Going island girl in Calaguas

8 feet waves in bold. That's all I needed to read and it instantly had me thinking twice about going to Calaguas. 8 feet seriously? I have a serious fear of the open sea so how am I supposed to reach Calaguas in one sane piece? We availed of a package that included bus transfers to and from Daet, boat transfers, food on the island, and tent. For two girls who have forgotten the Girl Scout promise, the P3200 package was highly convenient and cheap. But before we can experience Calaguas, we'll have to deal with massive waves for two hours. Now - how - will - I - do - that?


A part of me didn't really want to go but the other half also just wanted to get the trip over with. So I packed my bags stuffed with several large garbage bags and with a silent prayer, got into our bus. Surprisingly, the sea was calm the whole time. No 8-feet waves or tunnel of light like what I read on blogs. This proved my pre-trip research true - that waves are calmest in May.



The sun was at its brightest and hottest when we arrived. There were almost 200 of us with the tour so the organizers prepared tents pitched side by side, row by row. The person-in-charge pre-assigns the tent assignment of participants so you can get your tent number as soon as you arrive. 

Calaguas sand is soft and fine, almost like Boracay, but the heat of the sun and my hunger was making me a snob. I got into our tent only to realize that heat was worse. There are nipa huts around but all have been reserved in advance. We had no choice but to get back into our sauna tents while we waited for lunch.

I began to appreciate Calaguas a few minutes before sunset when, despite the crowd jumping into the sea at the same time, the water remained crystal clear. Small fishes swam beside me so did a school of fist-size jellyfish. I clasped the sand with my toes and it was powder-soft; I dipped and swam and the water was cool. What a beach to close my summer!




For those of you who plan to visit Calaguas, here's my 10-point survival guide to help you enjoy and make the most out of your stay.

1. The great debate. You avail of a tour package and you get transportation, meals, accommodation, and convenience; however, you also get a big chunk of the Big City population camping with you on the island. You DIY a trip and pick a nice and quiet spot for your tent and enjoy Calaguas as it should be; however, you’ll have to deal with the hassles of planning, logistics, and sometimes, even higher costs. Take your pick.

2. Safe from the wave. Bring garbage bags to ensure that your things are safe and dry.

3. Travel in May. The waves are calmest in May. I expected the boat ride to be worse but thank goodness, the sea was come to and fro.

4. Don't when it's the time of the month. For the ladies, water is a challenge and even if convenient restrooms are available, expect long lines especially if you’re visiting during the peak season. 

5. Get ready to be Jack & Jill. You fetch your own pail of water and pay P10 per pail. You don’t fetch, you don’t bathe.

6. There’s a pot of gold at the end of the island. If you are joining a tour package, head to the far-end of the island to enjoy the beach to yourself.

7. Book a hut. We regret that we didn’t book one in advance. Even if you’re joining a package tour, booking a hut would turn out to be highly beneficial. Calaguas is short of shade and it can get too hot inside the tent especially at noon. Having your own hut will give you a cool, comfortable shade to rest in. Some huts also have electrical sockets which you can use to charge your gadgets.

8. Charge when you can. Generators run from 6pm to 10pm. 

9. Block or burn? If you want to get a good tan, head to Calaguas. Because huge trees are scarce in Calaguas, you’ll have all the time to bask under the sun and get a good tan. Don’t forget to apply sunblock every 3 hours to keep your skin safe from sunburn.

10. Disconnect. There is no cellular signal in Calaguas. Prepare to be temporarily disconnected from the world and enjoy the bliss in disconnection.

May you kiss and be kissed by the sun. Enjoy Calaguas!

How to go to Calaguas

If you're after convenience, contact Melvic at 09065144444. Melvic and his team will arrange bus transfers from Manila to Daet and vise versa; boat transfers from Vinzons to Calaguas and vise versa; meals throughout your stay on the island; and tent. We paid P3200 for our 2D/1N package. The downside about this tour is that they turn the island into a huge party place at night with mobile bars and loud music; and, you get to be with a huge crowd.

http://calaguasislandtour.weebly.com/