Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
LAKE BUHI
Regular vans connect Naga to Buhi (hourly; 1hr 30min; P85).
ACCOMMODATION
Lake Buhi Resort Brgy Cabatuan, 4km northwest
of Buhi T 0926 616 2131, E lakebuhi_resort@yahoo
.com. Owned and run by affable Cyrus Obsuna, this
wonderful resort has tastefully furnished accommodation
in well-manicured grounds; a spiral staircase leads up to
a series of spacious rooms in the main building - the cosy
attic rom (P3000) is probably the most inviting, with a
living area and ter race. Th ere's also a swimming pool. Rates
include breakfast. P2200
Mount Isarog National Park
One of the Philippines' most spectacular and least trampled areas, Mount Isarog
National Park covers forty square kilometres in the heart of Camarines Sur, about 40km
east of Naga. At its centre stands Mount Isarog (1966m), the second highest peak in
Southern Luzon and part of the Bicol volcanic chain that also includes Mayon. Isarog
is considered potentially active, although it is not known when it last erupted.
The jungle is thick and steamy, and the flora and fauna are among the most varied in
the archipelago. Long-tailed macaques and monitor lizards are a pretty common sight,
while with a little luck you may also spot the indigenous shrew rats, reticulated pythons
and rare birds such as the bleeding-heart pigeon, red-breasted pitta and blue-nape
fantail. Reaching the summit (see box below) takes two days of strenuous climbing. At
the top is a large crater with a couple of sulphuric rivers that meet within the crater and
stream down the southeastern part of the mountain.
A number of paths on Isarog's lower slopes lead to waterfalls - including Mina-Ati,
Nabuntulan and Tumaguiti - all of which are surrounded by thick rainforest and have
deep, cool pools for swimming. The easiest to reach is beautiful Malabsay , a powerful
ribbon of water that plunges into a deep pool surrounded by forest greenery. It's a
delightful place for a dip. There are also hot springs in the barangay of Panicuason
(P200), the most popular starting point for climbing the mountain.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
4
MOUNT ISAROG NATIONAL PARK
By jeepney To get to the barangay of Panicuason, starting
point for the Panicuason trail (see box below), take a jeepney
(hourly; 40min; P30) from close to the market in Naga. There
are no jeepneys from Panicuason back to Naga after 3pm
(4pm in summer), so keep an eye on the time. If you get stuck
you can catch a habal-habal (15min; P100).
ACCOMMODATION
Panicuason Hotspring Resort T 0906 252 7344,
E hotspring.resort@yahoo.com. The closest accommoda-
tion to the national park, offering simple accommodation in
the “old” building along with much more appealing doubles
with modern bathrooms in a newer block (P1600). There is no
hot water, but the four hot spring pools are just at your feet.
Adventure activities include two ziplines (P200 -300) a nd a
Waterball (P100/5min), and there's a restaurant. P1300
CLIMBING MOUNT ISAROG
The easiest and most commonly used route to the summit of Mount Isarog is the Panicuason
trail , which starts at the barangay of Panicuason and takes two days. There are two other
recognized routes on the mountain - the PLDT trail and the more challenging Patag-Patag trail
- both of which also take two days.
You will need a climbing permit ($10/day) and a local guide (P550/day) to climb Mount
Isarog - Kadlagan Outdoor Shop at 16 Damasalang St, Naga ( T 0919 800 6299, E kadlagan
@yahoo.com) can process applications and help with guides; for the latter you can also
contact the Naga City Arts, Culture and Tourism O ce (see p.210).
The best time to trek is between March and May, but it is possible at other times, weather
allowing; September to December is particularly wet.
 
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