Experience Matnog, Sorsogon!

In the farthest southern tip of the region known as Bicolandia is where you'll find the municipality of Matnog. It is primarily known for being a major hub for ferries headed for areas in the Southern Philippines such as Samar, but there is so much more to Matnog than just being a viable, economic seaport!

So, what exactly does Matnog, Sorsogon have to offer tourists? You can bounce from island to island as though it were nothing you've ever done before! You will be taken aback by the breathtaking scenery of the Subic Pink Beach Island, Tikling Island, Calintaan Cave, and the Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary when you visit these locations.

Before we begin the tour, I just want to point out that the name "Matnog" is pronounced very similarly to the Tagalog word "Matunog/Matonog," which literally translates to "audible." The natives claim that the place was given this name due to the cacophonous and loud sounds that were created by the waves.

Before going on a tour:

Make sure to register at Matnog Tourism Office and pay the corresponding registration fee; P50 for the Filipinos and P300 for foreigners, as well as the environment fee of P20.

Island Hopping Fee

Day Tour: P1,600 for a maximum of 10 persons per boat. Starts at 6 AM until 6 PM.

Overnight: P2,000 for a maximum of 10 persons per boat. Starts at 6 AM (day of arrival) until 10 AM (next day).

Tikling Island

We stayed here for about an hour to take advantage of the fact that there are NO ENTRANCE FEES to pay in order to access the pure water and the white beach. Isn’t that awesome? Having this great view for free!

The caretaker of the location claims that the island is actually privately held, and the owner has long planned to develop a resort on the island. Therefore, you should put this on your bucket list in order to see it before it becomes commercialized.

Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary

Here’s our next stop which is for me was the highlight of the island hopping, because it gives you the opportunity to swim with the fishes, feed them, and be amazed at how beautiful they are, and some of them are pretty large as well. For me, this was the highlight of the trip because it gives you the opportunity to swim with the fishes. You may buy fish food and give it to the fish for only one hundred pesos if you want to. You also have the option to stay at the designated platform or go snorkelling with the fishes for an additional P200.

There are at least 40 different types of fish that can be found here.

Calintaan Cave

It was approximately 15 minutes to the west of Subic Beach and could be reached by outrigger boat. It was the destination that would typically follow spending the majority of the day at Subic Beach. As we got closer to the cave on Calintaan Island, the rock formation changed into something you don't typically see on other islands. Several small cave openings started showing up, waves slammed noisily into the rocks, lush green vegetation sprouted from the cliffs, and flat grassy terrains planted with tall palm trees stood out from above. This is something you don't usually see on other islands.

Once you swim within, you see its true beauty; it is like entering your own private sanctuary with magnificent water that is crystal clear. At first glance, it may appear to be nothing more than an ordinary cave; nevertheless, once you swim inside, you realize its true beauty.

Subic Beach

Another name for this beach in Sorsogon is Pink Beach. The sand on this island is very fine, and when observed from a distance, when the sand is directly touched by the sunshine, it takes on a pinkish color. This is one of the reasons why this island is so well-known.

On Subic Island, visitors typically book a room for the night. There are a variety of cottages and huts that provide lodging, and you may hire a room with a fan or, if you would want, an air-conditioned one at prices that are fair (you can haggle with the owners of these huts). Thankfully, these well-established cottages and huts were built in a typical local style, and they actually contribute to the beauty of this untouched beach.

In actuality, the beach in Subic is composed of two distinct sections. The locals refer to it as both Subic Laki beach (Big) and Subic Liit beach (little) respectively.

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How to get here?

When traveling by land from Manila, there is an abundance of public transportation that includes direct routes to Matnog. You have the choice of riding buses provided by PhilTranco, Raymond, or Isarog. The price ranges from about $800 to $1200, depending on the type of bus that you take. The trip takes approximately 14 hours of travel time.

When traveling by land from Legazpi, the first step is to get to the Legazpi Bus Terminal. From there, search for buses heading in the direction of Matnog (if there are any). In any other case, take a bus headed toward Bulan and instruct the conductor to let you off at Trece (the landmark is the head of a lion), which is the crossroads of Bulan and Matnog. After that, you will need to wait for buses and jeepneys that are heading in the direction of Matnog.

Take a flight with Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, or Philippine Airlines that will land you in Legazpi, Albay. You can get a tricycle at the Legazpi Airport, and it will take you directly to the bus terminal, where you'll find jeepneys that will transport you to Sorsogon City. When you arrive in Sorsogon, hire a trike to transport you to the buses or jeepneys heading in the direction of Matnog. The distance from Legazpi to Sorsogon can be covered in approximately one hour by car. The trip time from Sorsogon to Matnog is around three to four hours.

NOTE: Upon arriving at the town proper of Matnog, it is best to arrange with the Matnog Tourism Office which is just across the street from the Municipal Hall. There is an initial registration charge of 70 pesos. Boat rentals have rates of 1,600 for a day trip and 2,000 for an overnight excursion. These rates include island hopping and are appropriate for ten people.