6 Amazing Places to Visit In a Bicolandia Roadtrip
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| Magayon. (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
A reunion, an amazing roadtrip and an awesome region. This is the tale of our four-day Bicolandia trip, and the six places we visited during a road trip around Bicol region.
It all started with two balikbayans who wanted to spend quality time with family in Bicol, and how they engineered a 265-kilometer trip for 11 people that took us through two regions, four provinces and about 20 cities and municipalities. It was a trip that flattens butts but flatters every Filipino who wants to show the "Wow Pilipinas" to their tourist friends!
This Bicol trip took us through zigzag roads, beaches, lakes, mountains--and yes! the perfect Mount Mayon. It brought us to these six amazing places to visit in Bicol.
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| Panorama shot of Sumlang Lake, and Mount Mayon. (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
Sumlang Lake
Don't judge the book by its cover, the adage says. In Sumlang Lake's case, don't judge it by the skinny roads and tiny residential houses you have to pass. It looks so nondescript and hardly has any advertisement along the way that Google Maps really is your only hope of finding this place. But wow! Is it worth the hassle.
Boasting a beautiful bahay-na-bato architecture, a perfectly designed lawn, an Instagram-worthy lake, and one amazing countryside view of Mount Mayon, Sumlang Lake houses a restaurant serving Filipino dishes. Meals are best taken in the second-floor dining room, which boasts of huge capiz windows, before flowing into a veranda that offers a view of the volcano and some fresh air coming from the lake. The establishment also has a souvenir shop, but I recommend saving your shopping for the next item on this list.
Cagsawa Ruins
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| Photo by Your City Promdi |
There's something poetic about the lone figure of the Cagsawa Bell Tower standing firm in front of the beautiful, fiery volcano.
The only survivor of a tragedy that had seen Mount Mayon angrily spew its lava and wipe out much of Cagsawa town, the Cagsawa Church had been burnt by Dutch pirates, rebuilt, then buried by a Mayon eruption.
The only survivor of a tragedy that had seen Mount Mayon angrily spew its lava and wipe out much of Cagsawa town, the Cagsawa Church had been burnt by Dutch pirates, rebuilt, then buried by a Mayon eruption.
Why come here? For its history, for another view of Mount Mayon, for the halo-halo served in its restaurant, and for the rows of pasalubong shops. Don't forget to buy a commemorative shirt, maybe a few trinkets and native abaca bags, and bags and bags of fresh pili products (choose the barely-processed version).
Daraga Church
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| Facade of Daraga Church. (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
There's so many reasons to visit Daraga Church. If you're a simple tourist, enjoy the amazing view of Mount Mayon from its hillside location. If you're a Roman Catholic, come to pray at the Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church. If you're a history buff, come to enjoy a site that had been declared as National Cultural Treasures, and marvel at the volcanic rocks used to build the church--interesting, given that this was built to replace Cagsawa Church after the latter's destruction.
Lignon Hill
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| The viewing deck offers a view of the airport, the city, all the way to the sea. (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
I feel like much of Albay had been designed to take in the beauty Mayon and to survive its wrath. Lignon Hill is no different. Situated on a hill that sits directly across from the volcano, it offers seats in which to view the Mayon, with enough kilometers in between to buffer the place from an explosion. It offers a semi-circular walk, that also provides a great view of the airport and the surrounding city and a glimpse of the sea.
Some travel advisers say, however, that the view is even better at night. My suggestion is to come in the morning, see the nearby zoo, hike and bike, and visit the nearby office of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Vulcanology. Get a late lunch at the top of the hill, stay for coffee, and await the sunset. Then stay some more for a bird's eye view of the city at night.
Black Sand Beach
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| Photo by Your City Promdi. |
Okay, one caveat. Come to the Black Sand Beach either on a cloudy day or with good foot protection. The sand here is a fine--like what you will find in Boracay, but black. But black sand is hell for the feet on a sunny day, so come adequately prepared.
Enjoy the small town vibes, including the gentle slope of the beach. Afterwards, you can choose to wash off the sea water in a nearby (free) water pipe, or enjoy the amenities of a resort with a swimming pool (entrance fee: Php50.00).
Daruanak Island
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| View on the way down from the Daruanak Island's peak. (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
Capping off our trip is Daruanak Island. Never mind the beach at Pasacao, which was crowded and noisy when we spent the night there, but it is a must to take an early morning boat ride to the nearby Daruanak Island. Shaped like an bald head when viewed from Pasacao Beach, the island is about 30 minutes away. Small, it is an easy climb for someone who wants a view of the surrounding corals and seas. Climb up the 263 steps to the peak, take 360-degree videos and photos, and take in the vibrant blues and greens of the surrounding vista. Come back down, jump in the boat, and swim in the other side of the island. Come with ice cream and cold water, if you can.
Logistics
We rented a van for this road trip, and followed Google Map's instructions to get to the places we want to visit. However, you can also take a bus or a plane to Albay, and just take public transportation to these places that we visited. For accommodation, check out Agoda for a list of hotels. If you wish, you can also pitch a tent in some beaches. Just be sure to call ahead of time. Food is easy to find--choose from roadside carinderia, fastfood, and homegrown restaurants. Don't forget to enjoy the region's coconut milk-based food! |
| Come visit! (Photo by Your City Promdi) |
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