"Race to Caramoan" Caramoan by ayn_g

Last week, I joined two of the QA boys -- Richard and Diomar -- and HR lass, Beng, on a CamSur adventure. We were supposed to be a group of seven but due to unforeseen circumstances, only the four of us went ahead with the trip that has been planned months ago.

The weather cooperated... and good vibes reigned throughout the trip, making it more memorable. We thought the trip was sort-of an Amazing Race slash Sports Unlimited as we dared ourselves to wakeboard, catch many van and boat trips, rock climb, hike, and explore a cave.

Mission I: Learn to Wakeboard

It was something that you'll get hooked on. Once you have learned to cross the beginner's pool, you'll be raring to take the board over and over again and learn new stunts. I was able to accomplish the mission after five tries (and drinking lots of water or going overboard). The next thing I want to learn is to take off sitting on the dock and turn.

Mission II: Catch the earliest trip to Guijalo Port in Caramoan from Sabang

This is where we failed. Even if we woke up at 4am and slept at an inn near the port, we missed the 530am trip simply because we thought that there would be only a few passengers. We ended up taking the 7am trip, which is not that bad. We got good seats, anyway. As soon as we left our stuff at the room we rented at Villa Juliana Inn, we headed to Bikal bay to embark on an island hopping trip. We were lucky as whenever we visit the islands which also happen to be sets of the Bulgarian Survivor show, the set is not in use yet. My favorites among the islands that we visited are Lahos and Matukad islands. True enough, the islands in Caramoan are like those that you can find in El Nido. The sand in Matukad is heaven -- one of the finest among the beaches that ive been to.The waters in Lahos are so clear you could see big and small fishes swimming.

Mission III: Conquer the Matukad rocks and see the Lagoon

It was a feat for the four of us who dont have any background in rockclimbing or wallclimbing. With our ever-reliable and friendly guide Manong Joseph, we carefully scaled the sharp Matukad rocks just to get a glimpse of the mystical lagoon. According to Manong Joseph, a fairy guards the lagoon. One time, there was a man who wanted to shoot one of the fishes living in the lagoon but suddenly and mysteriously, his gun didn't work and broke. Another story was a father-and his son died after killing and eating one of the fishes in the lagoon. At present, there's only one fish left in the lagoon. We didn't go down the lagoon anymore as we swimming in the lagoon waters is dangerous (quicksand alert).

Mission IV: Climb 524 steps and explore Culapnit Cave

On Day 3 of our trip, we ventured to Tabgon for a physically draining adventure. It was all worth it, anyway. At Culapnit cave, we had to crouch to a very small space to get to the other side.

Mission V: Wake up at 330am to catch first boat trip back to Sabang

As our flight back to Manila is scheduled at 205pm and Caramoan is 4 hours away from Naga Airport, we need to make it back at 1pm the most. To be safe, our target was 11am (and allow us to buy pasalubongs pa). We left Centro at 4am and reached the port at 430am. The first trip is 7am. We arrived in Naga City at our target time -- 11am (yey!!!!) A bonus, may sweldo na!!! Yey!

View of Caramoan Peninsula from Tabgon

The itinerary was courtesy of Robert (who was originally part of the Camsur trippers but opted to postpone the trip)

Day 1: June 10, Wednesday

05:20 AM Checkin in Naia 3 Airport
06:20 Departure from Manila to Naga
07:20 Arrival in Naga
07:40 Breakfast
08:00 Departure to CWC
12:00 Lunch
01:30 Departure to Sabang port
03:30 Checkin to Southern Horizon Resort
04:00 Enjoy the stay in the resort
07:00 Dinner
08:00 Happy Hours
10:00 Sleep

DAY 2: June 11, Thursday

04:30 Wake-up Call
05:50 At Sabang Port (its a must)
06:30 Departure Sabang Port to Quijalo port of Caramoan
08:30 Arrival Quijalo port
08:40 Departure Quijalo to Caramoan Town
09:10 Arrival Caramoan town. Check-in
09:15 Unpack things
09:30 Tour around the town
11:00 Lunch
12:00 Departure to Bikal bay/Paniman Bay
12:30 Arrival Bikal Bay
01:00 Island Hopping(Matukad island, Lahos Island, Honogan Bay,Goto, Haponan Island)
05:30 Back to bikal bay/paniman bay
06:00 Back to inn and rest
07:00 Dinner
08:30 Rest

DAY 3: June 12, Friday

05:00 A.M. Wake up call
05:30 Breakfast
06:00 Departure to Bikal Bay/Paniman bay
06:30 Arrival bikal Bay/paniman
07:00 Departure by boat from Bikal bay to Tabgon(Our Lady of Peace statue in Mt. Caglago)
08:00 Arrival Tabgon port. Climb Mt. Caglago
08:30 At the top. Rest
09:30 Start descent
10:00 Island Hopping (Manlawi Island,Ginahuan Lighthouse, Cotivas Island, Sabitanlaya island)
06:00 Arrival Bikal Bay
07:00 Arrival to inn
07:30 Dinner
08:30 Rest

Day 4: June 13, Saturday

04:30 A.M. Wake up call
05:30 Departure to Quijalo port
06:00 Departure from Quijalo port to Sabang Port
08:00 Arrival Sabang Port
08:15 Departure from Sabang Port to Naga Terminal
10:15 Arrival in Naga. Buy Pasalubong
11:30 Lunch
01:00 Checkin to Airport
02:00 Departure from Naga to Manila
03:00 Arrival in Manila

(good for four people)

Day 1: June 10

Terminal Fee - PHP 200
Wakeboarding (initial payment is 665 as there's a 500 deposit) 165
Breakfast 150
Lunch (Kfc) 100
Fare to Sabang 90
Extra (sort of tip to the driver
but this is not necessary, dadaan talaga sa Southern Horizon ang van) 20
Lodging (1200/4) 300
Water 25
Dinner 85
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1135

Day 2: June 11
Breakfast 30
Fare to Guijalo 120
Trike to Centro 20
Special trip to Bikal (150/4) 37.50
Boat Rental with 100 tip (1600/4) 400
Lunch (packed, inorder kay Kuya Roger sa Villa Juliana -- 430/4) 107.5
Trike back to Centro (PHP 120/4) 30
Dinner (565/4) 141.25
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
886.25

Day 3: June 12
Special trip to Bikal (150/4) 37.50
Boat Rental (2000/4) 500
Donation to Tabgon 20
Tour Guide (Culapnit Cave and Grotto) 250/4 (we had 4 guides,
1 adult and 3 kids, we gave 50 each to 2 of the kids
and 150 to manong and his kid) 62.50
Light rental (100/4) 25
Cave Entrance 20
Buko Juice 10
Basod island entrance fee (50/4) 12.50
Accommodation, Breakfast&Packed Lunch(PHP 750/night =2700/4) 675
Trike to Centro 20
Dinner (PHP 524/4) 131
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1513.50


Day 4: June 13
Trike to Guijalo port (150/4) 37.50
Terminal fee 5
Fare to Sabang 120
Van fare to Naga 90
Lunch 100
Trike Fare to city (56/4) 14
Taxi Fare to Airport (240/4) 60
Terminal Fee 20
Taxi to Makati 50
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
516.50

Grand Total of Expenses per head 4051.25
(Pasalubong not included)

• Pros:beautiful islands, accommodating people
• Cons:just the low tide and available food in the menu