Municipality of Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines
I have read a lot of good reviews of Caramoan islands and so, two of my friends and I had planned to visit it. The date was for the period April 9-12, 2009. It materialized. But it turned out to be a disgusting experience that I will not forget in my whole life.
It was a DIY and so we boarded a bus from Cubao to Naga City for 16 hours when ordinarily, it will only be 12.5 hours. From Naga City, we boarded another mini bus going to Sabang Port for a travel time of almost 2 hours costing P90. From Sabang Port, we took a big passenger boat going to Guijalo Port for 2 hours costing P110 per head. The boat operator required each passenger to register his name to the passengers' manifest. Upon entry to Guijalo Port, each one was charged to pay for P30 for the Environmental Fee. It was not the end yet because we have to take another a tricycle going to Caramoan town proper for 30 minutes. A special trip costs P300 but since it has a capacity of 6 then, each passenger in a non-chartered basis is only P50. As we were only three, we waited for another three, so that we will not pay for the other vacant 3 seats. We did not have an accommodation booking and we instructed the tricycle driver to bring us to Bikal port where boats for island hopping are available.
We were referred to a boat operator who is at her past 60's and haggled for the boat package at P1,800 for an overnight since it was already 10:30 A.M. We further negotiated that they can tour us around 2 islands and stay overnight for the third island. And from there, they can service other guests while they already dropped us to the last island destination. However, the old woman boat operator insisted that it is not there policy because they do not want to leave the guests unaccompanied by the boatmen. However, they insisted that the P1,800 rental is only good for one day which runs till 6:00 P.M. and they have to transport us back to the mainland. And so the deal was finalized.
The three of us, Rome Frias, Teresa Corpuz and I, happily boarded the boat and with high spirits we headed to Lahos island. The boat man assured us that they will stay closely with us and never leave us. We were even assured not to take our bags with food supplies from the boat because they are accessible anytime we need them.
I think we were given by our boatmen a maximum of 30 minutes to enjoy the island. In fact, I was able to climb the tall cliff limestone just to capture it on top.
After 30 minutes, the boatmen reminded us to go on board the boat because we are going to the next island, which means that we can really hop into three islands as we had agreed.
Upon entry to the cove at around 12:30 noon, which I am sure not part of the itinerary, the boat men informed us that we need to wait because they have to take something from Lahos which is just across. We were even told to disembark from the boat at the middle of open shore dotted with sharp corals and we could hardly walk.
Since they told us to wait for just a while, we did not bother to get our food. We waited in vain. But no boat had come for our rescue and so we consumed our time playing with the handful of starfish we picked from the shore. It was low tide and so there was nowhere to swim.
We were hungry already but the cove has no locals where food supplies from makeshift stores can be bought. We did not have choice but to wait in vain. There was no sight of our boat from a distance.
Boredom and hunger had struck us three at the cove but we did not have choice but to wait and wait. High tide was starting to invade the beach line and slowly the corals were already covered with water.
At last! at around 6:00 P.M. our boat arrived just to pick us up. And the boat were loaded with some guests. The boatmen told us that they were the first to get the rental services and we were only accommodated. I was shouting on top of my voice even when we already boarded the boat heading to Bikal Port. The other passengers were just silent. I have forgotten that I was so hungry then and I got silent for the rest of the boat ride to reach Bikal port.
Just when I got out of the boat at the port, I rushed to the store of the old woman who was the operator and on top of my voice, I burst out all my anger. But she only said to me, "Have you paid any centavo for the boat rental services? Then, why are you angry? But I answered her in a very strong voice, "You! You!!!!!! you ruined our well planned vacation which we planned for a year!" I created a commotion at Bikal Port and a crowd was starting to grow. My two companions were giving bodily and eye signals to me to stop but I was unstoppable and I decided to bring our case for a police blotter as some people there advised me to do this move. It was Good Friday then. A local brought us to a certain house to stay with for overnight since all accommodations were fully booked.
At around 7:00 P.M., a police came to our accommodation to bring us to the police station. The whole clan of the boat operator were present in the police station and one of her children even introduced to us as a public school teacher. She further said that her mom was a former public teacher, too. I asked myself then, "Then, what kind of public servants are these people?" On the other hand, the drunk Chief of Police handled the negotiation was obviously not on our side, but I told his assistant that if he will not leave the room, I will file a complaint against him being drunk on duty. So, he was advised to just leave us and the negotiation started. The boat operator only have question repeatedly, "Did you pay us? Why are you putting us to extreme embarrassment?" I repeatedly told them, "Where in the Philippines will you pay a boat man in advance, I am a seasoned traveler and a travel blogger and I am used to this arrangement, service first before paying." I uttered those words not to brag but with the intention of letting them feel my message that "Hey! you can not just fool me! I know tour operations run." Finally, the police officers, settled the negotiation by asking us how much damage we want to charge the boat operator, but I said, not paying their poor and lousy services is enough.
We woke up the following day early and were happy that our host was very kind to us and they did not charge us anything for our overnight stay. We were not even charge with the sumptuous dinner. But in return, we gave them all our food stuff that we have intended for a 3-day trip. That day, our only destination was the shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
We used the same transportation mode in travelling back to Manila. Surprisingly, I was amazed when we alighted at Sabang Port since it was lowtide and our boat cannot dock at the port and so, all of us were carried like goods going to the port.
HOW TO GET THERE
If you opt not to avail of a travel package, the following are your options considering that you are coming from Manila:
1. Several bus companies are plying from Manila to Naga City which will take 12-14 hours. Then, have another transport from Naga City to Sabang Port. From Sabang Port to Guijalo Port will be by boat. Then, another land transport from Guijalo Port to Caramoan town.
2. Fly to Naga thru Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. From Naga City is land transport to Sabang Port and then take a 2-hour boat to Guijalo Port and another land transport to Caramoan town.
3. Fly to Virac booking online at Trip.Com and take a 1-hour boat.
4. 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Legazpi City to Naga or Pili and take the same route like that of Options 1 and 2.
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