocks that might injure your feet. What will be shocking to most of the luxury-seekers vacationers in Calaguas is that, there is no hotel in the island which made it more like you were one of the castaways in a Survivor Reality TV Show.

For those who might want to go to this Happy beach here's the details of our Package tour:

Package tour: 

1. We availed the 2d/1n Tour which includes:
 1.1 Round Trip Bus Fare
 1.2 Free food (lunch+dinner on the 1st day, breakfast+lunch on the 2nd day)
 1.3 Free use of Frisbee, Skimboard, Volleyball
 1.4 Free boat Transfers
 1.5 Free Use of Tents
or you can visit this link: http://calaguasislandtour.weebly.com/package-rate.html

How to Get there: 

Via Bus, We left DLTB Pasay going to Daet, Camarines Norte at 8pm and arrived at the port going to Calaguas at 6am inclusive of 20mins jeepney ride. Unfortunately, it's low-tide and boat might sink if we will still proceed to ride the boat, so we waited until lunch to finally go to Calaguas Island. A 2-3 hours boat ride is what awaits you before you can finally arrive to the beautiful Calaguas Island.

My friends cam-whoring at the port, the boats behind them are the actual boats we rode going to Calagauas

Finally we arrived! As soon as I stepped into the Island and dipped my foot on its clear water, all I said was "It is really worth it" with all the long travel hours, fatigue body, food deprivation(hahaha..well we had our lunch at 2pm!) and all the dizziness...The beauty of the island is breath-taking. Though I have read other blogs about Calaguas, to experience it first hand and be there is surreal.

 Our campsite. I have noticed that every Travel Tour have their own designated part in the Island.

 As soon as we finished our lunch, buffet lunch it is, we headed fast to play Frisbee!

See how long the shoreline is? Well even you are in Island, you will not feel that you were the only human being exists in this place. There were also locals who have resided on this place.

Well, since this is not yet commercially developed which I hope will not happen soon (for the sake of camping and solemnity of the place), there's no electricity. Glad that our package tour has their own generator who operates from 6pm-12midnight. So you can still charge your gadgets and the lights are still up till 12midnight!

Lucky us! Our Package Tour also includes unlimited drinks (mobile bar) which we enjoyed till 12 midnight. Who would have thought that there's a Boracay vibe in this Island via this mobile bar! But as soon as 12midnight strikes, all lights will be off so that we all could have a quiet sleep.

 My friends and I, drinking and stargazing all in one! Believe me, it was fun! Bonding while drinking, talking, sharing stories, are the best!

Oh, the morning has arrived and after breakfast, we enjoyed swimming and finally has to bid goodbye to this Happy Beach. We're going to Bagasbas, Daet to surf which I will post soon. I will forever cherish our experience this summer getaway. Our first time to join any package tour which is highly recommended by yours truly..

Well, another note, phone signals in the Island is not possible. Haha! So better text your loved ones or call them while you're still at the port, informing them that you can't response or receive their calls or texts while in this Island.






 For the list of Things to do in Calaguas Island.. Check-out this link: Things to do in Calaguas.

Come and Visit Calaguas! My Happy Beach! Its really MORE FUN in the Philippines!



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