Situated east off the coast of mainland Bicol, Catanduanes is an island province that’s usually not on the itinerary of tourists due to its remote location. But Catanduanes is a diamond in the rough.
Catanduanes has a lot to offer to visitors with its eclectic mix of historical churches, waterfalls, waves ideal for surfing, and cream-colored beaches that are still untouched.
Mamangal Beach, Virac, Catanduanes
Photo by Jamilamimi
Mamangal Beach is the kind of beach you don’t want to leave. You’ll want to lie down in its fine, creamy, golden sand. Its clear waters entice visitors to take a dip and get lost in it. The golden sand and clear waters of the beach are memories you will take with you once you leave the island.
Marilima Beach, Virac, Catanduanes
Photo from Backpacking Pilipinas
Catanduanes never seems to run out of golden sand beaches. Marilima Beach is another golden sand beach you can visit while on the island. The placid waters leave no trace of any monsoon winds that constantly batter the island during rainy season.
Batag Beach, Virac, Catanduanes
Photo from Suroy Suanoy
Aside from the usual golden sand beach that you’ll see in Catanduanes, Batag Beach has an impressive rock formation along its shore. The rocks create an arch overlooking the sea.
Twin Rock Beach Resort, Virac, Catanduanes
Photo by weiss88
The most prominent symbols of Catanduanes are the twin rocks on this beach resort in Igang. The golden sand beach on this resort is not too shabby either, perfect for vacationers who just want to get a tan or lounge around the beach. The restaurant serves tasty seafood and generous servings good for 2 to 3 persons. The resort is equipped with a zip line, wall climbing, and hanging bridge for thrill seeking vacationers.
Sakahon Beach, Bato, Catanduanes
Photo by Ayne Garcia
Situated in Bote, Catanduanes, Sakahon Beach is the most difficult to get to among all the beaches on this list. Hidden behind a mountain and dirt roads, part of the fun is the journey to the beach. After an hour ride on a tricycle, the pristine, undeveloped beach is worth every minute of the journey. The sun magnifies the golden hue of the sand as the strong waves whip and curl just a few meters from the shoreline.
Aside from beach bumming and talking up the locals, more adventurous wanderers can go on a short trek up a hill to catch an overlooking view of Sakahon from the lighthouse.
Bato Church, Bato, Catanduanes
Photo from Dana’s Haven
Bato Church, also known as St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, has withstood wars and is the direct line of the island to its colonial past. The church is not only aesthetically pleasing, it is also historically significant. It paradoxically embodies the cruelty of “polo y servicios,” the system of unpaid forced labor during Spanish rule, but it is also a source of hope for the locals. It took 53 years, from 1830 to 1883, to finish the construction of Bato Church.
Maribina Falls, Bato, Catanduanes
Photo by Herald Presado
Maribina Falls is just a few minutes from Bato Church, and is the most publicized waterfalls on the island. The falls releases cool water that is refreshing after a tiring day of exploring Virac and beaches along the coast of San Andres. This three-layer waterfall is situated amidst a lush forest with sheds waiting for visitors who want to enjoy a dip.
These are only a few of the destinations you can enjoy while on the island of Catanduanes. This island is too huge to cover over a weekend getaway. There are more discoveries to be made once you venture further up north on the island.
How to Get To Catanduanes
There are Cebu Pacific flights to Virac, Catanduanes and it takes around 1 hour.
Alternatively, visitors can ride the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) boats from Tabaco City, Albay to the San Andres or Virac Ports. To get to Tabaco City, you can take a 12-hour bus bound for Legazpi.
From Tabaco City Port, you can ride the RORO to Virac for 4 hours or to San Andres for 3 hours. The fare for the Virac-bound RORO is ₱320 with air-conditioning and ₱240 without air-conditioning. The San Andres-bound RORO costs ₱290 with air-conditioning and ₱220 without air-conditioning.
How To Get Around Catanduanes
To get around Catanduanes, you can either rent a van, motorbike, tricycle or ride the jeep.
Jeeps are the main mode of transport for long distance travel on the island.
You can rent a tricycle for a day for ₱800 to ₱1000, depending on your negotiating skills. The pakyaw rate for one way trips to the next town is ₱150, if you wait for other passengers it is P25 per person.
Public transport is scarce. It’s better to rent a van or tricycle to explore the island. You can arrange for van rental at the hotel you are staying in or as soon as you arrive at the airport. There are plenty of service providers willing to rent out their vans. The van rental costs ₱2,500 for a day trip.
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