THE BEST OF MAYON VOLCANO AT QUITUINAN RANCH: EXCELLENT FOR FAMILY BONDING

QUITUINAN RANCH
Location:  Barangay Tinago, Municipality of Camalig, Albay Province, Philippines 

My family enjoying ATV at Quituinan Ranch

Since I visited this tourist spot on December 2, 2018 as toured by my best friend, Noemi Capunitan - a citizen of New Zealand but was born and raise in Guinobatan, Albay, I already marked this spot to be the best spot where the totality of Mayon Volcano can be viewed at.  True enough, from time to time, I visit this place for a number of times already.

This spot has an elevation of 960 meters above sea level (MASL)

Visitors should note that this location is not accessible through public transport and therefore going here needs a private vehicle with an elevation of 960 MASL.  It is 2.3 kilometers away from Camalig town proper mostly ascending.  Though some locals find this place the best place to jog.

For day tours here:  It is open from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. for an entrance and environmental fee of P70 for adults (P50 entrance + P20 environmental); parking fee of P10 for motorcycles and P20 for SUVs/Jeeps.  For pet lovers, good news! the place is pet-friendly as long as it is personally supervised by its owners.  You can freely bring outside food free of charge.  Another important thing to know is, the area has low to zero signal for Smart/Globe users and totally no Wifi in the area.

A perfect place for family overnight camping

This ranch is really a good place for overnight camping.  Tent pitching is P200 if the visitors own the tent but for tent rentals, small tent costs P400 and big tent is P800.  There is a parking fee of P50 per vehicle and of course, there is an entrance fee of P100 per person.  For those who intend to have the overnight camping, the check-in time is 5:00 P.M. and check-out is 7:00 A.M. the following day.  At this spot, Mayon Volcano is mostly viewed the best late in the afternoon.  The rates above is good for overnight camping.   Do not worry for the parking space, the area is so spacious for parking.

ATV and UTV Rentals available

What is the difference between ATV and UTV.  ATV means All-Terrain Vehicle - a compact, single-rider "quad" that one straddles and steers with handlebars, much like a motorcycle, while UTV is a Utility Task Vehicle - or also side-by-side (SxS) is larger, features bucket seats, a steering wheel, and a roll cage, and is designed for multiple passengers and heavy cargo.

The rates for these are: ATV rental is P200 for 2 rounds (roughly 15 to 20 minutes of riding; and P350 for UTV rides for 2 rounds also roughly 15 to 20 minutes.   Additionally, horseback riding is P150 per person for 15 minutes.

Availability of playground facility

The place is secured and the children can play around the area especially in the playground facility provided for the kids.

Picnic tables are also available for the guests

Guests and visitors can also make use of the tables especially when they want to eat and put their stuff while enjoying the magical place.  Do not worry for those who stay for day tour, there are concessionaires that offer snacks housed in food stalls like street food, burger, milk tea, cup noodles, fries, pancit canton and the like.

A place for team building and other group functions

With its expansive area, it can accommodate guests and other group functions and activities like team building and other corporate outdoor functions.

Indeed, an all-terrain track for ATV and UTV ride

The 15-20 minutes ATV and UTV ride is really worth it capturing all those scenic background.  Don't worry, if you have no photographer, your guide is also riding an ATV taking your pictures and videos as per your instruction.

Late afternoon visit for me is the best

With my frequent visits here, I just discovered that late afternoon visits give the best view of Mayon Volcano especially when it is starting to get dark.  There is lesser clouds that envelops the volcano and in a few instances, the volcano is totally naked of the clouds.

HOW TO GO THERE

By Land thru Private Car

From Manila to Camalig: Drive via Maharlika Highway/Pan-Philippine Highway Route 1/AH26 for 456 kilometers for 11 hours.

From Camalig town proper to the site:  Locate the new LCC Supermarket Camalig opposite to that is the entry to Barangay Tinago driving up to Quituinan Hills for 2.3 Kilometers to an elevation of 960 MASL. 

By Land thru Bus Transport

From Manila to Camalig: My preferred bus company is Alps with ticketing office either in Cubao near Drive via Maharlika Highway/Pan-Philippine Highway Route 1/AH26 for 456 kilometers for 11 to 12 hours.  

The best alternative is to take Legazpi City bus trip since the Sorsogon or other south road trip do not really pass thru Camalig town proper.  By taking the Legazpi bus trip, it will not really pass thru Camalig town proper.  It will turn left to the By Pass Road near Biggs Camalig/Shell and Dual Fuel  Stations at the right corner, but the route going to Camalig town proper is just straight ahead for almost 1 kilometer ahead to the new LCC Supermarket Camalig.  No taxis on this area.  Only tricycles and jeepneys but there are not public transport facility heading to Quituinan Ranch.  You either stay in a hotel in Camalig or in Legazpi City, but most of the beautiful spots are in Camalig not in Legazpi City.

From Camalig town proper to the site:  Locate the new LCC Supermarket Camalig opposite to that is the entry to Barangay Tinago driving up to Quituinan Hills for 2.3 Kilometers to an elevation of 960 MASL.

MaNels Hotel is only 800 meters away from Biggs Camalig.  On Due Hotel  along the By-Pass Road is also in Camalig.  Wyndale Hotel - a 3-star hotel which offers room service and a 24-hour front desk, a non-smoking property and is set 17 kilometers from Mayon Volcano but still a part of Camalig.

You might find interested to see these places in Camalig:  Sumlang Lake,  Quitinday Greenhills , 

Barisbis Restaurant is also in Camalig - It is a popular Filipino-themed restaurant in Salugan, Camalig, Albay well-known for its local Bicolano-Camalignon dishes and vintage, Spanish-era aesthetics.

By Airplane

From NAIA to Bicol International Airport for less than an hour flight.  Note that Daraga (DRP) or Legazpi Airport is just the same with Bicol International Airport.  There are no public transport coming from the airport going to Camalig, Legazpi or Daraga.  Taxis available at the airport can be hired thru special arrangement.   For backpackers, take a chartered tricycle from the airport going to Daraga Caltex for P200 depending on your haggling skills.  But when you go to Daraga, there is no jeepney from Daraga to Camalig.  You need to go to Bicol University where the jeepneys turns right like the routes of Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Oas and Polangui -they all pass thru Camalig town proper.  It is expensive hiring a tricycle from the airport to Camalig, the trips costs P500.