Boat rides: Paracale to Tinaga Island to Vinzons

Finding a beautiful tourist destination in the Philippines is not that easy.  Most of the precious, amazing, and unspoiled islands in the archipelago are far away from the town.    And Calaguas Group of Island is not an exception.  Two hours ride is not good for other people, especially if the waters are hasty and the waves are high.  And if you have a problem being sea sick, you have to think twice.  And most of the time, the hardest journey ever is the most satisfying of all.

Our jump-off area is the fishing port of Paracale, one town away from Vinzons.  Sometimes the problem would be how big are the boat.  In our case, since it was owned by a fisherman, the banca was not convenient for passengers.  Since tourism had boosted in the fishing port, most of the fishermen’s boat are rented to accommodate travellers like us.  And yes we had to endure it for two hours. 

While travelling the best way to enjoy the boat ride is to look around.  Since it is a group of islands, there will be nearby islands or islets that are just around the corner.  We were able to see the Maculabo Island from the left side going to Tinaga along Paracale Bay.  

The boat ride is almost straight and just a little left towards the island.  Upon reaching the tip of Tinaga island, rocks are visible in the shorelines. 

Tinaga Island is the most travelled by visitors because of the long and wide sand bar of Mahabang Buhangin.   There is a barangay called Mangkawayan where the local fishermen lives with their family.  The hill side of Tinaga is also accessible if you want to see the long beach from the top. 

We only rented the boat for a one-way trip.  The following day, the usual passenger boat from Vinzons arrived after lunch.  And we availed the service with other tourists who were going back to the town.

From Tinaga island, we then saw the Guintinua Island and some small islets.  The water was rought, but because we had a bigger boat this time, the two hours ride was okay.  And yes, I didn’t wear any life jacket, even if the waves where a little rough going to Vinzons.

Or maybe because I’d been to different long boat rides in the country that I don’t get sea sick or get bored and sometimes it also helps to get excited first to your travel destination and the rest will follow.