kesh. travels.

Calaguas Islands
Remote islands with white-sand beaches in Vinzons, Camarines Norte

So far, nothing compares to the Calaguas Islands experience I just had last April 26 to May 2.  It was supposed to be just a two-night camp on the islands which became a five-night-stranded-in-typhoon story.

We’ve been planning for months to go to this remote island in Camarines Norte.  Google it out and you’ll find tons of breathtaking, virgin-beach photos of Mahabang Buhangin.

This is our story, Paul’s birthday story.

[This post is still on the works. Tons of stories and unforgettable experiences to tell.
05/14/2009 -  In the meantime, enjoy the pictures :)  Link to the photo album can be found below.
05/30/2009 - Updated “How to Go”, “Where to Stay” and “Where to Eat”]

How to Go to Calaguas Islands (Mahabang Buhangin Beach, Brgy. Mangkawayan, Vinzons, Camarines Norte)

Through the town of Paracale
They said that going to Calaguas through the town of Paracale is much safer than taking the one through Vinzons because you will not pass through basagan where the waves are breaking and chaotic. If you’ll go to Calaguas from Daet, this route is not recommended because Paracale is two hours away from Daet.  If you’ll go to Calaguas directly from Manila, then this is the route for you.  This is also the cheapest way to go to the islands.

1.  Take Superlines or Philtranco BUS from Manila to Talobatib (town of Labo, Camarines Norte) [8 hours]
The bus is bound to Daet.  However, you’ll drop off Talobatib in Labo.  In Talobatib, you’ll see a “triangle” junction where you can ask people at the small eateries where to ride the bus going to Paracale.

2.  Take another BUS in Talobatib going to the town of Paracale
Almost every 30 minutes, buses from Daet will pass through this junction going to Paracale. [1 hour]

3.  Then take a TRICYCLE from Paracale town to Paracale port. [10 mins]

4.  In Paracale port, ask around for the BANCA going to Brgy. Mangkawayan [1.5 hours]
You may ask the same banca to take you to Mahabang Buhangin beach for an extra fee or you may take a 1.5 kilometer walk from the barrio/centro of Brgy. Mangkawayan to Mahabang Buhangin beach.  I suggest that you take the latter for some sight-seeings.  If it’s difficult to understand the directions given by locals going to the beach, you may ask one of the local kids to take you. You may give them P20 tip afterwards.

Manila -> Talobatib -> Paracale town -> Paracale port -> Brgy. Mangkawayan -> Mahabang Buhangin

Through the town of Vinzons
Taking this route will make you experience basagan (breaking waves) and you’ll also pass through the Vietnam-like river where you’ll see tons of nipa. If you’ll go to Calaguas from Daet, this is the route for you.

1.  Go to Daet by (a) BUS or by (b) PLANE (from Naga)
a.  Go to Daet by taking a BUS from Manila to Daet [8 hours]
b.1.  Go to Daet by first going to Naga from Manila by PLANE [1 hour]
b.2.  From Naga airport, go to Naga terminal by either [20 mins]:
- taking a VAN from Naga airport to Naga terminal
- walking from Naga airport to the hi-way then taking a JEEP to Naga terminal
- taking a PEDICAB from Naga airport to the hi-way then taking a JEEP to Naga terminal
b.3.  In Naga terminal, take a VAN going to Daet terminal [2 hours]

2.  Then take a JEEP from Daet terminal to Vinzons market.  Here, you may do your last shopping of food (like meat and fish to ihaw), etc.

3.  From Vinzons market, take a TRICYCLE going to Vinzons port (they call it Pandawan)

4.  Vinzons port is actually by the river.  Here, you’ll look for the BANCA going to Brgy. Banocboc.  You have two options here, you could either take the “special” trip or you may ride with the locals on the “daily” trip.

Special Trip
In this case, you’ll hire the entire banca. This is recommended if your group is composed of five or more people because it is going to cost you around P4,000.00 to P6,000.00 depending on the size of the boat.  At this rate, the banca will take you directly to Mahabang Buhangin beach and it will get you the time you’re ready to go back.

Daily Trip
If you will take the daily trip and ride with the locals, you should be at Vinzons pandawan before 10am because bancas usually leave the port by 11am and again, you have two options.  You could either [Daily Trip A] get-off at Brgy. Banocboc then look for another banca that will take you to Mahabang Buhangain or [Daily Trip B] you may ask the same banca to take you to Mahabang Buhangin beach for an extra fee.

Daily Trip A
From Vinzons, ride with the locals and get off at Brgy. Banocboc.  From there, ask around if there are boats available that will take you to Mahabang Buhangin beach at Brgy. Mangkawayan.  I am not sure about the rate.  However, I’m sure that there are a number of bancas there that will take you to the beach.  If you will stay overnight in Mahabang Buhangin, remember that the banca will do four travels: (1) take you to the beach, (2) go back to Banocboc, (3) go back to the beach to get you, and then (4) take you to Banocboc again.  So think of your haggling price. Also, ask what time your banca (the one that will go back to Vinzons) will leave Brgy. Banocboc so you can tell your second banca (the one that will take and get you from Mahabang Buhangin beach) when they need to get you from the beach.  Usually, the banca to Vinzons leaves Brgy. Banocboc very early, around 6AM - 7AM.

Daily Trip B
Ask your banca (the one that you take in Vinzons) if they could bring you to Mahabang Buhangin after all the passengers disembarked in Brgy. Banocboc.  This might really take a long time because most of the cargoes of the banca consists of gasoline, crushed ice and other supplies (when we went there, they even boarded a motorcycle ).  If it’s low tide, you’ll see that passengers need to ride a small banca from your bigger banca to get to the shore.  Also, some passengers will get off in Sitio Sugod (This is also in Brgy. Banocboc and I forgot if it’s in another island or other side of the Brgy. Banocboc island; all I can remember is we travelled roughly 15 mins to get there).  After they unboarded the supplies and passengers, they will then take you to Mahabang Buhangin beach which is around 30 mins. far from Brgy. Banocboc)

Manila -> Naga airport -> Naga terminal -> Daet terminal -> Vinzons market -> Vinzons port -> Brgy. Banocboc -> Mahabang Buhangin

Manila -> Daet terminal -> Vinzons market -> Vinzons port -> Brgy. Banocboc -> Mahabang Buhangin

Where to Stay in Calaguas Islands (Mahabang Buhangin Beach, Brgy. Mangkawayan, Vinzons, Camarines Norte)

There are no resorts or accommodations in Mahabang Buhangin except for Mang Bert’s hut.  That is why it is recommended that you bring your tent and experience camping by the beach.  Mahabang Buhangin beach is divided into three areas: [Area 1] the one near the “drinking water” source; [Area 2] Mang Bert’s in the middle; and [Area 3] Mayor’s place on the right side if you are facing the beach.

[Area 1] I call this “the one near the drinking water source” because this area is near the water source that the locals on the island drink. There’s no fee if you will camp on this area.  On the way to the water source are nipa houses of some of the locals whom you can ask around for some help and directions.  There is no comfort room in this area; although I’m not sure about the locals’ huts since those huts are not really their real homes, their real houses are situated in the centro/bario of Brgy. Mangkawayan.

We chose this area to camp because it’s free, it’s near the water source, the camp site is “clean” and the view is awesome because you’re near the always-photographed beach curve.

[Area 2] I call this “Mang Bert’s” because Mang Bert owns this place and his house is here together with a hut for rent.  Here, you may pay Mang Bert P100.00 a night if you don’t have a tent and if you want to rent his hut (not his house). Although the hut is divided into two, you may want to have back-up plans (like bringing your own tent) in case there are other groups booked on this place.  You can easily see this place because of the colorful small flags in front.  There’s a shabby comfort room in Mang Bert’s house which you can use.  There is also a water source (a well) at the back (way back) of Mang Bert’s house but you can only use the water to wash your stuff and it’s not safe for drinking.

We didn’t choose this area to camp because we brought our tent and we have to pay if we’ll camp here (although the fee is very minimal).  We also got turned off by the flags and resort stuff because we wanted to experience nature “away from everything” hehe.

*Note: A friend went there after us and he has this not so good experience about Mang Bert’s place.

[Area 3] I call this “Mayor’s Place” because the mayor of Vinzons owns this place and the locals refer to this area as “kay Mayor”.  There are three cottages on this area and there are no comfort rooms just like [Area 1].  Use of cottage and camping on this area is for free.  However, it’s far from the water source and it’s near the cemetery.

We didn’t choose this area to camp because it is far from the water source and it’s near the cemetery.  Although there is a water source near the cemetery, the locals said that the water is “itchy” if you’ll use it to clean yourself up after swimming at the beach.  Also, this is where the group with “the thief” incident camped/stayed and we wanted to avoid experiencing the same thing (because even though not proven that one of the locals did it, we thought that it’s near the centro/barrio where the locals live and we just wanted to avoid it).
Where to Eat in Calaguas Islands (Mahabang Buhangin Beach, Brgy. Mangkawayan, Vinzons, Camarines Norte)

Since you’ll camp in this adventure, you need to bring your cook set and your food.  You may buy your food supplies in Vinzons or in Paracale before going to the islands.  There are also food supplies (rice, canned goods, vegetables, dried fish, etc.) that you can buy in the Brgy. Mangkawayan barrio/centro which is a 15 minute walk from Mahabang Buhangin beach.  You may ask the local kids to buy the supplies for you or accompany you to the barrio; just give them P20 tip.

Calaguas Islands Itinerary
Here’s the itinerary that we planned.  Of course, we weren’t able to do some of it due to weather problems.  We went to the islands thru Naga, Daet (to see Bagasbas), Vinzons then Brgy. Banocboc.

Calaguas Islands Rates

Calaguas Islands Photos
Here are some of the pictures we took on Calaguas Islands (Mahabang Buhangin Beach):

For the entire album of our Calaguas Islands trip, go to my PicasaWeb
@PicasaWeb - Camarines Norte  - Calaguas Islands

Other Calaguas Islands Itinerary and Rates
Travel Factor
Melvic’s

More Information
Backpacking Philippines and Asia
Ernest’s Story
Calagua.com
janedchua.com
My Calaguas