Cruising

By Chris Datol

A four-day jaunt may just be the ideal vacation an urbanite needs to enjoy respite from urban drudgery while delighting in more pursuits not offered in a typical tourist package. Within this time frame, the traveler won’t be pressured to throw in every activity into the itinerary. Rather, it encourages a relaxed pace, ideally in a remote destination which can be reached after a long drive or commute via land.

Through almost 10 years of Cruising on the road, we have learned what areas are feasible to visit by land or air. On each occasion when we are allowed the luxury of time to travel, we often opt to take the route via land especially if the destination is far-off. It means more opportunities to test drive a vehicle; or time for “bonding” on the road; and a more flexible schedule where we can stop by the middle of the road to buy pasalubong, and make unplanned detours to “secret” stops suggested by friends. That is also why we have established our mantra of journeys being “the destination.”

For this package, we suggest a trip that is relatively easy to take, both for seasoned motorists and adventurous commuters who don’t mind the long travel. A trip to Bicolandia – land of pilgrimage, pili nuts, beautiful churches, and the majestic Mayon Volcano – is our featured package tour for the four-day vacation. Within this region, there are boundless adventures waiting to be explored. For the tourist, another mantra: Travel possibilities are always endless!

Travel options

You can save a lot by traveling via land in case you wish to take this four-day trip to Bicol. The region has six provinces, namely: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon; and six cities: Naga, Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon and Tabaco.

For this trip, we recommend the region’s most popular destinations: Daet in Camarines Norte, Naga City in Camarines Sur, and Legazpi City in Albay. For this four-day journey, you can actually string together an easy itinerary to see and experience most of the region.

An early departure from Manila is advisable for motorists, since the first stop, Daet, is around eight hours away by land. For those taking the bus, we advise you to take the night trip, which will bring you to Daet by sunrise the following morning. For those bringing a vehicle, leave early morning, and make sure to assign at least two drivers who can alternate during the eight-hour drive.

Various bus companies offer transport to the region, among them Cagsawa Tours, Penafrancia, and Superlines. Fares range from P350 (non-aircon) to P750 (aircon deluxe). There is a terminal at the back of Ali Mall Cubao which offers bus trips to various locations including spots around Bicol. It is always advisable to reserve for seats in advance, because during peak season, the trips almost always get fully booked.

A day in Daet

Daet as a municipality offers pastoral pleasures to the traveler. Take a tricycle along Bagasbas Road and get a refreshing whiff of the provincial air.  It’s also the area to spot a multitude of morning joggers – they are townsfolk who value their health, or may simply be taking the leisurely path towards Bagasbas Beach.

The seemingly endless beach stretch is popular among townsfolk and even visitors because of the powder fine silvery sands and the strong waves that encourage watersports like surfing. In fact, locals attest that their beach is dubbed as the “61st surfing destination in the world.”

International surfing competitions are held here annually from the months of August to October, but surfing enthusiasts from all over frequently visit the place to try out the majestic waves. Upon reaching the beach, you can cool down in the waters, hang out by the boulevard, or mingle with the people. For the sporty type, surfing and skimboarding lessons are offered by locals, who are very friendly and proud of their waterfront.

The rest of the day can be spent on a rolling tour around Daet and its adjacent towns. Find time to explore the town’s old churches, parks, and other interesting spots. Daet’s next-door neighbor, the town of Vinzons, is home to the ancestral house of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons – a brave hero who led the resistance against the Japanese in Bicol during World War II. His house contains various books, photos, publications, and personal memorabilia.

Daet for its part offers the first Rizal monument – an irregularly-shaped obelisk painted in white, with the name of Rizal highlighted in black. The monument was built in Dec. 1898, fashioned from mortars and boulders collected from the old Spanish jail in Daet which was later demolished. The monument, located at the foot of a bridge, can be found across the old Daet municipal hall.

Around Naga

About three hours away from Daet is Naga City. If you’re done with your rolling tour of Daet, you can take the next bus and ride off to this city which is bustling with activity.

There are various hotels and resorts to choose from. Check the Internet for your hotel of choice and book in advance. If you arrive in Naga by nightfall, you can check in to your hotel then go out again for dinner. There are a lot of restaurants to choose from, but for the tourist, it is always advisable to be equally adventurous when it comes to food. Try the local delicacies in native-themed restaurants and be surprised by the legendary spicy cuisine.

The following morning can be set into a rolling tour of the city’s famous churches, and there are several to choose from, for their architectural and historical significance. There is the Metropolitan Church (the largest in Bicol), Peñafrancia Basilica Minore, and the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church which is a popular stop for pilgrims. Every September, the city comes alive with the Peñafrancia Festival, which attracts thousands of devotees from all over.

Naga City is also known as the gateway to CamSur’s Caramoan – the latest tourist hub in the Bicol Region. Naga City and CamSur were actually described in the newest edition on Lonely Planet Traveler’s guide as “Luzon’s best-kept secret.” The regional office of the Department of Tourism attributed the increase to the full operation of the world-class Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) in the town of Pili which offers wakeboarding facilities.

Caramoan has gained fame among Europeans as the site of the French version of Survivor called “Kohlanta” which was filmed in the islands. There are at least two boat trips to take before you can reach Caramoan, but upon arrival, you will be amazed to discover a world-class resort called Gota Village which is the jump-off point to an island-hopping tour in this part of Bicol.

Loitering in Legazpi

Another three hours can bring you on your third day to Legazpi City in Albay, which is famous for Mayon Volcano and Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga. While Naga City is known as the region’s cultural and religious center, Legazpi City is dubbed as the region’s political and administrative center.

Its tourism industry has been kept thriving by Mayon Volcano – one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes which happens to have a perfectly formed, symmetrical cone. It is also a convenient jump-off point to other tourist destinations in the region such as the Cagsawa Ruins, the upscale resort of Misibis, Donsol – the site of one of the world’s largest annual migration of whale sharks and the white sand beaches of Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

There are plenty of places to visit around Legazpi – enough to fill a day and a half around the city.

Plan a rolling tour of the Albay Park and Wildlife – a picnic grove and a park combined; Liberty Bell – installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Penaranda park in front of Albay Provincial Capitol; Japanese Tunnel – used as an arsenal during the second World War, it measures 40 meters long and around 7 feet deep; Magayon Art Gallery – found at the lobby of the Albay Provincial Capitol and serves as the venue for artists to show off their visual creations; Legazpi City Museum – showcases the heritage and culture of the city as the only public museum in the Bicol Region; and Lignon Hill – located behind Albay Park and Wildlife, and one of the best places to view Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City.

Since this tour is very flexible, you also have the option of switching the spots per day. You can first proceed to Legazpi and from there work your way through Naga and Daet as the days pass.

Just make sure to check the bus schedules and book your hotels in advance.

The trip back to Manila may just be as long, but you will have plenty of memories – and souvenirs – to bring home!