COTIVAS ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

The boats that bring excursionists to Cotivas Island

Cotivas Island, Philippines - The island is dazzling from a distance, as the green forest and fine beige sand reflect the sunlight. This showcases why it attracts thousands of visitors daily despite lacking support facilities and utilities. It offers nothing but an enjoyable experience and stunning sights. Cotivas is part of the barangay of Guinahoan, located in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines, just south of Lahuy Island.

Once you've explored the main island of Guinahoan, you can embark on island hopping to nearby islands before concluding your day's adventures.

Visiting here requires renting a boat, as there are no regular trips from the mainland to accommodate tourists wishing to visit Cotivas.

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Therefore, visiting this place alone may not be cost-effective unless you're prepared to cover the boat rental expenses alone. Alternatively, you can inquire with other guests at your hotel to see if any are planning island hopping trips, allowing you to join them and split the rental costs.

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

1. 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.

2. If you want beachside accommodation, you need to verify with the hotel whether they are there.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The aircon vans to Caramoan are standing by at SM Naga City.

6. Tell the aircon van driver to drop you at the hotel you booked as a guest. They will take you there.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

   
   

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Quick Facts

Name of the Place: Cotivas Island

Location: Barangay Gunahoan, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines

Distance from the Mainland: 20 Km Approx

Travel Time: 35 Min to 1 hr boat ride from Bikal Port of Caramoan during low tide and 1 to 1½ during high tide and rough sea period.

Main Attractions

• Sugary Fine Sandbar

• Crystal-clear seawater

• Exhilarating sights around

  
  

Best Characteristics of the Place

• Peaceful, accommodating, and friendly residents.

  
  

Activities You Can Do

1. Swimming

2. Sunbathing

3. Island Hopping

4. Sightseeing

   
   

Accessibility

1. There is no existing hotel or lodging and no concrete support facility structures.

2. Mobile phones and internet signals are networks with good signals but also poor to no signals.

3. With an Electric Power supply

How To Get Here

Here are some quick facts that you need to know:

From the Town Proper to Bikal Port

1. Distance: 4.6 Km

2. Travel Time: 4 – 6 minutes

3. Public Transport Available: Tricycle, motorbike ride

Visiting Cotivas from the mainland of Caramoan has several points of take-off:

1. Bikal Port – The main port

2. Paniman Port – Alternative port

3. Tabgon Port – Alternative port

Unfortunately, no regular boat passenger trip is coming to this point, so you need to rent a boat from Bikal Port.

From Bikal Boat Terminal to Cotivas Island

1. Main Port of take-off – Bikal boat terminal

2. Distance: 22 Km

3. Travel Time: 1 hour Minutes during low tide and 1⅟2 hours or more during high tide

Boat Rental Cost

For the island-hopping boat rental, the price for the whole day ranges from P2000 to P2800.00

• 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.

Other than Cotivas Island, there are other islands that you can visit on the same day as your visit to Cotivas; therefore, I suggest island hopping to maximize the time and the cost of the boat rental.

Islands and Places To Visit

Lahuy Island

Malawi Floating Cottages

Isla Soledad Resort: ISLA SOLEDAD - LAHUY ISLAND, CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES (underratedadventures.com)

Basot Island

Guinahoan Light House

Liwan Beach

Other Islands

Basol Island

Batibagan Island

Bageing Island

Hapunan Island

The route and itinerary will depend on your arrangement with the boat operators.

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 Cotivas is between and close to several islands along the way, extra precautions for safety should be considered first and foremost.

Please also visit THE DON ADVENTURES on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLixKcH0fix6F252pQL5uw

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Please write in the comment section below if you have any queries, comments, or corrections.