Published 27 July 2026 · 4 min read · by the Tierra de Ibalon team
Caramoan is the reason a lot of people first hear about Camarines Sur — and it is still one of the least crowded island-hopping destinations in the Philippines. This is the guide we give our own guests before they travel.
Where Caramoan actually is
Caramoan is a peninsula on the eastern edge of Camarines Sur, in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon. It is not a separate island, which surprises people — but the road in is long and winding enough that almost everyone arrives by boat instead.
The islands you have seen in photographs — the limestone stacks, the hidden lagoons, the sandbars — sit just offshore from the town of Caramoan, scattered across the water in a cluster you can cover comfortably in a full day of hopping.
How to get there from Naga City
Naga City is the practical gateway. From our terminal in Brgy. Triangulo it is a road transfer to Sabang Port, then a boat crossing to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. Allow roughly two hours on the road and one and a half to two hours on the water, depending on sea conditions.
There is an overland route through Sagñay and Goa as well. It takes considerably longer and the last stretch is rough, but it runs when the sea is closed — which is exactly why we plan around the forecast rather than the calendar.
Coming from further afield: fly into Naga Airport (WNP) in Pili, or into Legazpi (LGP) and drive up. Naga is also an overnight bus ride from Manila.
When to go
The dry months of March to May bring the calmest seas and the most reliable island-hopping. This is peak season and also the hottest part of the year.
From roughly June to November the weather turns. Trips still run, but boat routes flex, some islands become unreachable on any given day, and the Philippines' typhoon season overlaps this window. December to February is a reasonable middle ground — cooler, greener, with more variable seas.
The islands worth your time
Matukad
The signature stop. A short, genuinely steep scramble over limestone opens onto a hidden lagoon sitting behind the rock wall. Local families have long regarded the fish in it as sacred and off-limits, and the request not to disturb them is taken seriously. The climb is worth it; wear something with grip.
Lahos
Two coves separated by a spine of rock — and at high tide the water rises far enough that the beach splits in two. Photographers like it for the white sand against black stone. There is no shade to speak of, so it works better early or late in the day.
Manlawi
A vast tidal sandbar that only appears at low water, with bamboo cottages set out across shallows warm enough to sit in for hours. Because it is tide-dependent, Manlawi has to be timed rather than simply visited — one of the things a local boatman is worth paying for.
Cotivas, Gota and Paniman
Cotivas gives you a long, clean stretch of sand and calm swimming. Gota and Paniman are the mainland beaches nearest the town, useful for a sunset when you have run out of boat time.
Yes, Survivor really did film here
Caramoan has hosted multiple international editions of Survivor across several seasons, and local guides will happily point out which beach was which. It is a genuine piece of the peninsula's story rather than a marketing line — but do not expect any sets to still be standing. What the show left behind is a small, well-practised network of boatmen and fixers.
What to pack
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a rash guard — there is very little natural shade on the islands.
- Water shoes or sandals with grip. Several landings are on rock, and Matukad's scramble is not barefoot territory.
- A dry bag for phones and cameras. Boats take spray.
- Cash. Card acceptance in Caramoan town is limited and there is none on the islands.
- Any medication you need — pharmacies are small and the nearest hospital is a long way off.
Fees, permits and what a package covers
Caramoan charges island entrance, terminal and environmental fees, collected per person and set by the local government. They are modest individually and add up across a group. Our packages fold them in, along with the boat, the licensed guide, and the land transfer from Naga — so what you are quoted is what you pay.
Two days or three?
2D1N is the minimum that makes the travel time worthwhile: arrive, sleep, hop the islands, return. It is efficient and a little rushed.
3D2N is the one we recommend. It gives you a second day on the water, which matters because the tide dictates when Manlawi is at its best and the weather dictates everything else. A spare day turns a fixed itinerary into a flexible one.