Calaguas Island

(Pictures without the label "www.galapinoy" were sent by Remo through Alot. So they must have been taken by him. The rest were grabbed from www.galapinoy.com. Thanks.

It is really summer time. A lot of people are looking for alternative tourist destinations to the overcrowded and commercialized Bora.

Many people are interested to get more information about Calaguas group of Islands. Unfortunately, DPS members who are knowledgeable about the place rarely have access to computers and do not get to read our blogsite.

I got additional information and pictures from the web, but there are also original pictures taken by Remo which I am posting here.

Calaguas is a group of around 17 islands off the Pacific coast of Camarines Norte. It boasts of powdery white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters comparable to the best beaches in the world as can be seen from the pictures. If you are the adventurous type looking for virgin places to visit, this is it. The islands are unexplored and unspoiled. There are no commercial accommodations, no running water, and no toilets. You have to bring provisions and have to set up tents on the beaches. Those who have been there say that the residents are kind and hospitable fisherfolks.

The islands could be reached via a two-hour boat ride from the municipality of Vinzons. According to a visitor who wrote about his experiences in the blogsite Gala Pinoy, the ideal time to travel is between July to September. The sea can be very choppy from October to March. But with the weather becoming unpredictable due to climate change, there is a need to get accurate (??) weather forecasts if you're planning on a trip to the islands.

Camarines Norte is accessible by land from Manila. There are several air-con buses in the South bound terminal in Cubao, Quezon City near Ali Mall. There are buses which are very comfortable, with enough leg space, toilet facilities and which travel non-stop. I don't know the cost of fare now. It was still less than P1,000 when I last took the bus.

There is an advertisement by SEAIR in today's issue of Phil Daily Inquirer. It says there that there are trips to Daet every Tuesday and Friday. However, when I checked its website , the Daet trips are not yet listed. (Will check again).

I understand that we have at least two classmates whose families own some properties in Calaguas Islands. Lucky for them, a few years from now, the value would rise if there are developments made in the area. (Unfortunately, it may still take long. Tourism is not even in the investment priorities of the present provincial government). But instead of waiting, they can probably be the industry leaders. That would require a lot of capital investments though.