HomeAsiaPhilippinesLuzonCamarines SurCaramoan Solo Survivor Escapade – 3 Days DIY Island Hopping 126 shares By Marcos Detourist on August 28, 2011I was craving for some downtime and a change to a less urban type of scenery after a busy itinerary in Naga and Legazpi City. No doubt, my #1 agenda for the whole trip to Bicol region was to visit the “Survivor” Islands of Caramoan! Caramoan became known internationally as the setting of several foreign “Survivor” TV series franchises in Italy, Isreal, France, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Sweden. The islands have risen as one of the hot ticket destinations in the Philippines … of course, I wanted to get my fill of this tropical paradise. I stayed in Caramoan for two nights. Since I was traveling solo, I initially hoped to join other tourists for island hopping tour. Unfortunately, I failed to find a group when I arrived. I had to go island hopping all by my lonesome. The night before, I felt a bit scared. I’ve never done it solo before. Would I still enjoy it without any company? What could I possibly do the whole day alone? What if something happens to me while I’m on some remote island?Solo Travel in Caramoan, Camarines SurPlanning the Caramoan Island Hopping TourCaramoan has many beautiful off-shore islands sprinkled across its vast waters. I chose to visit the “Matukad group” since it was the cheapest option and covers the actual sites where the Survivor series were shot. I booked the island hopping tour for P1,500 at a souvenir store near Rex Tourist Inn. Since Paniman Beach, the main jump-off point to Matukad, was still another 15 minutes away from Caramoan Centro, I had to charter a habal-habal (single motorcycle). I paid P200 for the round-trip transfers, which was probably overpriced … the distance from Caramoan Centro to Paniman Beach was just around six kilometers.Paniman BeachSurivor Caramoan: My Solo Island Hopping EscapeI arrived in Paniman Beach at 8:00am. I wasn’t exactly alone during the island hopping trip since I had the two boatmen as company. “We” explored the Matukad group of islands starting with Gota Beach, the famed exclusive resort in Caramoan. The actual site of the resort was located in an inland location, a hundred meters from the shore.Beach near Gota ResortGota Beach ResortLanding at the beach, I couldn’t tell that there was a sprawling village of high-end resort cottages nearby. The only structures visible were the nipa/wood houses of the resort security. Found out that the entrance fee at Gota Beach was P300 for a day tour. Would’ve wanted to go since I wanted to see the tribal council set-ups, which was still maintained at the resort property but I was worried I might not have enough cash. Shelling out P1,500 for the whole boat was already expensive and there weren’t any ATMs in Caramoan if I go bankrupt.Hunongan Beach ResortLahos IslandGot really excited getting near Lahos Island. From afar, it looked like two smaller islands connected by a narrow white sand beach. The moment my bare feet touched the shore for the first time, I was thinking about how cool it was to finally reach my goal of arriving in the Caramoan Islands. I liked the jagged rocks and the pristine blue waters. The rawness was similar to El Nido but in a more subdued form … beautiful nonetheless. It was “cool” for the first 20 minutes but beyond that, it felt kinda lonely not having anyone to share the experience with. To keep me occupied, I explored as much of the beach as I could … going from one corner of the island to the other, climbing up the rocks to get a better view of the islands, taking souvenir self-portaits. Although it wasn’t the “fun” experience I expected when I was first captivated by the idea of solo travel, I guess I got what I asked for. Only thing I could do was to tune out the loneliness and just give in to the breathtaking scenery around me.Approaching Lahos IslandSelf-portrait in Lahos Island, CaramoanJagged cliffs and off-white sand of Lahos IslandSalamander? in the bushesMY pumpboat service for the dayClimbing the low rocks at one side of Lahos IslandGorgeous view to die forTelephoto view of Matukad IslandBieber fever, haha… playing with my hair was definitely a sign that I had too much free time on my hands … time move on to the next destinationTayak BeachTayak Beach was where the last survivor castaways settled in Caramoan. Remnants of the production sets were still at the beach area during my visit.Tayak BeachWooden structure where the castaways slept in Tayak BeachLooks like a shrine of some sortWhat’s left of the huts used by the production crew at one corner of the beachSecret Beach Manong boatman with his Survivor “Art Crew” t-shirt. It’s a nice thought that the production team provides employment to locals also.We weren’t able to dock at secret beach. Forgot if it was because the tide was either too high or too low. The boatmen suggested I should have started the island hopping trip earlier like 6AM.Matukad IslandI had my brief Survivor moment when the boatmen left me alone at Matukad Beach during lunchtime. The chance that the boatmen might not come back certainly entered my mind but I wasn’t alarmed … I wouldn’t mind being left in such a beautiful place. I had a lot of downtime in Matukad Island (too much actually!). I used up the chance to take as many photos as I could and explore every photo-op I could think of. Approaching Matukad IslandClimbed the jagged rocks stacked at one side of the beachView of the Caramoan mainlandStarting to go up the stacked rocks Breathtaking panoramic view at the topvideo footage on top of the stacked rocks | music: “Beautiful” by AthleteI ate my packed lunch at Matukad Beach. Had Lutong Bahay prepare and pack food for me. Spent P120 for two meals (fried chicken and rice).Hidden LagoonWhen the boatmen came back (thank goodness!), they led me to a steep rock cliff to see a hidden pond/lagoon. They reached the top in no time. I had to take my time to make sure I got a good grip/foothold while climbing since the cliff was really steep. One slip and I could fall in a bed of sharp rocks. I was able to see the mystical mother bangus (milkfish) believed to be the guardian of the island. According to local tales, there used to be two bangus seen swimming in the lagoon. One day, a fisherman went to the island and brought one of the bangus back to his family (for dinner I suppose). Only then did the townspeople knew that the bangus was cursed when all of the family members died shortly after finishing their meal. View of Matukad Beach while climbing the cliffSee the bangus?The climb Dark clouds approachingLast Stop at a Grey Sand BeachI finally told the boatmen to head back to the mainland since it started to rain. I don’t know why but they took me to a grey sand beach along the way. Although it wasn’t as pretty as the other beaches I visited in Caramoan, this tiny beach we went to seemed like a nice hideaway spot :D Passing by Hunongan Beach Resort againAll in all, I’m glad I pushed through with the trip even on my own. It was a personally revealing experience … but I couldn’t possibly do something like this ALL the time. It would be too expensive! seriously … it was, in a way, fulfilling to cross an item off my travel bucket list but I realized that some forms of travel are better enjoyed when there’s somebody else to share the experience with.Caramoan Island Hopping Tips Caramoan Island Hopping Tour – P1,500 whole day pumpboat rental for Matukad group. P2,000 for “Sabitang Laya/Manlawi island group,” and P3,000 to visit 9 islands covering both island groups. Day tour in Gota Beach – P300 entrance fee (not sure if its inclusive of resort facilities) Packed lunch from Lutong Bahay – P60 (x2 meals = P120) Roundtrip habal-habal transfers – P200Don’t leave yet. There’s more!One Week in Bicol - Solo Backpacking & DIY Tips3 Days Caramoan Itinerary - Solo DIY Tips & GuideWhere I've Wandered Off To in SeptemberSorsogon to Legazpi City: Return Flight to ManilaPlanning at trip to Cuyo, PalawanSurvivor Palawan: A Solo Backpacker’s TravelogueComments Gabz saysAugust 28, 2011 at 2:25 pmBeautiful photos! You should have negotiated the island hopping rate. We got it for Php 1,000 since there was only 2 of us on the boat. We also stayed at Rex but hired a boat man who lives near the Paniman Beach.Looking forward for the rest of the posts! :-) Marcos saysAugust 28, 2011 at 2:58 pmThanks for the tip Gabz. Knowing that there’s a cheaper rate would be really helpful to those who are still planning their trip … and for me, if ever I’m coming back to Caramoan. Next time, I’d probably head straight to Paniman too and scout the beach for local fishermen who’d be willing to rent out their boat for the day. Gabz saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:08 amYes, in fact we are helping our boat man in promoting his service and house for rent –You can contact him next time :) Marcos saysAugust 29, 2011 at 6:46 amTrue. Thanks again Gabz :) khei saysJanuary 31, 2014 at 9:38 amhello Gabz, I was just wondering if you still have the number of your boatman when you went to Caramoan, I clicked on the link above and the post was already expired..thanks Simurgh saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:23 amYou’re correct.. the place is comparable to El Nido, Palawan.. Probably just lesser in fish diversity and corals. The place is recuperating from Dynamite fishing activities prior to the Survivor.The resorts/boatmans or whatever are very zealous of their clients.. I ask myself where are the tourist? coz it seems like its just me and my buddy. You wont see them around, the lodgings are far to spread wide.. Not until you meet them in the island hoppings, then you’ll know they are there.Its a beautiful place, but a tiresome bus ride by land from Manila.. I could write a song, “How far is it to paradise?” just kidding!!! I love their church, over 300 years old, with red bricks for it facade. The trip is all worth it!! Marcos saysAugust 29, 2011 at 6:48 amSo that explains it. Yeah, really far from Manila 9-10 hours by land to Naga (or 45 minutes-1 hour by air) + 2-3 hours to Sabang + 2 hours to Caramoan :) LINA C. ABOGADIE saysAugust 29, 2011 at 9:46 amHi Marcos, thanks for sharing your very nice pictures. There are instances wherein a traveller wants to go solo or be with a group, each has its own advantage/disadvantage. More often, mas OK if may kasama ka, lalo na if may mga emergencies. Mas maganda siguro na may particular site for pinoy travel/photo bloggers to announce/post their planned trips for others to know. It will be a great opportunity for bloggers to bond, share the travel costs and explore future travels. Next time you have some travel plans, pls. post it ;-)All the best in your fture travels. Marcos saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:56 pmSige Lina, I’ll keep that in mind. Usually I go to PinoyExchange.com to check if another member is also planning a trip to places I’m also headed to. janet saysAugust 30, 2011 at 12:32 amawww.. :( i also wish to travel alone, for some “muni-muni” time. although i haven’t done it yet, im sure it would really be super sad :( but your “sentiment” was cute :) anyway. i wish that you’ll someday have your someone to travel with :) beautiful photos as always! more fun trips to come crushie! :) Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:39 amRight … I actually had to prepare doing solo trips back then. Whenever me and my friends went for a nightout, I’d secretly come 30 minutes earlier just to know how it feels being all alone … haha kinda lame actually, but at least I would know what to expect. There are a lot of advantages of solo travel but I learned two things that are just sad doing alone … one is island hopping and the other is drinking :D sam saysAugust 30, 2011 at 8:39 amI like the photos, they remind me of Coron island. I wouldn’t mind going there by myself to such beautiful islands, away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to clear my mind. thanks for sharing your travel experience. How about organizing a tour? Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:46 amMy pleasure sam. Organizing a tour? I’ll think about that first :) pong liwanag saysAugust 30, 2011 at 11:15 ami like to go and take an island hopping tour sometime..but i have a handicap..as i could not walk well i walk with a cane…would it be possible to enjoy the island hopping tour even without going up and down the cliffs.. of course i would be with friends who can assist me up and down the boat. Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:54 amOf course pong. I only went up the rocks since I wanted to take more photos of the place. It would actually be a challenge to climb the rocks (for most people even without handicap) since the rocks are very sharp. Nathalie saysSeptember 2, 2011 at 1:38 pmThanks for sharing much needed info for future Caramoan trip. The downside of travelling solo -nobody to split the cost with… :(lovely photos :) Marcos saysSeptember 3, 2011 at 11:36 amCool! Glad to be of service Nathalie ^_^ Good luck on your trip! katt saysSeptember 2, 2011 at 6:55 pmdream destination ko pag-uwi ng pinas. btw, nice photos.:) Marcos saysSeptember 3, 2011 at 11:46 amGo lng katt! Caramoan is a great place to visit. thanks :D kitchie saysSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:57 pmMarc, your photos are great. Time flies. I never knew that the little brother I saw at my friends house has now turned into a free spirited talented young man…great job B. :) Your Manang Pol and I were planning to go to Cambodia some time next year, perhaps you would want to come. We’ll visit my sisters there. Marcos saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:51 pmThanks Nang Kitchie. If you see me again, I’m still the same shy guy, hehe :) I want to go back to Cambodia! I’m just waiting for cheap airfare. Go na dayun … hopefully :D Edgar Caratao Sadullo saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:20 amWow!!!!!! Fantastic… Bicolano po ako at pangarap kong mapapunta dyan sa Caramoan sayang noong vacation nagkataon na bumabagyo. Keep it up and good luck for your more adventures…cuz Marcos saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:48 pmthanks cuz ^_^ joan / the backpack chronicles saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:28 pmwill be going here on the 19th and I’m uber excited already! Thanks for sharing this! Marcos saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:43 pmWoah! Enjoy joan, hehe. Josefina Jo saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 10:20 pmHi, wow! you take such beautiful pictures of our beautiful country! Please continue to share them with us. Maybe say something also about the local people and culture, if possible? Your pictures help in promoting our country – entice responsible tourists to come and enjoy the amazing people and sites. Definitely, we do not want irresponsible tourists who leave behind clutter or exploit and abuse our other beautiful resources like our women and children. Mabuhay ka! Btw, we are friends – Carl and I. Marcos saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:03 pmThanks Josefina. About the blogging more about local people and culture … I definitely want to bring more value to my blog posts but I usually just write about my own experiences here. I think, it’s better to experience the local culture personally that just reading about it anyways. Take Care :) *mOmOt KuYiT* saysSeptember 10, 2011 at 1:58 amastig mga shots mo marcos :)… ill use this as a reference, will be in camsur in december… that’s what also worries me about traveling solo, parang ang lungkot & as much as possible i want to share experiences with somebody… but im on the process na of setting my mind about solo travel, sabi nga its all in the mind :)… Marcos saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:05 pmthanks *mOmOt KuYiT* …. Oo nga its all in the mind. You can make your own fun if you’re doing solo travels :D kitchie saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 10:53 pmI’ll let you know ah. We can also visit Vietnam. My sisters will be with us to show us around. Depende lang ah. We’re actually thinking of going to New Zealand, too. Will ask your Manang Pol na lang. Will figure things out, especially the expenses… Marcos saysOctober 12, 2011 at 7:30 amAhh… sige Nang Kitchie … excited mode na for next year :D wilmyr saysNovember 22, 2011 at 11:00 pmGood job. I was raised in Sorsogon and currently working in Metro Manila, but haven’t been to Camoroan Island. You are very lucky because you have enjoyed the nature. I will also plan to visit that place. Thanks for the pictures. I thought the beaches are just ordinary & I did not give importance to what some foreigners are saying that truly it’s wonderful. Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 11:40 pmThanks wilmyr. I can relate :) I’ve gone to destinations faaaaar from home and realize later on that there are places, which are near my home, that are also equally as beautiful and worthwhile. Sometimes it takes an outsider to tell us these things. Sher saysDecember 18, 2011 at 9:48 amHi, Marcos! Nice pictures! I appreciate the detail you put into this entry. :)Would you know if going to both island groups take up only one whole day or two? What do you suggest? Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 10:57 pmMost people do both island groups in one whole day only. Pwede naman na one day lang. Betelgeuse saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 11:14 pmMarcos, this blog of yours is such a great help. Thanks for the information. Me and my 4 friends will be in Caramoan in January 24. Sad to say we don’t have any IT at the moment. When we get there, having this blog of yours as part of my IT, we will explore cheaper deals and hopefully contribute to this post. Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:15 pmCool Betelgeuse! that’ll be much appreciated ^_^ Mc Pol Cruz saysMarch 14, 2012 at 2:27 pmWe’re planning to visit Caramoan too by backpacking:)) Can I ask how many person can fit in 1 pumpboat? do you think 8 will fit there? thank you! nice photos:) Marcos saysApril 14, 2012 at 12:28 amOo naman. Zy saysMarch 31, 2012 at 12:39 pmHi Marcos! Just came across your blog while researching about Caramoan. Planning to visit there. Anyway, thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. :D Marcos saysApril 13, 2012 at 11:35 pmThanks for dropping by Zy! Joey ( boundfortwo.blogspot.com) saysApril 10, 2012 at 5:29 pmHi Marcos,Nice Pictures! Hope we could visit this so called hidden paradise of Bicol. Marcos saysApril 13, 2012 at 11:01 pmCaramoan is beautiful. I’m sure you will capture lots of beautiful pictures when you visit. Jeric saysMay 1, 2012 at 9:42 pmYou’re lucky to have almost no people on the islands. Sobrang daming tao when we went there. :) Jessie saysMay 17, 2012 at 4:57 pmHi! habol ako sa huling hirit ko this summer! WOW! I must GO there! actually tonite na! ganda ng mga pics mo! lalo ako n excite! Thanks for the tips! Donna saysMay 22, 2012 at 10:23 pmBukod sa magagandang island ng caramoan, na amaze talaga ako sa dami ng rainbow na nakita ko. In 1 day, 11 rainbows really struck me. We were there March 2012. Caramoan is really a paradise! Jayson saysMay 27, 2012 at 4:01 pmHi! Thank you for the info,, I’ll be going there on august 17, I am a solo backpacker. If there is someone here who will also go there on the same dates, then lets explore caramoan together.If you have also future plans, let me know. I want to meet other backpackers/travelers like me… JPC saysJune 1, 2012 at 4:22 am1.) Onga, astig mga kuha, Sir. Gaganda din mga angle.. 2.) Island hopping at mag inom ng solo, hindi naman ako nalulungkot sa ganto. mas trip kopa ‘to. haha 3.) Been to Negros, Panay at Masbate islands travelling solo.. mag isa sa hotel, mag isa kumakain, mag isa lumalaboy, mag isa sa bangka visiting reefs, pero ayus naman. haha 4.) May ATM na sa Caramoan, Sir. 5.) Onga, ganda nun timing ng Caramoan mo.. wala mga tao sa pics, time namin – sangkatutak ang tourists. Mejo nakakabusit sa dami ng tao. hahaHappy travels! Nikki saysJuly 18, 2012 at 12:43 amHello Marcos,Your photos are simply amazing….By the way just wanna know what DLSR model are u using?…coz i have one too but i’m not really keen into making the best out of it…coz dont have that much time…can u teach me some techniques….perhaps…or websites on the net that i can visit to…thanks….and i may be able to go with u in your future travels…regards… Marcos saysJuly 18, 2012 at 2:51 pmThanks Nikki, I’m using a Nikon D5000. When I started, reading Digital Photography School was really helpful on learning how to take better pictures. I’m using Adobe Lightroom for post-processing/editing. It’s so easy to make great pictures with lightroom because you just have to adjust sliders or apply presets.Pwede! i’d really like that. Jean saysAugust 8, 2012 at 4:47 pmHey Marcos! thanks for the post and the pics. It’s really amazing. I enjoy being a solo backpackers and i’ve been to some places all by myself and i’ll be visiting caramoan island this october for 3 days. I just wanted to clarify if paying Php 3,000 for island hopping would be good for 9 islands already? any tips from you Marcos in order for me save money and time? may i know how much is the budget for this trip? thank you. Marcos saysAugust 19, 2012 at 8:02 pmThanks Jean. I’m not so sure about the current prices. My advice is to take the earliest trip to Caramoan, from San Jose. Chat with other travelers on the boat and ask if they are willing to let you join. Also, it would be better to travel on a weekend when there will be more tourists in Caramoan. karen saysAugust 25, 2012 at 6:44 amLove the pics…..amazing. do u have the contact number of the boatman? Mybe we can hire him for our trip… Marcos saysNovember 11, 2012 at 4:54 pmI don’t have the contact # of the boatman. tim saysSeptember 8, 2012 at 9:59 pmhow much did you spend for this travel? salamat Jewel Rose saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 2:08 pmHi, I am a tour coordinator and a native of Caramoan. I arrange all kinds of tours and give you the rate from the most expensive to the most conservative. I also send guest to travel agencies and tour operators that you may want to work for your needed tour. If you are interested, you may contact me @ 09106534561. My husband who happened to be an american and traveled all over the world always wants the best tour and I’ll give it to you. Ken saysNovember 25, 2012 at 12:20 pmhi,can i have the contact number of your boatman ? or anybody here could post, i need the contact number asap as i will be going to caramoan this weekend :) thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience, i can’t wait to go here…. Jewel Rose saysMarch 15, 2013 at 9:33 pmHi, I am a tour coordinator and a native of Caramoan. I arrange all kinds of tours and give you the rate from the most expensive to the most conservative. I also send guest to travel agencies and tour operators that you may want to work for your needed tour. If you are interested, you may contact me @ 09106534561 / 09155870668 or email me at [email protected]. My American husband who traveled around the world and with his worldly experience wants the best tour and I’ll give it to you. reyfi saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:54 amganda ng photos. i was hesitant magsolo backpack sa Caramoan. good thing i saw this. mike saysFebruary 8, 2013 at 2:12 pmthis site help me a lot. ill be planning to go to caramoan feb24,2013. Hope the weather is cooperating. markcay saysFebruary 19, 2013 at 3:33 amall of ur photos is awesome.. gling tlga.. any upcoming trip? puede sumabay sa lakad mo? :) Rupert saysFebruary 22, 2013 at 7:47 pmAng ganda nung lugar. Kitang kita mo ang ganda ng lugar kapag hindi pa ito naabuso. Thanks for the pictures sir! JROBLUBAT saysMarch 27, 2013 at 2:46 amnice MARCOS, Thanks for Posting and Sharing your experience with us. kahit binabasa ko palng to nag enjoy na ako, nagpaplano din kasi kami pumunta jan this april2013 nakakaexcite talaga. wish ko lang di talaga crowded.. :) pahingi naman kami tips para makatipid at ng maenjoy pa namin lalo yung trip namin. San Josenyong Gala saysJuly 16, 2013 at 4:56 pmWow! Thanks for sharing your pictures sir. Na-excite tuloy akong bumisita sa Caramoan.I have been travelling solo for a year now and masasabi ko namang there are many perks of travelling alone like you can do whatever you want at your own pace at your own time. Actually, that’s what matters most to me… :) Yun nga lang, talagang sarili mo lahat ng gastos. But sometimes, me mga lugar ding pinupuntahan ako na sa tingin ko, mas maganda kung may kasama nga ako.I enjoyed reading your blog. God bless on your upcoming trips sir! 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
Gabz saysAugust 28, 2011 at 2:25 pmBeautiful photos! You should have negotiated the island hopping rate. We got it for Php 1,000 since there was only 2 of us on the boat. We also stayed at Rex but hired a boat man who lives near the Paniman Beach.Looking forward for the rest of the posts! :-)
Marcos saysAugust 28, 2011 at 2:58 pmThanks for the tip Gabz. Knowing that there’s a cheaper rate would be really helpful to those who are still planning their trip … and for me, if ever I’m coming back to Caramoan. Next time, I’d probably head straight to Paniman too and scout the beach for local fishermen who’d be willing to rent out their boat for the day.
Gabz saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:08 amYes, in fact we are helping our boat man in promoting his service and house for rent –You can contact him next time :)
khei saysJanuary 31, 2014 at 9:38 amhello Gabz, I was just wondering if you still have the number of your boatman when you went to Caramoan, I clicked on the link above and the post was already expired..thanks
Simurgh saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:23 amYou’re correct.. the place is comparable to El Nido, Palawan.. Probably just lesser in fish diversity and corals. The place is recuperating from Dynamite fishing activities prior to the Survivor.The resorts/boatmans or whatever are very zealous of their clients.. I ask myself where are the tourist? coz it seems like its just me and my buddy. You wont see them around, the lodgings are far to spread wide.. Not until you meet them in the island hoppings, then you’ll know they are there.Its a beautiful place, but a tiresome bus ride by land from Manila.. I could write a song, “How far is it to paradise?” just kidding!!! I love their church, over 300 years old, with red bricks for it facade. The trip is all worth it!!
Marcos saysAugust 29, 2011 at 6:48 amSo that explains it. Yeah, really far from Manila 9-10 hours by land to Naga (or 45 minutes-1 hour by air) + 2-3 hours to Sabang + 2 hours to Caramoan :)
LINA C. ABOGADIE saysAugust 29, 2011 at 9:46 amHi Marcos, thanks for sharing your very nice pictures. There are instances wherein a traveller wants to go solo or be with a group, each has its own advantage/disadvantage. More often, mas OK if may kasama ka, lalo na if may mga emergencies. Mas maganda siguro na may particular site for pinoy travel/photo bloggers to announce/post their planned trips for others to know. It will be a great opportunity for bloggers to bond, share the travel costs and explore future travels. Next time you have some travel plans, pls. post it ;-)All the best in your fture travels.
Marcos saysAugust 29, 2011 at 12:56 pmSige Lina, I’ll keep that in mind. Usually I go to PinoyExchange.com to check if another member is also planning a trip to places I’m also headed to.
janet saysAugust 30, 2011 at 12:32 amawww.. :( i also wish to travel alone, for some “muni-muni” time. although i haven’t done it yet, im sure it would really be super sad :( but your “sentiment” was cute :) anyway. i wish that you’ll someday have your someone to travel with :) beautiful photos as always! more fun trips to come crushie! :)
Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:39 amRight … I actually had to prepare doing solo trips back then. Whenever me and my friends went for a nightout, I’d secretly come 30 minutes earlier just to know how it feels being all alone … haha kinda lame actually, but at least I would know what to expect. There are a lot of advantages of solo travel but I learned two things that are just sad doing alone … one is island hopping and the other is drinking :D
sam saysAugust 30, 2011 at 8:39 amI like the photos, they remind me of Coron island. I wouldn’t mind going there by myself to such beautiful islands, away from the hustle and bustle of city life and to clear my mind. thanks for sharing your travel experience. How about organizing a tour?
Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:46 amMy pleasure sam. Organizing a tour? I’ll think about that first :)
pong liwanag saysAugust 30, 2011 at 11:15 ami like to go and take an island hopping tour sometime..but i have a handicap..as i could not walk well i walk with a cane…would it be possible to enjoy the island hopping tour even without going up and down the cliffs.. of course i would be with friends who can assist me up and down the boat.
Marcos saysAugust 31, 2011 at 6:54 amOf course pong. I only went up the rocks since I wanted to take more photos of the place. It would actually be a challenge to climb the rocks (for most people even without handicap) since the rocks are very sharp.
Nathalie saysSeptember 2, 2011 at 1:38 pmThanks for sharing much needed info for future Caramoan trip. The downside of travelling solo -nobody to split the cost with… :(lovely photos :)
Marcos saysSeptember 3, 2011 at 11:36 amCool! Glad to be of service Nathalie ^_^ Good luck on your trip!
kitchie saysSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:57 pmMarc, your photos are great. Time flies. I never knew that the little brother I saw at my friends house has now turned into a free spirited talented young man…great job B. :) Your Manang Pol and I were planning to go to Cambodia some time next year, perhaps you would want to come. We’ll visit my sisters there.
Marcos saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:51 pmThanks Nang Kitchie. If you see me again, I’m still the same shy guy, hehe :) I want to go back to Cambodia! I’m just waiting for cheap airfare. Go na dayun … hopefully :D
Edgar Caratao Sadullo saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:20 amWow!!!!!! Fantastic… Bicolano po ako at pangarap kong mapapunta dyan sa Caramoan sayang noong vacation nagkataon na bumabagyo. Keep it up and good luck for your more adventures…cuz
joan / the backpack chronicles saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 8:28 pmwill be going here on the 19th and I’m uber excited already! Thanks for sharing this!
Josefina Jo saysSeptember 9, 2011 at 10:20 pmHi, wow! you take such beautiful pictures of our beautiful country! Please continue to share them with us. Maybe say something also about the local people and culture, if possible? Your pictures help in promoting our country – entice responsible tourists to come and enjoy the amazing people and sites. Definitely, we do not want irresponsible tourists who leave behind clutter or exploit and abuse our other beautiful resources like our women and children. Mabuhay ka! Btw, we are friends – Carl and I.
Marcos saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:03 pmThanks Josefina. About the blogging more about local people and culture … I definitely want to bring more value to my blog posts but I usually just write about my own experiences here. I think, it’s better to experience the local culture personally that just reading about it anyways. Take Care :)
*mOmOt KuYiT* saysSeptember 10, 2011 at 1:58 amastig mga shots mo marcos :)… ill use this as a reference, will be in camsur in december… that’s what also worries me about traveling solo, parang ang lungkot & as much as possible i want to share experiences with somebody… but im on the process na of setting my mind about solo travel, sabi nga its all in the mind :)…
Marcos saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 4:05 pmthanks *mOmOt KuYiT* …. Oo nga its all in the mind. You can make your own fun if you’re doing solo travels :D
kitchie saysSeptember 13, 2011 at 10:53 pmI’ll let you know ah. We can also visit Vietnam. My sisters will be with us to show us around. Depende lang ah. We’re actually thinking of going to New Zealand, too. Will ask your Manang Pol na lang. Will figure things out, especially the expenses…
wilmyr saysNovember 22, 2011 at 11:00 pmGood job. I was raised in Sorsogon and currently working in Metro Manila, but haven’t been to Camoroan Island. You are very lucky because you have enjoyed the nature. I will also plan to visit that place. Thanks for the pictures. I thought the beaches are just ordinary & I did not give importance to what some foreigners are saying that truly it’s wonderful.
Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 11:40 pmThanks wilmyr. I can relate :) I’ve gone to destinations faaaaar from home and realize later on that there are places, which are near my home, that are also equally as beautiful and worthwhile. Sometimes it takes an outsider to tell us these things.
Sher saysDecember 18, 2011 at 9:48 amHi, Marcos! Nice pictures! I appreciate the detail you put into this entry. :)Would you know if going to both island groups take up only one whole day or two? What do you suggest?
Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 10:57 pmMost people do both island groups in one whole day only. Pwede naman na one day lang.
Betelgeuse saysJanuary 10, 2012 at 11:14 pmMarcos, this blog of yours is such a great help. Thanks for the information. Me and my 4 friends will be in Caramoan in January 24. Sad to say we don’t have any IT at the moment. When we get there, having this blog of yours as part of my IT, we will explore cheaper deals and hopefully contribute to this post.
Mc Pol Cruz saysMarch 14, 2012 at 2:27 pmWe’re planning to visit Caramoan too by backpacking:)) Can I ask how many person can fit in 1 pumpboat? do you think 8 will fit there? thank you! nice photos:)
Zy saysMarch 31, 2012 at 12:39 pmHi Marcos! Just came across your blog while researching about Caramoan. Planning to visit there. Anyway, thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures. :D
Joey ( boundfortwo.blogspot.com) saysApril 10, 2012 at 5:29 pmHi Marcos,Nice Pictures! Hope we could visit this so called hidden paradise of Bicol.
Marcos saysApril 13, 2012 at 11:01 pmCaramoan is beautiful. I’m sure you will capture lots of beautiful pictures when you visit.
Jeric saysMay 1, 2012 at 9:42 pmYou’re lucky to have almost no people on the islands. Sobrang daming tao when we went there. :)
Jessie saysMay 17, 2012 at 4:57 pmHi! habol ako sa huling hirit ko this summer! WOW! I must GO there! actually tonite na! ganda ng mga pics mo! lalo ako n excite! Thanks for the tips!
Donna saysMay 22, 2012 at 10:23 pmBukod sa magagandang island ng caramoan, na amaze talaga ako sa dami ng rainbow na nakita ko. In 1 day, 11 rainbows really struck me. We were there March 2012. Caramoan is really a paradise!
Jayson saysMay 27, 2012 at 4:01 pmHi! Thank you for the info,, I’ll be going there on august 17, I am a solo backpacker. If there is someone here who will also go there on the same dates, then lets explore caramoan together.If you have also future plans, let me know. I want to meet other backpackers/travelers like me…
JPC saysJune 1, 2012 at 4:22 am1.) Onga, astig mga kuha, Sir. Gaganda din mga angle.. 2.) Island hopping at mag inom ng solo, hindi naman ako nalulungkot sa ganto. mas trip kopa ‘to. haha 3.) Been to Negros, Panay at Masbate islands travelling solo.. mag isa sa hotel, mag isa kumakain, mag isa lumalaboy, mag isa sa bangka visiting reefs, pero ayus naman. haha 4.) May ATM na sa Caramoan, Sir. 5.) Onga, ganda nun timing ng Caramoan mo.. wala mga tao sa pics, time namin – sangkatutak ang tourists. Mejo nakakabusit sa dami ng tao. hahaHappy travels!
Nikki saysJuly 18, 2012 at 12:43 amHello Marcos,Your photos are simply amazing….By the way just wanna know what DLSR model are u using?…coz i have one too but i’m not really keen into making the best out of it…coz dont have that much time…can u teach me some techniques….perhaps…or websites on the net that i can visit to…thanks….and i may be able to go with u in your future travels…regards…
Marcos saysJuly 18, 2012 at 2:51 pmThanks Nikki, I’m using a Nikon D5000. When I started, reading Digital Photography School was really helpful on learning how to take better pictures. I’m using Adobe Lightroom for post-processing/editing. It’s so easy to make great pictures with lightroom because you just have to adjust sliders or apply presets.Pwede! i’d really like that.
Jean saysAugust 8, 2012 at 4:47 pmHey Marcos! thanks for the post and the pics. It’s really amazing. I enjoy being a solo backpackers and i’ve been to some places all by myself and i’ll be visiting caramoan island this october for 3 days. I just wanted to clarify if paying Php 3,000 for island hopping would be good for 9 islands already? any tips from you Marcos in order for me save money and time? may i know how much is the budget for this trip? thank you.
Marcos saysAugust 19, 2012 at 8:02 pmThanks Jean. I’m not so sure about the current prices. My advice is to take the earliest trip to Caramoan, from San Jose. Chat with other travelers on the boat and ask if they are willing to let you join. Also, it would be better to travel on a weekend when there will be more tourists in Caramoan.
karen saysAugust 25, 2012 at 6:44 amLove the pics…..amazing. do u have the contact number of the boatman? Mybe we can hire him for our trip…
Jewel Rose saysFebruary 18, 2013 at 2:08 pmHi, I am a tour coordinator and a native of Caramoan. I arrange all kinds of tours and give you the rate from the most expensive to the most conservative. I also send guest to travel agencies and tour operators that you may want to work for your needed tour. If you are interested, you may contact me @ 09106534561. My husband who happened to be an american and traveled all over the world always wants the best tour and I’ll give it to you.
Ken saysNovember 25, 2012 at 12:20 pmhi,can i have the contact number of your boatman ? or anybody here could post, i need the contact number asap as i will be going to caramoan this weekend :) thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience, i can’t wait to go here….
Jewel Rose saysMarch 15, 2013 at 9:33 pmHi, I am a tour coordinator and a native of Caramoan. I arrange all kinds of tours and give you the rate from the most expensive to the most conservative. I also send guest to travel agencies and tour operators that you may want to work for your needed tour. If you are interested, you may contact me @ 09106534561 / 09155870668 or email me at [email protected]. My American husband who traveled around the world and with his worldly experience wants the best tour and I’ll give it to you.
reyfi saysFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:54 amganda ng photos. i was hesitant magsolo backpack sa Caramoan. good thing i saw this.
mike saysFebruary 8, 2013 at 2:12 pmthis site help me a lot. ill be planning to go to caramoan feb24,2013. Hope the weather is cooperating.
markcay saysFebruary 19, 2013 at 3:33 amall of ur photos is awesome.. gling tlga.. any upcoming trip? puede sumabay sa lakad mo? :)
Rupert saysFebruary 22, 2013 at 7:47 pmAng ganda nung lugar. Kitang kita mo ang ganda ng lugar kapag hindi pa ito naabuso. Thanks for the pictures sir!
JROBLUBAT saysMarch 27, 2013 at 2:46 amnice MARCOS, Thanks for Posting and Sharing your experience with us. kahit binabasa ko palng to nag enjoy na ako, nagpaplano din kasi kami pumunta jan this april2013 nakakaexcite talaga. wish ko lang di talaga crowded.. :) pahingi naman kami tips para makatipid at ng maenjoy pa namin lalo yung trip namin.
San Josenyong Gala saysJuly 16, 2013 at 4:56 pmWow! Thanks for sharing your pictures sir. Na-excite tuloy akong bumisita sa Caramoan.I have been travelling solo for a year now and masasabi ko namang there are many perks of travelling alone like you can do whatever you want at your own pace at your own time. Actually, that’s what matters most to me… :) Yun nga lang, talagang sarili mo lahat ng gastos. But sometimes, me mga lugar ding pinupuntahan ako na sa tingin ko, mas maganda kung may kasama nga ako.I enjoyed reading your blog. God bless on your upcoming trips sir!