How to Prepare for a Camping Trip to Cagbalete Island, Quezon Province

Summer is in full-swing with temperatures hitting 40°c!! Happy campers ready and willing to rough it out in the outdoors are swarming beachfront campsites. In Eastern Luzon, one of the most popular campsites is an island called Cagbalete. Located about 14 kilometers off the coast of Mauban, Quezon Province, it is beautifully isolated and can only be accessed by boat. If you’re looking to experience the outdoors in a dreamy, windswept island, head off to Cagbalete. Below are a few tips to help you plan your trip.

Camping is Cheap

A large chunk of a traveler’s budget usually goes to hotel accommodations. It’s a good thing we now have destinations like Cagbalete wherein camping is an option. Tent rentals are offered by almost all resorts here and they’re the cheapest lodging available. Tent rentals range from P500 to P1,500 depending on tent size. Travelers can also bring their own tents and just pay a pitching fee.

Rent the Largest Tent

Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group get the biggest tent you can afford. It’s tight inside a tent and the additional cost will be worth the extra leg room. Take note, at some resorts, when they say good for two, they actually mean good for one.

Bundle Up at Night

Camping sounds exciting, but in reality it gets quite uncomfortable especially at night when temperatures drop and  your only protection from the cold are the tent’s thin polyester walls. There are a couple of items you can take with you to cozy-up your nights in the outdoors. For instance, you can bring a light blanket, a pillow, or a sleeping bag. It’s tempting to go without these items since they’re big and bulky, but having them on you could spell the difference between a sleepless and a restful night.

Beware of Bugs

Critters are a menace, they share your bed and food and feed on you as you sleep. Unfortunately they’re unavoidable, so protect yourself by packing some insect repellant and avoid public beddings. Some resorts offer rental mats and pillows but public beddings are notorious for microscopic bugs so it’s better to bring your own.

Bathrooms — They’re as Basic as it Gets

Another thing you want to prepare for are the bathrooms. They’re communal and woefully crude. A bucket, a dipper, and a toilet is all there is – no fixtures, towel bars, racks, or shelves either, so bring a waterproof pouch for your toiletries, otherwise you’ll have to place them on the floor. Moreover, always wear slippers, you don’t want to enter public bathrooms barefoot. On the brighter side, running water is plentiful and the bathrooms are cleaned everyday.

Shower in the Daytime

Power is a luxury in Cagbalete. All of the resorts here use generators, but due to high costs most of them only provide power for a couple of hours. Hence, be mindful to wash up while it’s bright outside, unless your comfortable taking a shower in the dark.

Secure Your Stuff

Unfortunately, you can’t lock a tent like you could a hotel room and though you probably won’t have to deal with thieves on the island, it makes sense to take a few precautions. For instance, always keep your valuables inside your bag and use a luggage lock. A would-be thief would find it harder to snatch away a backpack than a cellphone. Also, pitch your tent in a spot where you or resort staff could keep an eye on the comings and goings of people.

Check out these Travel Guides for more info on the coolest beaches to visit in the Philippines. 

Extend Your Stay

If you’ve decided to go to Cagbalete, know that you’re in for a long and grueling journey that involves a series of transfers from cab to bus to van to boat and finally to motorbike or another smaller boat. Altogether, it can take between 7 to 8 hours to get to the island granted the weather is fair. That said, make the most of your trip and spend at least two days or more on the island. That’ll give you ample time to soak in the sceneries and explore the different beachfronts.

Pack These Essentials

Finally, before you hit the road, make sure you have these additional items in your backpack: sun protection items, (sunglasses, sunscreen, summer hat), a power bank and your phone charger, medicines, a dry bag for your gadgets, plastic bags for your wet items, and a towel.

Camping may not be the same as staying at a cozy hotel but a little planning can make a huge difference in your time outdoors. Remember the useful tips above when you go to Cagbalete and you’ll have a more comfortable, hassle-free, and enjoyable stay on the island.

Campsites in Cagbalete

The Tent Place is the only all-tent resort in Cagbalete. Their camping grounds are wide and well-situated. And they offer a variety of tents to suit groups of all sizes. Some of their tents can fit up to 15 people. They are located on the south east edge of the island. You can get there by habal-habal from Sabang Port, riders charge P50. Larger groups usually rent boats for P400. The resort offers a sari-sari store and a mini carinderia where you can have really cheap meals, (just watch out for bugs in the food). See contact details above for inquiries.

The Tent Place

Check out these Travel Guides for more info on the coolest beaches to visit in the Philippines.