Just when you thought you’ve heard everything about the Bicol peninsula — Mt. Mayon, the whale sharks of Donsol, the beaches of Caramoan and Calaguas, and the fiery, flavorful Bicolano cuisine — you get to its southernmost tip and you find Matnog.
Matnog is a small town in the province of Sorsogon. From its port, barges cross the San Bernardino Strait to Samar Island in the Visayas.
But just a little distance from Matnog’s mainland — 30 minutes by outrigger boat — are islands with such staggering beauty they could give the rest of Bicol’s well known beaches a run for their money.
So if you’re looking for a Bicol beach experience that’s relaxed, simple, and relatively near, consider heading south to Matnog and experience these:
Beach-Bumming And Swimming At Subic Beach, Calintaan Island
Calintaan Island’s most distinct offering is Subic Beach — a stretch of pinkish coralline sand in between clusters and lines of coconut trees and some of the clearest waters we have ever swum in. In this regard, it is easy to compare Subic Beach with Tinaga Island’s Mahabang Buhangin, more commonly referred to as Calaguas, at the Calaguas Group of Islands in Camarines Norte. Most visitors to Subic Beach leave by day’s end, and even on a weekend, which was our time of visit, we only shared the beach with three or four more groups.
The beach’s cool, clear waters are a perfect cap to a rather tiring transit day from Legazpi to Matnog, so by all means indulge!
Camping By The Beach On Calintaan Island
Although Calintaan Island is popular as a day trip destination among local people, spending overnight by the beach is also possible. Pitch a tent or rent one of the huts by the beach, cook your dinner under the stars, and sleep to the gentle lull of the waves. Subic Beach faces the east, so you also get to wake up to the glorious rising sun.
Exploring Calintaan Cave
Calintaan Cave is located on one side of the island and is accessible only by boat. On the way, you will pass by the island’s patches of rainforest and other undisturbed beaches, looking exactly like the countless islands in El Nido, Palawan.
Swimming from the boat to the cave’s entrance is also an adventure itself: at its narrowest point, the cave’s mouth can accommodate only one person at a time, and you need to wait for the tide to subside before swimming in. Underneath, light ripples through waters as it hits the cave’s walls, producing a dazzling play of light and movement.
Inside the cave is a small beach strewn with smooth rocks and water so clear you can see through the tiny chips on your toenails’ nail polish! Look up the cave to see a massive circular opening, where you can spy birds flying in between the branches that have crept up the cave’s sides.
Fish Feeding At The Juag Lagoon Marine Sanctuary
A little distance from Calintaan Island, past clear waters and steep seabed drops, is Juag Lagoon Marine Sanctuary and its resident groupers, giant clams, lobsters, and more.
The Juag Lagoon Marine Sanctuary takes visitors around either by raft or through the bamboo platforms attached to its main building, where fish food is available for purchase.
According to its caretaker Alex Geneblazo, he made the enclosures within the lagoon to create a safe area for marine species to cultivate safely. The area is surrounded by numerous islets, shielding it from the tides of the open seas.
Swimming Some More At Tikling Island
Tikling Island has practically similar pinkish coralline sand as Subic Beach, although the latter seems to be preferred by visitors. Tikling, whose surrounding waters are crystal clear, exudes the same quiet atmosphere and unspoiled beauty that neighboring Juag and Calintaan offer.
Island Hopping Tips:
- A three-island (Tikling, Calintaan, and Juag) day trip is possible for those who do not wish to stay overnight. Boat rentals are usually at ₱1,500, but may go up for overnight excursions.
- When you decide to stay overnight, make sure that you have food supplies and cookware before leaving Matnog Port, since facilities and supplies on the island may be limited. Food can be bought at the market next to the port. As for cookware, you may arrange to borrow some from your boat crew.
- Tents may also be rented from your boat crew or from island caretakers. Alternatively, huts on the island may be rented for ₱500 a night.
- All tourists must register at the local tourism office right next to the port and pay a ₱50-environmental fee each. Everyone is expected to bring all their trash back to the mainland to facilitate the maintenance of the island.
How To Get To Matnog:
- Fly (one hour) or take a bus (8-10 hours) to Legazpi City. From here, you have two route choices: direct from Daraga, Albay or via Bulan, Sorsogon.
- Legazpi City to Daraga, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon: Take a jeep to nearby Daraga (5-10 minutes) and tell the driver to drop you off at the intersection where Matnog-bound buses pass. The bus trip from Daraga to Matnog may take three to four hours. The bus will drop you off right by the municipal building in Matnog, which is right next to the port.
- Legazpi City to Matnog via Bulan, Sorsogon: Go to the Legazpi Grand Central Terminal and board a van or bus going to Bulan, Sorsogon. Travel may take 2.5 hours. Tell the driver to drop you off at the intersection before the town proper where Matnog-bound public vehicles pass. From here, wait for buses or jeepneys going to Matnog. These will drop you off at the port.
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