by Are you up for another backpacking adventure? It’s been a while since my last backpacking trip and if you’ve been following my travels you probably know that I am also aspiring to finish all 82 provinces in the Philippines! So if you’re planning to finish it too, here’s a Bicol Backpacking DIY itinerary for your reference!
I’ll be covering 3 provinces in this Bicol backpacking itinerary which are (2) Catanduanes as my entry point, (b) Albay, and (c) Sorsogon. It is best to plan this trip during summer season to minimize the chance of strong winds in Catanduanes AKA the land of the howling winds.
Table of Contents
What You Need To Know Before Your Trip
Here are essential tips and hacks to take note before your Bicol backpacking trip:
- Entry airport: Virac airport in Catanduanes; Exit airport: Bicol International airport.
- Days spent for this trip: 7 days
- Don’t overpack – to my ladies out there, I know OOTD is a must but bringing a luggage for this trip is a huge hassle. So make sure to pack light!
- If you are solo traveling and don’t know how to drive a motorcycle, you can book tours on KLOOK. Use my code JOANSFOOTPRINTSKLOOK to get a discount upon check out.
- No smart signal in most areas especially in Catanduanes and Matnog Sorsogon. So make sure to check everything online if there is signal/internet reception.
Pre-Travel Guides For Bicol Backpacking
Below are dedicated travel guides for Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon.
- CATANDUANES DIY ITINERARY & BUDGET
- ALBAY TRAVEL GUIDE: ITINERARY & BUDGET
- MATNOG SORSOGON ITINERARY & BUDGET
Bicol Backpacking Itinerary & Budget
This itinerary is assuming that your entry airport is Catanduanes (VRC) and exit airport is Bicol International Airport (DRP). I travelled with my partner so expect all expenses to be divided into 2 people. As seasoned travelers, Milo and I always prefer cheap backpacking hostels and flight promo fares so expect an itinerary from a budgetarian’s POV.
Day 1: MNL-VRC
READ HERE FOR COMPLETE CATANDUANES ITINERARY
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | HOW TO GET THERE: | EXPENSES: |
| 6:20AM | MNL-VRC via Cebu Pacific flight | Php1,451/pax roundtrip ticket | |
| 7:30AM | Virac airport to Tita Ay’s Surfers Inn | Rida tricycle from airport to terminal; ride a van from Virac terminal to Puraran and drop off at Tita Ay’s Surfers Inn | Php100/tricycle good for 2-3 pax; Php150/pax van fare |
| 100AM | Check in at Tita Ay’s Surfers Inn, rest | Php450/night good for 2 pax | |
| 2PM | Explore Puraran beach, surfing lessons (optional) | Walking distance from Tita Ay’s Surfers Inn to Puraran Beach | Free entrance Puraran beach, Surfing lessons (optional) Php500.00 |
| 7PM | Dinner, socials, rest | Php100/pax meal |
Day 2: CATANDUANES
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | EXPENSES: |
| 5:30AM | Wake up time, prepare, rent motorbike at Tita Ay’s | Motorbike rental Php500.00/day; Gas PHP100.00 |
| 6:30AM | Breakfast | PHP100.00/pax |
| 7:00AM | Visit Bato Church & Bato Marker | FREE |
| 8:30AM | Try pansit bato food | PHP15.00/serving |
| 9:30-11:00AM | Visit Maribina Falls | PHP30.00 entrance fee; PHP10.00 environmental fee |
| 11:30AM | Lunch | PHP100.00/pax |
| 12:30PM | Explore Sakahon Beach | PHP25.00 entrance fee |
| 2:00PM | Trek to Bote Lighthouse | Guide fee PHP220.00 |
| 5:00PM | Sunset at Balacay Point | FREE |
| 7:00PM | Dinner, socials, rest | PHP100.00/pax |
Day 3: CATANDUANES TO ALBAY
READ HERE FOR COMPLETE ALBAY ITINERARY
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | HOW TO GET THERE: | EXPENSES: |
| 3:30AM | Wake up time, prepare, rent motorbike at Tita Ay’s going to Binurong jump-off point | Motorbike rental | Motorbike rental Php500.00/day; Gas PHP100.00 |
| 4:30AM | Start trek to Binurong Point (25 minutes trek) | Php40.00/pax entrance fee, Php30.00/pax environmental fee, Php250.00 tour guide good for 1-4 pax | |
| 5:00AM | Sunrise at Binurong Point | ||
| 7:30AM | Trek back | ||
| 8:30AM | Breakfast and early check out | PHP100.00/pax | |
| 9:00AM | Puraran to San Andres Port | Ride a bus from Puraran to Virac, then from Virac ride a tricycle to San Andres Port | Php55.00/pax bus fare; Php300.00 tricycle good for 2 |
| 11:00AM | Lunch outside the port, buy ticket (Regina Lines) | Php322.00/pax ordinary, Php420.00/pax with aircon | |
| 1:00PM | Depart from San Andres Port to Tabaco Port Albay | ||
| 4:00PM | ETA Tabaco Port, proceed to The Campsite in Ligao | From Tabaco market, ride a jeepney to Ligao and take a habal-habal to The Campsite | Php35/pax jeepney fare; Php50/pax habal-habal |
| 5:30PM | Check in The Campsite | Php700/night good for 2 pax | |
| 7PM | Dinner, rest |
Day 4: ALBAY
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | EXPENSES: |
| 5:30AM | Watch the sunset at The Campsite | |
| 7AM | Proceed to Legazpi from Ligao | |
| 9AM | Check in at Mariner’s Legazpi | Php800/night good for 2 pax |
| 10AM | Rent a motorbike at AMR Motorbike rentals Contact: 09926228699, 09669019480 | Php500/day |
| 11AM | Visit Daraga Church | NO ENTRANCE FEE |
| 12-1PM | Lunch | |
| 1-3PM | Explore Black Lava Trail; zipline; walk to the helipad | Php300/pax zipline |
| 7PM | Dinner at the Foodpark | |
| 9PM | Lights out |
Day 5: ALBAY & SORSOGON
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | HOW TO GET THERE: | EXPENSES: |
| 6AM | Prepare for ATV at Cagsawa Ruins in the morning | ||
| 7-9AM | ATV; explore Cagsawa Ruins | Php435/pax ATV | |
| 10AM | Check out, travel to Matnog Sorsogon | Ride a van/bus from Grand Terminal going to Bulan, drop off at Bulan crossing. Ride a tricycle from Bulan crossing to Matnog Port. | Php250/pax van; Php100/pax tricycle |
| 1PM | From Matnog Tourism Office, hire a roundtrip boat to and from Subic Pink Beach | Php150/head registration & environmental fee; Php3,500 boat rental overnight with island hopping the next day | |
| 2PM | Arrive at Subic Beach, check in at Charie’s Place 09171359283 | Php2,500 good for 2-4 pax Kubo fan room | |
| 3PM | Explore the beach, snorkeling, free time | ||
| 7PM | Lights out |
Day 6: SORSOGON
READ HERE FOR COMPLETE MATNOG ITINERARY
| TIME: | ACTIVITY: | HOW TO GET THERE: | EXPENSES: |
| 5:30AM | Wake up, breakfast, sunrise | ||
| 7AM | Check out, bring things and start of island hopping | ||
| 8-12NN | Island hopping: Juag Lagoon, Tikling Island, and Calintaan Cave | ||
| 1PM | Wash up at Matnog Tourism Office, travel back to Albay | Ride a bus from Matnog Port to Sorsogon, then transfer to a van from Sorsogon to Legazpi | Php130/pax bus; Php140/pax van |
| 6PM | Check in at Mariner’s Legazpi | Php800/night good for 2 pax |
On Day 7, you can take the earliest flight back to Manila from Legazpi. In our case, our morning flight received a major change and was moved to a later flight that day at 5PM. We spent the whole day in our hostel to recharge before we headed to the airport.
| Help me improve my Bicol Backpacking Travel Guide! By commenting suggestions in the comment section below, I am very open to new ideas. Drone shots by yours truly. Contact Us for paid promotions and link insertions. For proposals: email me at joansfootprints@gmail.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram & Tiktok @joansfootprints for more travel-related contents! |
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