bicol

Daet, Camarines Norte: Surfing in Bagasbas Beach

Posted on December 11, 2013

Catching some waves at Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte is one of the top surfing spots in the Philippines. This brown-sand beach break is a safe place for both novice and experienced surfers alike. A boulevard lined with guesthouses, restaurants and KTV bars (actually, the next best thing to do here besides surfing is karaoke!) runs along the length of Bagasbas Beach. Kalesas or horse-drawn take tourists for a ride up and downRead More→

Ticao Island, Masbate: Island-Hopping To A Seaside Waterfall

Posted on December 8, 2013

The northernmost town on Ticao Island, Masbate is Monreal, an unassuming coastal settlement with a few early 20th century colonial homes and glorious views of Mt. Mayon and Mt. Bulusan on the Bicol Peninsula at the pier across Ticao Pass. Monreal also serves as a staging point for island-hopping adventures around the northern islets, sandy beaches, rock formations and one of the most amazing waterfalls I’ve ever seen! Passing by some rocky islands with impressive escarpments and shallow caves, weRead More→

Ticao Island, Masbate: Bongsalay Mangrove Forest

Posted on December 7, 2013

Avicennia rumphiana, a mangrove species endemic to Southeast Asia In between Masbate Island and the Bicol Peninsula is Ticao Island, which still belongs to Masbate province. It is best known for the Manta Bowl, the top diving destination to see giant manta rays. A little known fact though is that it’s home to another behemoth of the natural world – the century-old miyapi mangrove tree of the Bongsalay Mangrove Forest Reserve in the southern town of Batuan.After arriving at Brgy LagundiRead More→

Masbate City: Buntod Sandbar & Marine Sanctuary

Posted on December 6, 2013

Buntod Sandbar and Marine Sanctuary in Masbate City, Masbate Island While the coastal areas in Masbate City on Masbate Island are generally lackluster, an offshore sandbar only less than 30 minutes away by boat provides idyllic respite for beach lovers and snorkelers. The sandbar stretches away from a young mangrove plantation, shifting in size and shape according to the currents. One clear days, the majestic Mayon Volcano on the Bicol Peninsula can be seen peering from far away behind theRead More→

Discover the Flavors of Bicol with Bigg’s Diner! [SP]

Posted on August 19, 2013

Savor Bigg Diner’s Chicken Cordon Bleu with Laing and Pili Pie – American classics with a Bicolano twist! Bicol always beckons me with its delicious and fiery cuisine! Bigg’s Diner gives me more reasons to return to the foodie destination time and again. In celebration of 30 years of serving great food in Bicol, the biggest diner-style food chain in the region invited me and other seasoned travel bloggers to discover and experience the wonders of Camarines Sur and AlbayRead More→

Caramoan Peninsula: Sabitan Laya, Lahuy, Cotivas & Guinahoan Islands

Posted on January 24, 2012

The gang strutting our stuff at Sabitan Laya, ala Survivor My travel buddy Jessica and I spent our birthday weekend with friends at Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur, an anvil-shaped piece of land jutting out of southeast Luzon that fractures into numerous islands, some of them boasting karst formations akin to El Nido and Coron. This island paradise catapulted to world-wide stardom starting in 2007 as the setting of the French, Swedish, Bulgarian, Serbian, Israeli and, most recently, Indian franchiseRead More→