CARAMOAN ISLANDS: 2D1N Budget Travel Guide + Itinerary To The Enchanting Islands Of Survivors

The waters of Caramoan is dotted by more than 10 gorgeous islands but only about 7 of them are available for touring most of the time. The tour is also divided into two parts, the short and the long tours. Let me share with you the islands we visited.

• Guinahoan Island – Who says you need to spend a fortune to experience the feels that rolling hills and thundering coastal rapids emanate? Here in Caramoan, Guinahoan is just the perfect island if you are looking to experience that much coveted Batanes-feels.
• Manlawi Island – If you just can’t get enough of that patch of sand to frolic in under the sun, then you might find comfort in Manlawi Island and its vast sandbar. This island is just a little difficult though as the sandbar only appears during low tide. However, don’t fret if you happen to miss it as the alternative is even more alluring. With several cottages floating over a pool of clear turquoise water, you are surely in for a treat as if you are in The Maldives.
• Cotivas Island & Sandbar – You’ll eventually get your share of sugary white sands in Cotivas Island as its sandbar is not going away no matter what time of the day. Here, you’ll get to enjoy a sumptuous meal and a bottle or two of beer while being entertained by the shimmering blue waters around.
• Sabitang Laya – Jagged limestone rock formations surrounding clear blue waters will surely remind you of Coron and El Nido but Caramoan has Sabitang Laya Island for that matter. This island is dubbed as the “Survivor Island” since this is the very island being used by the show.
• Lahus Island – Things are definitely better when they come in two. Yeah? In Lahus Island, you’ll get to enjoy two beaches at the same time. The island is technically a sandbar connecting two limestone hills which created two different shores for you to enjoy.
• Matukad Island – We all have a thing of looking for powdery white sands in any beach that we go to. It’s like the very standard we have much to our fondness of Boracay which have no doubt set the bar high. In Caramoan, Matukad is your kind of island if you long to feel that velvety and silky smooth sands against your feet. It also features a lagoon which is home to an enchanted bangus.
• Cagbanilad & Minalahos Islands – These two islands feature beautiful white sand beaches bound by limestone rocks. However, what I found more interesting are the waters in between these two which is home to some colorful corals and various fishes and is perfect if you love to snorkel.

We left Manila 5PM Friday. You might think it was kind of early but it’s actually the ideal departure time in order to reach Caramoan before 6AM. We only had two days to enjoy the islands so we might as well make the most out of it and see them all. For this trip, we had the tour, accommodation and food arranged with a local coordinator, Whing Fernandez. Here’s how it all went down.

We arrived in Caramoan at 5:30AM. At 6AM, we met with Kuya Whing and went to settle our stuff in our humble accommodation. A few minutes later, we had breakfast at a nearby eatery and finally at 8AM, the island hopping tour began. We visited Guinahoan Island first where we trekked for a good 10 minutes to see the lighthouse and the promising Batanes-like views. A little over an hour, we went down and had a quick snack. We then proceed to Manlawi Sandbar. The water had already risen and the sandbar had transformed into a vast pool of shimmering blue dotted by floating cottages. It was still a delightful sight though, that we spent a good time snapping photos in our camera. We then proceed to our third island, Cotivas, where we had lunch.

We had a filling and sumptuous lunch, consists of crabs, prawns, fish and lots of steamed rice, while basking at the crystal blue waters surrounding Cotivas Island. We then went for a dip under the midday sun for one good hour before we headed out to see the next island. Lahus Island was beautiful however it was a little crowded for our taste that we didn’t stay long. We instead went to Matukad Island and here spent most of our time relishing the finest of its sands and the scenic views around. Some of my friends went trekking to see the lagoon while I stayed and enjoyed eating halo-halo as I tried to get enough of the goodness of Matukad Island. It was about 4PM when we left Matukad and went to see our last two islands which were also amazing however we chose to spend the rest of the tour snorkeling.

I can’t believe how abundant were waters in Caramoan. I was in total awe while swimming among the colorful fishes of various kinds. There were lots of sea stars and urchins too. The corals weren’t as colorful as I hoped they would be but they sure gave me the chills that I only feel while immersed in raw and untouched environment. If only the current weren’t as rough as they were, I would have loved to swim longer but it was getting late and we badly needed to head back to the town before the seas become wild. It was almost sundown when we finished the tour. I somehow felt discontent and craving for more. The tour seemed a bit rush but it was worth it. Guess, we just need to stay longer next time.

The next day we woke up to a delicious breakfast consist of sunny eggs, sausages, dried fish, garlic rice and coffee. When we finished, our friends went to shower and some went to pack up their stuff. I thought waiting for my turn to shower would take a while so I instead went for a stroll. I walked to the far end of the beach where the sea meets the river. The morning breeze was calming. The views were spectacular! I couldn’t help but wonder what else could we do should we decide to stay longer. Last night’s drinking and videoke sesh left me smiling from ear to ear. “I’m with an amazing company,” I thought. If only we were not limited to weekend trips, I would really love to spend more time with them.

We checked out of the inn and went to see an old church at 9AM. It was a 400-yr old church they say. I was blown away when I finally got to see it. The mere sight of it instantly took me back in time, to an era when life was simple and traditions were a thing. I imagined those times when women used to wear elegant ternos and hide their giggles behind their colorful fans. I couldn’t help but entertain myself with a thought of an epic romance, like Romeo and Juliet sans the tragedy, taking place in this old church like it was their safe haven or their sweet little piece of paradise. Haha! I gotta hand it over to St. Michael Church as it was really beautiful to be toying with my imagination about silly romance.

Leaving was such a bum. It’s probably one of the most awful feelings and turns out, I wasn’t the only one. We all never wanna leave but we didn’t have a choice. Caramoan is one of life’s simple joys but our reality is in Manila. Work is in Manila. Oh well! So much for adulting, bills and the responsibilities that we could only sigh as we bid Caramoan goodbye, with hopes of seeing it again. Soon.

Ride a bus going to Naga (8Hrs ; P750), then another bus going to Sabang Port (1Hr ; P100). In Sabang Port, ride a passenger boat going to Caramoan Islands (2Hrs ; P200).

Alternatively, you can fly to either Legaspi or Virac then take a bus going to the nearest Port to catch the passenger boat to Caramoan.

From Naga, you can also ride a jeep or a bus going to Paniman (5Hrs ; P300).

If you are driving your way there, just waze Paniman, Caramoan.

• It’s important to arrange your tour, accommodation and food with a local coordinator ahead, especially if you’re going there on a limited time. Kuya Whing Fernandez will be able to take care of that for you.
• If you’re going there with your group of maybe 10 people, renting a van would be more convenient. Total travel time would be cut short to 10 hours or less.
• Drive carefully as the roads leading to Paniman, Caramoan are a bit treacherous especially during the night. There are bumps as some parts have holes or are totally destroyed.
• If you only have a weekend to spare for Caramoan, you should leave Manila and start your travel at 4PM Friday, so you would arrive in Paniman before 6AM, giving you time to settle your stuff and eat breakfast before going on your island hopping.
• The island hopping tour is divided in two with different touring rates. First is the short tour which includes the nearest islands, Matukad, Lahus, Cagbanilad and Minalahos. The other is the long tour for the islands Guinahoan, Manlawi, Sabitang Laya and Cotivas. You can also club these islands in a one day tour.
• During days with rough and unfriendly seas, island hopping tour may be suspended. Only when the gale warning is lifted will you be allowed to go on tour.
• Gota Village is one spot you don’t wanna miss while in Caramoan. It’s a little pricey but it is worth the experience. Note that it will sometimes be off-limits during months when it is being used by the survivor franchise.
• Caramoan is not just about beautiful islands. You can also have an adventure exploring the pristine Manapot River and Umang Cave.
• Take the time to explore the town of Caramoan. Don’t miss a visit to the St. Michael The Archangel Church. This awesome piece of architecture built in the 1600s screams so much history and nostalgia.

Just in case you decide to explore Caramoan on your own without arranging a tour and whatnot and you need a place to stay at, here are some of the most recommended accommodations in the area.

I hope you enjoy our Caramoan Islands story. For questions and suggestions, just drop them on the comments below. Don’t forget to share this post. Until next time. Ciao.