The locals know that most foreign or local tourists head to the Bicol region to see the scenic Mayon Volcano. Although the magnificence of the near-perfect volcano is breath-taking and captivating in itself, there are other tourist attractions that make your Albay trip more than your usual Mayon Volcano expedition.

Albay’s neighbouring province, Sorsogon, has one of the highest concentrations of whale sharks in the world. For marine lovers, a sea adventure at Donsol, which is an hour’s trip from the province, should be a staple in any travel itinerary of an Albay tourist. Here, you can explore and witness real whale sharks in their natural habitats. Whale sharks are locally known as ‘butanding” and are remarkably docile and friendly. If you feel uncomfortable swimming with the whale sharks, observing them from the boat is the best option that will still be a worthy experience.

Other nature tourist attractions include the wondrous waterfalls of Albay. These are the Vera Falls, Busay Falls and Palale Falls. Vera Falls is located in Malinao, Albay andit beckons a paradise of forest and cascading waters. Meanwhile, Busay Falls is tucked deep inside the barrios of Malilipot, Albay. It is often flocked by the locals especially during the hot summer season. Lastly, Palale Falls is very accessible by foot trails and it is located at Malinao, Albay.

Visiting mysterious caves should not be missed also when in Albay. Pototan Cave in Barangay Tinucawan, Batan Island. This is a 4-hour spelunking adventure site, about 10 feet above the beach line. Feel the thrill as you explore different chambers and passageways with stalactites and stalagmites adorning the cave’s walls. Calabidongan Cave in Camalig, Albay, which literally means “cave of bats”. Exploring this cave requires heavy spelunking skill as explorers need to trek, cross over brooks and rivers and swim across a 7-foot lagoon named Lizard’s Gate. Minaroso Cave in Villahermosa, Batan Island is a rarely explored cavern as it is a haven of seabirds and believed to be an ancient burial site of early Bicolanos. Cagbulacao Cave in Misibis, Cagraray Island is another less visited cave but filled with historical contributions.

Philippine adventures are not complete if tourists do not visit churches in any area. In Albay, one should find the time to go in Our Lady of the Gate Church in Daraga, Albay, which is built in 1773 on a hilltop by Franciscan Missionaries. The OAS Church, St. Dominic Guzman Church in Sto. Domingo, Albay, the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, St. John the Baptist Church, Malinao Church, San Juan Bautista Church, St. Stephen Protomartyr, St. Gregory the Great Cathedral and Nuestra Señora de Salvacion are all architectural adventures that reflect the strong Catholic faith of the locals.

For more amusement and leisure strolls, one can also visit the different parks in Albay. Albay Parks and Wildlife at Legazpi City is a picnic grove and park rolled into. Families and friends get roam around freely while sightseeing 347 animals housed in the park. The Peñaranda Park is another escape for outdoor fun and relaxation. The Plaza Rizal is another landscaped park with lights, fountains and promenade located in downtown Legazpi. Lastly, strolling along the Legazpi Boulevard can be breath of fresh air as the sea air wafts your skin.

Choosing which island destination you are going to spend your vacation in is a troubling situation. On this site, the Albay province will be the main focus to get those luggages rolling.

Albay is one of the Philippine provinces located in the Bicol are of Luzon. Legazpi City is the capital of the province. On the north border, Camarines Sur flanks the province, while Sorsogon is found on the south border.

This province is popularly recognized as the site where Mayon Volcano is located. The active volcano is world-renowned for its nearly perfect cone; and at Legazpi City, it gives a scenic backdrop that is reminiscent of a rustic and peaceful town. Albay is predominantly a mountainous area with fertile plains and valleys. Aside from Mayon Volcano, there are various volcanoes such as Catburawan, Masaraga, Malinao and Pantao. A trip to this province gives you a land-sea combination that is not found in many tourists destinations.

As of August 2007, the population of Albay reached to 1,190,823, making it the 22nd most populous province in the country. One can easily fall in love with Albay and its people since they are very hospitable and accommodating. Bikol is the primary language spoken in the province, but there are other dialects like Bicolano Viejo, Daragueño, Legazpeño or Albayanon, Oasnon among others that are spoken. But in general, the locals can speak and understand English so travelling will not be an inconvenient experience.

Albay as Tourist Destination

For an adventure trip, Albay can be the destination of your dreams. From the scenic Mayon Volcano to the whale-watching nature adventure just an hour away at Donsol, you are bound to get some excitement on your vacation. One can explore the numerous natural wonders that are found in the province. These include waterfalls, caves, natural springs, beaches and marine life. Plus, enjoy the delectable local cuisine and delicacies.

What are the tourist attractions of Albay? Your travel agent might give you an itinerary that includes visiting the popular destinations in the province. To name a few, here are the following:

1.Mayon Volcano
2.Whale Shark Interaction at Donsol
3.Resorts
4.Waterfalls at Mount Malinao
5.Unexplored caves in Batan, Cagraray Island and Camalig
6.Old baroque churches
7.Parks
8.Historical Museums and Monuments
9.Festivals
10.San Miguel Island
11.Black-sand beaches

In Albay, you do not only get the warmth of the Filipino hospitality, but also you can witness the ingenuity of Filipino craftsmanship. Shopping is a unique experience in itself as you observe the myriad of native handicrafts, ceramics and cutleries plus the enjoyment of getting bargain shopping items in commercial centres.

This site will take you to different kind of nature adventure that will make your trip most memorable. Explore Albay and get the best travel tips, advice and stops on this site for that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Albay Reference

Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon

Legazpi City - capital of Albay province

Bikol is the primary language spoken in Albay

History :

Albay and its surrounding areas were known as Ibalon
when Juan de Salcedo and 120 soldiers explored it in 1573.
Sawangan, a small settlement by a mangrove swamp,
became a town called Albay bay (which means “by the bay”) in 1616.
The town was first renamed Albay, then Legazpi, as Albay went on to refer to the province.

Economy :

Agriculture is the main industry in Albay, which produces such crops as coconut, rice, sugar, and abacá.
Handicrafts is the major source of rural income.
Bicol’s largest industrial sites are in Albay:
Tiwi and Manito boast geothermal energy plants,
Camalig has the Goodfound Cement Factory,
Daraga has its Isarog Pulp and Paper Company,
Legazpi City has Bicol Hair, and Legaspi Oil Company and two other large coconut oil milling plants,
making Albay top foreign currency earner this part of Luzon.

<—– Cagsawa Ruins before the 1814 volcanic eruption

Way back February 1, 1814 Mayon Volcano Erupted and sent lava flows cascading down directly to the church, recorded as the worst eruption of mayon volcano, which killed 1,200 albayano’s and caused cagsawa church to submerged because of lava flows.

Cagsawa - originally kagsawa derived from the two words “kag’ which means ‘who does or owner’ and ’sawa’ means a ‘python’

Cagsawa Ruins before Nov. 30 2006; Located at Camalig Albay

it become a tourist attraction since then, the sight of an old kampanaryo with a beautiul backround of mayon volcano is what tourist keep coming back.

this picture at the top taking after the November 30, 2006 super typhoon. Once again typhoon hit the bicol region which bring mass destruction to mother nature. That killed number of people young and old and In Padang, around 50 percent of the baranggay’s 511.7 hectares were affected by the mudflow.

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