Dubbed and known as the "concealed white beach of Bicol," Calaguas Island in the Municipality of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, is one of the hidden nature's beauties perfect for a quick summer getaway or if you want to unwind from the metro stress.
Its powdery white sand can rival Boracay's, and the clear, cerulean waters have been one of the reasons why beach adventurers go to this place. But, aside from its clean and calming beaches, you can also explore mountainous landforms within the vicinity and enjoy your time away from Manila.
Calaguas Islands boast not just swimming in their greenish to bluish crystal clear waters but also numerous water leisure activities such as scuba diving where you can name a newly discovered reef, snorkeling to meet marine life, and corals, as well as kayaking, to discover hidden spots. If you like a good dose of an adrenaline rush, try cliff jumping!
Please don't stay in one when you can experience it all! Hop from one island to another and enjoy beautiful islands with various types of sand. You can explore several other beaches while on the island: Pinagtigasan Beach, Cumalasag, Pinagtakpan, Pinagcastillohan, Guintinua, Huag, and more.
When traveling, what's better than an Instagram-able pic? Hike to the summit of Balagbag Island Hill View Point for 10 minutes to have a breath-taking photo between Calaguas' islands. You can also go mountain hiking in several spots on the island, where you can find one in Tinaga Island and one in Balagbag Island.
One of the famous beaches and leading tourist sites in Camarines Norte, its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue waters rival Boracay's. A cove located in Tinaga Island, you can find volcanic rocks along its long stretch of white sand shoreline and even hike the hills in the vicinity to have a 360-degree view of Mahabang Buhangin amidst a majestic sea of clouds.
Considered the oldest church in the rich town of Vinzons in Camarines Norte, this parish showcases the rich and wealthy heritage of the province. Established by Franciscan priests in 1581, its original name is Tacboan. In 1624, they changed its name to Indan, and after World War II, Indan got changed to Vinzons, in honor of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons, a notable figure in the province's history. He was a former governor of the province and the youngest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935, who became a guerilla leader martyred during WWII by the Japanese.
A few meters away from the beach is a range of hills known as Tinago. Its name may be from Barangay Tinago, the small barangay located on the other side of the hills. Aside from its unique name, another fact about this famous spot is that on top of its peak, you will be able to have a panoramic view of the entire island as well as the nearby islets of Calaguas. Halfway through it, travelers would be able to see the whole stretch of Mahabang Buhangin Beach as well as its neighboring island of Balagbag.
If you plan to go to Calaguas Island soon, you might want to consider dates from February to July. Avoid the rainy season from August to November to ensure that you'll enjoy the islands with just the right amount of sun and warm ocean temperatures without the big waves caused by trade winds (usually by December-January). Take into consideration that the island is only accessible by boat, so it would be hard to travel if you visit during typhoon-prone months. If you like a peaceful time with nature, choose to go on a weekday to ensure that you avoid the crowd.
Planning to visit Calaguas Island in the next coming days? Checkout the weather in Calaguas Island.
Going to Calaguas Island may be daunting for some, but you can reach your destination safe and hassle-free by knowing the available modes of transportation to and from Manila and nearby provinces. There are two known ways to go to the island via Paracale or Vinzons.
Both routes will require you first to reach Daet from Manila, and in traveling to this first stop, you can travel by land or air.
If by land travel, you will have to ride a bus (from Cubao or Pasay) to Daet, which will approximately take about 7-8 hours and costs from P450 to P750.
The closest airport will be in Naga, accessible with regular commercial flights.
From Naga to Daet, it will take two hours, and you can ride vans that can depart as early as 5 AM and as late as 7 PM.
From Daet, you will need to ride a bus or jeep to Paracale. Next, hail a tricycle to the port to hire a boat going to Mahabang Buhangin or the Calaguas Island resort where you will stay.
However, note that there is no regular boat schedule, and the availability is unpredictable.
From Daet, take a bus or jeep bound for Vinzons. Once you reach Vinzons, ride a tricycle to the port and charter a boat to Mahabang Buhangin. Usually, it takes about two hours of boat ride from the port. The boat fee can reach up to 3000 Php and may be ideal for big groups of tourists.
No review available.
