By Nathan Allen
It’s not too well know outside the Philippines, but I hope my Caramoan Travel Guide will help convince international tourists (or locals who haven’t visited yet) to check this place out! I really did love it.
The Paradise That Just Might Have It All…
Caramoan is located in the province of Camarines Sur, in the Bicol region of the Philippines. It’s one of those places I always had a good feeling about…I just knew I was going to love it. Well, when the team at Naga Excursions sent me an invitation to explore it, I jumped at the chance!
The Philippines is quite diverse…I love the beautiful beaches of Boracay, the rolling hillsides full of grazing cattle in Masbate, and the majestic limestone cliffs of El Nido. Somehow, Caramoan has all of that, but also the Bicolano food that I love so much! Spicy and coconut-infused…if you love the beaches and food in Thailand, you might want to check out uncrowded Caramoan instead.
Manlawi Island Sandbar – My Caramoan Travel Guide –
Manlawi Island had the most beautiful sandbar I’ve seen anywhere in the Philippines! We arrived just before noon, and within 1 hour, our boat was already on dry land! We had no choice but to wait until the tide came back up. Not a bad place to be stranded, though:) It was also fun to explore the rolling hills, Mangrove trees, and floating cottages nearby.
1st Stop on the Island Hopping Tour – Matukad Island
What a beautiful beach! Here you can snorkel, swim, or climb up a natural rock wall that leads to a hidden lagoon…legend has it that there is a lone bangus (milkfish) that guards the lagoon.
“Survivor Caramoan”
Did you know that Caramoan is where the TV show “Survivor” is filmed? Unfortunately, it makes visiting certain islands impossible much of the time. Some locals aren’t too happy about it, and I don’t blame them.
Trekking Through the Manapot River to Umang Cave
After relaxing and rock climbing on Matukad Island, our guide led us into the cool waters of the Manapot River. Our destination? Umang Cave, but we had to wade through the river to get there. You can touch the ground almost the whole way (unless you’re very short, I suppose). The cave is pretty impressive, but just getting to it is half the fun!
The Breathtaking View and “Talking Rocks” of Pitogo Island
As the sun began it’s journey toward the sea, we stopped at fascinating Pitogo Island. Here you can hike up a grassy hill to a breathtaking 360 degree view of the islands. What’s truly fascinating about it are the “talking” rocks, though! The beach is made up of giant, smooth rocks (no sand), and as the waves crash onto the shore, it makes a loud sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard! Hopefully I’ll post a video sometime soon.
Sunset at Lahos Island
We stopped at this idyllic little island just in time for mother nature to put on a magical show for us. Yes, indeed there is something enchanting about a dramatic island-sunset in the Philippines – the perfect way to wrap up an island-hopping adventure in the sun.
Tugawe Cove Resort
What a beautiful place to unwind after island hopping! This private cove is a great place to kayak, snorkel, or swim (in the pool or the sea!). Even just getting to the resort was a blast, because we took a speedboat from the mainland. I think that was the first time I’ve ever been on one, and it’s a lot of fun!
Inspired Design
The bungalows get more and more beautiful and quaint as you continue up the hill. I’m a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, and some of these bungalows were reminiscent of “Falling Water”.
The restaurant, game room, and pool are at the top of the hill, and as you can see, the views are spectacular! It is a fancy place, so I was actually surprised how reasonably priced the food and drinks were. Meals were quite good, and the staff was very attentive and friendly (I especially loved how they greeted us “marhay na hapon” – good afternoon in the Bicol dialect – when we arrived.
It’s billed as a 5-star resort, and while I don’t think it’s quite a 5-star resort by international standards, it is unquestionably beautiful. Guests have free use of the kayaks and snorkeling gear, and I took full advantage of that fact! Check the photos from these adventures further down below…
Incredible view from the pool, huh? If you ask the staff, they might let you see their resort mascot – a mischievous tropical bird called a hornbill. I think his name was Kevin, and I thought giving him such a human name was awesome.
Here you see what makes this resort so unique – it’s a beautiful cove that also has its own lagoon. Out in the water you can see how much coral there is to explore as you snorkel. The best views are in deeper water, so bring a life jacket and swim carefully!
Snorkeling in Tugawe Cove
Below are some photos I took while I snorkeled. As always, I used my Olympus TG-4 underwater camera. You can see quite a bit of fish if you are brave enough to venture out into deeper waters. The resort recommends that you stay within the cove, though. I agree….the waves and current quickly gets strong as you get further and further out.
Hotels in Caramoan (Tour Packages Often Included)
Tugawe Cove Resort – You can explore your options and book your unforgettable stay HERE
Casita Mia Bed and Breakfast – Excellent food and service. Not quite as fancy as Tugawe Cove, but a very good value. Explore options or book your stay HERE
Breeze and Waves Cottages – This is an excellent and affordable option. It’s also perfect for those who want to get further out and experience a bit of local life in Caramoan. You can explore and book a room HERE
More options HERE
Getting To Caramoan / Contact Info
If you want to visit Caramoan, contact Naga Excursions or Kaddlagan Tours. They took good care of me, but more importantly, they are committed to protecting and preserving these beautiful places for future generations.
Naga City can be reached by 1 hour flight from Manila, or overnight bus ride. From there you can now take a van or bus directly to the town of Caramoan. Please check the links above for more info.
Thanks so much to Alec and Naga Excursions, but also to team FlipTrip and fellow bloggers Traveling Light, The Lonely Travelogue, and The Pinay Solo Backpacker! We had a lot of fun together, and I can’t wait to return to Caramoan again someday!
– Nathan Allen
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