Going to Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte is a 10-hour ride via private vehicle plus a 2-hour boat ride. Having this tour package (I was a solo joiner of this trip) – complete with meals, tent accommodation, and roundtrip transfer was a good option. Doing this on DIY just for a weekend trip doesn’t appear fun and convenient on my end.
The boat ride to Calaguas at
first is not really that inviting as the water at the port doesn’t appear to be
that clear (see photo for your reference). But as your boat starts to go further,
the color of the water becomes a cleaner version of sea green and eventually, calming
crystal blue sea water will start to greet you.
I welcomed my 34th in
Calaguas Island (though at 12mn, I was still in the van). The place wasn’t
crowded. I found some quiet time despite the laughter and excitement of my
fellow guests around me. At around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we went to the
nearby island called Balagbag Island. I found it a bit rocky and not an ideal
place for swimming, but others managed to swim anyway. To fully enjoy the
place, you need to do baby climbs for around 5 minutes and allow the view to
leave you amazed.
At night, I was surprised and grateful
at the gesture of my chosen tour agency. Four guests, including me were
celebrating our birthdays in February and they managed to do ninja moves at the
port to buy us our birthday cake (with a candle).ctto (Zetodeals, Benj S.)
The next morning, we headed to
Pinagkastilyuhang Buhangin (Sand Bar). There isn’t much to do in this place,
but it’s an ideal one for at least a 30-minute clear-my-mind type of walk.
Calaguas Island Trip costs me
around Php 3,000, compulsory travel insurance included.
Our itinerary and my personal
expenses:
Tour Package: c/o Zetodeals
Friday
9:00 pm – call time in Ortigas
CBD
11:00 pm – off to Vinzons Port
(with a couple of stopovers for bio and coffee/cup noodle / yosi
break)
break)
Saturday
7:00 am – breakfast at Jollibee in Daet
8:30 am – ETA Vinzons Port
(guests are advised to buy huge plastic bags for your backup)
11:00 am – ETA Calaguas Island
4:00 pm – off to Balagbag Island
5:00 pm – time to leave Balagbag
Island
Sunday
6:30 am – trek time
7:00 am – breakfast, break camp
8:00 am – ETD Calaguas Island;
off to Pinagkastilyuhan Sand Bar
10:00 am – ETD Sand Bar
12:00 nn – ETA Vinzons Port, Shower
time, prep time back to Manila
12:00 mn – ETA Ortigas CBD
Expenses:
2,988 – tour package fee
75 – compulsory travel insurance
80 – est. Jollibee breakfast
50 – est. small bottle of water and a pack
of bread for baon
25 – stopover (5 pesos for using the rest
room, 20 pesos for a cup of 3-in-1 coffee)
20 – huge plastic bag for my stuff (treat
this as requirement especially if you have more than just a backpack)
0 – lunch, dinner on Saturday and
breakfast on Sunday (included in the package)
25 – entrance fee Balagbag Island
90 – entrance fee, environmental fee Sand
Bar
100 – 2 ref magnets (I haggled) for
souvenir bought in the island
150 – est. lunch at Alvino’s in Daet
120 – dinner at Daph’s Seafood resto
300 – est. pasalubong bought from Jannah
(I am kuripot when it comes to pasalubong)
50 – every time you pee and take a shower,
you have to pay 5 and 10 pesos respectively, except at the port – shower costs 20 pesos)
Total: Php 4,000 +
Thanks again, Zetodeals (esp. Benj S) for the simple birthday treat.
You may check their FB page should you be interested in Singles Tour. They have frequent trips to Sagada and Calaguas. Some of your soon-to-be fellow guests may already be Zetodeals suki. They’re the tour agency I find convenient so far if you work or live around Ortigas area. (not a paid advertisement, btw)
