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Although I didn’t have the best time during the long ferry ride from Iloilo to Cuyo, my excitement shot up when we finally arrived in Cuyo Island. It was finally THE MOMENT! My first time to set foot in Palawan Province and on my way to explore this tiny remote island all by my lonesome. I already had a good first impression of Cuyo after seeing this long and inviting white sand beach conveniently lying beside the pier … beckoning to be discovered.
First glimpse of Capusan Beach in Cuyo Island
I started my first solo backpacking trip – an adventure to Palawan by taking a long RoRo Ferry from Iloilo to Puerto Princesa City. There are no direct flights between the two cities, the choice was to (1) take the ferry or (2) a connecting flight via Manila or Cebu. Other than being the cheaper alternative, another big reason why I took the ferry was because it does a stopover in Cuyo Island. The chance to visit Cuyo was exciting for me because it’s a very remote island that not a lot of people have dared to explore.
Waiting to board the RORO Ferry at the Iloilo River Wharf in Lapuz, Iloilo City
So what’s with the deal with the 2 + 6 days? My trip to Zambales last summer was divided into two parts.
The first part was a two day visit to Anawangin Cove, Zambales and the second was a longer six day trip to Nagsasa Cove, other areas of Zambales Province, and Bataan.
I’ve always wanted to visit Anawangin Cove in Zambales … I was curious to know if the beach was as beautiful in person as it is in countless of amazing photos online.
Last summer, I spent eight weeks on a series of short trips across Luzon. I called Manila my new home and each week I’d go out to visit particular places near Manila that I’ve always wanted to see but never got the chance before. I guess the reason was because I’ve put them off in favor of more far-flung and exotic destinations. I guess it seemed more appealing to visit Palawan, for example, than to spend some nights in Batangas or Laguna. Since I’ve already crossed out a couple of places in my “Philippine travel wishlist,” the time was ripe to visit a couple of interesting places that most Manilenyos have probably grown tired of by now. On my second week, I visited “Puerto Galera,” known as Manila’s cheaper alternative to Boracay. For me, however, I considered Puerto Galera as my gateway to Mindoro Island.
I’ve finally embarked on my first major climb, a traverse of Mt. Pulag, the highest peak of Luzon Island and the Philippines’ third highest mountain. The summit climb in itself was already a major physical “beating” but I just couldn’t pass off seeing more of the Cordillera countryside. I spent the next couple of days in Sagada, Mountain Province to indulge in its beautiful highland vistas, captivating culture, and refreshing chilly climate. The (physical) effort was so worth it! I definitely loved the verdant landscapes of the Cordilleras.
Last year, I went on the most butt numbing trip of my life. The experience was quite rigorous yet the rewards of visiting some of the most alluring places I’ve ever visited were also very gratifying.
It all started smoothly enough when I flew to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province from Manila.
It was very exciting for me since it was my first time to visit the northernmost parts of Luzon.
Bicol, for me, has one of the most diverse set of tourist attractions in the Philippines. It has alluring natural features, remarkable historical structures, lively festivals, great food, and sought after adventure destinations. Since it was my first time to step foot this part of the Philippines, I didn’t want to miss out on the best the region had to offer. It’s a shame I only had a week to explore Bicol … there’s just a lot of interesting places to visit. My plan for this trip was to visit as much of Albay and Camarines Sur Provinces and then squeeze in a quick side-trip to Sorsogon before heading back to Manila.
Bicol Region Itinerary Map
Ligñon Hill is the go to place among many travelers in Legazpi City to see great 360 degree views of Mayon Volcano and surrounding areas in Daraga and Legazpi. Aside from the view deck there are also many attractions at the Ligñon Hill Nature Park such as a zipline, paintball grounds, and nature trail among others. Although it is best to go there during early morning or late afternoon hours to avoid the sweltering heat, I went to Ligñon Hill around 9:30am as a stopover on my overland trip from Legazpi to Naga City, Camarines Sur. Indeed, Ligñon Hill shouldn’t be missed for its overlooking views and easy accessibility.
View of Mayon Volcano from the 159-meter (511 feet) high Ligñon Hill Nature Park
It’s a very rare occurrence that I wake up early during my travels. When I went to Legazpi City, however, I couldn’t just pass of the opportunity to view the beautiful sunrise along the coast of Albay Gulf and the clear view of Mayon during the early morning hours. The experience also got me a first hand encounter of everyday activities along the seawall of Legazpi like fishermen waking up early to tend to their catch and joggers, also taking advantage of the cool morning breeze.
Early morning fishing activities in Albay Bay
The Mayon Volcano was finally clearing up and just in time for sunset! I rushed to the Cagsawa ruins in Daraga, Albay to get the famous shot of Mayon showing off the ruined bell tower of the ill-fated Cagsawa Church. From the Daraga town proper, I hailed a jeep and dropped off at the highway intersection going to the Cagsawa Ruins (there’s another jeepney route, which goes the other way to Ligñon Hill, so better inform the driver where your headed). There were a lot of tricycles parked at the drop-off point but I chose to walk the way to the Cagsawa ruins since I wanted to take photos along the way. Great thing I did because I wanted to take photos of the Mayon Volcano with Albay’s natural countryside scenery.
A carabao grazing at the grasslands surrounding the iconic Mayon Volcano.
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
