I need to maximize my short stay in Legazpi and visit as fast as I could the touristy places in Albay: Ligñon Hill, Daraga Church and Cagsawa Ruins. All of these tourist spots have the picturesque Mt. Mayon as their background theme. Talk about Mt. Mayon overload.
So here’s DIY (do-it-yourself) tour of Albay:
Ligñon Hill. From the airport, I went to the Tourism Office and asked for a map of Albay. Then went outside the airport to look for a tricycle that would bring me to Ligñon Hill. Ligñon Hill is 30-minute steep uphill walk with a nice vista on the top. What can you see there? Mt. Mayon.
Mt. Mayon as viewed from Ligñon Hill
There is also a WWII Tunnel, a zipline, a souvenir shop and a big telescope to see Albay 360 degrees up-close.
WWII Tunnel entrance
I ate my packed sandwich and then bought Buko juice from Kuya Miguel when I went down the foot of the hill.
Mang Miguel gave valuable local information
I took the jeepney to downtown Legazpi
Battle of Legazpi
and then rode another jeepney towards
Daraga Church. Daraga Church sits atop a hill, about 200 meters walk from the town proper. The church is undergoing renovation as of this writing. They washed it with lime that’s why it’s now white.
Tweet: “Awed at the lime-washed stone church of Daraga, Mt.Mayon can be seen here too.”
The lime-washed Daraga Church standing atop a hill with Mayon on the background
Detailed sculpture of Daraga Church's facade. Notice the grapes on one of the columns (interesting)
Daraga NHI marker
This stone church is actually built for the Christians affected during the volcano eruption. I believe that the stones used even came from Mayon herself. Quite interesting to note that would be erected if Mayon didn’t buried Cagsawa Church in 1814. Now let’s go to the postcard perfect spot of Cagsawa…
From Daraga town proper, I rode another jeepney going to Camalig, went off at the entrance going to
Cagsawa Church Ruins. From the highway, you can reach Cagsawa Ruin after 500 meters of walking. It was scorching hot when I went there so if you can’t take it, there are tricycles that can bring you to the ruins.
Cagsawa Church NHI marker
I must admit that I’m not really into this kind of place, souvenir shops, touts, picture-picture, entrance fees and a consistent wave of tourists. Anyway, I just enjoyed laughing to myself as tourist do some jump shots or pretend to lift a stone behind the volcano.
Cagsawa Church Belfry Ruins
Still, kanya-kanyang trip lang yan but deep inside “I wish that tourist guides explain the history of Cagsawa church ruins instead of taking trick shots.”
Before leaving, I bought some souvenirs- Abaka coin purse (Php10 each), Abaka body bags (Php100-150) and sili key chains (Php5) which are quite cheapo. If you love shopping (every woman I know loves to shop), don’t forget to haggle like what you do in Divisoria.
Entrance Fees
Ligñon Hill: Free (Open from 4:00am-10:00pm)
Daraga Church: Free
Cagsawa Ruins: Php 10
Fares
Airport – Ligñon Hill: Php 20 (tricycle)
Ligñon Hill – Legazpi: Php 8 (jeepney)
Legazpi – Daraga: Php 10 (jeepney)
Daraga – Cagsawa: Php 8 (jeepney)
_____ _____ _____
BICOL SERIES. Happened last September 21-26, 2011, this series of short blog posts about my travels in Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur will surely whet everyone’s desire to try and visit the home of Mt. Mayon, CWC, pristine beaches and more.
Three places with the view of Mayon wow. I went to the same places end of August and I got no sighting of Mayon 🙁 – it hid under a blanket of dark clouds. I’ll go back soon, summer preferably to make sure Mayon Volcano shows up hehe.
diba may entrance fee sa Ligñon hill na 20 pesos? nakuha mo ng libre? cool! 🙂
yep, Php10 lang mervs.
when i went there they didnt charge me 🙂
pinaiwan ko pa nga yung bag ko sa office nila para makapaglakad-lakad ako sa ruins.
many people often overlook visiting daraga church. it has a great pov of the church and mt mayon in the background.
i was actually surprised sa location nya, really much better kapag nakita mo face-to-face than in pictures. love the view
perfect james!
inggit much hehehe
Nung una kong makita yung Daraga Church while I was still in prep wala pa yung lime wash sa facade, kitang kita pa yung patina na dulot ng paglipas ng panahon. Thanks for this interesting diy about Albay 🙂
they said, it is lie-washed t protect from the harsh elements.
hope this will help DIY travelers in albay
Is it true na 45 minutes ang hike paakyat ng Lignon Hill? I heard best viewing site ito ng Mayon pero mukhang laging syang covered ng clouds from Daraga Church to Cagsawa Ruins in your photo… is there a specific time to have the best view of Mayon? Like morning or best time to visit it by Summer?
just go early morning or late afternoon…
yes it took me 45minutes to walk towards lignon hill, probably faster if im not with my backpack
hi! can this tour be done in around 4-5 hrs? we’ll be arriving in legazpi at 9 am and then we’ll head off to donsol late in the afternoon to do the firefly tour. thanks!
I suggest you do the Albay tour first (just follow the suggestions I did on my blog. Medyo nagtagal lang naman ako sa Cagasawa but you can do that in 3-4 hours) before you go to Donsol for the fireflies. Then the next day for the butanding, so when you get back to Albay for the flight back to Manila di kayo masyado nagmamadali.
Hope this helps. Just let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you so much for this. My parents and I will go to Legazpi on Feb. Keep it up! 🙂
pleasure is mine mei! enjoy legazpi and the majestic mayon 🙂
Hello James,
nice pictures and kakaingit tlga yung pagtravel mo…. need your experts advise… planning to go to albay (butanding watching)… may masuggest ka po ba place to stay at mga places to go and sympre places to eat.. darating kami ng sat ng umaga sa legaspi then monday morning alis din…have sat and sunday to do the visitng and watching… suggestions is very much needed
thanks
yan napo yung mga suggestions ko. try pinangat at camalig too, mga 30mins from legaspi.
sorry, i ahvent been to donsol, sorsogon
Tamang tama ung mga info. n nkuha sa blog na ito,, punta kc kmi ng mahal ko sa Legazpi naung Feb. i also want to try the zip line in lignon hill.. weeew super excited……………..
hope you see the mayon on her full glory! enjoy the zipline
aha! perfect tong info mo about legaspi! kaya pala ng half day.
fire flies ng sat night.
butanding sun morning
legaspi afternoon
night bus to manila.
seems like a nice IT. enjoy 🙂
Hi james! im planning to visit mayon this coming oct 2012. can you recommend be a backpackers inn in legaspi. thanks a lot
i went to xandra hotel in legaspi, here’s the rates: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=379020502129944&set=a.378802575485070.92233.112487452116585&type=3&theater
thanks james, big help tlga. ciaooo..
Your blog is very helpful. Keep it up!
how far is Lignon Hill from the airport?
maybe 5minutes by tricycle