Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Caramoan Peninsula
The wild and sometimes windswept
Caramoan Peninsula
, 50km east of Naga, is
blessed with limestone cliffs and blue-water coves to rival the Visayas or Palawan.
Until recently its relative isolation and lack of infrastructure meant that it
attracted only a handful of tourists. Then in 2008 the French production of the
Survivor
TV show was filmed here, and other international productions swiftly
followed suit. While today the area hardly rivals somewhere like Boracay in terms
of development, it is attracting increasing numbers to its rugged, scenic landscape.
he
dry season
runs from February to September, while October to December sees
the most rain.
Caramoan
There isn't much to delay you in the town of
CARAMOAN
other than a few souvenir
shops, a couple of simple restaurants and some decent enough accommodation
options. If you have a bit of time to kill, it's worth taking a stroll to the
Michael the
Archangel Parish Church
, a pretty redbrick building constructed in the 1600s. The
church was originally built with light materials such as bamboo, wood and nipa, but in
the 1800s it was renovated using clay, stone and adobe. Opposite is the covered local
fresh produce
market
.
Gota Beach
6km northeast of Caramoan town • P300 • Tricycle from Caramoan town P150 (20min)
Part of the
Caramoan National Park
, the government-owned
Gota Beach
became a
tourist attraction when accommodation for the filming crew of the
Survivor
series was
built here. Reachable from Caramoan town along a surfaced but damaged road, the
beach itself is a bit of a let down, although it continues to attract tourists who head to
the resort intrigued to see what put this place on the map.
4
Guinahoan Island
With its grassy terrain and grazing cows, the inhabited
Guinahoan Island
is an unusual
sight among the Caramoan Peninsula's jagged limestone cliffs. The island has some
lovely
beaches
with white and pink sand; it's a 45-minute trek from the shore to the
Guinahoan Lighthouse
, which still functions as a beacon for fishermen at night and
offers wonderful views of the nearby islands.
Lahos Island
Also known as Bichara, the small
Lahos Island
consists of two stunning limestone
formations connected by a short stretch of sand. Except during high tide, you can
spend some time on the beach that cuts through from one side of the island to the
other, which has deep, clear water.
Matukad Island
One of the smallest islands in Caramoan,
Matukad Island
is a pretty spot with some of
the whitest sand in the area. Within the island there's a hidden lagoon; you'll have to
scramble to the top of rugged limestone cliffs to find it, and you shouldn't attempt to
do so without a guide - contact the Caramoan tourist o
ce (see opposite). The lagoon
is allegedly inhabited by one milkfish; legend says the little creature protects the island,
and brings ill fortune to those who harm it.
Lahuy Island
At 10km long and 3.5km wide,
Lahuy Island
is the largest island in the northern part
of the Caramoan Peninsula; it is also known as “Treasure Island” because of its history
of gold mining. There is still small-scale gold panning in the barangay of
Gata
, and
visitors can try their hand for a small fee. The island is wonderful at low tide when you
