Updated 2025 • Practical steps, real costs, and honest pros & cons so you can choose the best way for your island escape.
๐กQuick Answer:
“If you can join a small shared DIY group (4–6 people) — your cost will be similar (or lower) than a joiner tour. If you’re traveling alone and have to rent the whole boat, the group tour is usually more budget-friendly and far less hassle.”
๐ Why I wrote this: DIY vs Group Tour
Calaguas Island is paradise — white sand, turquoise water, and quiet nights under the stars. Bagasbas Beach adds surf vibes.
The biggest question: Do you DIY and handle logistics yourself, or join a joiner tour and let someone else manage the details? Below is a clear, side-by-side breakdown so you can choose.
๐ Why I Chose a Group Tour
Simple: Calaguas is beautiful but logistically tricky.
You’ll need to:
- Travel from Manila to Daet or Paracale, Camarines Norte
- Arrange your own boat transfers
- Bring or coordinate your own food
- Deal with unpredictable boat rides (and zero cellphone signal!)
So I figured: why not let a tour operator handle all that, while I just show up with sunscreen and good vibes?
✨ What the Tour Package Included (2025 Rate Update)
I booked a 2D1N Calaguas + Bagasbas Joiner Tour for around ₱3,200–₱3,800 per person.
Here’s what it included:
✅ Roundtrip van transportation (Manila ↔ Daet)
✅ Boat transfers to and from Calaguas Island
✅ Tent accommodation with mats and pillows
✅ 4 full meals (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch)
✅ Environmental & entrance fees
✅ Island hopping or snorkeling (depending on weather)
✅ Bagasbas Beach side trip on Day 2
✅ Friendly local guide and camp assistant
๐ Tour operators usually depart from Cubao, Pasay, or Alabang on Friday night and return Sunday evening.
๐ฐ Real Estimated Budgets (2025)
Below are conservative, realistic cost estimates to help you plan. Prices can change by season — use these as a planning baseline.
๐งญ Option A — Group Tour (Joiner)
Typical price per person: ₱3,200 – ₱3,800 (most common packages in 2025). This usually includes transport, boat transfers, tent accommodation, 4 meals, entrance/environmental fees, and a guide.
๐ Option B — DIY (Shared Group of 4–6 people)
| Item | DIY Shared (per person) | Group Tour (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Roundtrip land transfer (bus/van Manila ↔ Daet) | ₱700–₱1,400 (bus) / ₱1,200–₱1,800 (shared van) | Included (part of package) |
| Boat transfer (Paracale ↔ Calaguas) — shared | ₱800–₱1,200 (if split among 4–6 people) | Included |
| Tent accommodation & gear rental | ₱100–₱400 (if renting gear) | Included (tents & mats provided) |
| Meals (4 meals) | ₱350–₱600 | Included |
| Entrance / environmental fees | ₱100–₱200 | Included |
| Transport to Bagasbas + rentals | ₱200–₱500 | May be included or optional add-on |
| Total estimate (DIY shared) | ≈ ₱2,800 – ₱3,500 | ≈ ₱3,200 – ₱3,800 |
๐ฃ Option C — DIY Solo (Private Boat/Transfers)
| Item | Estimated Solo Cost |
|---|---|
| ๐ Private van (roundtrip Manila ↔ Daet) | ₱3,500 – ₱5,000 |
| ⛵ Boat rental (roundtrip private) | ₱4,000 – ₱6,000 |
| ๐ด Meals & fees | ₱700 – ₱1,000 |
| ๐ Gear rental, transfers to Bagasbas | ₱500 – ₱1,000 |
| ๐ฐ Total (solo private) | ≈ ₱8,000 – ₱13,000+ |
Bottom Line:
“If you can find friends to split costs (DIY shared), your price is usually cheaper or comparable to a joiner tour. If you’re solo and have to rent the boat/van privately, a group tour is almost always the better deal..”
๐️ Sample 2D1N Itinerary
๐ด Day 1 – Calaguas Island: Paradise Without the Crowds
After an overnight van ride, we arrived at Paracale Port around 5:00 AM. The sky was still dim, but the salty breeze woke everyone up.
A 2-hour boat ride later, the island appeared — crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, and no hotels or bars in sight. Just nature. ๐
๐ Highlights of Calaguas
- Camping by the beach — no signal, just stars
- Swimming in turquoise water so clear you can see your toes
- Bonfire night and karaoke (because it’s still the Philippines!)
- Friendly locals selling fresh buko juice and halo-halo
We grilled fish for dinner, shared stories by the bonfire, and slept under a blanket of stars. It felt like a digital detox I didn’t know I needed.
๐ Day 2 – Surf and Chill at Bagasbas Beach, Daet
After breakfast, we sailed back to the mainland and headed straight to Bagasbas Beach, a long gray-sand beach famous among local surfers.
๐ What to Expect at Bagasbas
- Perfect waves for surfing beginners
- Surfboard rentals + lesson: ₱400–₱500/hour
- Beachfront cafรฉs serving silog meals and halo-halo
- Chill, laid-back vibe — like Baler or San Juan, but less crowded
I didn’t surf (this time), but watching locals ride the waves while I sipped coffee was the perfect end to the trip.
๐งณ What to Pack for a Calaguas Tour
- ๐ Waterproof dry bag for boat rides
- ๐️ Beach mat or sarong
- ๐ Power bank (no power at night!)
- ๐ฆ Flashlight or headlamp
- ๐งผ Toiletries (basic CRs only!)
- ๐ซ Extra snacks and drinks
๐ก Pro Tip: Bring your own water jug — there’s limited fresh water on the island, and it helps reduce plastic waste.
๐งญ Bonus Stop: Pasalubong Center & Suman Stopover
Before heading back to Manila, our guide stopped by a local Daet pasalubong center where I stocked up on:
- ๐ฅ Pili nuts (garlic and sugar-coated)
- ๐ฌ Daet suman — sweet, chewy, wrapped in buli leaves
- ๐ Sinamay bags and woven souvenirs
⚖️ Pros & Cons
DIY (shared)
✅
Cheaper if you split costs
✅
More flexible schedule
❌
Requires planning & coordination
❌
Weather can affect plans
Group Tour
✅
Hassle-free logistics
✅
Safer for first-timers
❌
Less flexible
❌
Slightly higher cost
๐ธ Money-Saving Tips
- Travel with 4–6 friends to split costs
- Bring food & cook together
- Book bus/van early
- Bring your own camping gear if possible
Joining a group tour to Calaguas & Bagasbas was one of the most relaxing travel decisions I’ve ever made. No stress, no itinerary juggling — just pure beach bliss and great company.
Would I do it again? Definitely. Especially when I just need to unwind and reconnect with nature.
๐ฟ Lakwatserang Ligaw Tip“Travel smart — share the ride, share the cost. With friends, DIY can be cheaper and more fun; solo, a group tour saves money and stress.”
๐ข Share This Travel Guide
Found this Calaguas & Bagasbas Travel Guide helpful? Spread the beach vibes and help other travelers plan their own island escape!
๐ Don’t forget to tag @lakwatserangligaw on Instagram if you use this guide in your next trip!
๐ด Related Posts You Might Like:
Planning a trip to Camarines Norte or nearby islands? Don’t miss these travel guides and stories:
๐[Calaguas & Bagasbas: My 2-Day Group Tour That Skipped All the Planning
– Here’s What Happened]
๐ต๐ญ [Bagasbas Beach: A Surfing Paradise and Hidden Gem in Camarines Norte]
๐ต๐ญ [Mahabang Buhangin Beach: A Hidden Paradise in Calaguas Island, Philippines]
๐️[How to Get toCalaguas Island from Manila | Travel Guide 2025]
.png)
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for reading! Please share and like my Facebook page :)