It was February 2017, and I was desperately craving a change of scenery. I had vacation leave coming up, and I refused to spend it sleeping the entire day at home. I wanted to travel, explore somewhere new, and make the most of my time away from work.
Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte had been on my list for quite some time, so I decided to join an organized tour. I invited a few friends to come with me, but unfortunately, none of them were available. Instead of canceling my plans, I booked the trip and signed up as a solo joiner.
That decision made me a little nervous.
I have never been the most sociable person, especially around strangers. At the back of my mind, I kept wondering: Would I enjoy the trip? Would I feel out of place? Would I spend the entire weekend isolated and alone?
“Suck it up!” I told myself.
Sometimes, I need to silence my doubts and take the first step before fear talks me out of doing something I genuinely want.
Leaving Manila as a Solo Joiner
On February 10, 2017, I packed my things and arrived in Cubao at around 7:00 p.m. I climbed into a van filled with people I had never met and chose the seat beside the driver because I did not know anyone else.
Fortunately, our driver, Kuya Bong, was accommodating, friendly, and easy to get along with. We departed before 10:00 p.m. and began the seven-hour journey to Vinzons, Camarines Norte, where we were supposed to board a boat bound for Calaguas.
After traveling through the night, we finally reached the port. We met Joshua, our tour organizer, had breakfast, and waited for approximately two hours. Boats slowly began arriving, and everyone was excited to continue the journey.
That was when the real adventure—and misadventure—began.
When Calaguas Said No
Despite the absence of a storm, the weather was not on our side. The sky was heavily clouded, the waves were dangerously strong, and according to the Philippine Coast Guard, visibility at sea was almost zero.
We were not given clearance to sail.
Our organizer eventually informed us that we could not continue to Calaguas and would have to proceed with Plan B.
Naturally, everyone inside the van was disappointed. Some of the joiners, including me, had already made several failed attempts to visit the island. We had traveled through the night, waited patiently at the port, and come so close—only to be stopped by the weather.
But strangely enough, that shared disappointment became the moment that brought us together.
The unfortunate news broke the silence inside the van. We started talking, exchanging stories, throwing jokes at one another, and eventually laughing about our situation. The people who had been complete strangers only hours earlier slowly began to feel like travel companions.
I knew the situation must have been frustrating for Joshua as well. As our organizer, he had to absorb everyone’s disappointment while finding a way to save the trip. I appreciated how he remained patient and continued taking care of the group despite everything that had happened.
I also have to commend the food prepared for us. The authentic laing was rich, flavorful, and delicious, while the daing was equally satisfying. Those comforting Bicolano dishes helped lift our spirits after the disappointing morning.
Unplaned B: Cayucyucan Beach
Since Calaguas was no longer possible, we drove for approximately an hour and a half from Vinzons to Cayucyucan Beach. We stayed at Palms Farm Beach Resort in Mercedes, Camarines Norte.
It was not the destination we had originally imagined, but the beach was not bad at all. After everything that had happened, it felt good to slow down, enjoy the surroundings, and accept that travel does not always go according to plan.
We stayed overnight at the resort while holding on to the hope that the weather would improve the following morning. Perhaps the sea would calm down, the sky would clear, and we would still get the chance to reach Calaguas.
Unfortunately, the weather remained unchanged.
Turning Disappointment Into Another Adventure
Thankfully, I was traveling with a group of genuine adventurers. One of the joiners was also a tour organizer, so everyone understood that unexpected situations were part of the experience. Instead of wasting the remaining hours feeling disappointed, we decided to maximize our time and explore more of Bicol.
We left the resort early and traveled to the Peñafrancia Basilica in Camarines Sur before continuing toward the Cagsawa Ruins in Albay.
The journey from the resort to Cagsawa took around two to three hours, but honestly, none of us noticed how much time had passed. The van was filled with laughter, stories, and endless jokes—most of them coming from Kuya Bong, who seemed to be a natural comedian.
By then, I no longer felt like the quiet solo joiner who had nervously boarded the van in Cubao. I was surrounded by people with whom I could laugh, share stories, and enjoy the road.
Seeing Mayon for the First Time
I was especially excited because it was my first time exploring Bicol. It was also my first visit to the Cagsawa Ruins and my first time seeing Mayon Volcano in person.
No photograph could fully prepare me for its beauty.
Seeing Mayon rise above the landscape, with its almost-perfect cone standing proudly in the distance, was unforgettable. The original plan may have failed, but standing there made me realize that the trip was still giving me experiences worth remembering.
I also had the chance to try Bicol’s famous spicy ice cream. It looked like an ordinary serving of creamy vanilla ice cream, but every spoonful came with a surprising kick of spice. It was unusual, delicious, and definitely one of the most memorable treats I had tasted.
My First ATV Ride
The highlight of the entire adventure was my first ATV ride toward Mayon Volcano.
I originally wanted to take the longer route and reach the Black Lava Trail, but our schedule was limited. Since we still had a long journey ahead, the group agreed to take the one-hour ATV experience instead.
I was nervous when the ride began. I had never done anything like it before, and I was unsure if I could handle the rough trail. But once I became comfortable with the ATV, the nervousness disappeared and was replaced by pure excitement.
Driving along the rugged path with Mayon in the background was an incredible feeling. For that brief hour, I forgot about our canceled boat trip, the gloomy weather, and all the disappointment from the previous day. I was simply enjoying the moment.
As soon as the ride ended, I knew it would not be my last. I wanted to return, take the longer route, and finally experience the Black Lava Trail.
More Than a Failed Trip
Looking back, I no longer consider this experience a misfortune.
Yes, I traveled to Camarines Norte hoping to reach Calaguas, and the island remained beyond my reach. But the failed plan led me somewhere else. It gave me my first real glimpse of Bicol, my first visit to the Cagsawa Ruins, my first view of Mayon Volcano, my first taste of spicy ice cream, and my first thrilling ATV ride.
More importantly, it taught me something about traveling alone.
I began the journey afraid that I would be isolated because I did not know anyone. I worried that being a quiet and introverted solo joiner would prevent me from enjoying the experience. Instead, I returned home with wonderful memories and a new group of travel buddies.
Calaguas may have said no to me that weekend, but Bicol welcomed me in a completely unexpected way.
Sometimes, a failed itinerary is not the end of an adventure. Sometimes, it is the beginning of a better story.
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