COME TO CAMNORTE
the sun and the wind in an exhilarating motorcycle ride at the meandering Bicol National Park.
Recently, over a hundred motoring enthusiasts made a monumental 500-km, 12-hour circular drive around the province’s scenic spots and neighboring Camarines Sur in the first-ever Moturista Endurance Challenge, the biggest assemblage of riders in the Bicolandia.
Outfitters for big bikes find CamNorte an ideal adventure because of its terrain.
Daet, the capital town and urban hub, is the ideal base for exploring the countryside because of the presence of tourist establishments. It is also home to Bagasbas Beach, ranked the world’s 62nd surfing spot and the country’s first site to be recognized internationally.
With its shallow water and sandy bottom, it is the best place to get surfing 101 les- poll of Isla Lipana & Co. The heart of the mini-archipelago is the Halabang Baybay (long beach) of Tinaga Island which has an immaculate mile-long powdery sand beach and crystal clear water. Many consider it the next Boracay, but locals would rather call it Boracay of 30 years ago, when it was still unspoilt.
The main come-on is the thrill of going back to the basics and roughing it out under the stars. For a dash of modest comfort, there is the Waling Waling Eco-Village which has no-frills tropical-themed lodgings designed for groups.
Quinamanokan and Maculabo islands offer attractive pit stops for snorkeling on the way back.
Siete Pecados chain in Mercedes is another island getaway for beach bumming, snorkeling or kayaking. Apuao Pequeña is the most popular due to its powdery sand. Canton boasts of wa- ter caves, while Caringo has a marine sanctuary of untouched corals.
For beach overload, hie off to the gold mining town of Jose Ma. Panganiban which recently unveiled its best-kept secret hideaways – the idyllic islands of Parola, Calalayan and Carol, and Bulacacao Beach which you can have to yourself, especially during the habagat or southwest monsoon season.
Turayog viewdeck offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the town, the ocean, the rolling hills and everything in between. It is open for camping and other closeto-nature activities.
San Lorenzo Ruiz is a virtual waterworld where you can refresh, rinse and cool off after beach-bumming. Get a hydro-massage and laze at the natural rock pools with icy water rushing down the Mampurog River at the various resorts lining the river banks.
For an adventure trek, Nacali Falls won’t disappoint with its moderate but challenging trail and the voluminous drop of the falls.
Moreover, the newlyopened tramline cable car and the 700-meter dual zipline which glide over the scenic cliffs give an irresistible adrenaline rush.
For souvenirs you can bring home, the town takes pride in its sweet-tasting Queen (Formosa) pineapple and the walis tambo brooms which find their way to markets nationwide.
Tucked in the nooks and crannies in the towns of Capalonga, Sta. Elena and Basud are unexplored natural and cultural wonders, which will make you come to CamNorte again and again.