The small town of Caramoan is located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the North and East and Lagonoy Gulf on the South.

Caramoan has been a favorite site for international franchises of Survivor. The place has hosted the Serbian version in two consecutive seasons. It has also hosted the Israel version of Survivor for two previous seasons. Israel has also planned to film their fifth season in Caramoan in 2011. Bulgarian Survivor also filmed their fourth season there in May to July 2009. Robinson 2010, the twelfth season of the Swedish version of the franchise, was also filmed in Caramoan from May to June 2010. The 8th season of Koh-Lanta (French edition of Survivor), was also shot entirely in Caramoan.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramoan

How did we get there?

As what I wrote in Puraran Beach, Catanduanes, We didn’t enjoyed the beach there coz weren’t allowed to swim.

From Virac Terminal, rode a tricycle going to Kudon Port fare was PhP50/head. It was 1.5hr trip, so better pee before going there. I gave the trike driver a PhP50 tip (I’m generous to kind people). We reached Kudon Port, we talked to one of the bankeros Kuya Dante, and he said round trip will cost PhP3000 going to Gujialo Port. We grabbed it, since we were 4, PhP750/each.

I was scared, because they said this way was really wavy, and by looking at the boat, it was small, NO ROOF, NO LIFE VEST just a boat! I looked at the beach, it wasn’t better, it was a baby tsunami! Just like in Puraran Beach!

And as I went inside the boat, I am holding the wooden lip so hard. And when the boat moved. I can’t help it; I sincerely prayed to have a safe trip. Maybe 20meters away from Kudon Port, our boat started to shake problematically, the waves are trying to kill us! Nina said “Kuya, let’s go back” (Kuya bumalik nlng tayo) but Kuya Dante was busy managing the boat, I thought this can only happen in movies. But that was wasn’t the worst, waves became bigger and stronger. Approximately they were 2 floors in height! We’re gonna die!

After 2 minutes, the water became calm. Then the sun smiled on us, I’m not yet in heaven. Whew that was close! There are shifts of weather; first it was a heavy rain then very cold wind, then terrible heat of the sun, then another rain and so on.

Bad thing we didn’t had pictures, because our hands were tied at the lip of the boat.

After 1.5hour, finally we reached Gujialo Port, we were all wet! Except our bags, coz good thing Kuya Dante covered our bags with tarpaulin. We rode a tricycle for PhP20/head going to Rex Tourist Inn, but another bad luck happened, one of the main bridges was under construction. It means we have to cross the bridge and ride another tricycle for another PhP20/head. So the Natures won again, that’s what happened.

We reached Rex Tourist Inn at 4pm, we were still soaking wet. Room with 2 beds are PhP800/night, we grabbed it. I took the bath first. 10mins past when I went out the bathroom, our room looks like a jungle, Joemar made a clothesline, so we can hang our wet clothes.

I was so lucky because there was a chapel (Lokal ng Caramoan) with worship service at 530pm, so I went out for a while.

When I got out, they leave the keys at the receptionist with a note for me; they’re on the market buying some food for tomorrow’s camping. I called them and looked for them.

8pm, we’re done purchasing, we spotted a native restaurant called Lutong Bahay. We asked for the menu, but the mid-old lady Ate Yolanda told us that they’re having a celebration, but we can eat for free. It all came in a flash; they got us plates, utensils, table and chairs. Oh! What a GATE CRASHERS for free dinner! Ahaha! By the way they had a Christening party for baby John Franco!
Thank you very much Ate Yolanda and family

Got home then we watched a movie called “Up” 3D, a very good movie to release the boredom on us. Then we slept…

Morning of Oct 29, 2010, we get ready for our Caramoan island hopping. We rode a tricycle going to Tawog at PhP20/head. There we negotiate to bankeros, we like to tour as many islands as we can, but they said, that’s impossible coz other ways are wavy and scary. So we just let the boatman (bankero) to take us where the boat can.

We first went to Tablon, Kuya Jeff will be our tour guide. He said, he will take us to Mount Carmel Caglago, the tallest mountain of Caramoan to see the Shrine of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary or they much prefer to call it Lady of Peace at the top of it, but we must pass the 524 steps of stairs first before getting our butts there.

It’s a no problem! Let’s get it on! Carrying our 1.5L of water and chiffon cake that I bought in Gujialo at PhP10/slice. I proudly said that I’m ready.

So we started to go up, I’m skilled at first then after a hundred steps, I suddenly felt tired, Ahh I wanna go down! but when I saw the view from this spot, there will be more beautiful than this at the top! (ahaha! cheering myself up!)

Finally after an hour of hardships we ultimately met her, the Lady of Peace (I’m currently singing clumsy from Our Lady of Peace band, hehe!) Kuya Jeff told us, that this place was once burned because of over heat from the sun; they just made a total renovation and even made it more better than before. And since the day she was built, Tabgon Island was never ever got into state of calamity.

When we got down, we are getting terribly paranoid (especially me). Jeylan took our last shot. We gave Kuya Jeff PhP150 for his service and also for him to buy a new tshirt

Our next island was Busod Island, upon our way going there, to escape the angry waves of the sea, we made our way to Sulong. It is a 10meters long, narrow and full of sea trees way, there are two islands on each sides.

We completely reached the Basod Island, Kuya Bankero said, there was before a guy with his friends who shot here by a gun, because they were noisy and looked like an NPA. I was a bit scared, so we didn’t went far, we just stayed near the beach. It was raining so hard on the near islands, so we stayed a bit longer here. We swam for a while and took pictures.

After that our next island was Sabitang-Laya Island, where we planned to stay over the night. Kuya bankero said nobody’s staying there tonight but only us. He also said it is a remote island so we better take care of ourselves (yaha! scarry!!!)

The boys started to look for a place where we can assemble our tents; we have 3 tents, one for our bags, then two for us. They found a place; the bankero said this was also the same spot where a French Survivor Contestants assembled their tents too. The place was good but a little grassy and itchy. Kuya Bankeros leave us and said that they’ll get us tomorrow morning at 10am.

While they’re assembling our tents Nina and I started to prepare our great camper’s recipe. It’s so hard for us to look for wood for cooking because the place was so wet by the rain. But we still continue cooking even it was smoky! After 45minutes of cooking, our food was completely done garnished with love <3 (ahaha!). We had Red Eggs with Tomatoes (Itlong na pulang may Kamatis), Hot and Spicy Sardines (Sardinas) and Hot Rice. That was a fantastic dinner.

We played poker and drank alcohol again, while letting the night to pass. Outside we didn't noticed that clouds were forming a huge typhoon (Mother Nature please not again) and it's gonna hit us so hard.

Rain started, were still playing poker, I just noticed that our sleeping bag's getting wet. WTF we forgot our tent isn't waterproofed, so I rushed my laptop on Jeylan's tent (coz it has a raincoat). Then the boys started to cover our tent roof by garbage plastics, but the wind was so challenging it blown our plastics. Joemar checked the other tent, Nina and Jeylan’s bags were swimming to flood. I covered our bags with raincoats, but it’s not enough. Nina and I stayed on Jeylan’s tent, next comes in was Jeylan, the tent was too small it’s for 2 persons only but we had no choice. Joemar remained outside, so it means he’s all wet the whole night (kawawa naman c Joemar).

Morning of October 30, 2010, we’re supposed to have another island hopping but because of the tragedy, we decided to go back to Rex Tourist Inn and look for a laundry shop.

But before going back we decided to swam for a while.

We gave PhP3000 to Bankero, they're even asking for more! We argued and said they only took us to 3 islands.
We rode another trike going Rex Tourist Inn, our bags were very heavy because everything was wet.

There were no laundry shop and no electricity! (Ahhh!) This is the most challenging trip I ever had! Thank God coz the staff let us hanged our things at the 3rd floor lobby. So nothing to do but to tour the Gujialo Island, shopped for pasalubong and ate.

Electricity went back at 7pm. We played poker and get drunk to celebrate Ann’s birthday, even she’s with her fiancé at Boracay. We still enjoyed the night.

Morning of Oct 31, 2010, we’re packed to go, but before we said goodbye, we took a shot at the Inn.

We hired a tricycle and brought us to Gujialo Port. The driver asked us, "Were you the people who stayed at Sabitang-Laya last night?" we said "Yes, why?" He said "Because everyone here talks about you! The people who survived from the strong typhoon!". So were famous, nice! at least everyone remembered us. As a bonus prize, the driver took us to St. Michael's Church.

We reached Gujialo Port, we waited for Kuya Dante to take us back to Kudon, Catanduanes. Another challenge is waiting for us in Maqueda Channel (another 2 floors of waves!).

Lastly we took a shot of the port over looking Mayon Volcano

We therefore concluded that we survived!
Our Next spot was Luyang Cave of San Andres, Catanduanes

Location Map