Caramoan Budget Family Tour last part; Whole Day Island Tour Long Trip

another Philippines' best beach for my family adventure

March 06 to 08, 2015

Caramoan Budget Family Tour 2nd part; Afternoon Island Tour Short Trip 

Caramoan Island Tour (long trip) is a 8-hour boat tour to the islands far from Paniman Port. It is ideal to start this tour as early as 0800-0900H. There are minimum 4 islands to visit that includes Cotivas Island (nipa hut cottage fee PhP100), Manlawi Sandbar (highlight of this tour as this is the best sandbar I've seen in the world, regular Survivor Show venue for reward/immunity challenge, nipa hut floating cottage fee PhP150), Bugtong Sandbar (small version of Manlawi Sandbar only 15mins away) and Sabitang Laya Island (triangle shape with twin beach). I requested to add The Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Rosary (located in Tabgon which is very far from the center town, 530 steps to 26ft grotto, guide fee PhP100, entrance fee PhP30/head) to our journey, no additional charge as we just shortened the beachbumming stay in Sabitang Laya. We left Paniman Port (Caramoan mainland) at 0900H and went back around 1700H (8hr well-satisfied boat tour).

BUDGET ISLAND TOUR SERVICE INFORMATION;
boatman: KUYA RAMIL (30+ years of experience as boatman in Caramoan) (+63-907-4351962)
boat type: very decent boat with life vest, katig and cover; can accommodate 6-7 passengers
rental fee: PhP1,500 (short trip) / PhP2,500 (long trip) excluding meals and transportation from/to hotel
starting point: Paniman Port (30min travel time by tricycle from center town)
remarks: highly recommended for being kind and accommodating, offers "paluto" for island meal

We spent our 1st day for transportation to Caramoan and island tour short trip and 2nd day for whole day island tour. The 3rd day is the whole day transportation from Caramoan going home.

TOTAL BUDGET: PHP25,484 ($573) for 3-DAYS TRIP (3 Adults, 1 Senior, 2 Child)

Caramoan Budget Family Tour; Whole day Island Tour Long Trip (Manlawi Sandbar floating cottage)

Caramoan Budget Family Tour 2nd part; Afternoon Island Tour Short Trip

another Philippines' best beach for my family adventure

March 06 to 08, 2015

Caramoan Budget Family tour 1st part; from Sleeper Bus to Accommodation

“Dagos tabi!” - a warm and friendly Bikol greeting, meaning, “Please come in, you are most welcome!” 

Caramoan is a first-class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines. It is located at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the north and east and Lagonoy Gulf on the south. Caramoan is both a town and a region, but it also points to the islands sorrounding Caramoan. Bring your swimming trunk, bikinis, body board, swim vests, etc, along and have food or drinks catered over. You will need a minimum of two full days to really see and enjoy this place.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Caramoan

Interesting Facts about Caramoan Town, Camarines Sur: 

Caramoan has been the site for several editions of the competitive reality television show Survivor. Survivor is the American version of the reality game show derived from Swedish television series Expedition Robinson in 1997.
1. Survivor Israel for 3 Seasons; 3 (2009), 4 (2010), 5 (2011) 
2. Survivor USA for 2 Seasons; 25 (2013) and 26 (2014)
3. Survivor Serbia for 2 Season; 2 (2010) and 3 (2011)
4. Survivor France for Season 8 (2008)
5. Survivor India for Season 1 (2012)
6. Survivor Bulgaria for Season 4 (2009)
7. Survivor Sweden for Season 10 (2010)

Survivor Caramoan Update (March 2015);
In reference to some hearsay during my visit, there will be another Survivor Reality Show new season episode tapings this coming June 2015. Also, it will be around 3-5 consecutive seasons in different countries.

Caramoan Island Tour (short trip) is a 3-hour boat tour to the islands nearby the Paniman Port along Caramoan mainland. It is ideal to start this tour in the afternoon. There are 4 islands to visit that includes  ​​​​Matukad Island (5min hike on limestone sharp peaks to see the legendary lone huge milkfish), Lahos Island, Cagbalinad Island and Gota Beach Resort (Survivor Show staff accommodation).

Caramoan Budget Family Tour 2nd part; Afternoon Island Tour Short Trip (Matukad Island hiking)

Caramoan Budget Family Tour 1st part; from Sleeper Bus to Accommodation

another Philippines' best beach for my family adventure

March 06 to 08, 2015

"A family is a risky venture, because the greater the love, the greater the loss... That's the trade-off. But I'll take it all." - Brad Pitt

My 16th family outing initiated, their 2nd visit in Bicol Region (following the Naga-Legazpi trip last November 2011), and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. Please take note I did not perform any advance booking; I just texted the boatman for island trips and the resort owner for 2 nights accommodation while walk-in payment for the sleeper night bus.

Important Tip: Depart any bus from Cubao/Pasay not more than 2000H  to arrive Naga bus terminal at 0500H; leave Naga van terminal by around 0600H so that you reach the 0800H Sabang Port, San Jose boat departure and arrive at Guijalo Port, Caramoan by 1000H. This is the ideal itinerary to maximize the Island Trip (short).

IDEAL (14hrs)		TRANSPO	FROM	TO	FARE/PAX
2000H-0500H	9hrs	bus	Cubao/Pasay Terminal	Naga Bus Terminal	₱750
0500H-0545H	45mins	tricycle/walk	Naga Bus Terminal	Naga Van Terminal	₱8
0545H-0715H	1.5hrs	van	Naga Van Terminal	Sabang Port, San Jose	₱100
0800H-1000H	2hrs	boat	Sabang Port, San Jose	Guijalo Port, Caramoan	₱120

FROM SLEEPER NIGHT BUS TO CARAMOAN ACCOMMODATION ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

March 05, 2015 Thursday
1900H ETD Home; taxi bound to Isarog Bus Terminal (Edsa Cubao) 300php
1945H ETA Isaraog Cubao Terminal; 4-adults 1-child 4,825php (1,000/adult, 825/senior&child)
2100H ETD Cubao (family composed of 3 adults, 1 senior & 2 child)
Subtotal: 5,125php

March 06, 2015 Friday
0600H ETA Naga City bus terminal (9hrs travel); tricycle to van terminal 500m away, back of SM mall 36php
0645H ETD Naga City van terminal 500php (100/pax) full pax requirement for van departure
0815H ETA Sabang Port (1.5hrs travel); 0800H boat departed already, late due to delayed Naga bus arrival
breakfast 315php; bridging fee 50php (10/pax)
1100H ETD Sabang Port 540php (120/pax, 60/children 8 yrs below)
land travel (Raymund bus) will take around 5hrs from Naga to Caramoan with php250-300 per pax
1300H ETA Guijalo Port (2hrs travel); bridging fee 50php; free van pick-up West Peninsula Villa
1330H ETA West Peninsula Villa (free transfer from/to Guijalo Port, free breakfast, free wifi, swimming pool, gym, walking distance to central town... only 2,500php for standard room 4pax, a/c room with toilet)
Subtotal: 1,491php

BUDGET TOTAL: 5,125 + 1,491 = PHP6,616
Based on the above, we made 16hrs of travel with 6 modes of transportation types from our home to our accommodation in Caramoan (taxi, sleeper bus, tricycle, aircon van, boat, aircon van).

Caramoan Budget Family Tour 1st part; from Night Bus to Accommodation (Sabang Port, San Jose)

Legazpi - Naga Rainy Family Day-Tour without Me

2011’s 3rd family outing
November 05, 2011 Saturday

due to an expected changes, i still pursue this event though i was not there. i made a very detailed itinerary so that confusion will be least anticipated during their travel. also, this is their first time to have a family outing without me in-charge and their first time to go on this places. my itineraries from my camnorte-legazpi last may 2011 and camsur pnr bicol express day-tour september 2011 helped a lot and give me more confidence that they can nail this.

mayon volcano

Camarines Sur Day Tour 2nd part; Church hopping

feeling the new transpo trip for the 1st time
september 09-11, 2011 friday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this province can offer at limited time

new pnr bicol express train escapade
side trip to daet (lakbay rizal 5th leg)
camarines sur day-tour 1 (kulapnitan caves)

continued...

from libmanan crossing, we arrived in naga bus terminal after an hour. decided to ride a tricycle bound to naga cathedral but instead, detour for a local food trip favorite. after eating started the church hopping in naga city proper. started in naga cathedral, then jeepney to penafrancia shrine. afterwards, just walked to penafrancia basilica then went to centro (downtown) for our final food trip for the day. around 1800H, we went back to PNR terminal for another go back to manila rail trip.

naga metropolitan cathedral

Camarines Sur Day Tour 1st part; Kulapnitan Caves

feeling the new transpo trip for the 1st time
september 09-11, 2011 friday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to continue the lakbay rizal quest and explore what this province can offer at limited time

the new pnr bicol express train escapade
side trip to daet (lakbay rizal 5th part)

continued...

important note (camarines sur);
Camarines Sur is a province located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region both in terms of population and land area. Its territory encompasses two cities: Naga City, the lone chartered city, is the province's and the region's most progressive city, also commercial, educational, financial, and cultural center, while Iriga City, a component city, is the center of the Rinconada area.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camarines_Sur

kulapnitan caves