Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are various approaches to Mayon, although the accredited and authorized
jump-off point is at
Lidong
, Santo Domingo, where the
Mayon Volcano National Park
is
located. You'll have to bring all your food with you from Legazpi; there are sources of
water on the volcano, but you'll need purifying tablets.
INFORMATION
MOUNT MAYON
Information and guides
Whatever you do, don't
attempt the climb without a guide. Guides are mandatory
and setting out without one would be foolhardy in the
extreme. Local guides at the jump-off point of Lidong,
Santo Domingo, can assist tourists, although it's probably
wise to arrange one in advance at the tourist o
ces in
Legazpi - where you can also check to see whether
conditions are suitable for an ascent. Another good
source of information is the Institute Of Volcanology
And Seismology (
W
phivolcs.dost.gov.ph), in Legazpi on
Ligñon Hill (see p.217).
Daraga
On the western edge of Legazpi • Jeepney from Legazpi (every 5min; 15min; P8)
Five kilometres west of Legazpi by jeepney, the busy market town of
DARAGA
is home
to
Daraga Church
, an imposing eighteenth-century Baroque structure built by
Franciscan missionaries from blocks of volcanic lava. The exterior was decorated by
skilled stonemasons with statuary, carvings, alcoves and niches, but until recently had
been falling into disrepair. It was declared a national cultural treasure in 2008 and a
project was undertaken to restore it to its former glory, although in the meantime the
work has significantly reduced the appeal of the exterior.
4
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING DARAGA
Daraga offers a couple of surprisingly good
dining
options in pleasant surroundings, while
staying
here provides a good
alternative to the hustle and bustle of central Legazpi.
Balay Cena Una
F. Lotivio at P. Gomez St
T
0917 827
9520,
W
balaycenauna.com.
Located in a beautifully
restored ancestral home with lovely wooden parquet
floors, this excellent restaurant serves international dishes
- the signature fillet of lapu-lapu (grouper) in gourmet
sauce (P265) and the butterflied king prawns in
tilmok
sauce (P302) are great. Meat lovers can treat themselves
to Wagyu beef steak (P1512) flown over directly from
Japan. There's a Sun buffet (11am-3pm; P350).
Mon-Sat
10am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-9pm.
Balay Suanoy
1446 Pag-asa St
T
052 742 0029,
W
balaysuanoy.com.
This cosy bed and breakfast offers
a couple of comfortable doubles with private bath, DVD
player and cable TV.
The restaurant (daily 10am-2pm
& 5-10pm) - cluttered with vintage knick-knacks and
WWII newspaper clippings - offers creatively presented
Filipino favourites including
seafoo
d (P95), beef (P220)
and vegetable dishes (P110).
P1500
Cagsawa ruins
8km northwest of Legazpi • P10 • Take a jeepney from Legazpi in the direction of Malabog or Polangui; make sure to tell the driver where
you want to get off
Eight kilometres northwest of Legazpi, beyond Daraga, the
Cagsawa ruins
are
the remains of a Spanish church that was destroyed by the 1814 eruption of
Mayon. Around 1200 people were entombed in lava and still remain there.
The ruins are small and there's not much to explore, but they are picturesque,
standing in gardens close to paddy fields with marvellous views across the plain to
Mount Mayon. This is a popular spot, so if you want peace and quiet - or if you
want to take photographs before the cumulus roll in to obscure the volcano's tip
- take an early jeepney. You can buy drinks and snacks from the souvenir stalls
and sari-sari stores outside the ruins. There's a
swimming pool
(daily 6am-10pm;
P50) just by the ruins, along with the
Galeria de Cagsawa
(daily 7am-6pm; P20),
a small gallery with photos and paintings by local artists depicting Mount
Mayon's eruption.
