Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
TICAO ISLAND
By bangka
Bangkas connect Masbate pier to Lagundi, on
Ticao's southwest coast (every 30min 8am-4pm; 45min;
P80); there are also bangkas from Bulan in Sorsogon
province to San Jacinto on the northeast of Ticao Island
(5 daily; 1hr; P100) and from Pilar to Monreal in the north
(2 daily; 1hr 30min; P145).
ACCOMMODATION
Altamar Boutique Resort
T
02 817 7463,
W
ticao
altamar.com.
Set on 11 hectares of land, this lovely resort
consists of a hilltop villa, Yellow House, with a welcoming
lounge and four cosy private rooms decorated with ceramic
vases, rugs, books and wicker and wood furniture. There
are also attractive cottages set around the grounds, with
neat and tidy rooms, although they are smaller than in the
main building, and not quite as homely. Activities include
kayaking, horseriding
along
the beach and island-hopping
trips. Full board only.
P3500
Ticao Island Resort
T
02 893 8173,
W
donsolecotour
.com.
This friendly resort has nine comfortable a/c cabañas
with parquet flooring and spacious bathrooms set on a
pretty stretch of beach. There are also four welcoming
budget rooms (1700/person full board) at the back. The
resort grows its own vegetables, and the restaurant menu
includes home-made bread, pizza and pasta. Staff can
organize fis
hing tr
ips, kayaking, firefly river tours and
horseriding.
P2600
Catanduanes
The eastern island province of
Catanduanes
is ripe for exploration, a large, rugged, rural
island with endless stretches of majestic coastline. While
surfers
have known about
Catanduanes for some time, attracted to the big waves off
Puraran Beach
on the wild east
coast, the island has still barely felt the impact of tourism, although with four flights a
week from Manila and improvements to the main road around the island, this is slowly
changing. There are several good beaches within easy reach of the capital
Boac
, along with
the immense caves in
Lictin
, while the undeveloped west coast offers the opportunity to
blaze a trail into areas few travellers see. Above all Catanduanes is a friendly, down-to-
earth place to hang out for a few days, adjusting to a slower pace of life and travel.
It isn't all good news though. When Filipinos think about Catanduanes they think
mostly of
bad weather
- the island lies
on the exposed eastern edge of the
archipelago, smack in the middle of the
“typhoon highway”. Unless you are a
surfer (surf season is roughly July-Oct),
the best time to visit is from March to
June, when the chances of rainfall are
slight and the wind is less wicked.
During the wet season (July-Nov),
the island can be hit half a dozen
times by
typhoons
, causing extensive
damage to crops and homes and
sometimes loss of life.
4
CATANDUANES ISLAND
ACCOMMODATION
Amenia Beach Resort
Pacific Surfers' Paradise
Puraran Surf Resort
Twin Rock Beach Resort
3
2
1
4
Toy toy
Beach
Pandan
Caramoran
Panay
Bagamanoc
Maqueda
Channel
Panganiban
Viga
Gigmoto
Virac
VIRAC
is an anonymous provincial
town, busy with mercantile activity and
the noise of jeepneys. There is a small
central plaza with a cathedral and a
busy market, and an interesting local
museum
, but for most visitors Virac
will simply be a base for exploring the
rest of the island.
Puraran
Beach
Baras
Codon Port
N
San Miguel
Luyang
Cave
Maribina
Falls
Buenavista
San Andres
Virac
Lictin
Bato
Palawig
Cabugao
Bay
Magnesia
0
25
kilometres
Tabaco
Tabaco
