Caramoan Travels

Caramoan Peninsula is a beach Paradise located in Southern Luzon in the Philippines. Caramoan is known for its white sand beaches and islands that dot its crystal-clear waters.

Early this year, Caramoan became the setting of “Koh-Lanta Caramoan” a French version of the reality TV series “Survivor.”

With the recent media exposure and the tide of tourists flocking this paradise, Caramoan is being touted as “the next Boracay.”

Personally, I hope Caramoan won’t go the way of Boracay. Boracay as we know it is overdeveloped, crowded and polluted. Local officials should bear in mind that while tourism will bring in money, development should be sustainable and its impact on the environment should be minimized.

Caramoan Inns and Hotels

1. ) Rex Tourist Inn – rates range from 300 pesos to 2,500 pesos
contact number +639198821879

2.) La Casa Roa – rates range from 1,000 pesos to 1,400 pesos
contact number +63(54)8115789

3.) Juliana
contact number +639212261395

4.) West Peninsula Villas
Contact Number: +639212642538
Pension house in barrio san andres near the town proper. Accommodations are little
native huts set on a lawn.

5.) Caramoan Bed and Dine
Contact number: 09204768619, 09204768577, 09158268563
Pension house with two airconditioned rooms good for 6 persons.
Also features a common room with cable television, dining area, toilet and shower.

Caramoan is said to combine the beauty of the white sand beaches of Boracay and the
massive limestone formations of Palawan. Before, only backpackers and the locals knew of the remote peninsulass pristine beaches. Very little is known about Caramoan. Isolated from the rest of Camarines Sur, it is no surprise why Philippine's Secret Paradise remains unexploited from
commercial tourism. But everything has changed since then.

Caramoan is one of the 35 municipalities of CamSur and occupies the lower eastern portion of the province. It is situated at the heart of the peninsula at the southernmost edge of Luzon. It is approximately 501 kilometers away from Metro Manila; 95 kilometers from the municipality of Pili,where the seat of the provincial government and the Pili Domestic Airport are located; and 110
kilometers away from Naga City, the heart of Bicol.

Consisting of 4,000-hectare limestone forest and 45 islands and islets, Caramoan boasts of many sugar-fine white sand beaches with crystal blue waters, skyscraping limestone formations, tranquil hiden lakes, caves and breathtaking sunsets. You can go island hopping and enjoy many different
activities such as snorkeling, rock climbing, kayaking, scuba diving, trekking, caving or just star gazing in the open sky and be mismerrized by persied meteor showers in August nights.

The name Caramoan has been officially adapted since 1619, the year it was founded by a zealous missionary, the venerable Spanish friar Francisco de la Cruz Y Oropesa. This 60-year old priest penetrated the thick virgin forest of the Caramoan Peninsula and found a small settlement in a place
called Baluarte. Later on, this settlement was turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric
in 1696.

The small town of Caramoan was then located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the North and East and Lagonoy Gulf on the South. It was determined that the first name given to this place was Guta de Leche by the Dutch traders who operated a gold mine in Lahuy Island and frequented the area to trade with the natives,prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The name was perhaps derived from the milkdrop stalagmites found among the rocks of Guta Port. But upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place came to be called "Carahan" for the sea turtle, which was at that time to be found in great number along the shores of the Peninsula.

In 2007, the islands of Lahuy, Cotivas, Guinahuan, Luksuhin, Malibagon and Masag, located off the northern coast of Caramoan town were declared national tourism zones by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 9445.

The 8th season of “Koh-Lanta” (French edition of “Survivor),” was shot entirely in Caramoan. TV director Corinne Vaillant, stated that "the powdery sand, the coconuts on Gota beach and the
neighboring islets are a 'dream' for the French people. We chose Caramoan because it’s really wild. It’s necessary that contestants don’t see anything other than nature for them to believe that they’re
really lost in the wilds.

Now, Caramoan is on the tourism map of the world. Thanks to the development effort of the Provicial Government.

Glassy waters surround this little island called Matukad in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Limestone rock formations dot the surrounding waters that make a spectacular scenery. Inland you can explore the lush tropical forest that conceals a small lake. You can arrange island-hopping trips that includes Matukad Island from Gota Beach with your hotel.