What do I have in mind related to Bicol? Well, some are Mt. Mayon, pili nuts, pristine beaches to mention. Bicol has many wonders that is just waiting to be discovered. This is my first local travel this year that is far from Manila. And for the past travel trips I've been to, this is somewhat mixed of planned and unplanned things. Confusing? Let me share to you guys..
When we booked a flight to Legazpi, 3 months or so in advanced I got excited and searched all the things that can helped us when the time of our travel comes. I googled for some sample itineraries, places to go, where to eat and everything. But as the date comes sooner and sooner, I forgot everything that I listed and the need to do, so prior to our departure, I can't help but worry because I have no itineraries on hand. Good thing my best friend with me has unlimited LTE data which can helped us Google everything that I need to know at each moment.
We departed from Manila at around 5:45 to 6:00 am. And arrived at Legazpi City Airport at almost 7 in the morning.
I was searching for this majestic Mt. Mayon from my window view on the right side of the plane, I thought I almost failed, but then before the plane lands on the airport, it maneuvers left and right and voila, there you go Mt. Mayon, though it was covered by clouds (cause Ive heard it's always shy), I was still amazed seeing personally even if the summit was showing off to us. We landed on the airport at around 6:45am. We walked outside the airport and found some vans and tricycle for hire. We searched first the address map of the inn that I was ranting before and few moments we contracted a tricycle to take us directly to the inn and paid 70 pesos for four of us.
Mayon Backpackers Inn is our homey accommodation for 3 days and 2 nights. Though we did not stay longer here because we spent most of the time touring around, I find it very valuable for our money. I have a separate post for this, you can read it here.
We just leave our baggage at Mayon Backpackers Inn and rest for an hour and prepare ourselves for a day of mostly walking around tour. We walked from our inn to the highway and our landmark point is this Albay Church, which we took some 10 minutes walk from our Mayon Backpackers Inn reaching it. Exercise in the morning yea? From there, we took a jeepney ride at 10 pesos each and drop us off near the jump off of Lignon Hill.
Our first destination is Lignon Hill. For 20 pesos entrance fee, a fantastic view is your reward. At the top of this hill you can have 360 degrees view of the city plus if you are lucky enough, if Mt. Mayon is not shy, you will witness a magnificent view of this perfectly cone shape volcano. Too bad when we went up here, Mt. Mayon is covering itself with most of the clouds. A separate post hiking up this Lignon Hill can be found here.
You will see this Japanese Tunnel along the way up to the hill
After the tunnel, we have found the Kapit-Tuko trail, if you take this route up to the hill, the lesser time hiking up but expect to challenge yourself as it is not a typical route for everyone especially for those parents with you who cannot take an uphill trail like this. You can read more about this on my Lignon Hill post.
Our next stop is Albay Parks and Wildlife we paid 20 pesos per head for the entrance fee, a usual wildlife park with wide hectares of still need to develop parts. More information about this post can be found here.
We were really hungry by this time and we wanted to eat a sumptuous lunch. As we asked from a local where to eat an authentic bicol express, he immediately told us to directly went to Gaisano mall, so we were expecting to find numerous stalls or eateries outside. So our plan was to eat first before heading to Daraga Church, but what happened when we asked a local driver for a direction, we were told by the tricycle driver that we should head first to Daraga Church before heading to Gaisano so we can have a route coordination and for us to save us time also going back and forth. So we went off to Daraga Church first then after visiting the church we head to 1st Colonial Grill at Pacific/Gaisano Mall. More about Daraga Church here.
Unfortunately, we failed to find outside eateries who sells bicol express, and to our dismayed, we just proceeded to the Mall and found out there's a branch of 1st Colonial Grill, which is one of my foodtrip places on the list so good thing there is one here in Gaisano Mall. View my 1st Colonial Grill foodtrip HERE.
After our foodtrip we headed to Busay Falls, rode a jeepney from Gaisano Mall to Malilipot Town for 20 pesos, it was more than an hour ride. And from there, hired a tricycle to take us there to the falls. Our trip to Busay Falls can be found HERE.
Our fulfilling trip with the falls has ended and before heading back to Legazpi we dropped off first at Malilipot Town Proper to buy bags for pasalubong as they say that this is where abaca bags came from so they sell here way cheaper than those who are selling it in Legazpi City. We also had some streetfoods which also serves as our dinner because we are already tired and just wanted to go home as soon as possible.
Embarcadero de Legazpi at night.
From Malilipot Town Proper, there are jeepneys from where you can ride back to Legazpi, but that time most of the jeepneys were full, we then wait for our chance for a jeepney that could fit five of us. Luckily, there's one jeepney that has 4 seats left, so we just stuffed ourselves on the jeepney so we can now go back to Legazpi, after 2 more hours, we were back at the Pacific Terminal and walk ourselves to Embarcadero de Legazpi just following signs and asking some locals. When we arrived, seems like most stores are already on closing time, so we toured around and take ourselves back to the inn afterwards.
Bicol Adventure Links:
Bicol Trip Day 3: Majestic Mayon and Foodtrips
Where to eat in Bicol: Foodtrippings 101
Where to stay in Legazpi City: Mayon Backpackers Hostel
Bicol Trip 3D/2N: Itinerary and Expenses
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