Calaguas | A Paradise Worth the Travel

Calaguas is a group of islands located in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. It is known for its long stretch of powdery white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and peaceful and serene ambiance. As the islands are pretty secluded, only few accommodations are available. Camp tents are the usual type of accommodations they offer. The island doesn’t have electricity as it is far from the mainland, but they have power generators operating from 6:00PM to 6:00AM. It is the perfect destination if you wish to have a break from your usually noisy city life.

It was an 8-hour bus ride from Cubao Station in Manila to Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte, where we met with our tour provider representative. He took us (using a comfortable, air-conditioned SUV) from Daet Bus Station to Vinzons Port. We then braved the waves for a 2-hour boat ride form the port to Tinaga Island, where Mahabang Buhangin beach is located. Trust me, this long travel is all worth it!

As I got nearer to our destination, I was left in awe of how beautiful the islands are. All of my exhaustion from the long travel were eased off. It was really mesmerizing!

Upon arrival, our tour guides assisted us to our cottage while they prepared our lunch and set-up our tents. I felt no hassle at all, almost everything I needed were prepared and provided by our tour guides.

We then took the short free time after lunch to rest for a bit. Tip: You have to rest too! The afternoon was pretty hectic! After some time, the guide then asked us to get ready for island-hopping and snorkeling.

The sun was too high but we didn’t care! The islands were fascinating! We visited multiple islands, each offered unique sights and experiences. We watched huge waves as they hit the shore, sat on cliffs to take awesome photos, climbed small hills made of rocks, and enjoyed the cold waters. We just lost track of time. We kept on wanting more!

Just right after the island-hopping, the tour guide then took us at the middle of the sea for snorkeling. The water was so cold, I shivered for a long time; but that didn’t stop me from swimming and looking for fishes and corals.

The next day, all of us prepared for a trekking. The hill is situated at the rear part of the island. You’ll pass across some residential houses en route.

We then spent the rest of the day completely being beach bums, from drinking beer, playing cards, getting temporary tattoos, running to have a swim, and watching the beautiful sunset while kayaking.

What we did on the morning of our third day isn’t usually included in the itinerary of some travel blogs I’ve seen online – visiting the pier behind the town at the back part of the island. It is the perfect place if you want to have some cool silhouette shots.