Travel Budget: Php5,720 (US$114)
How to get there | Where we stayed | Getting around Sorsogon | Sorsogon Budget breakdown | The Experience
How to get to Bulusan City, Sorsogon
By Air – Fastest way: The only airport in Bicol is Legazpi Airport, the flight might take around 30-45 minutes, depending on the weather. Once landed, you still need to travel by land for at least an hour to take you to Bulusan town proper. Outside Legazpi airport there are tricycles that would take you to jeepney terminals bound for Bulusan City.
By Land – Road trip to the South: There’s no direct travel to Bulusan Sorsogon, it’s either you take the bus which bound for Legazpi then take another bus going to Bulusan, or you can ride a bus directly to any Sorsogon destination and take another ride to Bulusan, either way the trip will take for about 14 hours. The fare depends on which destination you will choose, about PHP850-1,300 per passenger. Philtranco bus terminals are in Cubao and Pasay.
Where we stayed
We asked quotations from all the cheapest accommodations we can possible find online. We found a lodging house along Rizal street. The room is PHP750 per night, with AC, king-size bed and breakfasts. There are private resorts neighboring the lodging house but they are too pricey so we didn’t even bother to check-in. Our overall accommodation experience is quite good and peaceful.
Some of the best hotels in Sorsogon:
Getting around Sorsogon
Barcelona Church and Ruins
How to get there
From Sorsogon City, ride a jeepney going to Gubat Sorsogon (fare is PHP20/passenger). From Gubat Sorsogon, ride another jeep going to Barcelona Sorsogon. The trip would take around 30 minutes.
Why go there?
During the Spanish occupations, this town in Sorsogon were home to Spanish soldiers, they named it Barcelona because the place during that time is pretty much similar to Barcelona, Spain.
The Barcelona church is more than a century old, it was built using sea stones, egg whites mixed with lime and tuba (coconut juice). The church has undergone major restorations but its bell and the tower are still intact and they are the only original part of the church.
Across the church is the Barcelona ruins known as Casa Tribunal and Baluarte, it was built to house Spaniards and Illustrados during Japanese occupation but a devastating typhoon destroyed every house and was abandoned then on. The place is now a playground for elementary students and car park for the locals.
Bulusan Lake and National Park
How to get there
From Sorsogon City’s public market, ride a jeepney going to Gubat Sorsogon, then from Gubat, transfer to another jeep going to Bulusan (fare is PHP40, 30-45 minutes travel).
Another option is when you’re already in Barcelona, you can get a jeepney going straight to Bulusan. Once you’re already in Bulusan, get a tricycle and tell the driver to drop you off Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, it is a special trip, we get to pay PHP130 for four passengers, you can also ask the driver to wait or to pick you up after 1-2 hours.
Why go there?
Enjoy bonding with your friends and family while experiencing the tranquility of the rain forest. You can also have your group lunch because there are cottages inside the park.
We tried Kayaking around the lake, the rate is Php100 for 30 minutes, we enjoyed the view while paddling around the lake, it’s so peaceful and relaxing, the water is so calm.
Park’s entrance fee: Php10
Irosin Natural Hot spring
How to get there
From Sorsogon City, ride a jeep going to Bulusan-Irosin (40-min travel) then ride a tricycle and ask the driver to drop you off at Mateo Natural Spring.
Why go there?
There are three different kinds of springs in Irosin: Cold, Lukewarm and Hot.
(1) Medicinal benefits you can get from dipping your body in a natural spring (2) The peaceful ambiance of the rain forest (3) Enjoy listening to music or chat with your friends and family while letting the natural spring relieve your stress. What’s more relaxing than that?
Other activities:
- Surfing at Rizal Beach, Gubat
- Hike Bulusan Volcano
- Whale shark Interaction, Donsol
- Firefly River tour
Sorsogon Overall Expenses = PHP5,720 per person
- Air Fare: Php3,100 two-way, all in (seat sale at Cebupac)
- Land transfers during City tour and airport transfers: ~Php350
- Accommodation: Php750 per night / 2 persons per room x 3 nights = Php1,125 per person
- Entrances and Activities: Php100 for Kayak + Php10 Bulusan Lake entrance + Php35 for Irosin Hot spring entrance fee = Php145
- Pasalubong: Php1,000 budget.
The Experience
Whole stretches of green and well cropped grass where cows and horses are being fed, and you got these hills and mountains at the background, it’s much like seeing New Zealand farmlands.
This travel makes me feel like I’m one of the contestants of The Amazing Race. We ask the locals how to get to a specific location, we get lost sometimes. I’m a typical tourist that has no idea of my whereabouts. Lost.
The tourist spots are too far away from each other, or maybe our itinerary specialist (me) didn’t do much research about it. I suggest finding a hotel or any accommodations that offer city tour, or arrange to rent a van.
Accommodations were not fully advertised on the internet, if we’ve known that Mateo Natural Spring offers accommodation we might’ve stayed there. So, here it is, I’m advertising MATEO SPRING people! Check out their facebook page.
Make sure you have bought enough snacks for night drinking or house party. Private vehicle would be useful if you and your friends want to stay up all night at the town-proper because public transportation terminals closes around 6pm, or simply, get a nice hotel right at the city proper. 😉
Sorsogon is a simple and peaceful place to relax and unwind, to enjoy scenic view and whale shark interaction. If you’re too stressed with city life, traffic and different kinds of pollution, Sorsogon is a place to set them all back to zero.
