PH · Camarines Sur · 13.77°N 123.86°E

caramoan

Limestone islets, small sandy coves and boat days off the Bicol Peninsula.

Best time
March to May gives the best chance of calm seas and sunshine. July to December brings typhoons and the monsoon, and January and February can still be windy and rough.
How long
3–4 days, plus the journey
Getting there
Fly to Manila (about 4 hours from KL). Flights to Naga now leave from Clark, a couple of hours north of Manila; or take the overnight bus from Manila to Naga. From Naga it's about 4 hours to Caramoan, by road or by road and boat via Sabang. The Philippines is on the same time as KL.
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PH · Camarines Surcaramoan13.77°N 123.86°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Limestone islets, small sandy coves and boat days off the Bicol Peninsula.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingCaramoanPH, Camarines Sur
KLcaramoan
≈ 2,706 km from KL, as the crow flies
The simple and peaceful town of Caramoan! Camarines Sur, Philippines

Photo: jekert gwapo · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A remote peninsula at the far end of Bicol, with limestone islets, coves of white sand and clear water, best seen on a day of island-hopping by boat. It's a long way from anywhere, so give it a few full days.

Makan

  1. KinunotFlaked stingray in coconut milk with chilli and malunggay leaves.Map ↗
  2. LaingTaro leaves stewed in coconut milk and chilli, often with shrimp paste and sometimes pork.Map ↗
  3. Grilled seafoodFish and squid on the boat-trip lunch, grilled on the beach.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Matukad IslandA small white beach under sheer limestone cliffs.Map ↗
  2. Lahos IslandA strip of sand joining two rocky outcrops, which shrinks and grows with the tide.Map ↗
  3. Manlawi sandbarA wide sandbar with huts on stilts over the shallows, best at low tide.Map ↗
  4. Caramoan townAn old stone church and market streets, a break from the boats.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Ask whether a boat quote covers the short or the long island circuit; Manlawi is further out than Matukad and Lahos.
  • Plan Manlawi around low tide with your boat crew.
  • Halal food is very limited and pork turns up in many Bicol dishes, even vegetable ones. Grilled fish and seafood are the easy fallback; tell the crew before they buy lunch.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.