LEXICAL CROWN

Friday, May 29, 2026

A RECOLLECTION OF MY CAMALIG DAY TOUR

A scenic angle of Mayon Volcano in Quitinday Greenhills

This post was originally about my tour dated July 26, 2022, when my son was just 2 years old. We did this trip after attending a wedding as major sponsor in one of the islands of Rapu-rapu district, Albay province. From Rapu-rapu, we boarded a boat heading to Tabaco City and to Legazpi City where we stayed in a hotel for overnight.

To avoid many posts of these 3-day tour destination, I already posted here my different visits dated February 17, 2024; March 28, 2024; August 10, 2024; January 1, 2025; and April 16, 2025. The rates in fares and entrance fees are recent as of this posting May 30, 2026.

Destination 1: Sumlang Lake

With my family while at Sumlang Lake

Sumlang Lake, located in Purok 1 of Barangay Sumlang in Camalig, is a 14-hectare, man-made freshwater lagoon. Once choked by water lilies, it has been transformed into an eco-tourism hotspot offering bamboo rafting (balsa), kayaking, and go-karts, with a stunning, unobstructed backdrop of the majestic Mayon Volcano.

A bonding while rafting

This tourist spot operates daily from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. It charges an entrance fee of P100 or US$1.63 for adults; P60 or US$0.98 (Children 8-12 years old) and P84 or US$1.37 for Seniors/PWD.

My family enjoying the place

There are water activities in the lake, such the Balsa (bamboo raft) tour for P80 or US$1.30 per person; Kayaking and Aqua Bikes for P100 or US$1.63 per person; and Go-Kart Rides for P100 to P150 or US$1.63 to US$2.44 per person.

A green park to enjoy nature

The place itself is like a green park with lots of spaces grown with shady trees and ornamental trees and plants. It is well-maintained and oftentimes, its decoration is thematic depending on the season or event like Christmas day or Valentine's Day.

The shy backdrop of Mayon Volcano

Usually, when skies are clear, Mayon Volcano showcases its beauty with all its glory mesmerizing the tourists of its magnificent form.

Food stalls are available inside the place

The event stage with historical icon objects

My March 28, 2024 visit with my best friend, Rome Frias

Rome in his relaxing mode along the lake

Rome, making the most of his visit

My fair share of relaxation

The following pictures are dated January 1, 2025 family visit in Sumlang Lake

April 16, 2025 visit with my family and nephew, Jerome Almasin Ambos and his family

Lunch at Socorro Lakeside Restaurant and Grill

A unique dining experience

Socorro Lakeside Restaurant and Grill offers fiery flavors of Bicolano and Filipino cuisine, signature coffee and the best ambiance with the backdrop of the Mayon Volcano.

Cooling of under the shade of refreshing trees

Framing Mayon Volcano from a refreshing bench under shady tree

How to Get There

From Legazpi City, you can catch a jeepney with a signboard of either Guinobatan, Oas, Ligao or Polangui and tell the driver to drop you off near Sumlang Lake with a landmark of Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO). Just cross the street and there is a while building there and there is a tricycle which will give you a ride to Sumlang Lake. You can see these jeepneys routes parked either fronting the Ayala Mall, Gaisano Mall and SM Legazpi. The fare is just around P30 or P35 (US$0.49 or US$0.57). The tricycle fare is around P25 (US$0.41) per head

Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO)

Suggestion/Recommendation

By the time I went here, I was not yet a resident of Albay. So, what I did, I rode a jeepney from SM Legazpi City. Then, when I was at APAO, I contracted a tricycle driver to pay for his services for three tourist spots: Sumlang Lake, Quituinan Hills and Quitinday Greenhills for P800 or US$13.01 That was the price that I haggled in the year 2022. But since I found the three tourist spots so distant from each other with no public utility vehicles going there, I paid him P1,000 or US$16.27. We started the trip at 1:00 P.M. and ended at 7:00 P.M. After the Quitinday Greenhills trip, I instructed the driver to drove us back to APAO, but I treated him first with dinner before we parted. From there, I took a jeepney going back to Legazpi City.

Destination 2: Quituinan Ranch

Enjoying a late afternoon visit at Quituinan Ranch

I have a recent post of Quituinan Ranch here. This ranch is located in Quituinan hills, that is way, it is called as such. The distance from Sumlang Lake to Quituinan Ranch is around 4 kilometers. But as I mentioned in my post about Quituinan Ranch, there is no public transport that will directly drive you there. So, if you are a backpacker, just do the suggestion and recommendation I mentioned above.

The magic "kawa" at the ranch

Late afternoon visit is better as the place is an open space, though there is a pavilion visitors can take cover. Regarding the fees in this spot, refer to this link.

The tables and benches for the guests

The children's park at Quituinan Ranch

My family spent longer at the Sumlang Lake from 1:20 P.M. to 4:15 P.M. While we reached Quituinan Ranch at 4:26 P.M. and stayed there until 5:06 P.M.

August 10, 2024 visit with my family

August 10, 2024 couple picture

August 10, 2024 siblings photo

February 17, 2024 visit solo

Destination 3: Quitinday Greenhills

Arriving at Quitinday Greenhills

We arrived at Quitinday Greenhills at 5:37 P.M. It is 11.7 kilometers from Quituinan Ranch via Baligang -Caguiba Road. The place is so remote that there are no regular public transport plying to this point.

Trekking to the peak

Quitinday hills are just like chocolate hills in Bohol, but this one in all seasons are all green hills, but what makes it even special is its backdrop of the Mayon Volcano. There is an entrance fee of: Adult - P70 or US$1.14 per person ; Children (8 years - 12 years old) - P40 or US$0.65 per person; and Senior Citizens/PWD - P60 or US$0.98.

Parking Fees are: P20 or US$0.33 for 4-wheel vehicles like cars, vans and SUVs, while P10 or US$0.16 for 2 & 3-wheel vehicles like motorcycles and tricycles.