Several seasons and eight different international editions of the Survivor TV franchise have been filmed in Caramoan — in fact, the producers have leased parts of the peninsula for the next 20 years. The rest of Caramoan, located in the Philippines’ Bicol Region some 300 miles east of Manila, remains open to tourists seeking rugged natural beauty at a remove from civilization.
Go island hopping around the smaller islands and take your pick from the beaches and lagoons hidden amidst the cliffs. Matukad Island, Lahos Island, and Little Catanaguan Island have white-sand beaches easily the equal of Phuket or Boracay, if not exactly as accessible; the waters off these islands are prime spots for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling.
At higher elevations, Caramoan’s limestone cliffs are perfect for climbing (and sometimes jumping from into the sea); Caglago Mountain has a 500-step climb that leads up to a massive statue of the Virgin Mary.
How to get there:
Buses regularly ply the route from Manila to San Jose, Camarines Sur, whose Sabang Port is the main entryway into Caramoan. (Book your seat on one of the following bus booking sites: PHbus.com, biyaheroes.com, or bicolisarog.com.) From Sabang Port, a passenger boat (PHP120) connects you to Guijalo Port in Caramoan, where tricycles wait (PHP300) to take you to the town center for accommodations.
