Legazpi - Sorsogon All-in Adventure

Here is our DIY Itinerary for 5 days 4nights Legazpi- Sorsogon Trip

Trip Details:

Legazpi Arrival: Nov 1, 2013 4pm

Legazpi Departure: Nov 5, 2013 230pm

Day 1

Saw the dazzling Mayon volcano at the airport!

 

From airport, ride a tricycle to Balai Tinay and pay P50 per trip.

We freshened-up before heading to Hoyop-hoyopan cave.

After check-in and a 5 minutes walk towards the highway, ride a jeep going to Guinobatan and pay P18 each.

Go down at Camalig market and ride a tricycle to Hoyop-hoyopan cave. Cost is P100 one-way per trike going to Hoyop-hoyopan cave found at Barangay Cotmon.

Hoyop-hoyopan cave tour is P300. Ask for Frederick as a tour guide because he takes good pictures while conducting the tour and would give you more information about the place.


Here are some of the pictures taken in the cave:

The Hand

Disco Hall used during Martial Law

Entrance

Going back, we rode the same tricycle we rented for P100, ride a jeep going back to Legazpi and go down at Jollibee (found after Legaspi city hall) if you want to eat at small talk cafe.

Bottomless Iced tea is at P50 and food price ranges from P150-P250 per meal.

Food service is the worst. Iced tea was served 30mins after we ordered even after a series of follow ups. The food was served later than that.

Here is the food we ate:

Small talk cafe is just near Balay Tinay. I could have eaten at Jollibee for a better customer experience.

Day 1
Rate for 3pax	Group Rate	Individual Rate
Trike from Legazpi Airport	50	17
Balay Tinay (room for 2 booked via Agoda, no extra person charged)	850	284
Jeep to Guinobatan		18
RT Trike to Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave	200	67
Hoyop-hoyopan Cave Tour Guide	300	100
Jeep to Legazpi Proper		18
Dinner (Small Talk Café)	600	200
Total		704

Day 2

Breakfast is offered at the Balay Tinay. Fruits, bread, butter, jam, coffee and tea are served. The accommodation is great. The owner is kind and is concerned with the guest needs. He is also familiar with the place and could give you tips on where to go and how to get there.

Since we had to wait for one more friend before starting our itinerary, we left 11am for Vera falls.

Here are steps to get to Vera falls from Legazpi City:

1. Ride a jeepney along the highway to Gaisano Terminal and pay P8.
2. Ride a van to Tobaco and pay P50.
3. From Tobaco terminal, ride a tricycle to Cumon, Malinao at P80.
4. Ride a habal-habal to Vera falls at P200 roundtrip for 2pax per ride.

We reached Vera falls at around 130pm.

After having lunch and swimming for a while rain started pouring and we had to leave at 330pm.

From the habal- habal terminal ride a tricycle back to Tobaco terminal. We paid P80 for the tricycle. We changed clothes at the terminal before riding a van to Legaspi for P50.

Upon reaching Legaspi we walked to Pacific Mall from the Legaspi Central Terminal and had dinner at 1st Colonial Grill.

Food was just normal but the dessert was good. We ordered the Chili and Calamansi ice cream.

Going home, we just rode a jeep to Rizal st to get back to Balay Tinay.

Day 2
Rate for 4 pax	Group Rate	Individual Rate
Jeep to Gaisano Terminal		8
Van to Tobaco Terminal		50
Trike to Cumon, Malinao	80	20
RT Habal-habal to Vera Falls for 2 pax	200	100
Trike to Tobaco Terminal	80	20
Van to Legazpi Terminal		50
Dinner (1st Colonial)		200
Trike to Rizal St (near Balay Tinay)		10
Balay Tinay (2nd night) 1200 + 250 extra person	1450	362.5
Total		820.5

Day 3

We woke up early to have our picture taken in Legazpi city hall. This is also within walking distance to Balay Tinay. Mount Mayon can be viewed from there as well. 

We went back to our accommodation to wait for the ATV guys to pick us up.

The ATV guide reached our hotel by 9am then we went to Cagsawa. We just had a quick orientation before starting our ATV.

We took the Salvacion Trail and paid P800 each. The ATV was so much fun. It was worth every penny! Make sure to bring sunblock, shades and its better to wear closed shoes for the ride. The guide will also take pictures. You could ask them to hold the camera for you.

The Cagsawa Ruins is just a minute walk from the ATV site. You could advise your guide to pass by the ruins before ending the trip.

There would be photographers willing to take pictures at the site. We gave P100 tip to the person who took the pictures.

We went to Daraga terminal and had lunch before leaving for Matnog, Sorsogon at a carinderia nearby. We left for Matnog, Sorsogon at 130pm.

Here are steps to get to Matnog, Sorsogon from Daraga.

1. Ride a van bound for Bulan at Shell station and asked to be dropped at Trese. Fare is P150 and travel time is 2 hours.

2. Go down at Trese and ride a jeep bound for Sta. Magdalena and asked to be dropped at Crossing in Matnog. Fare is P20.

3. Ride a tricycle to Matnog port. Fare is P10 per head.

We reached the Matnog port at 430pm, we met our contact Mang Eddie and bought food for the overnight stay at the market.

We were referred to Mang Masi, our boatman, and left for Subic beach at around 5pm. Travel time to the island from Matnog port is 30-45 minutes.

The island has a cottage with 2 floors. Rent is P700 for an overnight stay including mats and 2 pillows. The room has a small ceiling fan and light. Yes! The island has electricity!

The owner offers videoke at P100 per hour and could cook your food with a minimal fee/ donation. We opted to have the boatmen cook our food and shared our dinner with them.

The island has no entrance fee but they solicit donations for the island maintenance. Any amount will suffice.

Day 3
Rate for 6 pax	Group Rate	Individual Rate
ATV		800
Cagsawa Ruins Photographer	100	17
Lunch (Daraga Carinderia)		60
Van to Trese		150
Jeep to Matnog Crossing		20
Trike to Matnog Port		10
Market	1500	250
Subic Beach Kubo	700	117
Videoke (1 hr)	100	17
Total		1441

Day 4

We woke up early the next day to swim. We asked the caretakers of the island to cook our breakfast so we could swim while waiting. Subic beach waters have fine sand but part of its shoreline have pebbles and stones so it is advisable to bring your aqua shoes. 

We started our sea tour after having our breakfast at 830 am. First stop was the Juag Fish Sanctuary. We were not allowed to swim with the fishes as it was low-tide. The caretaker mentioned that during peak season every group was just allowed to stay 10 minutes to see the fishes and take pictures. We were lucky to be the only group to visit that day. We had all the time to take pictures and see the fishes. 

After visiting the Juag Fish sanctuary, we went to Tikling Beach. The waters were very clear. They also sell fresh buko for only P20. The best thing about the islands in Sorsogon is that they do not have any entrance fee. Donation is highly encouraged though.

Our Boatman, Mang Masi

We left for Matnog Port at around 11am. We changed and took a bath at Mang Masi's house before leaving. Mang Masi is very generous and would take care of his customers during the trip. I highly recommend him as a boatman as he would ensure that the group is comfortable and needs everything for the trip.

Here are steps to reach Legazpi from Matnog port:

1. Ride a jeep bound for Sorsogon (2 hrs). Fare is P90
2. Ride a van at Sorsogon bound for Legazpi (1hr). Fare is P85

We reached Legazpi at 530pm. We were to check-in at Ellis Ecotel at Embarcadero. We decided to ride a tricycle and paid P60.

We rented 3 rooms since there were 6 of us and they do not allow triple sharing. Room rate was P1200 from its original rate of P1500. The discounted rate excludes breakfast and airport transfers.

We took a quick shower and headed to Misibis Bay to have dinner. Buffet dinner rate is P1299 net with free shuttle from Hotel St Ellis and 300 casino credits. We went to Hotel St. Ellis and were picked up by the shuttle. We felt that the service was high-class since it was only 6 of us in the van. The travel took an hour to get to Misibis Bay.

We arrived 7pm and were guided to the buffet table. It was located outside their dining area. We were all hungry and looking forward to a lot of choices given its price and its name Misibis Bay! Much to our dismay did we find 3 main dishes - Adobo sa Asin(Salted Adobo), Inon-on na Isda (Fish Paksiw) and Ginisang Sayote (Sauteed Sayote). Here are the list of other dishes on their menu.

Main Course

Bread and Cheese

Taco Station

Dessert Choices

Main course (which I already mentioned):
1. Plain Rice
2. Adobo sa Asin(Salted Adobo)
3. Inon-on na Isda (Fish Paksiw)
3. Ginisang Sayote (Sauteed Sayote)

Taco Station- normal cheese, beans, onions, etc

Bread, Butter and Cheese- btw did I mention we came for dinner buffet?!

Live Station
1. Salpicao Station- small slices of pork, crab sticks, mushroom, sili and other garnishes 
2. Deep-Fried Station- choose seafood (shrimp, squid and fish), beef slices, pork slices, broccoli
3. Grilled Station- choose Tilapia, Cream Dory, Barbeque on stick

Dessert Station
1. Fruits- pineapple, banana, slices of orange
2. 3 types of cake slices

Japanese Station
1. 3 options of Maki which were so simple again not as expected.
2. Veggies

*Drinks not included

We were so frustrated with the dinner and we wanted to leave the place immediately. We used the casino credits, luckily 2 of us won and got our 300 back, then we requested to be brought back to Embarcadero.

Experience at Misibis Bay was so unexpected. The service was not at par with what should be expected to one resort claiming to be the next big thing or a 5-star hotel. They had an outdoor setting even if climate was so windy and it was drizzling.  Only 3 viands were served. No bicolano food was even introduced. I even asked their crew if this is what they normally offer, giving them the benefit of the doubt that maybe we just came at a wrong time. The representative said yes this is how their buffet is served. Aw nice! Let's go to Vikings, Buffet 101 or even Yakimix is better. 

Day 4	Group Rate	Individual Rate
Paluto, Cups, Donation	360	60
Juag Fish Sanctuary	30	5
Tikling Beach	50	8
Fresh Buko		20
Overnight Boat Rate	2000	333
Tip	200	33
Jeep to Sorsogon		90
Van to Legaspi		85
Trike to Embarcadero	60	10
Ellis Ecotel	1200	600
Misibis bay		1299
Total		2543

Day 5

We went to Daraga church the next morning. 

How to get to Daraga church from Embarcadero:

1. From Embarcadero, ride a jeep bound for Guinobatan and go down at Daraga. Fare is P10.
2. You will be dropped in the market and Daraga church is 5min walk from there.

We decided to eat at the Pacific Mall for lunch and buy pasalubong at the Legazpi terminal.

How to get to Legazpi Terminal from Daraga church:

1. Ride a jeep that says Tahao Road. Pay P10 to reach the terminal.

We bought pasalubong at the terminal and walked to the Pacific Mall to have lunch at Bigg's.

From Pacific Mall, we rode a tricycle to Embarcadero and payed P60.

We checked-out at Ellis Ecotel and had coffee at La Mia Tazza before leaving to the airport.

Fare from Embarcadero to the airport is P60.

Boarding fee at Legazpi Airport is P75

Day 5	Group Rate	Individual Rate
Jeep to Daraga		10
Breakfast (Jollibee)		80
Jeep to Legazpi Terminal		10
Pasalubong
Lunch (Bigg's and 1st Colonial)		150
Trike to Embarcadero	60	10
Trike to Airport (only 4 us left together)	60	15
Terminal Fee		75
Total		350

Total Expense for the trip is P 5858.50 for 5 days- 4 nights Legazpi/ Sorsogon trip. We could have saved a huge amount if we omitted having dinner at Misibis Bay. Sadly, dining at Misibis bay was the worst part of the trip.

Contact Numbers:
Highly Recommended
Balay Tinay (Owner-Joe)- 09328484663
Mang Masi (Sorsogon Boatman) - 09082182256
Bicol ATV Adventure - 09175714357

Tips:

1. Once you have a clear view of Mayon volcano, take dozen of pictures. You'll never know when it will come out again.
2. Have one person to hold the funds for the trip so he should be the only one required to pay for the group.
3. Bring an eco bag to place wet clothes during the trip.
4. During the habal-habal ride to Vera Falls wear your swimming clothes since bathrooms are far. Also do not changed yet after swimming coz it might just rain.
5. You can get discounted rates in your ATV just ask for it especially if you're a huge group.