Recently, I wrote a blog post about my trip to Caramoan, and oh boy, it was such an amazing experience! One of the best thing about our Caramoan trip is we got to experience local hospitality through a homestay. Homestay is a great alternative to hotels. It's great if your travel is on a budget. It's way cheaper! Plus, you'll get to learn more about the culture by staying with the locals.
Travel Book booked us for a 2 nights extraordinary experience at Al Del Rio Villa Resort. And our stay also includes a Caramoan package tour: island hopping, boat and tour guide fees, environmental/island fees, floating cottage fees, full board meals, accommodations, and other fees. Courtesy of Al Del Rio.
Al Del Rio doesn't look much from the outside but once you stepped inside you'll be amazed how homey and how spacious it actually is.
Here's Al Del Rio's living room...
Al Del Rio Villa Resort offers an impressive country-side experience like a local in Caramoan. It is a spacious and comfortable place, located at Durong-an, Barangay Bikal, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, pretty much a few steps away from Bikal Wharf. Bikal Port is where all the boats are located going to the different islands of Caramoan.
Check this photo. From this point (where Al Del Rio is) to the Bikal port. See just a few steps away.
Al Del Rio Villa Resort has 6 air conditioned rooms (4 standard rooms, 1 family room, 1 barkada room), a bamboo house, and guests can also stay in the tree house.
Standard Rooms. Our room is a standard room that has 2 queen size bamboo beds with comfortable mattresses and soft pillows, extra blankets, flat screen TV, a built-in cabinet, air-conditioner, and a fan. It has a private toilet and bath room too.
We had our own balcony which offers the best view, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Bikal. This view from our balcony is just so amazing, and even more amazing when you where here.
Check out this other standard room too. All standard rooms can accommodate up to 2 to persons.
Barkada Room. The Barkada Room can house up to more than 10 heads. So if you're planning to have a Caramoan getaway with your pals and you don't want to be separated with each other, then the Barkada Room is for you (cue in "Friends 'Til The End" by Violetta). It is air-conditioned and it is also equipped with electric fans. It has it's own private toilet and bath too.
Bamboo House. Why Bamboo House? Of course, it is made up of bamboo. It is breezy here and can accommodate up to more than 8 heads and it is equipped with electric fans too.
Tree House. Al Del Rio has a huge tree house situated at the back of the Al Del Rio house. This tree house has 2 levels and can accommodate up to 8 to 10 persons, and literally, it is a house on top of a tree. It is equipped with electric fans, comfy mattresses, fluffy pillows, and blankets. Mau, our host, told to us that the tree house will even have its own toilet and bath soon, and yes, inside the tree house.
Mau's mother and her uncle prepared home-cooked delicious rice meals for us throughout our stay and during our trip to the islands. Our breakfast for our first day includes and scrambled eggs and spiced chicken longganisa (sausages). For lunch, we ate at Matukad Island were our meal is ginataang Kamansi with alimasag, and fried Sal-igan fish. Our dinner includes tinolang manok (one of my fave), sauted alimasag, and okra.
The other day, we were treated to sunny side up eggs, tuyo, and fried eggplants. Our lunch at Manlawi Sandbar is a yummy fried squids, and laing. And in the evening, we enjoyed an authentic ginataang pagi (sting ray Bicol express), sweet and sour Lapu-Lapu, and a corn soup with abalone and shrimps.
All our meals were not complete without desserts. We feasted on boiled saba, pomelo, jack fruits, corns, and a special delicacy called balusongsong which was really really really delicious.
A thing that I really loved about Al Del Rio is that all their meals our scrumptious.
Our homestay during our 2 nights at Al Del Rio Villa Resort was superb! We felt very homey in their abode. Everything reminds me of how a simple country-side living can take all your troubles away.
Mau who proudly showed to us the breath-taking Caramoan is truly a wonderful host. Mau, her mother, and uncle are incredibly caring and hospitable too.
On our last day, when we said our goodbyes and thanked our hosts, Mau, Mr. Allan and Mrs. Rosario, they already invited us for another stay! Well, I guess that will happen sooner than later...
Manila to Caramoan: By van. Or you may contact Maureen (contact details are at the end of this post) to make it a part of the package tour.
Manila to Caramoan: Take Raymunds Bus and say that you're destination is to Bikal, Caramoan (with terminals at Cubao, Sampaloc, Alabang, Turbina, Naga, and Caramoan)
Naga to Caramoan: Trips from Naga to Caramoan by bus is shouldered by Isarog Bus and Penafranca Bus. Just say Bikal.
Manila to Sabang to Guijalo to Caramoan: This is a highly discouraged route because it is a hassle and more expensive. What's even more disappointing is that, there are only 2 trips a day. And if you didn't catch the first boat, you will have to wait for 2 hours. The next trip will be on the next day.
PS: If you're interested to stay at Al Del Rio Villa Resort in Caramoan, you can check here the room rates and availability. Al Del Rio also offers Caramoan package tours, good for 2 days and 2 nights, or 3 days and 2 nights, or your choice. For more information and inquiries you may contact Maureen Constantino of Al Del Rio at aldelriocaramoan@gmail.com or 0917.7350.742 / 0905.1363.319.
Travel Book booked us for a 2 nights extraordinary experience at Al Del Rio Villa Resort. And our stay also includes a Caramoan package tour: island hopping, boat and tour guide fees, environmental/island fees, floating cottage fees, full board meals, accommodations, and other fees. Courtesy of Al Del Rio.
Al Del Rio doesn't look much from the outside but once you stepped inside you'll be amazed how homey and how spacious it actually is.
Here's Al Del Rio's living room...
Al Del Rio Villa Resort offers an impressive country-side experience like a local in Caramoan. It is a spacious and comfortable place, located at Durong-an, Barangay Bikal, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, pretty much a few steps away from Bikal Wharf. Bikal Port is where all the boats are located going to the different islands of Caramoan.
Check this photo. From this point (where Al Del Rio is) to the Bikal port. See just a few steps away.
THE ROOMS
Al Del Rio Villa Resort has 6 air conditioned rooms (4 standard rooms, 1 family room, 1 barkada room), a bamboo house, and guests can also stay in the tree house.
Standard Rooms. Our room is a standard room that has 2 queen size bamboo beds with comfortable mattresses and soft pillows, extra blankets, flat screen TV, a built-in cabinet, air-conditioner, and a fan. It has a private toilet and bath room too.
We had our own balcony which offers the best view, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Bikal. This view from our balcony is just so amazing, and even more amazing when you where here.
Check out this other standard room too. All standard rooms can accommodate up to 2 to persons.
Barkada Room. The Barkada Room can house up to more than 10 heads. So if you're planning to have a Caramoan getaway with your pals and you don't want to be separated with each other, then the Barkada Room is for you (cue in "Friends 'Til The End" by Violetta). It is air-conditioned and it is also equipped with electric fans. It has it's own private toilet and bath too.
Bamboo House. Why Bamboo House? Of course, it is made up of bamboo. It is breezy here and can accommodate up to more than 8 heads and it is equipped with electric fans too.
Tree House. Al Del Rio has a huge tree house situated at the back of the Al Del Rio house. This tree house has 2 levels and can accommodate up to 8 to 10 persons, and literally, it is a house on top of a tree. It is equipped with electric fans, comfy mattresses, fluffy pillows, and blankets. Mau, our host, told to us that the tree house will even have its own toilet and bath soon, and yes, inside the tree house.
THE FOOD
Mau's mother and her uncle prepared home-cooked delicious rice meals for us throughout our stay and during our trip to the islands. Our breakfast for our first day includes and scrambled eggs and spiced chicken longganisa (sausages). For lunch, we ate at Matukad Island were our meal is ginataang Kamansi with alimasag, and fried Sal-igan fish. Our dinner includes tinolang manok (one of my fave), sauted alimasag, and okra.
The other day, we were treated to sunny side up eggs, tuyo, and fried eggplants. Our lunch at Manlawi Sandbar is a yummy fried squids, and laing. And in the evening, we enjoyed an authentic ginataang pagi (sting ray Bicol express), sweet and sour Lapu-Lapu, and a corn soup with abalone and shrimps.
All our meals were not complete without desserts. We feasted on boiled saba, pomelo, jack fruits, corns, and a special delicacy called balusongsong which was really really really delicious.
A thing that I really loved about Al Del Rio is that all their meals our scrumptious.
THE VERDICT
Our homestay during our 2 nights at Al Del Rio Villa Resort was superb! We felt very homey in their abode. Everything reminds me of how a simple country-side living can take all your troubles away.
Mau who proudly showed to us the breath-taking Caramoan is truly a wonderful host. Mau, her mother, and uncle are incredibly caring and hospitable too.
On our last day, when we said our goodbyes and thanked our hosts, Mau, Mr. Allan and Mrs. Rosario, they already invited us for another stay! Well, I guess that will happen sooner than later...
HOW TO GET THERE
Manila to Caramoan: By van. Or you may contact Maureen (contact details are at the end of this post) to make it a part of the package tour.
Manila to Caramoan: Take Raymunds Bus and say that you're destination is to Bikal, Caramoan (with terminals at Cubao, Sampaloc, Alabang, Turbina, Naga, and Caramoan)
Naga to Caramoan: Trips from Naga to Caramoan by bus is shouldered by Isarog Bus and Penafranca Bus. Just say Bikal.
Manila to Sabang to Guijalo to Caramoan: This is a highly discouraged route because it is a hassle and more expensive. What's even more disappointing is that, there are only 2 trips a day. And if you didn't catch the first boat, you will have to wait for 2 hours. The next trip will be on the next day.
PS: If you're interested to stay at Al Del Rio Villa Resort in Caramoan, you can check here the room rates and availability. Al Del Rio also offers Caramoan package tours, good for 2 days and 2 nights, or 3 days and 2 nights, or your choice. For more information and inquiries you may contact Maureen Constantino of Al Del Rio at aldelriocaramoan@gmail.com or 0917.7350.742 / 0905.1363.319.
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