Catanduanes, one of the ten smallest island provinces in the country, is the 62nd province in my Project 82.
From the airport, the tricycle driver brought us to a restaurant in the town proper for breakfast. Guess what? Silog meals? Nope! We had authentic Bicolano ginataang tuna and ginataang (again?) langka. Yummy and affordable dishes at One Two Sawa Restaurant!
The island is famous for its waves and beautiful beaches, hence we visited two of them in Virac. First was Tampad Beach, known as Talisoy Beach, for its "Jesus Face" rock formation on one side of the cove. Second was Batag Beach noted for its rock formation along the shore and its natural arch which is great for taking photos, especially during low tide events.
The third destination, Puraran Beach in the municipality of Baras on the eastern side of the island, is the surfing capital of the province. There are more visitors and resorts/inns in the area. Like the two beaches, the coastline is long and wide with golden sands and rock formations.
Aside from the beaches, the must-visit spot on the island is the Binurong Point, a 30-minute tricycle ride from Puraran. From the registration area by the beach, it took us 30 minutes to hike up to the top with a local guide. What made it more difficult was the humid weather at past 2 p.m. But it is all worth the trip because the scenery is like the rolling hills in Batanes minus the trek. Wow! You can feel the howling winds and hear the roaring waves of the Pacific Ocean. Thank God I got to conquer Binurong Point nine months post-transplant.
Dinner at Puraran Surf Beach Resort where we stayed overnight was memorable because of the spicy buttered lobsters and a thick grilled slice of tangigue. Yummy!
There are more recommended places to visit in every town but we only had two nights and transportation is quite hard if you are not traveling with a group. The cost of fuel per liter is Php 20 higher than Cavite prices.
Overall, Catanduanes is gifted with natural beauty and kind people. Plus, the local cuisine is so yummy!
Happy Bobby and me in the Happy Island Catanduanes. 😊
