Things to see and do Legazpi

Located about 15 kilometers from Legazpi, in Camalig, Solong Eco-Park opened to the public in 2017. The place is ideal for families or nature lovers and sportsmen (but it is also a very quiet and relaxing place). One comes here to discover the pleasures of caving in the Crystal Cave for example. And above all, you can go up to the top of Solong Hill to enjoy an incredible view of the Mayon volcano but especially of the Quitinday Hills, hunchbacked hills covered with greenery... like the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol.

This cave is big, very dark obviously and some passages are quite narrow. There are alcoves in the walls in which are nested hundreds of bats, immense stalactites and stalagmites, it is fascinating to be able to explore such a place (on three floors all the same!) in such an isolated setting (there are rarely crowds of tourists here). We cross water sources on small bridges. All the more impressive when we know that this cave was formerly under the waters of the sea. Claustrophobes, abstain.

A very beautiful site located 20 km north of Legazpi, in the municipality of Malilipot. The Busay waterfall is actually multiple, since there are no less than seven falls for a total of 243 meters. The biggest one is 91 meters long, and they flow in steps into small pools of water. On site, a parking lot and picnic areas, the place is very popular with locals on weekends. If the water is rather cold, it is still pleasant to swim there.

This church is a mixture of Romanesque and Baroque architecture. It was built in 1773 with volcanic stones by Franciscan missionaries. From the top of the hill, it dominates Daraga. Its impressive facade of volcanic rock is covered with priceless religious sculptures and was originally completely black. To get there, you can take one of the many jeepneys coming from Legazpi. From the parking lot, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Mayon volcano and its surroundings. Quick but interesting visit.

These beautiful waterfalls are located about an hour's drive from Legazpi, in the town of Malinao, at the foot of Mount Malinao. The main waterfall, 25 meters high, is of great beauty, as are the mini waterfalls that flow from it. The water in the basin, about 2 meters deep, is quite refreshing but pleasant for a short swim. The place is still very peaceful although it is one of the most beautiful spots in the Albay area.

Cagsawa is one of the best places to see the Mayon volcano. The ruins of this ^16th century baroque church are a reminder of the volcano's biggest eruption, which occurred on February^1, 1814, killing 1,200 people. It destroyed the villages of Cagsawa, Camalig and Budiao, covering them with a thick layer of ash and lava, washing away everything in its path. Many souvenir stores surround the site and distort it a little and the ruins are not very well preserved. However it remains a rare and interesting place of history.

Located in Tiwi, a little more than an hour from Legazpi, Putsan beach is the origin of the ceramic and pottery industry of the Bicol region that is still active today. This beach is actually made up of volcanic sands, used to make red clay and contrasting with the white sand beaches. By the way, go to the PhilCeramics center in Putsan where you can watch the potters at work and why not buy some ceramics. A nice excursion if you are radiating in the area.

The "Boulevard", as it is called in Legazpi, is in fact the city's waterfront. There is a promenade to walk along and several restaurants and bars. It is more fun and lively at the end of the day or in the evening than during the day. When the view is clear, it is from the Boulevard that you get the famous postcard view of Legazpi, the sea and the Mayon volcano in the background. At the beginning of the Boulevard, Victory Village, a fishing village that squats on public land without authorization, attracts the curiosity of some travelers who go to visit it...

This would be one of the "happiest" places in Bicol, and it is true that this eco-place is very popular with the locals. In the heights of Daraga, FarmPlate is a kind of large recreational park, where you can find picnic tables, a small farm, a nice chapel and even a few trailers that offer snacks and drinks. You have to come in the late afternoon on a nice day. The sunset on the Mayon volcano, on this plain surrounded by palm trees, the garlands that light up... there is a bit of a Californian atmosphere.

Opened in 2019, the Legazpi City Museum is the only museum in the Bicol region. Despite its young age, it's not the most modern of museums, with its big yellow signs (it's even cheesy, let's say) but the information is clear and interesting. The visit is quite quick, in 1 hour, and is perfect to learn more about the history of the city by developing the major eras (pre-colonial, Spanish, Japanese, American, the visit of Pope John Paul II, etc.). Interesting for a rainy afternoon for example.