The Pinay Solo Backpacker

July 2009

After leaving Apuao Grande Island I decided to start the search for the virgin beach. Took me 5 hours  to find the nearest fishport or  pandawan. Thanks to my map, the helpful locals, & of course to the Man above.  My original route was: in Daet -> board a jeepney to Vinzons or Mercedes and ask around for the fish port, hire  a boat to take me  to the island -> at Vinzons fish port, I will hire boats to  Brgy. Banocboc –> I will rent a boat  to take me to Mahabang Buhangin on Calaguas Island.  But when I reached the fishport in Brgy Banocboc, no one wants to take me there syaing it’s too far. One tricycle driver offered to take me to the nearest tricycle lane to the highway with buses passing by that are bound to Paracale, Camarines Norte. That’s the nearest jump off point to the virgin beach.

The beach is called Calaguas Island, it was featured in Jessica Soho as the next Boracay (which I highly doubt because of it’s storm-stricken location ). It’s actually Mahabang Buhangin located in Pinagtigasan Island.

Alright, So I was in Paracale and had to look for the port ( I ended up at the wrong side where there’s lighthouse). So I asked around and was told to walk back (if you’re facing the sea it’s at the right side, walk to the end of the beach and ask the locals for boats heading to Mahabang Buhangin.) People in Cam Norte speaks tagalog by the way so don’t worry about dialect barrier. =) I chanced up some women chatting at the sea side and they refered me to a boatman. I haggled the price down to Php1500 sine I arrived around noon already and I;m alone anyway, I don’t wanna ask below Php1,000 because it’s a 2 hour boat ride anyway (maawa naman ako sa mga mangingisda noh!). But as of the last trip of fellow travel bloggers, I heard the boat for island hopping is now (php 2,000-Php2,500). The women and their respective families became my friends by the way as I stayed for a while at their humble house. (I lost their contact number, arrgh! and my cam norte photos we’re deleted, i retrieved these few pix from my facebook account). I asked one of the daughters of the woman I met there (Rosalie) to join me. She was hesitant at first but her mother inssted.

During the 2 hour bangka (boat) ride to the island the waves were so huge that it nearly swallowed the bangka a couple of times.   I don’t have a life jacket & I can’t swim, not to mention nobody knows where was I exactly.  I was praying so hard to get out of there alive.  The fear of death almost drained me.  I had to control my emotion because it’s either I will live or die, but if I die it’s either I’ll drown or be eaten out alive by fear plus the fact that I kinda forced this local girl to join me so she’s my responsibility! arrgh!

At some point the blue skies & the heat of the sun awakened me. I could see the boat moving towards a beach with a long stretch of white fine sands and a few cottages.  I roamed around trying to find a wash room but I failed.

There’s one family that lives in the island and there is a small sitio on the other side of the island but you have to walk a few kilometers  to reach it ( according to the boatman).   So far, the owner  ( a politician according to the locals)  has no plans yet of developing the island.

Mahabang Buhangin is indeed a virgin paradise beach slowly being discovered…So far this is the best beach in the country that I’ve ever been to, no crowd, just me, the beach, the clear turquoise water, the powdery white sand, the blue sky and nature at it’s best!

The backpacker’s way :
From Manila or from your destination, ride a bus or plane to Daet.

Route 1:

Paracale is  the nearest jump off point to Mahabang Buhangin. From Daet, the town can be reached in less than two hours by public vans, fare is around P100.00. But if you are coming from Manila by bus to Daet, you can get off at Barangay Talobatib in the town of Labo and ride another bus for less than an hour to get to Paracale town and then head to Paracale fishport by tricycle. You can ask around for fishermen’s boats to Mahabang Buhangin. I paid Php1,500 for the entire bangka good for 6 people  but recently, the boat fare is said to have increased to Php 2,500 -Php 3,000.

Route 2:

In Daet, board a jeepney to Vinzons or Mercedes and ask around for the fish port. Hire a boat to take you to the island. At Vinzons fish port and pier, there are daily schedules of boat trips to Brgy. Banocboc at 11am. Return trips to Vinzons town proper from Banocboc is at 6am. In Barangay Banocboc, you can hire a boat to Mahabang Buhangin. In Barangay Banocboc, you may rent a boat to take you to Mahabang Buhangin on Calaguas Island. (source: tutubi)

Tips:

Mahabang Buhangin is a secluded beach, no food, no water and no store, better bring everything  that you need and make sure your stock is enough. Camping when your in a group is recommended.

At Paracale, the last bus to Manila is at 6pm so if you don’t wanna be left like me.  Better leave the beach at around 4:30 pm (estimated travel time from Mahabang Buhangin to Paracale is 2hrs)  to catch the last trip.  If you miss it,  you could stay at one hostel  in town or hire a motorcycle to take you to the highway where you can take a bus  to Manila. There are buses that passes by Paracale by the way.

Please be responsible . Do not leave your trash in the island.

THEpinaysolobackpacker would like to thank the locals esp Ate Myrna for letting me stay & take a bath at their place and tutubi’s page for the direction.

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