With its long stretch of fine white sand beach and perfectly turquoise water, Calaguas Island will definitely make you fall in love with the place. This Calaguas travel guide will come handy for everyone planning to visit or revisit Calaguas Islands. Provided in this guide are relevant information that will make it easier for your to plan your trip. Know the updated travel requirements, information on getting there, accommodation, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more. Enjoy Calaguas!
Discover Calaguas Island
Calaguas is a group of islands in the Pacific under the jurisdiction of the town of Vinzons, Province of Camarines Norte, a merely two hour boat ride from the mainland. It boasts of powdery white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and unspoiled natural resources, a place where you can truly relax while enjoying the pristine beauty of the place.
Over the years, Calaguas has evolved from being an offbeat destination to being a go-to place of beach adventurers. The once quiet coastline is now beaming with life but despite all the activities, structures and crowd, its natural beauty still shines.
The long stretch of beach named Halabang Baybay/Mahabang Buhangin (Long Beach) by the locals, is a cove located in the Tinaga Island, it is a picture perfect paradise with its long stretch of fine white sand, dotted with volcanic rocks on its both ends, the place is the most frequented camping and swimming site by tourists.
Discover Calaguas Group of Islands, swim on its turquoise water, sit on its white sand, enjoy its magnificent view of sunset, explore its beauty… you’ll definitely find a reason to be happy.
How to Get There
While there are travel/tour organizers offering Calaguas tour, a DIY trip is possible and the cheapest way to get to the island. The experience of doing it on your own for the entire journey adds thrill and excitement to what is already an exciting adventure.
Calaguas via Vinzons
Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte is the jumpoff point to Calaguas Islands if you are going there via Vinzons. From there catch a jeeney to Vinzons and get off at the fishport (pandawan). There’s a boat going to Barangay Banocboc daily, it departs the fishport at 11 AM, from Banocboc you can hire a banca to take you to Calaguas Islands for as low as P500.00 or even lower depending on your haggling skill. The return trip to Vinzons fishport leaves Banocboc at 6AM the next day.
Alternatively, you can hire a banca from Vinzons fishport to Calaguas Islands, price depends on the capacity of the boat. For a small boat that can fit four to five people, the lowest rate is at P2500-P3000.00. It is a two hour boat ride from the port.
Going to Daet from Manila, you have two options:
By Land
Philtranco, Amihan (Contact No: 3871792), DLTB and Superlines buses offer Cubao/Pasay to Daet for an approximately 7-8 hours travel time. Fare cost differs, but ranging from P450 to P750.
You can book your bus from Manila to Daet or vice versa below:
BOOK YOUR BUS FROM MANILA TO DAET
By Air
Naga in Camarines Sur is closest airport with regular commercial flights via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. From Naga, Daet is around two hours drive. There are vans to Daet located in Naga Van Terminal, the earliest departs at 5AM and the last trip is around 7PM.
Calaguas via Paracale
Paracale, a Camarines Norte town popular for its gold, is fast becoming an entry point to Calaguas Islands. From Daet, the town can be reached in less than two hours by public vans, fare is around P60.00. Last trip from Daet to Paracale is 6PM and 5PM for Paracale to Daet.
If you are coming from Manila, Superlines has direct trip to Paracale/Panganiban (P515/pax, one-way, as of February 2016). Get off at Paracale and make your way to the fish port. Alternatively, you can ride a bus to Daet, get off at Barangay Talobatib in the town of Labo and ride another bus for less than an hour to get to Paracale town and walk to the fish port.
At the fish port, you can ask around for fishermen’s boats to Halabang Baybay (Mahabang Buhangin), Calaguas for as low as P3000 (good for five to six persons, overnight) or you may opt to ride a boat that goes to Barangay Mangkawayan, Calaguas for a cheaper fare of at least P50 per person. However there’s no regular public boat going to Barangay Mangkawayan but more of fisherman’s boat and the schedule is unpredictable.
Where to Stay in Calaguas
There are now plenty of cottages and resort in Calaguas Island including Cabañas of Waling-Waling Resort that offers air-condition room and cottages for at least P3,500 per room per night.
For campers, entrance fee ranges from P120 to P150 per person, tent pitching fee is P100 per tent and cottage is as low as P500.
If you plan to stay in Paracale before or after your Calaguas trip, Paliza del Rio Tourist Inn in Poblacion, near the market, has affordable rooms and open parking space. You can leave your car there if you are going to Calaguas Island for minimal fee.
What to Do in Calaguas
Calaguas is the best place to relax and unwind if you are not the party goer type or if you are a fan of a quiet beach scene. Just sit on the sand, swim on its turquoise water, explore the island, bond with your friends and you will definitely appreciate the simple pleasures of the island.
Other activities include:
- Scuba diving/snorkeling (bring your own equipment)
- Island and Beach hopping
- Swimming
- Camping – bring your own camping equipments, enough food and water supply.
- Surfing in Daet’s Bagasbas Beach
- Visit the old churches St. Peter the Apostle Parish of Vinzons, St. John the Baptist Parish of Paracale and neighboring towns
- Island and beach hopping around Calaguas Group: Pinagtigasan Beach on the southern Tinaga Island, Cumalasag, Pinagtakpan, Pinagcastillohan, Guintinua, Huag, Cagbalisay, Bendita, Sang-atan, Balagbag Malaki, Balagbag Maliit, Calangcawan Sur, Mantigbi Beach and other white sand island beaches around
- Explore other islands in Camarines Norte: Maculabo, Parola Island, Calalanay Island, Tabusao Island, Padoni Island, Flora Sandbar, Jaulo Island or Mercedes Group, etc.
- Swim in Gumaus Beach or Pulang Daga Beach of Paracale
- Check out Saltahan Falls, Palanas Falls, Malatap Falls, Burok-Busok Falls, Binuan Falls and other waterfalls of Labo
- Go spelunking in Mt. Cadig Cave also of Labo
- Head south towards Caramoan, Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex in Naga, Albay and Sorsogon
Sample Calaguas DIY Itinerary (via Paracale)
Estimated Budget: P2500 – P3,000
Day 0:
2100H: Departure at Superlines Cubao (Cubao to Paracale – P515/person)
Day 1:
0500H: Arrival in Paracale
0500H – 0800H: Arrival in Paracale/Find Boat/Shop for other needed items (ice, meat, fruits, fish, drinking water, etc)
0800H – 1030H: Paracale to Mahabang Buhangin, Tinaga Island, Calaguas by boat
1030H – 1300H: Set-up Camp / Lunch
1300H – 1800H: Free time: beach bumming, photo ops, swimming, snorkeling, trekking to viewpoint
1800H – 1930H: Dinner Preparation/Wash-up/Fix-up
1930H – 2030H: Dinner
2030H: Socials, Lights off
Day 2:
0600H – 0700H: Call Time, Breakfast
0700H – 1000H: Free time: explore, discover, play, pose, packup, prepare lunch
1000H – 1100H: Break camp, wash-up
1100H – 1330H: Calaguas to Paracale by boat
1330H – 1500H: Arrival in Paracale/wash-up/fix-up/late lunch
1500H – 1630H: Paracale to Daet by van
1630H – 1730H: Waiting time/snacks/rest
1730H: Departure from Daet to Manila
Day 3:
0230H – Arrival in Manila
Tips
- Boat rate is as low as P3,000/boat overnight for six persons, P5,000/boat overnight for 10 persons, P6,500/boat overnight for 15 persons. Contact Ate Nilda: +639486793920 (Paracale)
- Paliza del Rio Tourist Inn organizes private and open tours on fixed date to save cost, contact number 02-7855215 or +63923-8297096
- Barangay collects P20 per person as Environmental Fee in Calaguas Island
- Those coming from Paracale, a P20 fee is also collected by barangay for every tourist
- Best time to go is during summer and dry months (September to June)
- Try trekking to the nearby hill to see the beach from the higher vantage point
- There is a source of fresh water in the island
- There are restrooms in the island
- The island have now more cottages and stores, entrance fee is P100 – P150 depending on where you will rent your cottage or pitch your tent, cottage is as low as P500/night, tent pitching fee is P100 per tent
- Waling-waling has rooms for at least P3,500 per room per night
- There is a small community (Barangay Mangkawayan) on the opposite side of the island, around 10 minutes by foot
- Superlines is the cheapest aircon bus line to Daet and Paracale, their Cubao to Paracale fare as of February 2016 is P515.00
- Please! Please follow the LEAVE NO TRAIL PRINCIPLE: TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES, LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS, KILL NOTHING BUT TIME
First Published: March 21, 2009; Updated: 09-Jul-2011 / 15-Nov-2011 / 12-Feb-2013 / 22-Feb-2016 / 30-Nov-2017
Hi, we offer boat rental and tent rental for Calaguas Island. Please contact 09108511570. Thank you
Hi!
We are offering boat rental services.
for more information please contact us on Smart: 09473411081 / Globe: 09369799543
BOAT RENTALS VIA PARACALE/ CALAGUAS ISLAND, WE ARE OFFERING 500 PER PAX & GOOD SERVICE. BUT ALSO WE WILL GIVE DISCOUNT IF MORETHAN 12 PAX; JUST CONTACT US 09486793920, 09471109451 or LOOK ATE NILDA or KUYA ERNIE…TNX MUCH
just went to this island last month, april 2014 with 6 more friends….the place is awesome,nothing compare to beach resorts that i had visited in other countries( i had travelled a lot to other countries..) But as much as i fell in love with the place, i just want to share my experience and give others some “facts”…
We did a DIY trip, ended up paying 6K just for the boat rental alone( via paracale).. we were told that bec its peak season the price is high…
We ended up at the middle section of the beach( dont know how the boatmen decide which part of island to drop u off)… ended up being charge 150 pesos entrance fee per person PER NIGHT, 500 pesos a night for the cabana, 100 pesos per night if you bring your own tent, 400 pesos if you rent their tent, 50 pesos per night if you want solar electricity, 20 to 50 pesos if you want your cellphone to be charge, 20 pesos to go up the hill ( on the left side of the island) if u wanted to hike And look for a cell signal, 10 pesos for a bucket of water or 10 pesos unlimited water in the well… we tried bargaining with the ” supposed owner Mang Bert, but was told that prices are high because they only earn money during summer… apparently, the owner is different on the right and left side of the island.. im not sure whether the fee or charges on the other side are this high. We enjoyed our stay, but thank goodness we brought extra money with us. When i was doing my research for this trip, accdg to some blog, people there are very accomdating and helpful. They are indeed helpful, but now with a price..
Just want to let people know about my experience in the middle part of the island. We felt that every move we made, equals to coughing out money. Over all, it was a very good experience, but i just felt that people need to be inform about what they may experience once they are in the island( middle part)… Again, i wouldnt hesitate going back but would probably go to waling waling as it is more transparent.
hi? just wanna ask how will i get to this island through air from Cebu or Bohol. Just wanted to visit.
you can have plain from manila to naga city airport ..then you ride van to naga daet ,to paracale then rent boat to calaguas
hi! nice blog! just wanna ask if the passenger boat for the locals still available? and i have read in other blogs that in vinzons, boat fare is only 50-60 pesos? still not sure what cheaper jump-off point we should take, paracale or vinzons? we’re planning to go to calaguas on august 2014 and we’re going to DIY it cause we’re on a tight budget. hoping for your reponse. thanks and more power to you!
hi lakwatsero! nice blog! just wanna ask if the passenger boat for the locals still available? and someone i read from other blogs that in vinzons, boat fare is only 50-60 pesos? still not sure what cheaper jump-off point we should take, paracale or vinzons? we’re planning to go to calaguas on august 2014 and we’re going to DIY it cause we’re on a tight budget. hoping for your reponse. thanks and more power to you!
Experience Calaguas with us.
Email us your travel details: [email protected]
Contact us: 0915-1000000; 0912-6000000
Wag po kayong pumayag magbayad ng 3000 para sa boat. Mukhang pera ang mga taga Paracale! theres other to get there for only paying 50-60 pesos. just go to Vinson. sometimes they just drop you to sugod island and take a boat again for only 25 pesos. Please pakiusap, wag nating payagang ipagdamot saatin ang sariling atin. they are so stupid at mukhang pera (PARACALE) Maganda ang island, pero its not enough to pay 3000.
hi, wala na pong Boat rental papuntang Sugod Island. May mga boat diretsong papuntang Mangkawayan. doon nalang kayo sumakay. pero wag kayo magrerent ng boat kasi ang mahal nila maningil. info na rin, wag narin po kayo dumaan ng sugod kasi mahal na rin maningil lalo pag dumarami ang turista.
Vacation means hassle free…To avoid fixer,high mark ups, bogus boatman and negotiator, we are the only legitimate package tours base in Paracale that has our very own Tourist Inn for you too relax after travelling from Manila and a secured parking lot with CCTV, our own personal boat and our very own tourist station. We make sure that the meaning of “Vacation” is really freedom from your stressfull life, we will provide you everything you will only bring your personal stuff and we will do the rest. In case of problems we have our friendly staff on our tourist station to assist you. For inquiry you can reach me at 0925-5503754 Manila landline number 542-3888
want catering package f0r calaguas island na mura lng txt or call lng po ako. 09308244733
Hi travellers,
Ask q lng po hw mch ung boat fee pg 2 lng kmi? Do we have to pay the 2k for us to reach the island? Pls advise..my wife and i will go there this coming thurs. Thanks
Is it true na may pila na daw sa paracale port? I was able to close a deal late March for our trip this April ng 5k for 12pax tapos pagtext ko kanina nasa 6k na daw at may pila na sa port? Buti nalang Kuya Nelson was accommodating.
…boat rent 4 calaguas island at paracale port mura lng txt or call me for more info.09308244733 or email me in my fb [email protected] updated po aq palage….
,,boat rent 4 calaguas island at paracale port mura lng txt or call me for more info. 09308244733 or send me an email in my fb [email protected] updated po aq palage,,,,,
…boat rent 4 calaguas island at paracale port mura lng txt or call me for more info.09308244733 or email me in my fb [email protected] updated po aq palage.
I hope Calaguas stays organic and not overcrowded.
What a picturesque place..
I highly recommend the group of Rey Campita of Calaguas atbp (fb) by oryol outdoor group, here’s the contact nos. 09998899197 or 09173588128, their service is very personalized, lots of activities and the food, Wow!!! try them for you to enjoy not only the pristine beach but it’s other hidden beauty deep under. Go kayaking (they have 2 units), their state of the art snorkeling sets and flash your wide smile with the corals with their under water camera… all of these are just some of their inclusions of their package for only P2,200 good for 2days and 1 night.
My assurance!! it’s worth it !!
Hi johan just want to ask if the boat ride fee is already included in the 2200php package? Thanks!
BOAT rent 4 calaguas island at paracale port mura
lng txt or call me for more info.09308244733 or
email me in my fb [email protected] updated po aq
palage.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
fantastic resort with fantastic food, best to use there package deals, staff are the most friendly ever. contact- Nursey on mobile +639126000000
Thank you STUEY 🙂
You may contact us 0915 – 1000000 / 0912 – 6000000 or send us an email: [email protected] / http://www.waling.com
Visit Calaguas bago pa mapuno ng resorts. It is sooo worth it. WAG MAG RENT NG BOATS KAY MANG BOY. GREEDY. MUKHANG PERA.
Yes, Mang boy is charging us P600/head. That’s way too much.
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