Wanderlust: 6D-5N Caramoan-Catanduanes Tour

"The trip to Caramoan is long, tiring but worth it in the end.", this is one of the most common phrase I heard from my friends about their adventure. One of my friend who went there last year stayed in Tugawe Cove Resort and told me the fastest way to get to Caramoan is via Virac. So by Mid-August of 2014, we got ourselves promo airfare tickets to Virac via CebuPacific. Fare was around P1,674.00. The usual plan of 4days vacation had to stretch to 6days for us to get that cheapest fare.

1st Day:

We arrived on schedule at around 7:15 am in Virac airport as there was no "air traffic bruhaha". We got ourselves surprised though as the Virac airport doesn't have a baggage conveyor so the check-in baggages have to be distributed manually. The guys hauled it from their cart and you have to raise your hand to signal that it is yours.

We met " Raymund" our tour guide/trike service for Catanduanes. I got his number from one of the travel blogs as well. He was all ok at first but we had a terrible headache as Raymund turned out to be a pain in the last 2 days of our trip. We told him to get to Virac town proper first so we can withdraw in the ATM. The downtown trip is not that near from the airport and was totally out of way to Codon port. We spent roughly 15-30mins.

It was an hour ride to Codon Port and it was not comfortable as we had to squeeze ourselves inside the tricycle. The other one had to be at the back of driver. The tricycles in Virac are not the usual trikes we have here in Manila. They are a little bigger and can accomodate 4 passengers inside and they have some slots for baggages too. One on top of the trike and the other at its back.

Arrived in Codon at around 9am. It was not the port I expected as it was only a port for small boats, not ships or ferries. We boarded the boat that Raymund contacted for us. The boat ride would be one hour and cost us PHP 2,000.00 one way. It was the nicest boat ride I ever had in my life. The sea was just so calm, you could see it like a flat mirror and our boat seems to be gently disturbing its peace with the ripples it makes as we pass along.

Arrived in Guijalo port at around 1015 and we were greeted by our Butler "Memong". He will be our guide for the rest of our stay in West Peninsula Villas.

Here's what's in the itinerary that West Pen laid for us.

10:00 AM ETA (Caramoan Port)

10:15 AM ETA (West Peninsula Villas)

Check in/ Refresh

11:30 AM LUNCH

12:30 PM ETD (West Peninsula to Bikal/jump off point for island hopping

-Matukad, Lajos, Cagmalinad Island pass by Gota Beach and Honungan Cove

5:00 PM (Back to West Pen Villas)

7:00 PM Dinner

Matukad Island

This island is where the famous bangus in the lagoon can be found. The story according to Memong is that there were 2 bangus in this lagoon. One day, the fisherman caught the other one and took it home for dinner. All of the family members died after eating it.

The view from the top of Matukad island is truly breathtaking. Good thing Memong convinced us to try climbing the rocks as it would be a once in a lifetime moment. Something like maybe we will never have another chance to do it. And we are glad we did!

Here's what we had to do before we got those lovely pics:

Lajos Island

Hunongan Cove

2ND DAY
              06:30AM        (Breakfast)
              07:30AM ETD (West Pen Villas to Tabgon) Visit Grotto of Our Lady of Peace
              10:00AM         Start of Island hopping
              12:00PM        Lunch in an island

Whole Afternoon: Island Hopping
                                       - Bag-ing island
                                       - Sabitang laya
                                       - Basud island
                                       - Manlawi and other islands
              04:30PM          (back to West Pen Villas)
                                       - Souvenir shopping at Town Proper

- Visit Caramoan old church

The schedule was not followed and we ended up leaving West Pen at 830 AM. First stop is the Grotto. I thought having done the Mt. Tapyas hike in Coron, I can finish the 500steps or so going to the Grotto. But I was wrong.
Maybe, rashguard is not a good thing to wear going up the steps as there is no air at all. Or maybe it was not the right time, we went up around 9am, the sun is already at its peak. I was exhausted, add my asthma and it's a deadly combination. I went pale and was gasping for breath in the last 50steps. our guide and our butler were so good that they were able to get some guava leaves, pound it with a rock and made me smell it like ammonia. When I recovered, I was insisting to climb up the remaining steps but they did not allow me to as it will be a big risk. So I ended up waiting along with Mami Gen while the strongest two of the pack went to see the Grotto. I almost died with envy but as they say, some things are not meant to be.