How do I get there?
Part One
Cubao to Caramoan Centro
Part Two
Matukad Island
Part Three
Omang Cave
Okay, so I guess your number one question is, how do I get there? It's was actually the same question we had in our mind when we were still planning our vacation trip to Caramoan. I thought that it's hard considering that it's hours away far from Manila. You can actually get a package deal to bring you there in Caramoan but if you would like to maximize the value of your money and have the liberty to island hop all you want, then I suggest you PLAN IT YOURSELF! :) When I browsed the web before we went there, for package deals of 3 days and 2 nights, it does cost 5000 pesos or more per person, of course depending on the number of persons.
When you plan your trip to Caramoan, I suggest you contact a boat man first to man an island hopping trip for you. Lucky for us, we were able to get the contact details of our boat man, Mr. Ramil Cruel who owns 3 Local motorized outrigger boats
Mr. Ramil Cruel resides in Paniman which is the drop off point if you'd like to go island hopping. It's an advantage to stay in Paniman than to stay in one of the inns in the Centro. You can also see a resto bar here who can really cook fresh sea foods for you at a very affordable price.
Going back to Mr. Cruel, contrary to his last name, he isn't cruel at all. He is one of the nicest persons I have known. Since we were only 2, (Kristian which is me and Ron), he assigned us to his son, Ramir Cruel to be our boat man. Ramir like his dad is a good heart as well. He will help you make your stay as comfortable as possible without any single sign of complain.
Mr. Ramil Cruel has always been contracted by Survivor to operate their speed boats every time they're here. This May of 2011, he will operate speed boats for Survivor Israel, Poland and 2 other countries which slipped off my head. :) He is also the very first boat man to bring tourists to several island.
He prices very fair enough. You won't even have to haggle. His son and us were talking while we're on a habal-habal going to the Centro to look for something to cook for dinner. There are really things that money can't buy. The place, the people, everything. Bikolanos are really a treasure of Camarines Sur.
Now there are two route trips to start your Island Hopping. First is what they call the short trip and the other one is the long trip. Subject to change due to gas price increase, as of April 2011, it costs Php 1,500.00 for the short trip and Php 2,500 for the long trip.
Short trip means you're going to do your island hopping on nearby islands which are minutes away from Paniman Beach.
Islands that include this trip are:
Matukad (at tabing baybayin) which homes the said milk fish that guards the lagoon
Tinago island (that has a color red-like sand)
Lahos island (A hill of brownish to white fine sands in the middle of two limestones)
Gota One (This is Survivor's Tribal Council. Locals said each cabanas costs Php 3,500)
Gota two
Hunongan (A private island owned by the governor. Locals said each cabanas here costs Php 7,500)
Pitogo island
Cabutongan (A small secluded island where small group of family lives. You can also rent huts here but the cons though is since this is an island, it doesn't have any electricity)
Tips:
1. Always wear your life vest. You will never know what will happen in the middle of the sea. One of the locals said life vests in Caramoan can only save you for up to 2 to 4 hours.
2. Have your boat man approximate the time you can stay on an island especially in short trip tour. Boats can only get in to these islands if and only if its HIGH TIDE and usually its in the morning or in the afternoon. Also, strong waves may hinder you to reach some islands like Tinago and Lahos Islands. You wouldn't want to miss the rest of the islands. I also learned that every full moon, these tides are at extreme ends. It can be at super low tide or at super high tide.
3. Each boat can only accommodate a maximum up to 9 persons including the boat man and his assistant. SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED.
4. Should you want to bring your electronics, i.e. cellphones, i touch, or any electronic devices, always place it inside a container that is water resistant. Again, you'll never know what's going to happen in the middle of the sea. It's salt water and can easily damage your gadgets. If in any case it was accidentally immersed in sea water, take the battery off the device and dry it asap. The idea is to dissolve the salt into the water (obviously, no batteries installed). I would make sure that the camera is completely dry before turning it on.
The bad news is that if you already turned the camera on. The salts may have provided a conductivity path where there should not be one and you may have shorted out an electical component.I accidentally had my gadgets dropped in sea water. I don't know what to do back then so i just let it dry and it wouldn't want to open anymore.
Always be careful! :)
Now long trip means you're going to do your island hopping to the farther islands. Long Trip is approximately an hour away from Paniman but just minutes away from Bikal Port.
Islands that include this trip are:
Cotivas Island (first destination)
Sabitang Laya (Triangular in shape on an aerial view.)
Manlawi (Sand Bar) You can rent a hut where you can stay for lunch for Php 50.00 to Php100.00
You can also drop by the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Mother of Peace) which is approximately 520 steps above sea level.
We never reached these islands on the long trip route due to circumstances outside anyone's control.
To contact Mr. Ramil Cruel for Island Hopping/ renting of local motorized outrigger boats, call him directly at: 09074351962
Posting his number is our way of showing our deepest gratitude for the hospitality he showed us. Kindly tell him as well that we miss them and that we will go back :)
Mr. Ramil Cruel also offers homestay at a very affordable rate.
It's better to stay in Paniman to avoid the expensive tricycle ride (Php 200.00) from Centro to Paniman should you wish to do Island hopping or Spelunking.
Now that you have your boat man to guide you, let's take a look at the best place to stay in Caramoan. Like what I have said, it's better to stay in Paniman to avoid riding a tricycle to and from the drop off point of Island Hopping. We stayed at Mr. Cruel's home stay which is very convenient and affordable.
If you want to stay in the Centro, you may want to check this website: http://www.virtualtourist.com/hotels/Asia/Philippines/Province_of_Camarines_Sur/Caramoan-1403278/Hotels_and_Accommodations-Caramoan-TG-C-1.html
Now the question still remains, how do I get there?
By Land
If you are planning to go there on a Holy Week which is the third week of April and my birthday week as well, I suggest you book your tickets at least three weeks in advance to get a better bus to take you there. Bus stations going to Naga is located near Ali Mall in Cubao. Fare going to Naga costs around Php 700.00 to Php 1,100 depending on the type of Bus and Bus company you wish to ride on. Because there were a lot of people going to the south, we weren't able to get the newer buses that have comfortech and lazy boys. So, we ended up on a Penafrancia bus that doesn't have any comfort room. It would have been okay hadn't it stopped over for 4 hours stranded in Ragay waiting for a mechanic to fix the bus.
So we departed at exactly 7:30 PM and arrived in Naga at around 9:00 in the morning the following day when it should have only taken us 8 hours to get there.
After that we took a Van to Sabang Port which cost Php 90.00 each. The terminal of these vans are just located in front of SM Naga which is just a walking distance away from the bus terminal.
It will take you an hour and a half to reach Sabang Port from Naga city. From Sabang port, you have to take a boat to Guijalo Port which is the entry point to Caramoan town. It cost us Php 120.00 each. You will also have to pay an extra Php 10.00 each for the platform you will use to walk over from the shore to the boat. This is better unlike before when the locals used to carry the tourists on their shoulders to bring them to the boat.
This ride will take you approximately 2 hours. Boat's name is "Harry".
You wouldn't want to miss a trip so better take note of its departure time:
7am
9am
11 am
Last trip is at 1 am
From Guijalo port, Mr. Ramil was there waiting for us in his fatigue fisherman's hat :)
He took us to and around the Centro and had our lunch before going to Paniman Beach. By the way, before entering Caramoan proper, you will have to pay Php 30.00 per person for environmental sanitation. Our lunch cost us Php 50.00 per meal which is comparable to carinderias here in Manila.
We visited the oldest church erected in Caramoan which is the St. Michael the Arch Angel church. This was constructed over 300 years ago. This church was made out of red bricks which made the church really spectacular.
Roads going to the centro is paved but then after passing the centro to Paniman, expect a rough dirt road.
This whole tricycle ride will take you about 30 minutes to an hour from Guijalo t0 Paniman Beach. Because a bridge fell down due to a huge truck that passed on it, we had to take 2 tricycles. From Guijalo to that bridge it cost us Php 200.00 and from that bridge to Paniman it will cost you Php 100.00.
To summarize:
Transportation Expenses (One way)
Bus: Cubao to Naga: Php 700.00 to Php 1,050 (8 to 10 hours)
Van: Naga to Sabang Port: Php 90.00 to Php100.00 ( 1 1/2 hours)
Harry's Boat: Sabang Port to Guijalo Port (2 hours)
Php 120.00 fare
Php 10.00 for the bridge
Tricycle: Guijalo Port to and around Centro: Php 200.00 (30 minutes)
Tricycle: from end point (fallen bridge) to Paniman Beach: Php 100.00) 20 minutes
As of October of 2011, Ramir informed us that RORO is now operational on and off Caramoan area.
Island Hopping
Short Trip: Php 1,500
Long Trip: Php 2,500
Accommodation for two: Ranges from Php300.00 to Php 7,500
Rates as of April, 2011
Map from Manila to Caramoan
View Larger Map
xoxo
hi, is the 1,500 and 2,500 a per pax rate???
ReplyDelete