CARAMOAN SPREE

Caramoan is among the famous beach destinations in the Philippines. Its island beaches are comparatively as finer and silkier as Boracay’s.

We preferred the internationally acclaimed Caramoan group of islands given its powdery sand beaches and the site where the famous US reality tv show, Survivor, shot their 2011, 2012, and 2016 tv series.

Politically, Caramoan is a second class municipality situated in the lower eastern part of Camarines Sur, Philippines. The 277.41 square kilometer-municipality has 49 barangays, 4000 HA of limestone forest, and a total of 71 kilometers of irregular coastline.

Previously, in 2011,2012, and 2016, parts of the Caramoan islands were closed to the public to give way to several shootings of the famous US Reality TV Series, Survivor.

After arriving in Naga City in daybreak to take our morning repast at a nearby fast-food chain. The convoy immediately pulled away en route to Sabang Port to embark on a ferry boat that will transport us to the gateway to the beautiful and world-class islands of Caramoan, Guijalo Port. Though, you can reach the Caramoan islands via its mainland.

Several road reblocking projects were ongoing at that mainland highway; hence we decided the two-hour voyage via Sabang port.

After reaching Guijalo port, another 20-minute trike ride leading to the Caramoan islands’ gateway awaited us.

After reaching the hinterland of Guijalo port, another 20-minute trike ride leading to the gateway of the Caramoan islands awaited us.

From there, we took another banca ride for one hour, leading to the group of Islands. Along the journey, Caramoan’s beautiful islands suddenly appeared on the horizon that we immediately took snapshots of this scenic and picturesque landscape.

There are ten principal islands off Caramoan peninsula, six of which we explored, during our two-day getaway in Caramoan.

*_{Lahuy Island where Sitio Nipa, a spring that provides fresh water source, can be found.}*

Lahuy Island: Here, we were billeted. The said island is the largest among the Carmoan group of islands. It has a 10-km coastline.

Matukad Island is my most favorite island in Caramoan where a manoy (Bicolano vernacular means Kuya) persuaded me to trek a particular limestone there to catch a glimpse of the strange, elusive, intriguing, and mystical milkfish that has become part of the Matukad folklore. Weeks later, Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho featured this extraordinary island.
Lahus Island
Manlawi Island: This is where you can bask in an enormous sandbar.

Peddlers of sundry things are scattered in some islands. Some offer buffet in their balsa. In my opinion, the Bicolandia gastronomy the resourceful locals do offer here has likewise boosted Caramoan tourism because tourists can still have a food access in Caramoan hinterlands.

Our Caramoan escapade is a truly memorable and blissful experience in this perfect constellation of islands.