BASOT ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

Jul 20, 20225 min read

Updated: Nov 12, 2024

The green mountains and flickering white and beige sugary-fine sands on its shorelines and beach areas are just a few of its unique topographic characteristics that make the island distinctive from the rest. Basot Island possesses profuse potential in the tourism business, not just in the municipality or province but in the entire Philippines.

The eastern paradise in the Province of Camarines Sur is on the West Pacific coast. It is among the Caramoan’s outer islands east of the mainland and southeast of Lahuy Island. It belongs to the barangay Daraga in Lahuy.

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The raging ocean waves on the eastern side beaches and the steady wind breezes from the expanse of the open ocean charm every visitor to stand atop the mountain and look around. The flickering cotton-white waves from the middle of the ocean rushing to the shore make you glued to the ground as you stand on the mountain and admire the scenic views around you.

Basot Island is another perfect choice for a complete island hideaway. It is far from the mainland and the city but close to the community, yet away from the crowd.

Situated at the outer skirt of Caramoan, Basot Island also plays a significant role in marine transportation. It holds the Guinahoan Lighthouse, which warns maritime traffic of the imminent danger of getting stranded in the shallow part of the ocean.

The Guinahoan Lighthouse has since become an attraction on the island. Visitors are allowed to visit the lighthouse and see the open ocean water of the Pacific and the enchanting beaches on its eastern shorelines.

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Quick Facts

Name of the Place: Basot Island

Location: Southeast of Lahuy Island, Caramoan, Camarines Sur,

Philippines

Distance from the Mainland: 20 Km Approx

Travel Time: 1 hour to 1 hour & 15 min. from Bikal Port of Caramoan during

low tide

1½ hours or more during high tide and rough sea period.

Attractions

Guinahoan Lighthouse and viewing area
Charming beaches
Crystal-clear seawater
Raging and rolling waves from the Pacific Ocean
Exhilarating sights around

Best Characteristic of the Place

Peaceful, accommodating, and friendly residents.

Activities You Can Do

Swimming
Sunbathing
Island Hopping
Sightseeing

Tolls and Fees

Docking Fee = P50.00. This amount is collected as payment for the docking of the boat.
Entrance to the lighthouse = P20.00 per person
Guiding Fee = Voluntary/donation—You can get a guide or not. Kids around volunteer for their guiding service, and you may give them a tip after the tour.

How to Get Here For solo travelers, here are my suggestions for things to do before traveling to Caramoan:

Scout first a hotel, tourist inn, or any lodging facility that will cater to your needs according to what you intend to do during your stay in Caramoan.
If you want beachside accommodation, you need to verify with the hotel whether they are there.
Ask the hotel to recommend a boat to rent for your island hopping and a land transport service for your tour around the mainland of Caramoan.
Naga City is the take-off point to Caramoan, so ride the aircon van vehicles. Never try riding the ordinary bus; otherwise, be ready to suffer all the inconveniences to experience beyond your imagination. An aircon van will take you a 3-hour ride from Naga City, which is convenient and enjoyable. While ordinary will end up a 6-hour ride, like what I had experienced, it would make you never feel about returning to Caramoan.
The aircon vans to Caramoan are standing by at SM Naga City.
Tell the aircon van driver to drop you at the hotel you booked as a guest. They will take you there.
Upon your arrival at the hotel, start discussing with the hotel staff your plans for renting a boat and door-to-door motorcycle services for hire to recommend the people they know are safe to ride with and responsible.
For the boat rental while island hopping, somehow, they can help you join another group staying in the same hotel; you can give your share for the rental if you want, and it will save you from spending the higher rental cost.
Anticipate that the accommodation rates in Caramoan make no difference and sometimes, to some extent, are higher than those in Manila (standard hotel). The rate comparison I am after is based on the room size, facilities, and amenities. I booked a standard room in one of the tourist inns for P1500.00 per night plus taxes. However, I was amazed when I realized that the room was almost half the size of the room in a standard hotel in Manila, which I stay in whenever I travel to Manila and need accommodation at the same rate. A small room just enough to fit a single bed, a small bathroom, and without even a mirror and a shelf to put your stuff. Not all the hotels may be in the same terrible condition, but based on my experience in that hotel, I am noting this.

Accessibility

There is no existing hotel or lodging and no concrete support facility structures.
Mobile phone and internet signal: There are networks with good signals but also poor to no signals.

Ideal Season for a Visit

Summer is the ideal time to visit. The island is on the Pacific coast, and the sea is mostly calm.
During rainy seasons, avoid when low pressure is coming, or typhoon signals are coming because the sea is rough. Although the sea route to Basot Island is between and close to several islands, extra safety precautions should be considered first and foremost.

Here are additional facts that you need to know

From the Town Proper to Bikal Port

Distance: 4.6 Km
Travel Time: 4 – 6 minutes
Public Transport Available: Tricycle, motorbike ride

From Bikal Boat Terminal to Basot Island

Main Port of take-off – Bikal boat terminal
Distance: 25 Km Approx.
Travel Time: 1 hour Minutes during low tide and 1⅟2 hours or more during high tide

Unfortunately, no regular boat passenger trip is coming to this point, so you need to rent a boat from Bikal Port. Boat Rental Cost For the island-hopping boat rental, the price for the whole day is P2500.00

The boat's maximum capacity is 12 passengers.
But, following the municipal tourism rules for safety, each boat is limited to 8 passengers, excluding the crew.
For more than eight passengers, you need to rent two boats.
Passengers should all be provided with a life vest by the boat operators.
You can arrange the boat rental at the Bikal port/boat terminal.

How To Get Here Visiting Lahey from the mainland of Caramoan has several points of take-off:

Bikal Port – The main port
Paniman Port – Alternative port
Tabgon Port – Alternative port

On my way to Basot, I took off at Bikal port, where I learned that most passengers used it for their daily trips to Basot and other nearby islands. Islands and Places To Visit Lahuy Island