Where to Dine while in Virac, Catanduanes?

Are you reluctant to go to a remote area such as Catanduanes because of fear that you might not have anywhere to dine? I could prove you otherwise. Me and my twin are two of the pickiest eaters in the world (specially my twin, she's picky...literally), and we had no trouble staying hungry. In fact, we found two places where we enjoyed feasting to our heart's content. Be warned, though, that this will not be a review or tip on their local delicacy because we're not adventurous in terms of food. A colleague even told us, "Dumayo pa kayo sa Catanduanes para sa ganoong pagkain". For a remote province as Catanduanes, these restaurants are a piece of heaven for picky eaters.

Catanduanes' Rich Religious Heritage

I have yet to find a more religious Philippine province than Catanduanes. Firm belief in the Catholic faith can be explicitly observed in their lifestyle, churches and their unfaltering trust in miracles.

Trivia: In this province, establishments are non-operational every Sunday, to observe the solemnity of the Lord's day.

Here are three of the most religious experiences/sights to behold while in Catanduanes:

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Beach Bumming in Twin Rock Resort

near the entrance of Twin Rock Resort

Twin Rock Resort is the only "developed" resort in Catanduanes. For an additional charge per activity, Twin Rock Resort offers various water activities like kayaking and jet skiing. For the adventurous ones, they also offer wall climbing, zipline, and an aerial obstacle course (which I find unsafe so I prevented myself from trying even if I badly wanted to try something new).

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Experience the Tranquility in Bitaogan Hill

Bitaogan Hill, Catanduanes

According to my contact, there would be a minor change in the third day of our itinerary, because our guide has just explored a place which he highly recommended to visit. Hearing that the place was just freshly explored was enough to keep me excited while waiting for our third day.

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Trek to Talahid Falls

Talahid Falls, Bgy. Kabungahan, San Andres, Catanduanes 

Our amazement for this province never ceased from the moment that we landed, and things just got better. As part of our whole day adventure-filled itinerary, we were brought by the San Andres Tourism Team to a trek to Talahid Falls.

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Beach Hopping in San Andres, Catanduanes

Our second day in Catanduanes was action-packed, and almost surreal. Aside from the arduous trek to Talahid Falls (a recently-explored falls), and the trip to Our Lady of Sorrow Shrine to see the miraculous Batong Paloway, we spent the whole day beach hopping in four beaches in the quaint town of San Andres. Thank you, San Andres Tourism Team, for giving nothing but the best experience to your third official tourists.

Us as the Third Official Tourists in San Andres, Catanduanes

Beach hopping, cave exploration and falls trekking - combine this in a day and you will be able to give a thrill-seeker pure happiness that will last...until her next trip.

The mere mention of the said activities is enough to stir a thrill-seeker's adrenaline. What more if these activities be done in a remote, almost unexplored area?

And what more if you have been informed by your guide that you were just the THIRD OFFICIAL TOURISTS in the area (and the first two sets comprised of their relatives and friends)?

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Surfing in Puraran Beach

Welcome to the majestic waves of Puraran Beach Resort!

Puraran Beach in Baras, Catanduanes is a paradise for surfing enthusiasts. Its majestic waves are the reason why international surfing competitions regularly choose Puraran Beach as the host location for their events. These surfing competitions are mostly held during July to September, when the waves are at their best form.

Things to Do in Catanduanes: Visit Maribina Falls

the cascading Maribina Falls

If you want to visit a waterfalls but want to avoid the strenuous trekking that normally comes with it, Maribina Falls is the perfect place for you.

Catanduanes Itinerary and Expenses

We spent P 13,000 (P 6,500/pax) for a 4 days and 3 nights package tour for 2 in Catanduanes, which includes twin-sharing air-conditioned room accommodation with breakfast and a 3-day tour with the following itinerary.

DAY 1 March 18, 2011 (Friday)

6:00 AM - departure from Manila
7:10 AM - arrival in Catanduanes
7:30 AM - check-in
9:00 AM - leave for Baras
9:30 AM - hop off to Maribina Falls
10: 30 AM - visit Bato Church (oldest church)
12:00 NN - arrival at Puraran beach, lunch at Puting Baybay Beach Resort, Baras
2:00 PM - leave Puraran
3:00 PM - visit Abaca farm
5:00 PM - back at hotel

Catanduanes: Bicol's Best Kept Secret

Catanduanes is "Bicol's Best Kept Secret", as what the provincial tourism office claims. Being able to spend four days in the province, I could never agree more.

As of late, the provinces of Bicol have been performing well in attracting tourists. Albay has always been popular for Mayon Volcano. Camarines Sur has been frequented because of Camarines Sur Watersports Complex and Caramoan Island. Sorsogon gained popularity because of its Butanding Interaction, and Camarines Norte has lately developed into a tourist destination because of Calaguas Island.

With these known tourist destinations in the Bicol Region, given that I haven't been to any of these destinations, you might want to ask: Why Catanduanes?

Wawa Dam, the Second Time Around

sa gitna ng nag-uumpugang bato ni Bernardo Carpio - Wawa Dam, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal 

The most-awaited day of my best mountaineering buddy finally happened. She had been urging me to take her to Wawa Dam since the day she knew that I was working in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal. After almost three years, I finally got the chance to invite her.

Dayhike: Mt. Parawagan in Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal

Taga-bundok. That's what office people love to call us, simply because we are assigned to work on the farthest reach of the office's business area - the mountains of Rodriguez, Rizal. One day, en route to our usual fieldwork, a newly-awakened officemate told me, as if he dreamed of it, "Akyatin mo na yan, habang nandiyan pa yan" (quarrying is a sad truth in Montalban).

Being able to work in this area became an inspiration for me to try mountaineering, in a way. Imagine, you would see the mountains everyday. There came a point when our team decided to trek to the nearby Wawa Dam in preparation for the tree-planting activity in Mt. Puro. This time, we decided to go to Wawa Dam, but using the long journey.

This journey was done on a weekend. I invited some friends over and asked the guidance of two of our field assistants to pursue the trek to Mt. Parawagan, and go straight to Wawa Dam from there.