Growing up, I was very familiar with Bicolano cuisine. I love dishes cooked with coconut milk, and pili nuts have always been one of my favorite snacks. In fact, I prefer pili nuts still in their shells over the sweetened varieties. Despite my love for Bicolano food, I had never visited the Bicol Region because I wasn't a fan of long land trips. The idea of spending more than 10 hours on a bus was enough to make me postpone the trip for years.
Everything changed when my mom told me that they were planning a family trip to Paracale to visit her friend and explore nearby destinations. At first, I was undecided. My son's Recognition Day had not been announced yet, I was concerned about our travel budget, and the thought of a long bus ride was not exactly appealing.
Eventually, I agreed to join the trip, but I told my mom that I wasn't particularly interested in Paracale. What I really wanted was to visit Calaguas Island. It had been on my travel bucket list since my early blogging days, but I never pursued it because of the long journey and limited electricity on the island.
Fast forward to this year, and it finally happened. Thanks to AI, planning the trip was surprisingly easy. It helped me organize possible routes, activities, and expenses despite having only a few days to prepare.
The trip was planned almost spontaneously:
Day 1: I agreed to join.
Day 2: I created our itinerary.
Day 3: We finalized everything and booked our tickets, hotel, and resort.
My original plan was to travel from Manila to Naga, explore the city, and then continue to Daet for Calaguas Island. However, my mom preferred a direct Manila-to-Daet route.
So here’s our 5-day Daet and Calaguas Island itinerary from our summer vacation.
Our 5-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Cubao to Daet
Day 2–4: Calaguas Island
Day 5: Daet to Cubao
We purchased our one-way bus tickets online for PHP 1,046.57 per person. Buying online was more expensive than purchasing directly at the terminal. I also forgot to avail of the student discount for my son, and since the tickets were already paid for online, the bus station could no longer process a refund.
A few days later, my husband decided to join the trip after his leave was approved. He booked a night bus with a restroom onboard for PHP 1,146.
For our morning trip, the bus actually left Cubao earlier than scheduled. The supposed 10-hour trip stretched to almost 12 hours due to multiple stopovers and heavy traffic, not including our travel time from home.
We had lunch at the DLTB Quezon stopover. Budget around PHP 200 per person for a meal with rice and drinks, plus PHP 10 for restroom use.
By the time we arrived, we were exhausted from the long journey. Still, I couldn't complain because my husband had an even more stressful experience. His scheduled bus trip was canceled, and passengers had to wait nearly three hours at the terminal for a replacement bus. Because of the delay, he missed our scheduled boat trip the next morning.
For dinner, we ate at the restaurant of One Platinum Hotel.
Hotel and Transportation
For our first and last nights in Daet, I booked 3 rooms at One Platinum Hotel. We only wanted a standard room, but on our first night, there were only two left.Stay | Room | Cost |
First night | 2 Standard Rooms | PHP 2,800/room |
First night | 1 Deluxe Room | PHP 3,350 |
Last night | 3 Standard Rooms | PHP 2,800/room + PHP 900 extra person |
The hotel is only one tricycle ride away from the DLTB terminal. Since the senior citizens in our group were not comfortable riding tricycles, a relative suggested using their van and driving us around during the trip.
At the end of the trip, the transportation arrangement cost PHP 18,000. Looking back, the transportation arrangement was more expensive compared with using local tricycles. However, for the senior citizens, the convenience and comfort were worth the extra cost.
The local transportation in Daet was quite affordable. Based on the rates I discovered during our trip, a tricycle ride from One Platinum Hotel to Vinzons Port would likely cost around PHP250–400 per trip, depending on the number of passengers and the arrangement with the driver. Our tricycle ride from the hotel to the DLTB terminal only cost PHP20 per person.
The van was used for:
Day 1: DLTB Terminal to One Platinum Hotel
Day 2: One Platinum Hotel to Vinzons Port
Day 4: Vinzons Port to One Platinum Hotel
Day 5: One Platinum Hotel to Paracale Tour (for the seniors)
Day 2: Arrival at Calaguas Island
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we traveled to Vinzons Port for our 7:00 AM call time. With the rented van, travel time was less than 20 minutes.
Upon arrival, we met the boat operator and completed the passenger manifest. Our boat departed at 7:55 AM, unfortunately, without my husband. He arrived at the port just as our boat was leaving.
Fortunately, the boat operator assured us that he could take the next available trip, which fortunately happened, since it was a weekend and more boats were operating that day.
My husband paid PHP 100 for a tricycle ride to Vinzons Port after asking the bus conductor to drop him off nearby.
For our stay, we booked a 3-day, 2-night package at Calaguas White Sand Resort. The package cost PHP 11,500 per person and included:
· Roundtrip boat transfers
· Environmental fee
· Terminal fee
· Processing fees
· Accommodation
· Full-board buffet meals
I'll be sharing a separate detailed review of the resort soon.
The resort offers several activities, including island hopping, trekking, massage services, volleyball, and kayaking.
We chose island hopping. The joiner rate was PHP 500 per person, but since we booked late, we ended up hiring a private boat for PHP 5,000. Since we were a group of seven, the private tour gave us more flexibility and was well worth the cost.
Our island-hopping itinerary included:
· Balagbag Island (add-ons - PHP 75 entrance fee)
· Sandbar
· Snorkeling site near Balagbag Island
It was one of the most memorable parts of our trip; slow-paced, relaxing, and exactly the kind of island experience we had been hoping for.
Our return boat trip was delayed due to low tide. Because of this, we also arrived late at the bus station and discovered that all bus trips for the day were already fully booked. My husband had no choice but to extend his stay for another night. Secretly, I didn't mind because it meant we could travel back to Manila together.
We purchased our tickets for the next day's trip to Cubao. The bus fare was PHP 943 per adult and PHP 758 for students, which was cheaper than the one-way tickets we had purchased online from Cubao to Daet.
From the DLTB terminal, we rode a tricycle to One Platinum Hotel. The driver asked for PHP 70 for three passengers, and I found out that my brother and sister-in-law only paid PHP 20 per head on their tricycle ride, so rates may vary depending on the driver.
Our stops included:
· Daet Market for pili nuts with shells
· Graceland for pastries
· Jannah's Pasalubong for local delicacies and souvenirs
Conveniently, all of these were within walking distance of the hotel.
For lunch, we had originally planned to try another restaurant, but we were too tired to go out again, so we ended up eating at the hotel restaurant.
We checked out early and rode a tricycle to the DLTB terminal for PHP 20 per person.
One thing we learned: there's no need to arrive too early at the terminal. The waiting area is limited, and passengers are only allowed to board shortly before departure.
The return trip took almost 12 hours again, reminding us that the journey to Bicol is truly part of the adventure. Ironically, the senior citizens traveling from Paracale to Cubao arrived faster than we did.
Final Thoughts
Our first land trip across the Bicol Region turned into a real adventure.
From a 12-hour bus ride to Daet, a 30-minute van trip to Vinzons Port, and another two hours by boat to Calaguas Island, the journey was long but absolutely worth it.
For three days, we experienced island life without phone signals, Wi-Fi, or half-day electricity. Instead, we enjoyed quality family time, beautiful beaches, and unforgettable memories.
Although we didn't get the chance to fully explore Daet, the trip gave us something more meaningful than a checklist of destinations. We came home with bags full of pili nuts, new memories with family, and the happiness of finally setting foot on Calaguas Island after years of dreaming about it.
Estimated Expenses for Our Daet and Calaguas Trip
Bus Cubao to Daet: PHP 1,046.57/person (online booking)
Bus from Daet to Cubao: PHP 943/person (bus terminal)
Calaguas package: PHP 11,500/person
Island hopping: PHP 500/person (joiner) or PHP 5,000 private boat
Hotel: PHP 2,800–3,350/night
Private van: PHP 18,000/group
