How to get here in camarines norte

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE

Getting here

From Manila, Daet can easily be reached by plane through SEAIR every Tuesdays and Fridays only. You can also board a bus with terminals located in Cubao. Amihan Bus and Elavil Bus lines are just in front of Ali Mall and for Superlines Bus its station is along EDSA Cubao near Victory Liner while Philtranco bus is also along EDSA in Baranggay Alibangbang, Cubao infront of Farmers Market and in Pasay it is the main Philtranco terminal. Travel time is about 7-8 hours. Upon reaching Daet, take a tricycle going to your preferred hotels.

From Naga City, you can take either a bus or van from the Central Business District.

When to Go:
- Bagasbas:They have good waves all year round.

- Apuao Grande Resort (Mercedes) all year round also

- Calaguas Group of Island – From February to June only.

Where to Stay:

Traveller's Hotel, Bagasbas, about 5-minute walk from the shores. It is pretty cheap for only PhP150/cottage + private bathroom for an overnight stay. Overnight rate for air-conditioned room is PhP450. Downside: the whole area does not get its water supply until 12 midnight, so better exercise your arms in pumping a poso to get a shower.

Bagasbas Tourist Inn (Government owned P1,200.00 for 5-8 pax)

DOWNTOWN Hotels:

Most preffered are: Villa Milla Garden Resort, Dolor Hotel, Wiltan Hotel

Pineapple Resort, Canimog Hotel, Mines Hotel, Karilagan Hotel.

Economy hotels are: Tin-Tin Apartelle, Diamond Motorlodge, Sampaguita Tourist Inn, Daet Apartelle, Nataniel Apartelle, Daet Travellers Hotel, Hebris Penthaus, Habibi Apartelle, Pinoy Hotel

Where to eat:

Bagasbas shores are teeming with carenderias and videoke bars. Highly recommended are Bicol Pusit Express and Sinigang na Laman at Leo's Cuisine and Cusina ni Angel. It’s a bit expensive for 160/order but viands can be shared by 2-3 persons, and it is guaranteed that you will not be disappointed.

Downtown Daet: K Sarap, Kudus Grill, Tippy Toppy, Fryers Restaurant, Central Plaza Restaurant, Golden Palace, Sienalo’s Restaurants, Don Joseph Lechon.

Fast Food Chain: Jollibee, Shakey’s, Graceland

What to bring:

For surfers and Skim Boarders

• Surf board. if you don’t have one, you can rent a long board for 200/hour, or 1,000/whole day.
• Body board - you can rent it from the locals there for PhP100/hour. But you can buy your own board for PhP400-500 at any sports store in Manila.
• Skim board - if you don’t have one, you can rent it for PhP500/whole day. ask the local kids skim boarding if you can rent their boards.

For Back packers:

Tents, Flashlights, emergency lamps, Frisbee, but most of all your cameras / videocam

What you can do:

Surf, skim board, body board, island hopping / watching and chill

Budget:
Accommodation = PhP 3,500 – 4,000 but if u prefer to ride a plane additional of 3,199++ taxes (SEAIR)

MAHABANG BUHANGIN, CALAGUAS ISLAND

This particular destination is actually far from Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte. In fact, lots of travelers get confused when they start planning a trip to this place.

For the uninitiated, the place called Calaguas is actually located in the northern part of the municipality of Vinzons. Mahabang Buhangin, the Boracay of the Bicol Region is actually located in a group of islands called the Calaguas Group of Islands.

Mahabang Buhangin is known for the finest white sand ever. It holds great promises for people in search of adventure and satisfactory vacation spots. One can do island-hopping and can spend hours without end in white sand beaches or snorkeling in the clear waters of this tiny piece of paradise. The island also hosts some of the most impressive limestones and cliffs.

This itinerary is most appropriate for people who can spend two whole days in the area.

By Bus

Day 1

8:00p.m. Depart Manila by Bus

The Bus schedule is one of the best things in traveling to Daet. It usually leaves Manila at around 8:00p.m. every day but the exact time of departure is changing, depending on what bus is used, after a 7-9 hour travel, it arrives at around 5:00 a.m. in the town of Daet.

Day 2

5:00 A.M. Arrive Daet

Take tricycle to an inn or hotel (optional to those who would want to rest)
Breakfast

7:00 A.M. Start discovery of Calaguas

Ride a hired jeepney going to the town of Vinzons, from the town port hire a boat make a stop over in this island:

Quinamanukan Island

This is a short stretch of semi-white sand beach and a fish sanctuary. Definitely ideal for swimming and snorkeling. one can stay here for a picnic lunch while island-hopping.

Must have packed lunch

12:00 P.M. Arrival in Calaguas Group of Island particularly in Barangay Mangcawayan, Mahabang Buhangin, Vinzons. Set up camp, explore the island.

3:00 P.M. Trek to a hill and wait for sunset.

With seemingly unending limestone formations, you can have a combination of unscheduled penitence and exhilarating vista of the seascape of the area. It’s definitely worth the effort!

6:00 P.M. Back to camp

Prepare for dinner

8:00 P.M. Socials at the Beach

Day 3

7:00 A.M. Breakfast

8:00 A.M. Snorkeling, and some other beach activities

10:00 A.M. Break Camp

11:00 Leave the island

1:00 P.M. Late Lunch in any restaurant in Daet

Souvenir shopping and explore the town

Around 8:00 P.M. Back to Manila

Day 4

4:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m.- ETA Manila

On the trip back to Manila, Some seasoned travelers would already be wearing working clothes and be ready to get to their offices after disembarking from the Bus.

TRIP TO DAET

The town of Daet is actually a destination that you need to visit and not just pass by on your way to other parts of the Bicol Region. For one, since the Quirino Highway was built, most buses to the southern part of the country do not pass by Daet anymore to save at least 2 hours travel time. Thus, when you visit this province, traffic is already light. But expect long 1 ½ hours sharp curves and winding roads before reaching Daet. Better take that anti-dizziness pill. Travel time from Manila takes about seven hours by night bus.

With very little traffic and unexplored potential attractions that are at par with more popular ones in the Philippines visiting Daet can be an eye-opener for even seasoned travelers. But given a week-end of discovering the area, you can do the following activities here: swimming, learning to surf, snorkeling, island-hopping.

DAY 1

8:00 P.M. ETD Manila

DAY 2

5:00 A.M. ETA Daet

Take a tricycle to your preferred hotel and catch some rest

7:00 A.M. Breakfast

Hire a jeepney or a tricycle to Mercedes which is about 7 kilometers away from Daet.

Hire a boat to Apuao Grande

Apuao Grande used to be the premier tourists destination in the province where a classy resort was built. The resort is still there, though the operation has been drastically trimmed down. Aside from Apuao Grande, there are other smaller islands that one can visit. Stay for an hour for some swimming and snorkeling in one island then hop on the boat for another. Be sure to bring packed lunch.

3:00 P.M. Back to Mercedes town proper

Back to Daet

DAY 3

Whole A.M. Hire a jeepney to San Jose Beach in Talisay

Swimming, rolling with the waves for pro’s

This is a very long stretch of gray sand where the waves are most ideal for either surfing or adventure swimming, that is, waiting for a big wave then letting your body roll as the wave hits the beach. A word of caution: Don’t do this with the water level beyond your waistline. If you want to try learning how to surf, there are some local surfing dudes who rent out their surfboards and give you some quick lessons. For novice surfers the better place to find surfboards to rent and to learn surfing is in Bagasbas Beach.

P.M. Transfer to Bagasbas Beach in Daet

Continue Swimming

Bagasbas Beach gave Daet the distinct recognition as tourists destination. This is connected to San Jose Beach. Aside from water sports, numerous restaurants are established in the mini boulevard fronting the beach. Thus, you can have the time of your life watching the waves while sipping your favorite refreshment.

DAY 4

A.M. Hire Jeepney / Van to Paracale

If you know the term Paracale gold is familiar, then you canwould immediately determine that the shining stuff came from this place. Actually gold mining has been an established industry in the municipality of Paracale even before the Spaniards came here. Although the gold mining areas are diminishing, the gold industry is still a dominant livelihood activity of the people of Paracale. One can visit some houses to look at how they make intricate gold jewelry. Then on to the streetside shops to buy not so expensive gold pasalubong.

Back to Daet for lunch and pasalubong shopping or spend more time in Bagasbas for swimming and surfing lessons.

8:00 P.M. ETD Daet

DAY 5

4:00 A.M. ETA Manila

Tricycle Fare: 6.00 1^st 3kms /head

Jeepney rentals to Mercedes or Vinzons 500.00 VV

Paracale Van 60/pax by Bus 40.00/pax

Boat rentals to calaguas ( point of origin: Mercedes 7,000, Paracale 5,500, Vinzons 6,000.00)

SEAIR Manila (02)6317633 Daet (054)7217950 www.flyseair.com

MELVIC BRINAS 09065144444, 09107404783, 09222472111