Our first stop on our Bicol family adventure was the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Albay. We took the Peñafrancia Regular Skybus from Cubao for Php 1,800 per head, which was en route to Legazpi. Since the stop for the ruins was right along the way, we asked the driver to drop us off there instead of waiting until we reached the bus terminal.
The ruins were just a short distance away, and under different circumstances, we could have easily walked. But with our backpacks in tow—each of us carrying our own clothes and essentials—we opted for a quick tricycle ride for convenience.
The historical Cagsawa Church Bell Tower. The only one left after the most violent Mayon eruption in 1814.
We left Cubao just past 8 PM on December 25 and arrived in Daraga before 10 AM the next day. After the long journey, we were tired, a little hungry, and desperately in need of a chance to freshen up (at least, that’s how I felt—haha!). So, before doing anything else, we took a moment at the site to wash our faces and brush our teeth.
At the entrance, tour agents were already waiting to offer ATV rides nearby. We were interested but decided to explore the park and have an early lunch first.
(READ: Exploring Bicolandia as a Family)
The Majestic Mayon
The sight of Mount Mayon greeted us as soon as we entered, and even though its peak was veiled by thick clouds that day, it was still as spectacular as everyone says. Nothing compares to seeing it in person!
Truth is, you’ll see Mayon almost everywhere you go in Bicol. We could even see it from Donsol when we went on the third day. But in my opinion, the best, most breathtaking view of the Mayon Volcano for me would be when the bus makes it turn at the highway. I gasped when I first saw it right ahead of us. I wanted to go back and see it but that’s the thing about DIY trips and you don’t have your own ride, it’s pretty hard to go back once you make your way to the busy city proper.
There was a small eatery on site. We ordered a few Bicol dishes (I was dying to try authentic Bicol Express, it’s my favorite!), and tried the famous Sili Ice Cream.
Did you know that the Bicol restaurant, Colonial Grill, was the first to introduce this dessert? The one in Cagsawa Ruins wasn’t bad, but if you want to try the original, I suggest you go to Colonial Grill instead.
You can enjoy authentic Bicolano dishes at the eatery in the park.
There were farmers working in Cagsawa Ruins. I’m not sure why since they already transformed the place into a complete tourist spot with rates to pay for certain areas you want to enter. But historical photos of the Mayon always had rice fields at the foot of the volcano, so maybe they just want to keep that picture for the people who come to visit?
Trying Sili Ice Cream for the first time. Bicol is widely known for their really spicy Sili (chilli peppers).
Why do we visit Cagsawa Ruins?
I know Cagsawa Ruins is one of the most popular tourist spots in Bicol, and while many visitors come mainly for the photos, I wanted to share a bit of its history to highlight its significance.
The original Cagsawa Church was built in 1587 by Franciscan missionaries in what is now Daraga, Albay. The first structure was initially destroyed in 1636 by Dutch pirates who raided and set fire to the town. The church was rebuilt in 1724 by Father Francisco Blanco, but the eruption of the volcano in February of 1814 not only destroyed it but also buried the town and the areas around it, including families who ran to the said church for cover believing that its thick stones will protect them.
Unfortunately, rocks and volcanic mudflow buried the church and the people in it. An estimated 1,200 people died that day and only the bell tower survived.
The bell tower remains to be a reminder of the lives and livelihood that were lost on that fateful event, and stands now as a symbol of the resilience of the Bicolanos, as well as a warning to stay alert and prepared for disasters that may come.
This is why Cagsawa Ruins stand and what we should know when we visit it.
Green Trail is the ATV trail most suited for first-time ATV drivers.
Mayon ATV Adventure
Like I said, the popular ATV ride is just a stone’s throw away from the Cagsawa Ruins. There are plenty of ATV operators around, and while I honestly don’t remember the name of the company we went with, I do remember it was a good one.
There are several trails to choose from, but since the longer, more challenging ones were way out of our budget, we settled for the Green Lava Trail. It’s perfect for beginners and young riders.
I think the original price was around Php 1,500 per head, but we were lucky to get a discounted rate of just Php 600 each. The ATV ride was one of the activities we were really excited to do in Bicol, and it did not disappoint! It was honestly my favorite part of the trip. I wish we could’ve afforded to rent the ATVs for more than 30 minutes, but with four more days to go in the region, I had to be careful with our budget.
It was especially exciting for Judah because it was his first time driving his own ride. On previous trips, he was still young and small, so he’d ride with either me or Jay. But this time, at almost 14 years old, he was ready for his own ATV.
The ATVs were pretty easy to use. The throttle was on the handlebars—just push it to move forward and steer to control your direction.
Each group had a guide to show us the way and make sure we were all safe. At first, we had Judah riding between me and Jay, with Pablo and Lukas up ahead. But after Judah rammed into a rock and got his front wheel stuck between some plants, the guide moved him up front. Thankfully, he got the hang of it after that. He just needed a moment to adjust, and then he drove the rest of the trail and back like a pro.
If you’re wondering if we brought our backpacks with us, the answer is ‘no.’ The operator allowed us to leave all our belongings at their tent while we enjoyed our ATVs.
Check out our ATV experience in this video:
Rice fields in Cagsawa Ruins.
We decided to proceed to our hotel — Parm View Inn – in Legaspi right after the ATV ride, wash up and have a look around the city. We had big plans for the next day and it would be nice to rest early that evening so we can wake up early the next day.
Just so you know, Sumlang Lake and (arguably) the Jovellar Underground River are very close to Cagsawa Ruins. There’s also an adventure obstacle park nearby that offers a lot of action. We didn’t get to check out the underground river and the obstacle park , but if you’re planning a visit to Bicol, you could definitely fit them all into one day.
Since it was our first time in the region, we didn’t have much time to explore our maps or plan a detailed itinerary. That’s why we missed out on those spots. But if you can map out your day ahead of time, it’s a smart and practical way to make the most of your trip.
That’s it for our first day in Bicol! I’ve got a couple more blogs to write about our adventure, so stay tuned—I’ll share more soon!