Cam Sur Experience: 524 Steps to the Shrine of Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary

After getting to some of the islands of Caramoan, our last stop was at the Caglago Mountain in Baranggay Tabgon. A flight of 524 steps to the grotto leads to the 26-foot image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It's already 5:00 PM when we get there. From the docking area, we walked for about 5 - 10 minutes to get to the entry point to the shrine. We were accompanied by guides from the docking area up to the shrine. Don't forget to give a tip! There's also a shrine fee which will be paid at the entrance (which I forgot how much). :)


By the way, the place is sacred so be wary of you attire / clothes.


So, let's get this started. Let's go up! :)

Cam Sur Experience: Caramoan Peninsula

I lived in Camarines Sur for 3 years when I was still a kid but I've never heard of Caramoan until Survivor came. Cam Sur should be thankful to Survivor as it has given Caramoan the fame and stand of one of the prime destination in the country. I have seen how Cam Sur rises in terms of tourism. Naga City which is part of Cam Sur is only known for Peñafrancia Festival. As time flies, the region evolves from building the first SM in Bicol Region in Naga City, the impressive Cam Sur Watersports Complex in Pili and the boost of Caramoan Peninsula. These are just few places to visit in Cam Sur, and I know there are still great places to explore (and I hope to keep as is) in the region.

Trip to Caramoan. Since the first jeepney trip from our town to Pili is still at 6:00 AM, me and my friends slept over at our relatives house in Bula Centro. At 4:00 AM, we hired a tricycle that took us to Crossing Anayan (near Pili Centro). If you're coming from Naga, I believe there are public vans going to Sabang Beach / port.

At 5:00 AM, we arrived and waited for jeepney going to Sabang Beach. We waited for so long before the first jeepney came. Travel time is about 1 1/2 hour going to Sabang, and the fare costs PHP 70.00.

As soon as we arrived at Sabang port, we paid PHP 10.00 for the floater (wala na yung buhat-buhat or papasanin sa likod) to take you to the ferry / motor boat.

Cam Sur Experience: Wakeboarding at CWC

I've been going back and forth in Bicol for how many years now but I have never tried wakeboarding at CWC (CamSur Watersports Complex) until last week. According to my relatives, CWC is owned by Cong. L-Ray Villafuerte. Just so you know why their villa and accommodations were named as Villa Rey and the lake was named as Lago del Rey. :)

CWC is located at Provincial Capitol Complex Cadlan, Pili. It is approximately 15 - 20 minutes from Airport. There are free shuttle from airport which will take you to CWC. And if I'm not mistaken, there are also free shuttle from Naga to CWC. But if you fail to catch the free shuttle, from Naga you may ride a bus going to Legazpi City and ask the driver to drop you off at the Provincial Capitol. And from Capitol you may ride a tricycle or padyak which will take you to CWC.

I was amazed how the complex looks like. I never thought that despite of the simple living on this province, there is still such impressive resort / complex placed in Cam Sur. Cam Sur is truly the next prime destination for everyone.

Graceland Baker's Plaza

Aside from Bigg's Diner, there's another known fast food from Bicol that serves real taste and finest food, it's Graceland! Graceland is now a far cry from the original “garage operation” started in 1976 but just like most local businesses (in Naga); it had a very humble beginning.

Graceland is like Goldilocks or Red Ribbon here in Manila. It's a baker's plaza but also serves rice meals, pasta and etc.

Before we went back to Manila from our Calaguas Trip, we looked for something local to try and I thought of Graceland. We went to Daet Centro where Graceland is.

My 2 companions ordered Bangus Meal (because it's Black Saturday)!

Back in Time in Corregidor Island

I've been wanting to have a trip in Corregidor Island since then but the expensive tour package from Sun Cruises prevents me from not going to. So when Pakyaw Deals (a group buying deal site) offers a a Sun Cruises Historical Day Tour with Malinta Light & Sound Show (P2150 value) for P998 only, I contacted my friends who wants to join and purchased this limited offer. The Pakyaw Voucher - tour package already includes round trip ferry transfers; Malinta Light and Sound Show, shrine, entrance and terminal fees; guided island tour and buffet lunch. Good deal, isn't it? :)

Sun Cruises is located at CCP Terminal A. CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines. Check in time at Sun Cruises starts at 7:00 AM. It was a gloomy morning then and hoping for a good weather during our entire trip. We left Manila by 8:30 AM, and it started to rain.

Corregidor Island Day Tour. At 9:30 AM, we arrived at Corregidor Island. As soon as we docked, we embarked from the ferry and rode to our assigned tram. We have a cool and funny tour guide by the way, it's Mr. Ramon Alfonso. He's already 74 or 76 y/o if I'm not mistaken but with that age he still wants to work as a tour guide instead of staying in the house. He still enjoys being a tour guide yet he plans to retire by the age of 80.

Surf's Up Bagasbas Beach

A Visit to Bagasbas Beach. Camarines Norte is also known for the surfing and kiteboarding spot, as it has a long stretch of beach in Bagasbas. It became a local accredited surfing spot due to the attention it has gotten from the surfing community. It is considered as one of the best surfing sites in the Philippines. Bagasbas is 4 KMs away from Daet, so from Daet Centro you can ride a tricycle going to Bagasbas, with PHP 10.00 fare per passenger and PHP 50.00 for special trip. The ride normally takes 10 - 15 minutes.

The beach doesn't have the white and powdery sands. The weather is good for surfing and the waves are good too, surf's up!

Gayon Cam Norte: Discovering Calaguas (Kumalasag and Maculabo Island)

To make this trip extra-worthy, we asked our boatman if we can pass by Kumalasag Island and Maculabo Island before we hit back to Paracale. 

Kumalasag is now a private island so there's no chance for us to set our foot but our kind boatman told us that we can pass by so we can still see how the island looks like.

It was another long boat ride (1 hour) under the sun going to Kumalasag Island, sunburn!