2023 ALBAY + LEGAZPI TRAVEL GUIDE (ITINERARY + BUDGET)

Complete Legazpi Itinerary and Albay journey information with pattern price range and bills, the place to remain and locations to go to in Albay.

Dominating the skyline of Legazpi and Albay is Mt.Mayon, the poster woman of the province. Identified for its majestic magnificence and virtually excellent conical form. Wherever you might be in Albay, it appears as if Mt.Mayon is watching you. Certainly, nothing can embody nature’s prowess and splendor. However there’s extra to Albay, this large province is oozing with uncooked attraction; flanked by huge, inexperienced farmlands, fishing cities, age-old church buildings, cave techniques, aquamarine rivers, and luxurious mountains. You can too discover its rugged shoreline, lapped by blue waters and dappled with tropical islands. Lots of the rising vacationer spots in Albay are blissfully uncharted by mass tourism, so finest to go to quickly earlier than it will get too crowded.

That will help you plan your journey, right here’s a fast Albay + Legazpi Journey Information with Legazpi itinerary and pattern bills and price range. Be happy to remark under if you wish to counsel extra vacationer spots in Legazpi and Albay, I didn’t embody every part right here as I’ve but to go to them. However since Legazpi is simply 3 hours away from my hometown, I can all the time journey there and replace this Albay and Legazpi journey weblog sooner or later.

*Cowl picture  by Sheila Pauline Rubi @sheepsunfiltered

ALBAY AND LEGAZPI TRAVEL GUIDE

Albay ATM: ATMs are scattered round Legazpi and Daraga. Greatest to withdraw money earlier than leaving for Jovellar or Camalig as virtually every part is on money foundation.

Albay Security: Albay is a tourist-friendly vacation spot.  Nonetheless, as in another locations, watch out along with your issues, don’t simply go away them unattended.

Albay Web: Many lodging have Wi-Fi; nevertheless, some are unreliable. You need to use your information or higher but, carry a pocket Wi-fi. You possibly can lease via the quantity under.

WHERE TO STAY IN LEGAZPI/ALBAY

 You will need to know beforehand the place to remain in Legazpi or Albay when planning your Legazpi itinerary and Albay itinerary.  You possibly can decide to remain in downtown Legazpi or in Daraga space.

Legazpi Metropolis is a handy base as a result of many of the eating places, malls, and accommodations are concentrated there. Embarcadero can be situated in Legazpi Metropolis.

Daraga space is the quieter facet and near many of the Albay vacationer spots, like Daraga Church the place you possibly can see Mt.Mayon, Ligñon  Hill, Daraga Church, Albay Park and Wildlife.

Tabaco can be a quiet, however it’s removed from Legazpi Metropolis or Daraga, about 1 hour drive. It’s a very good base for island hopping in Albay and if you wish to cross to Catanduanes after.

Legazpi Metropolis Heart Motels

Daraga Motels

HOW TO GET TO LEGAZPI/ALBAY:

BY AIR

1.You possibly can fly to Legazpi from Manila or Cebu. Journey time from Manila is roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes. Philippine Airways and Cebu Pacific have day by day flights to Bicol Worldwide Airport (BIA) in Albay.

2.On the Bicol Worldwide Airport (Legazpi Airport), you possibly can take the airport van/shuttle to downtown Legazpi, tricycle, or taxi. There’s no fastened schedule, the van leaves as soon as full.

Right here’s the Legazpi airport van/shuttle fare:

Alternatively, in case you are touring in a gaggle, there are taxis on the Bicol Worldwide Airport (BIA). Fare might be based mostly via Taxi Meter Cost solely.  So, please make certain the motive force activates the meter and cost you based mostly on the taxi meter studying solely, together with flag-down costs. Refuse the “pakwayan charge” (constitution charge with out utilizing the meter) to keep away from overcharging.

Tricycles are additionally accessible, fare is roughly ₱200 ($4), good for 4 individuals.

BY BUS

You can too take a bus from Manila to Legazpi. Journey time is roughly 12 hours. Fare begins at round ₱1,076  ($21). The bus journey ends at Legazpi Grand Central Terminal. Greatest to take it at night time so that you’ll arrive within the morning in time to your Legazpi itinerary.

There are a number of buses with day by day journeys to Legazpi resembling Philtranco, Raymond Bus, DLTB, Peñafrancia.   If  you might be based mostly in South Manila, you possibly can journey them at  Paranaque Built-in Terminal Alternate (PITX).  For those who’re coming from North Manila, make your option to Araneta Heart Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon Metropolis the place buses to Bicol abound.

BY PRIVATE VEHICLE

Touring by non-public automotive or van from Manila to Legazpi or  from any level in Luzon is feasible. If coming from Metro Manila,  journey time is roughly 10 to 11 hours relying on visitors. Check with Google Maps for course.

GETTING AROUND LEGAZPI/ALBAY

 Albay is a province in Bicol area, composed of 15 cities and three part cities (Legazpi, Tabaco, and Ligao). Many of the vacationer spots in Albay are situated in Daraga, Camalig, and Jovellar.  For island hopping in Albay, it’s close to Tabaco.  So probably, these are the areas that you’ll go to throughout your Albay and Legazpi itinerary –  Daraga, Camalig,  Jovellar, Legazpi Metropolis, after which Tabaco, in case you plan to journey to Mayon Skyline or do island hopping in Albay.

There are lots of public automobiles in Legazpi and Albay, you need to use them to get round.

Tricycles – There’s an abundance of tricycle in Legazpi metropolis middle that may take your on to your vacation spot.  That is your finest guess if doing a DIY journey, so that you’ll be capable to go to the locations in your Albay and Legazpi itinerary. Charge relies on the space of your vacation spot. I all the time use the tricycle when getting round Legazpi, even going to the airport. However all the time ask and negotiate the value earlier than hopping in. Tricycle drivers in Legazpi are notorious for overcharging vacationers. For brief distance journey, for instance, inside Legazpi metropolis middle solely, it shouldn’t value you greater than ₱20 ($0.38). For those who’re in downtown Legazpi and you propose to go to Daraga space, it may value you roughly ₱100 ($2) up.

Taxi – Cabs can be found in Legazpi, all the time use the meter.  However you possibly can constitution a taxi to your Legazpi/Albay day tour. For those who’ll rent the taxi for a day, ensure you negotiate the value first,  talk about the locations in your Legazpi itinerary first, earlier than hopping in. Normally chartered taxi charges begin at roughly ₱3,500 ($67) for a day tour, good for 4 passengers.

Jeepneys – An inexpensive option to get round Legazpi and Albay is by jeepney.  Fare begins at ₱10 ($0.19) from Daraga to Legazpi and vice versa. Nevertheless, it’s essential to know the routes to keep away from driving the flawed one. You possibly can learn the route painted on the facet of the jeepney and ask the motive force to ensure it’ll move by your vacation spot.

Right here’s a number of the Legazpi jeepney routes that you just may use throughout your  Legazpi journey if you wish to commute or do a DIY Legazpi itinerary:

• Daraga-Legazpi Loop 1: That is the jeep which you could take to get to Ligñon Hill and Albay Park and Wildlife.
• Daraga – Legazpi (Tahao Highway): . That is the jeep which you could take to get to the bus station (Legazpi Grand Central Terminal). You can too go away your baggage on the baggage counter in Pacific Mall when you do your last-minute purchasing or at SM Legazpi.

LEGAZPI TOUR PACKAGE

Pictures by Ria Baldo

When visiting Legazpi or Albay, you possibly can be part of group excursions for comfort and ebook excursions upfront to order a slot. Right here’s a number of the advisable excursions within the province.

You can too ebook this on the spot at Cagsawa Ruins or Ligñon Hills the place most bike drivers and touts are stationed.

ALBAY AND LEGAZPI TOURIST SPOTS

There are lots of new vacationer spots in Legazpi now, and I’ve but to go to them. I’ll replace this blogpost as soon as I do. However for now, listed below are the highest vacationer spots in Legazpi, these are the standard locations to see in Legazpi and Albay for first timers/first time guests which you could embody in your Legazpi Itinerary and Albay Itinerary.

My apologies, I don’t have a lot photographs to publish right here as a result of I misplaced my Legazpi and Albay photographs since 3 of my exterior exhausting drives have been broken. I’ll replace the photographs as soon as I revisit Albay once more quickly. Thanks to my cousin Pauline and my niece  Ellize andd her mother Ria for offering many of the photographs right here.

LIGÑON HILL

 This hill is Legazpi gives a scenic and unobstructed view of Mt.Mayon.

Location: Legazpi Metropolis

Entrance Charge: Summit  -₱10 ($0.19), Japanese Tunnel – ₱20 ($0.38)

Find out how to get there: Experience the Daraga-Legazpi jeep Loop 1 or take a tricycle. Inform the motive force you might be getting off at Ligñon Hill. Stroll uphill or take a bike to the summit.

EMBARCADERO

Location: Legazpi Metropolis

Entrance Charge: FREE, Lighthouse View deck – ?

MAYON VOLCANO

Location: Daraga

When you’re in Albay and Legazpi, you possibly can simply see the jaw-dropping Mayon volcano. There are lots of vantage factors, so, it’s actually as much as you the place you’d prefer to see it. Nevertheless, generally Mt. Mayon will get a extremely shy and hides, particularly when it’s cloudy.  So, if you wish to see it, finest to go to throughout summer season or when the climate is okay.  The favored Mt. Mayon viewpoints embody Cagsawa Ruins, Ligñon Hill, Embarcadero, Quituinan Farm, and the lava space through the ATV tour. See the main points under.

CAGSAWA RUINS

Location: Daraga

Entrance Charge:

Find out how to get there: Experience a jeep to Cagsawa. You can too take a jeepney certain for Oas or Polangui, inform the motive force to drop you off at Cagsawa Ruins. Or take a tricycle to Cagsawa Ruins.

DARAGA CHURCH

Location: Daraga

Find out how to get there: Take a Legazpi-Daraga jeepney.  Take an uphill stroll to the church. Fare is roughly ₱10 ($0.19).

(Pictures by Sheila Pauline Rubi @sheepsunfiltered)

SUMLANG LAKE

This bountiful lake gives an unhindered view of Mt.Mayon. It has now change into an Instagram-worthy attraction.  Not a lot to do right here apart from the actions talked about under, however it has a calming environment as it’s surrounded by greenery.

Location: Camalig

Entrance Charge and Different Charges:

Open Hours:  Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Friday to Sunday 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Find out how to get there: If coming from Legazpi, board a jeep to Daraga. Alight at LCC Legazpi or Public Market. Experience one other a jeepney to Camalig, Polangui, or Guinobatan. Inform the motive force you’re going to Sumlang Lake. Journey time is roughly half-hour. Get off at Albay Agri Ethno Eco-Village. Stroll to Sumlang Lake for about 15-25 minutes or rent a tricycle to take you to Sumlang Lake.

QUITUINAN RANCH (QUITUINAN HILL)

Location: Camalig

Open Hours:  Every day 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Entrance Charge:  ₱30 ($0.57) +  Environmental Charge ₱20 ($0.38) = ₱50 ($1)

Find out how to get there:  Board a jeepney to Camalig. Fare is roughly ₱20 ($0.38)

Alight on the city correct. Rent a tricycle to Quituinan Hill. Chartered tricycle often prices ₱200 ($4, good for 3-4 pax) as a result of the motive force will anticipate you. Ensure you inform the motive force to attend for you as a result of tricycle going again to city could be very uncommon. In case you are alone, you possibly can ask the jeepney driver to drop you off at LCC Camalig. Then from there, rent a bike to take you to Quituinan Hill. Fare is roughly ₱50 ($1) (a technique). Negotiate with driver to your journey again. ₱100 ($2) – ₱150 ($3) ought to be good for a roundtrip fare because the driver will anticipate you. 

QUITINDAY HILLS

Quitinday Hills is a cluster of inexperienced hills within the eponymous city of Quitinday. It’s  paying homage to Osmena Peak in Dalaguete, Cebu and Chocolate Hills of Bohol. It simply grew to become a well-liked vacationer website in Albay, because it gives a scenic view of its environment with a backdrop of the unobstructed Mt.Mayon.

Location: Camalig

Entrance Charge: ₱25 ($0.48)

Find out how to get there: If coming from Legazpi, journey a jeepney with Legazpi-Camalig signboard, Legazpi-Guinobatan, Legazpi-Ligao or any jeepney with route to three^rd district. Fare is roughly ₱25 ($0.48).

Alight at Quitinday Junction/Diversion highway. Lease a tricycle to Quitinday Hills, relying in your haggling talent, fare is roughly ₱500 ($10), good for five passengers. Journey time is roughly 45 minutes.

At Quitinday Hill, pay the ₱25 ($0.48) entrance price. Hike uphill takes about quarter-hour.

Journey Tip: If you are at it, you may additionally go to Jovellar Underground River and Falls (Quitinday River and Falls), ask the motive force in case you can mix the tour. Fare is roughly ₱1000 ($20), good for five passengers. Mixed tour could take about 5-6 hours, so, that’s an inexpensive charge already because you’re hiring the tricycle for half-day.

JOVELLAR UNDERGROUND RIVER AND SIGPIT FALLS (Quitinday Underground River and Falls)

Although popularly often known as Quitinday Underground River and Waterfalls, it’s really situated within the city of Jovellar in Albay.  My guess is, as a result of that is often mixed with a visit to Quitinday Hills, guests will need to have assumed at first that it’s situated in Quitinday. The two-tiered falls is definitely referred to as Sigpit Falls by the locals; its water originates from the Jovellar Underground River. Greatest time to see its teal water is throughout summer season, because it turns into brownish through the wet season.

Location: Jovellar

Open Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

*Tour information is obligatory. One tour information is nice for 7 vacationers.

Charges:

*Good for each 1-5 individuals, one-way entry coverage.

Find out how to get there: Experience a jeep to Guinobatan. At Guinobatan, journey a jeep or bike to Jovellar.

Alternatively, you may additionally journey a jeep to Camalig and alight at Quitinday Junction. From there, rent a tricycle to take you to Jovellar Underground River and Falls.  Fare is roughly ₱500 ($10), good for five passengers It may be mixed with a tour to Quitinday Hills for about ₱1000 ($20), good for five passengers.

Essential:

• No masks, no entry.
• All vacationers should endure thermal scanning.
• Fill out the Well being Declaration Type.

MAYON SKYLINE

Location: Tabaco

About an hour away from Legazpi Metropolis is Mayon Skyline, you possibly can go to this earlier than or after your island-hopping journey in Albay because it’s in Tabaco. It has top-of-the-line views of Mayon Volcano, however time your journey throughout a very good climate as a result of Mayon is often blocked by clouds. Your finest guess is an early morning go to as it will possibly get slightly cloudy within the afternoon. In any other case, simply attempt your luck in Cagsawa Ruins, Ligñon Hill, Sumlang Lake, Daraga Church, or Embarcadero.

ALBAY ISLAND HOPPING

Location: Tabaco

Albay isn’t nearly Mayon Volcano. There are additionally islands and seashores which you could go to within the province. A handy leaping off level of Albay island hopping is Tabaco Port. From right here, the islands are about 45 minutes to 1 hour by outrigger boats.

Listed here are some  of the islands which you could go to, they’re situated in Malilipot, Bacacay, and Tabaco:

• Wara-wara Island
• Pinamuntugan Island
• Maliktay
• Guinanayan Island
• San Miguel Island

Find out how to get there: From Legazpi or Daraga, take a van or jeepney to Tabaco, Albay. At Tabaco, journey a tricycle or padyak to Tabaco Port. Then from Tabaco port, rent a ship for island hopping. Island hopping charges rely upon the boat capability and the variety of islands that you just wish to go to. Charge begins at ₱2,000 ($38).

ALBAY + LEGAZPI ITINERARY

Right here’s a pattern Legazpi/Albay itinerary excellent for a 3-4 day keep within the province with pattern price range/bills. That is good for a solo traveler; it can save you extra in case you are a celebration of two or in case you are touring as a gaggle.

*The pattern  Legazpi/Albay journey bills under doesn’t embody roundtrip transportation between Manila and Legazpi, lodging, drinks, souvenirs, and different purchasing bills.

If in case you have extra time to spend in Albay and in case your price range permits, you may additionally do island hopping in Albay on Day 3. See the pattern Albay Itinerary Day 3 under.

*Charges could change with out prior discover.

Journey Ideas and Reminder

• Smoking is prohibited in public locations in Legazpi, together with malls, parks, and authorities places of work.
• Follow the LNT precept – Go away No Hint.
• Ibalong Pageant is well known in August.
• Put on correct garments for trekking, driving the ATV and island hopping.  Put on sunscreen to guard your pores and skin.
• Convey waterproof bag for island hopping and for the Jovellar Underground River and Falls.
• Preserve your self hydrated.

Don’t miss attempting common Bicol meals resembling pinangat, Bicol Categorical, sinantol, pili,  Tiwi Halo-halo, and sili ice cream, make certain to incorporate meals journey in your Albay and Legazpi itinerary.

ALSO READ:

CATANDUANES ITINERARY