Catanduanes and our growing fondness for leisure travel

Posted on November 15, 2016

It started with our last trip to Panay Island. We had a flexible itinerary and only a rough idea of where
to go. We liked it better than having a fixed plan, and so wed carried this new way of travel when
wed gone to Catanduanes the Land of the Howling Winds.

Before sharing you the rest about this leisure trip, let me tell you upfront: I fell in love with the
province of Catanduanes. Its now a favorite, along with Sorsogon. In fact, I told Hali we should
consider getting a property here.

To illustrate: Have you entered a room full of crystals, particularly amethyst? The crystals uplift the
vibrations in a place, giving it a certain feeling of lightness. Catanduanes has a similar feel. The
environment looks cheerful and bright, even during our visit which was semi-cloudy. The kind people
weve met on our stay here in Catanduanes and the natural landscapes moved it closer to my heart.

Heres how we spent four laid-back days in this province.

Days 1-2: Barangay Baybay and Palumbanes group of islands (Caramoran)

Wed arrived in Caramoran at about lunch time and headed directly to Ate Lettys Coco Beach
Resort in Barangay Baybay. The resort is ordinary, and its the type most backpackers would
probably ignore. But I loved how relaxing it was, the loud sounds of sea waves and rustling of the
numerous coconut trees in the backyard of the resorts.

We stayed here doing nothing. Hali said, Its like were on vacation. I said, We are!

Bitaog Beach in Parongpong Island, Palumbanes. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Bitaog beach is a secluded beach lovers destination, an hour away from the port in Barangay
Baybay. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

The morning after, wed set out to visit Bitaog Beach in Parongpong Island, part of Palumbanes
islands. Bitaog Beach is Caramorans hidden gem, located on the other side of the island where the
residential community is. We were the only people in the beach.

Know more about Bitaog Beach here.

Bitaog Beach has soft sand and clear light-blue waters. At the end is an inlet, protected by ragged
rocks and surrounded by water that is a distinct dark emerald.

Day 3: Tuwad-tuwadan natural pool, Hiyop highlands, Carangyan Beach Resort

(Pandan)

After two days, we agreed we should probably get going and then hired a habal-habal driver to
tour us in Pandan. We passed by the Cagnipa rolling hills on our way to the natural pool. I asked our
driver, Kuya Owen, to stop so we could look around and take pictures. We passed by more hills and
a line of cows grazing.
View from the Cagnipa rolling hills. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

It was so simple, beautiful and raw.

Cagnipa rolling hills. Its not a tourist attraction but very well may be. (Photo by Hali Navarro)
Farmland. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Carabaos swimming in the mud. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

We stayed shortly at Tuwad-tuwadan pool. Its smaller compared to the impression we had from
photos online. Hali swam and dived, and I stayed on the side. The waves lurching inside the
pool were strong, demanding that only prolific swimmers take a dip.

See also: Must-see natural pools in the Philippines

We then went back to Ate Salvacions house, the caretaker, and bought fresh coconuts to refresh
ourselves from the midday sun.
Tuwad-tuwadan natural pool. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Wed visited Hiyop Highlands next, which is a viewdeck with more rolling terrains. Beautiful as well
but a bit sad. We heard the familiar story of foreigners buying the prime lots.

Wed decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in Carangyan Beach Resort. Carangyan Beach
Resort for me is a great find. I felt kilig when we first had a glimpse of the beach. We were the only
guests, though friends would be joining us that night. The beach in the resort has caramel sand and
clear, green water. Theres also a raft anchored near the shore.
Carangyan Beach Resort with its calm beach cove. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

The rooms are a bit expensive for a backpacker but well worth it.

Get practical information about Carangyan Beach Resort here.

Day 4: Bote lighthouse (Bato), Binurong Point (Baras), Kemji Resort (Virac)

We traveled a bit late back to Virac and then hired a private tricycle. This is probably the part where
we shouldve gotten up much earlier so we could have more time to explore Bato and Baras.
View at the top of Bote lighthouse. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

We stopped at Bato and then made a half-an-hour trek to the Bote lighthouse. The trek was arduous
and the trail was steep, mostly ascending. The view at the top of the lighthouse was delightful,
though the lighthouse itself seems to be in danger of being consumed with too many vandals.

Later, wed caught the sunset in Binurong Point. Binurong Point is an area composed of pastoral
cliffs, laid out with grassy carpet. I felt like the whole Catanduanes is full of hills and mountainous
landscapes that Binurong Point didnt leave a great impression. Meanwhile, Hali liked it here that he
wished we had more time to stay.
Binurong Point, an area consisting of picturesque cliffs. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Jump shot before going home. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

We arrived back in Virac in time for dinner. Our tricycle driver suggested Kemji Resort, which is
another good find. It has nice rooms, with outdoor pools and other amenities, we were surprised it
didnt cost more than regular inn rates. Oh, its also about 5 minutes away from the airport.

Catanduanes: Afterthoughts
We spent four days in Catanduanes, taking our time. Weve visited only select places. No regrets
there. Even just riding across the mountain side, we saw beautiful seaside views, bulbous terrains
filled with greeneries that we didnt really feel like we missed a lot.

I think the places weve visited are just the tip of Catanduanes many attractions. Catanduanes is
one of the provinces in the Philippines that is yet to be exhaustively mapped in the tourism world,
and even locals weve talked to were not fully knowledgeable about nearby attractions in their areas.
Currently, the local government is pushing more efforts to boost tourism in Catanduanes, and it
seems to be working.

I wont be surprised at all if in the next years it will be one of the top attractions in Bicol.

What Im sure of is that it opened the door for us, albeit slightly, to slower-paced traveling.

Whats next: A travel guide for Catanduanes.

See separate links above for specific tourist spots in Catanduanes and dont forget to like

our Facebook Page here to get updated.

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Catanduanes Travel Guide: Everything you need to know about
Happy Island
Posted on November 19, 2016

Heres a travel guide to Catanduanes, also known as the Land of the Howling Winds and recently
the Happy Island. I hope this will give you all the basic information you need to know about
Catanduanes.

As a travelers destination, I feel like Catanduanes is still in its budding stages. Even Binurong Point
a pastoral cliff often compared to Batanes has gained popularity only last year. Its local tourism
branch is quite new, having only been established early this year, to accommodate the growing
number of visitors in the area.

Case in point: I think there is still much to discover in Catanduanes, and I wouldnt be surprised if
after a year this Catanduanes travel guide will need some major updates.

Most of what Ive written here are gathered from our trip. Feel free to add more information,
especially must-visit places youve been to, in the comments section.
Catanduanes travel guide: 4-day itinerary

This was our schedule on our trip to Catanduanes. We were pretty laid back then. If you want to
maximize your visit, read the additional notes.

Day 1
Arrival in Virac airport, head to Virac town center
Ride a van (or bus) to Pandan, get off at Caramoran (3 hours)
Check in at Coco Beach Resort

Day 2
Island hopping in Palumbanes group of islands (1 hour boat ride per way)

Day 3
Tour Pandan (Tuwad-tuwadan pool, Hiyop highlands)
Check in at Carangyan Beach Resort

Day 4
Ride van back to Virac
Hire a tricycle (or habal-habal) and tour Bato and Baras
Head back to Virac, check in at Kemji Resort

Day 5
Early morning flight back to Manila

You can squeeze in more stops here if you manage your time more efficiently. For instance, on the
first day in Catanduanes, you can proceed to island hop in Palumbanes islands in Caramoran. On
the second day, tour Pandan and then stay overnight in Carangyan Beach Resort. Leave early
morning and head back to Virac, catch a ride to Puraran and spend the rest of the day surfing. On
the fourth day, start early to view the sunrise in Balacay point and tour the rest of Baras and Bato.

Catanduanes is one of the cheapest provinces to visit. Our budget is P4000 each for 2 people for
4 days.

How to get to Catanduanes

The easiest way to get to Catanduanes is to book a flight to Virac. As of this writing, Cebu Pacific
flies once a day from Manila to Virac, with a morning schedule.

An alternative is to get on a bus to Legazpi (12 hours) and then head to Tobacco Port. From
Tobacco Port, ride a passenger boat to San Andres, Catanduanes (3 hours). Boat schedules from
Tobacco Port to Catanduanes are 7AM and 1PM only.

Bus and van schedules in Virac

Take note of the limited schedules of public vehicles because its going to affect your tour schedules.
From Virac, there are buses and vans to Pandan from 9AM to 1PM (others say there are still rides
available at 5PM).

From Pandan to Virac, the earliest van schedule is 4AM but youll have to go to the terminal in the
market to confirm this, as Im not sure if this is part of their regular schedule. The latest schedule is
12Noon 1PM only, except on Fridays where there are occasional vans leaving at 3PM.

Tourist attractions in Catanduanes

Although most websites talk about Twin Rock Beach Resort, Puraran and Binurong Point, theres
actually a lot more attractions in Catanduanes that its difficult to compress it in this short
Catanduanes travel guide.

Here are the places weve visited (or read online):

Caramoran

The main attraction in Caramoran is Bitaog Beach in Parongpong Island. You can also do a side trip
to the other islands in Palumbanes: Tignob and Calabagio islands.

Bitaog beach in Palumbanes Islands. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

For boats for island hopping, head to the port and just ask around for any fishermen willing to take
you across the islands. If youre staying in Coco Beach Resort, Ate Letty can help you find one.

Rates are P1000-1500 for a small boat and P3000 for a bigger boat.
Pandan

In Pandan, you can visit Cagnipa rolling hills, which is near Tuwad-tuwadan natural pool. You can
also visit the viewdeck in Hiyop highlands.

View in Cagnipa. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Tuwad-tuwadan natural pool in Pandan. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

I recommend staying overnight in Carangyan Beach Resort in Pandan. The beach is quiet and
beautiful, and there are none to few guests during off-peak season.

You can tour Pandan via a habal-habal for P800-1000.

Baras

Puraran is where you go to surf. Catanduanes is famous for its great waves. In fact, it holds an
annual surfing competition, the Majestic Puraran Surfing Cup, every October.

Here are the available accommodations in Puraran:

Puraran Surf Beach Resort, 0906 494 6651

Majestic Puraran Beach Resort, 0927 357 2665
Pacific Surfers Paradise, 09178 046 648
Sunset in Binurong Point. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Other tourist attractions in Baras, Catanduanes, include Binurong Point and Balacay Point, both
featuring pastoral cliffs and a favorite of sunrise viewers.

Bato

In Bato, wed visited Bote lighthouse near Sakahon beach. The lighthouse entails a 30-minute
mountain trek. The trail is steep, so leave any heavy backpacks in your vehicle. Local kids will
normally volunteer to guide you to the lighthouse. Dont forget to give them a tip.

Other points of interest are the Bato Church and Maribina Falls.

Virac

If you take a flight to Catanduanes, youre going to land in Virac. Virac is the jump-off point to other
municipalities, to Caramoran and Pandan (left) or Bato and Baras (right).

Hali and I didnt explore the city, since we prefer to go nature tripping. That saying, the popular
destinations in Virac include the Twin Rock Beach Resort and Mamangal Beach Resort.

You can also buy your pasalubong here.

A complete Catanduanes travel guide map

Heres a map from the Catanduanes Tourism Board listing the current tourist attractions in
Catanduanes:
Accommodations in Catanduanes

These are the ones weve stayed in on our trip to Catanduanes.

Coco Beach Resort, Caramoran

If youre staying the night in Caramoran, I suggest Coco Beach Resort. It is owned by Ate Letty and
is just across the Palumbanes islands. Accommodation is P300 per night. Food is also served in the
resort.

Contact info: 0928 620 4592

Carangyan Beach Resort, Pandan

This resort in Carangyan is a bit on the expensive side, but I guarantee that its worth it. Its packed
during summer, but during off-season there are few guests and you can enjoy the beach to
yourselves.

We recommend staying in Carangyan Beach Resort when youre in Pandan. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Rooms are available at P1500 (fan room) and P1800 (aircon). There are also cottages at P300
each, although I wouldnt recommend getting one for an overnight stay because of mosquitos and
other insects at night.

Contact info: 0949 435 3044 / Official website

Kemji Resort, Virac

Wed planned on staying in a cheap inn in Virac, but our tricycle driver suggested here instead. I
consider this a good find, and its only 5 minutes away from the airport. They also have free shuttle
service to and from the airport, if you have any heavy luggage.

Kemji Resort features artistic decorations warm lights at night, round swings beside the pool and
so on. It has pools and a restaurant, which serves reasonably priced good food. Rooms are
available at P1000-1100 for 2 people and P1000-1500 for 3 people.

Contact info: Facebook page

Have anything to add in this Catanduanes travel guide? Any must-see destinations youve been

to or recommended accommodations? Feel free to post in the comment section below. It will
be of great help to fellow travelers.

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