HomeAsiaPhilippinesLuzonAlbayLegazpi CityEmbarcadero Lighthouse Viewdeck: Mayon Madness Take 1 By Marcos Detourist on May 3, 2011Next destination in Legazpi City, Albay was the Embarcadero de Legazpi, the premiere commercial and recreation center in Bicol Region. Being an enthusiast of urban developments across Philippine towns and cities, I was very excited to visit this grand development, which is HUGE especially by Legazpi’s standard. I was particularly drawn by its towering lighthouse view deck after viewing sweeping panoramas of the Mayon Volcano and Albay Gulf in WOW Legazpi and was hoping to get lucky in taking some decent some myself.Legazpi Boulevard and Sea Wall ParkFrom the Penaranda Park along Rizal Avenue (P8 jeepney fare), it was very easy to get to Embarcadero since all jeepneys in Legazpi City pass by the place … or so I thought. Sometimes, the drivers skip going to the doorstep of Embarcadero if there are no passengers headed there. In any case, it is just a short walk along a quaint bayside promenade from the Legazpi Seaport. Legazpi Port Legazpi Boulevard and Sea Wall Park Construction works at the sea wall bordering Legazpi’s coastline View of Mayon Volcano at Legazpi Boulevard View of Embarcadero de Legazpi with Kapuntukan (Sleeping Lion) Hill as its backdrop Closer look of Embarcadero and its 30 meter lighthouse view deckPersonal Thoughts on Embarcadero de LegazpiThe name Embarcadero actually took a while to remember. I wondered why the developers stuck with it since, I’m sure, most people aren’t familiar with the word and it isn’t very catchy in the first place. To feed my curiosity, I did a quick search and found out that Embarcadero is a Spanish term for a pier or landing place. The developers envisioned to revive the glory days of Legazpi port district which was once a flourishing trading site of Spanish galleons during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.During my visit, construction works in Embarcadero were still ongoing but there were already a handful of restaurants, clothing stores, and recreational attractions open. I’d say, it’s one of the most beautiful provincial shopping centers / malls in the Philippines and is iconic to Legazpi in a way similar to SM City Baguio and Ayala Center Cebu.Embarcadero Lighthouse ViewdeckThe lighthouse is attached to the main structure of the mall. Entrance is at the second (or third?) floor with a P20 fee. The view overlooking the coast of Legazpi City was great but the upper third of Mayon Volcano was still covered with thick clouds. Local lore describes Daragang Mayon as a “shy” maiden, who would cover herself with a shroud of clouds (like a veil) and would only reveal herself to men with the purest intentions.Perhaps it still was not time, the maiden of Mayon still had to be convinced of my “pure” intentions to capture her beauty. Another time then, I still had a few more chances before bidding my goodbyes.Location Map[gmap]Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Legazpi City Seawall at Sunrise: Mayon Madness Take 4Ligñon Hill View Deck: Mayon Madness Take 5Legazpi City Night Travel and First Glimpse of Mayon VolcanoSorsogon to Legazpi City: Return Flight to ManilaDaraga Church, Albay DIY Sidetrip - Mayon Madness Take 2One Week in Bicol - Solo Backpacking & DIY TipsComments chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 1:58 amApoloqies to Lloyd Lostboy and Primera de Lakwatsera. I accidentally deleted the original post and had to repost a new one.@Llyod: There were a lot of vacant spaces when I went there too.@Primera de Lakwatsera: Lucky, I got a great view of Mayon during my visit. I’ve read posts of other bloggers who weren’t as fortunate. thepinaysolobackpacker saysMay 7, 2011 at 12:08 pmikaw na ang nag-ikot! Marc, i miss traveling w/ you. nxt time again! I wanna go back to Iloilo and visit Carles. haha sumama ka na sa India! chymera00 saysMay 8, 2011 at 5:18 pmLikewise ^_^ Ako rin, gusto ko balikan … I promised myself to go there last summer pero di natuloy since I was busy so this year na lang. @India: Hindi ko pa kaya budget-wise, hehe. Malaki kase ma save kung na promo fare lang. Turista Trails saysJanuary 15, 2013 at 8:04 pmYes. There is always a second time to see the volcano naked. I hope to see it this weekend but without the covering clouds. My intention is pure anyway — to finally see her after reading so much about her in textbooks. Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
chymera00 saysMay 5, 2011 at 1:58 amApoloqies to Lloyd Lostboy and Primera de Lakwatsera. I accidentally deleted the original post and had to repost a new one.@Llyod: There were a lot of vacant spaces when I went there too.@Primera de Lakwatsera: Lucky, I got a great view of Mayon during my visit. I’ve read posts of other bloggers who weren’t as fortunate.
thepinaysolobackpacker saysMay 7, 2011 at 12:08 pmikaw na ang nag-ikot! Marc, i miss traveling w/ you. nxt time again! I wanna go back to Iloilo and visit Carles. haha sumama ka na sa India!
chymera00 saysMay 8, 2011 at 5:18 pmLikewise ^_^ Ako rin, gusto ko balikan … I promised myself to go there last summer pero di natuloy since I was busy so this year na lang. @India: Hindi ko pa kaya budget-wise, hehe. Malaki kase ma save kung na promo fare lang.
Turista Trails saysJanuary 15, 2013 at 8:04 pmYes. There is always a second time to see the volcano naked. I hope to see it this weekend but without the covering clouds. My intention is pure anyway — to finally see her after reading so much about her in textbooks.