Malawmawan Island, an exquisitely hidden beach of Sorsogon. If you're the kind of person who loves unspoiled beaches, less crowded and not costly, this is the right place.

How to go there:

From Sorsogon City ride a bus traveling to Legaspi or Daraga and ask the driver to drop you at Cumadcad. Bus is more convenient compared to riding Jeepney. Jeepneys going to Cumadcad are always crowded and it has lots of drop off.

If Traveling from Legaspi or Daraga, just take the bus or van traveling to Sorsogon and ask the driver to drop you off at Cumadcad.

If traveling by car, you can use Google Maps for your travel. Just a tip search "Malaumauan Island' instead of Malawmawan. Google Maps is not updated with the correct spelling of the place. You can suggest an edit to correct it. :)

By all means, once you arrive at Cumadcad Public Market, the official bus stop, you have to take the road going to Barangay Macalaya Port. Jeepneys are available by day at a fare of 20pesos/ head.

At the port you can buy goods like vegetables, meat, fishes and canned goods. If you're after fresh fishes you have to arrive early. This fishes are freshly caught from the sea and won't last half a day.

From the port there'll be a store beside the dock. Approach the store owner or one of the "Bangkeros" and tell them you're bound to Malawmawan Island. The price of the boat varies on the number of passenger and the length of you're stay in the Island.

Travel time:

Manila to Legazpi City - 1 hour by plane, 12 to 14 hours by bus
Legazpi City to Cumadcad Market - 45 minutes to 1 hour

Sorsogon to Cumadcad- 30 to 45 minutes

Cumadcad to Brgy. Macalaya - 30 to 45 minutes
Macalaya to Malawmawan Island - 15 to 30 minutes

Malawmawan is privately owned but the Sorsogon's Local Government Unit was permitted to open half of the island to public and renovate it into a resort. Sorsogon City Mayor and staff had visited the place and it was said that they are already planning to build cottages and clean up the place. However, these are all still plans let us all hope that these plan will both benefit the City's Tourism, the locals and the island itself.

Here's some pictures that will inspire you to visit the place:

source: (instagram @missmarybernadette)

source: (www.facebook.com/missmarybernadette)

source: (instagram @missmarybernadette)

Note: 

For overnight stay, guests should be aware that overnight stay on the island is not allowed, as per the island caretaker. This is a Barangay Ordinance for security reasons. Additionally, the care taker stated that during the night time several fisherman and non-fisherman docks on the island which is why they considered it unsafe for guests to stay overnight. There are no security personnel assigned on the island that if something happens they won't be aware but will be liable. Weather is also another reason as its unpredictable.

In our case, we were able to stay overnight in Castilla as it has been our pre-planned itinerary. We stayed not on the island but on what they call as "The white house". This is a great second option for staying overnight. Just look at the view that'll greet you:

source: (www.facebook.com/missmarybernadette)

source: (instagram @missmarybernadette)

source: (www.facebook.com/missmarybernadette)

Yup! There's lot of spot to take photos from. This place is Instagramable. [insert a grinning emoji here]. And the below pictures is the unfinished house called "The White House", where you can stay and sleep. The caretaker here is very friendly. Take note there is no store nearby and water is sold per gallon.

Overall, our stay in the island is a perfect escape from the City.