When I visited Catanduanes, I remember myself totally amazed by the province’s landscapes and nature. I was just inside the van, but I couldn’t help to be mesmerized by what I saw, especially the cliff, and mountains near the coastal area.
“Look, ang gandaaa.” I was eagerly telling my fellow travelers. I admit I’m not fun to travel with if you want to have a peaceful joyride, especially if we’re traveling to a place as beautiful as Catanduanes.
But nothing compares to my excitement once we visited some of the beaches in the province. And most of them are just a quick trip from the capital town. I was envious of the people of Virac for a moment. They get to experience a small city vibe yet the nature and beaches are just a stone’s throw away.
We experienced all that during my visit to Catanduanes to cover the previous Abaca Festival. We get to tour the entire province for 5 days, visiting some of the best beaches. Here’s a list of the best beaches in Catanduanes.
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1. Batag Beach
On our first day of the tour, we were already awake for an early call time to explore the province. Our first stop was Batag Beach in Virac. This is one of those stunning beaches that are just near the capital. We passed through some residential areas until reaching the lush greeneries near the shore.
The sun was out in the morning, and we were greeted by a stretch of beach with cream-colored sand. We were the only people there, enjoying this piece of paradise. Looking from afar, we could see the majestic Mayon volcano.
At the end of the beach is a rock formation perfect for adventurous people or for those who simply just want to take some photos. There are some cottages in the area, so anyone can enjoy the beach together with your family and friends.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: The beautiful Batag Beach in Virac, Catanduanes
2. Talisoy Beach
Just a few minutes from Batag Beach is the beautiful Talisoy Beach. Locals also call this as Tampad Beach. There is something different and special about the Talisoy. It’s just a small beach surrounded by lush greeneries and rock formations. There’s also a place that serves as a turtle sanctuary. It’s nice to know that the community is working together to protect marine life.
But the best part of this beach is when you look at the end of the rock formations, anyone could recognize that it looked like a replica of Jesus Christ’s face. And being a catholic country like the Philippines, you know that this is a big thing! This is the reason why Talisoy beach is also called Jesus Face Beach.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: Talisoy Beach in Virac, Catanduanes
3. Twin Rock Beach / Igang Beach
After exploring the best beaches in Viray, it was time for lunch. We then visited Twin Rock Beach Resort, one of the most popular resorts in the province, to have some delicious Bicolano dishes. I loved the Laing and Bicol Express. Even when I’m in Manila or Cavite, these are still my all-time favorites. Bicolanos know how to cook the best gata dishes with a spicy twist.
I enjoyed the food and our conversations during our lunch with an awesome view of the beach. It’s pristine with creamy white sand. Anyone would surely notice the rock formations just a few meters from the shore, especially those two rocks, where the name of the resort was derived.
The resort is too popular in the area that many started calling the beach as Twin Rock Beach, same as the name of the resort. But the locals also call the beach as Igang Beach. Once you visit Virac, this place is one of the most highly recommended. You get the calm and relaxation from the beach while not sacrificing the comforts of life.
4. Kumagat Beach
Of all the beaches in Catanduanes, this is probably one of the hardest to visit. Located on the island of Panay, off the coast of Catanduanes mainland is a beach that serves as a jump-off point going to Lolong Point Lighthouse. You need to ride a 20-minute boat ride from Bagamanoc or Panganiban, if you want to visit this beach.
Siempre, papahuli paba naman ako? siempre kailangan ng selfie. LOL!
Looking at our destination
It’s raw and rugged with some rock formations on the side. There are also cottages that can accommodate small to big groups. Upon exploring Kumagat beach, I saw some rooms for people who want to stay there longer. Yes, there’s a resort.
5. Loran Beach
What a nice way to end the day of exploring Panay Island with a pristine beach like Loran Beach. Located on the other side of Lolong Point Lighthouse, Loran is a charm of its own with its raw nature and beauty. Since this is located on Panay Island, this is quite an effort to visit since you still need to travel by boat for at least 30 minutes from Bagamanoc.
There are many beautiful beaches in the mainland of Catanduanes, but if you’re looking for pristine and definitely uncrowded, Loran beach is the place to be.
One interesting spot near the beach is the Loran station, an abandoned US coastguard complex on top of a hill. This used to be an important coastguard facility of the US in the 1950s and 60s. Now, it’s just an abandoned structure but it is still a great experience to pay a visit with a quick hike.
READ THE BLOG POST: 20 Best Catanduanes Tourist Spots
6. Sakahon Beach
We were up early in the morning on our second day to explore more of Catanduanes. Our first destination for the day is Sakahon Beach in the municipality of Bato.
We traveled for about 30 minutes until we reached the coastal town. They prepared some delicious local delicacies for our breakfast. I wasn’t able to ask the locals what do they call this kakanin, but it was all delicious.
After our breakfast, time to explore the beach. It was nice to be walking along the shore in the morning, enjoying the pristine and raw beauty that surrounded us. Once again, the best thing about Catanduanes beaches is all about being raw and unspoiled. Sakahon beach is one of those. The place is also surrounded by lush greeneries and some rock formations. What a great way to start our day.
7. Puraran Beach
For our lunch, we traveled all the way to Baras to experience the popular surfing spot in the province – Puraran Beach. I remember passing through some hills before descending going to the beach. I could hear the waves crashing to the shore. No wonder this is a surfing spot. The waves are strong enough for popular water sports.
We weren’t able to try surfing there, but we experienced the calmness of the place. Plus, we had an awesome lunch with lots of seafood at the resort. When I go back to Catanduanes, I would love to try surfing next time.
8. Carangyan Beach
From the town of Pandan in the northern part of Catanduanes, you can find another gem with raw beauty – it’s Carangyan Beach. It’s a long stretch of creamy sand with some islets off the shore. You can have an awesome top view of Carangyan Beach when you go to Hiyop Highlands.
Since it was our last day in Catanduanes, we explored the north and had our lunch at Carangyan Beach Resort. It’s always a nice experience to eat a sumptuous lunch with lots of seafood with a stunning view of the ocean.
We spent more time at Carangyan Beach, so we had the chance to do some swimming and water activities. When you visit Catanduanes, it is also worthy to travel up north to experience more breathtaking beauty of the province.
9. Marilima Beach
Just like Batag and Talisoy, Marilima beach is also close to Virac. This is a perfect getaway for people living in the capital and want to spend some time to relax and enjoy the ocean. If Puraran is good for surfing, Marilima is the opposite which is calm and placid all year round. Of course, depending on the weather or if there’s a typhoon.
Overall, this is a perfect place to chill for city dwellers who are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re in Catanduanes, include Marilima beach in your beach-hopping experience.
10. Amenia Beach
Located in Palawig in the municipality of San Andres, Amenia beach is also a popular weekend getaway for many tourists and Catandunganons. Aside from its unspoiled beauty, there are also some good resorts around the area to cater to the comforts of tourists in big groups. So during weekends, expect that Amenia beach is a choice by many families and groups of friends.
There you have it. I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the best beaches in Catanduanes. As an island, I know that there are still many beaches to explore in the province. If you have any recommendations, comment down below. Who knows, I might come back soon and explore more of Happy Island.
