Albay Voyage Tips and guide

Albay (pronunciation: ahll-BIGH) is a province in the Bicol Region in the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is known for the active Mayon Volcano, an almost perfect cone-shaped volcano.

Albay is divided into three regions defined by the local variety of Bikol spoken, and also correspond to districts defined for the purpose of congressional representation.

• Coastal District (Bacacay, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Tabaco, Tiwi) - Various towns and a city alongside the Legazpi-Tiwi coastal road
• Capital District (Camalig, Daraga, Manito, Legazpi, Rapu-Rapu) - Vibrant and touristy parts of the province
• Miraya District (Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Ligao, Oas, Pio Duran, Polangui) - Mountainous areas on the west coast accessible via Asian Highway 26

Albay is divided into 3 cities and 15 municipalities administratively.

Map of Albay

• 13.133333123.7333331 Legazpi — The provincial capital and the "City of Fun and Adventure".
• 13.216667123.5166672 Ligao — Small city to the northwest of Mayon
• 13.35123.7333333 Tabaco — Has ferry terminal to Catanduanes

• 13.161944123.6938894 Daraga, is known for the picturesque ruins of Cagsawa Church
• 13.292517123.7916865 Bacacay — Fishing town with beaches, islands and caves
• 13.3123.4333336 Libon — Agricultural town at the border of Camarines Sur
• 13.292222123.4855567 Polangui — Small tourist town with good views of Mayon
• 13.4585123.68058 Tiwi — The location of Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant and with pottery industry.
• 13.033333123.459 Pio Duran — The ferry port to Masbate
• Camalig — the closest to Mayon Volcano and offers scenic countrysides.
• Santo Domingo — the birth place of the Bicolano song 'Sarung Banggi'.
• Malilipot — known for having two mountains that protect the town against volcanic eruption.
• Malinao — a laid back town with water falls.
• Manito — a secluded town with a boiling lake as the main attraction.
• Rapu-Rapu — an island municipality off Legazpi City.
• Guinobatan — has a shrine for General Simeon Ola, the last General who surrendered under the Americans.
• Jovellar - Jovellar Underground River is the main attraction.
• Oas — has a delicacy called Putong Bigas.

• 13.256667123.6851 Mayon — Volcano famous for its nearly perfect cone shape and is the crown jewel of Albay.
• 13.0789123.6131 Jovellar Underground River, Barrio Jovellar, Camalig. 7:30AM–5PM. Dry caving and underground river adventure experience. Short hike are expected. There are caves and rock formations. Life jackets, local guides and boatmen are available.  (updated Oct 2023)
• 13.0804123.59552 Busay Falls, Guinobatan - Jovellar Road, Barrio Jovellar. Open 24 hours.  (updated Oct 2023)
• Mirisbiris Garden and Nature Center — Purok 3, Brgy. Salvacion, Sto. Domingo, Albay
• JMP Adventure Park – Purok 3, Sta. Cruz, Polangui, Albay
• Sagurong Natural Spring Resort – Purok 3, Sta. Teresa, Malilipot, Albay
• 13.2124.152 Rapu-Rapu Islands
• Corangon Shoal (in Tiwi, Albay) – formed by pulverized corals through thousands of years. The swirling turns of waves and sea currents caused these crushed corals to surface above the sea line, circling on and on until it evolved into an island.

Albay has a total land area of 2,575 km² (994 sq mi), which makes it the 53rd biggest province of the Philippines. The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys. On the eastern part of the province is a line of volcanic mountains starting with the northernmost Malinao in Tiwi, followed by Mount Masaraga and the free-standing Mayon Volcano. Separated by the Poliqui Bay is the Pocdol Mountains in the town of Manito.

What is now Albay has been home to civilization long before the Spaniards arrived. In ancient times, it was the center of the polity of Ibat (then Libog), ruled by Gat Ibal, a chieftain who also founded the ancient barangay of Sawangan in what is now Legazpi.

In July 1569, Martín de Goiti led an expedition group which crossed from Burias and Ticao islands and landed on a coastal settlement called Ibalon in what is now Sorsogon. From there Goiti led another expedition to explore the interior and founded the town of Camalig. In 1573, conquistador Juan de Salcedo penetrated the Bicol Peninsula from the north and created the settlement of Santiago de Libon.

During the Spanish era, Bicol Peninsula was its own province divided into two partidos, Camarines in the northwest and Ibalon in the southeast. In 1636, the two partidos became their own provinces, and what was the Ibalon became the new province of Albay, whose capital is the town of Sorsogon. Albay was frequently raided by Moro pirates from the south for most of the 17th century.

Mayon Volcano, in its deadliest eruption, destroyed five towns surrounding its base on 1 Feb 1814, including Cagsawa, which would become the city of Legazpi. In 1846, Masbate, Ticao and Burias islands were separated from Albay to form what would become the province of Masbate. During that time, Albay also included Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Albay has a population of about 1,400,000 people in 2020, and is largely ethnically Bicolano. Catholicism is the predominant religion.

• Provincial Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office (PTCAO), Tourism Bldg, Albay Astrodome Complex, F. Aquende Dr, Legazpi, ☏ +63 52 742 0242.  (updated Nov 2020)

Albay is home to several languages and hosts some varieties of the Bikol languages. Out of seven Bikol languages, only one of them does not originate from Albay.

Most Albay residents speak a variety of Bikol languages, which include the languages of East Miraya, West Miraya, and Libon Bikol. Rinconada is spoken by a minority in Polangui town that borders Camarines Sur. Residents of the east coast, including the cities of Legazpi and Tabaco, speak the Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect of Central Bikol.

Bicol International Airport (DRP ^IATA), just adjacent to Legazpi, is served by daily flights from Manila, both on PAL Express and Cebu Pacific.

Many bus companies have daily trips to Legazpi or Tabaco from Manila via the Maharlika Highway. Some of the larger and more reputable bus companies are ALPS, Cagsawa Tours, DLTBCo., Philtranco and Superlines, with air-conditioned and luxury buses.

From the south, there are also buses from Sorsogon, Samar and Leyte, and Mindanao, all via Maharlika Highway.

The main highway traversing Albay is the Maharlika Highway, carrying Asian Highway 26. From Camarines Sur, you can also take the Tigaon-Sagñay-Tiwi road (Rte 630) which follows a scenic route along the Pacific coast.

The only available services are the Bicol Commuter trains that come from Camarines Sur, but they are slow local services that only operate on weekdays.

Roll-on/roll-off ferries connect Albay with nearby Masbate and Catanduanes. Ferries from Masbate call either call at Pilar port in Sorsogon (for boats from Masbate City and Ticao Island) and Pio Duran (from Burias Island), while those from Catanduanes call at Tabaco.

Legazpi has a seaport. There are interisland ferries to the island of Rapu-rapu, an island municipality of the province of Albay.

Buses form the main way of transportation between Albay’s cities and towns. Many of those services are rather segments of longer intercity routes from Manila or Naga, but there are also plenty of local buses and minibuses plying the Legazpi-Tabaco route.

The PNR Bicol Commuter Line serves Legazpi, Daraga, Guinobatan and Ligao, but services are limited and somewhat slower than the buses.

Most of Albay's cities and towns are linked by national roads of decent quality, like the Maharlika Highway (Rte 1/AH26), Legazpi-Tabaco Rd (Rte 630), and Sabluyon Rd (Rte 636). Other major roads tend to be narrow, and not designed for highway speeds. Traffic is generally light, but as in most of the Philippines, chaotic.

• Magayon Festival — a month long festivity to honor the beauty of the province's culture and heritage. Celebrated all throughout the month of May.

• ATV Adventure – Ride through lava trails at the foot of Mayon Volcano.
• Island Hopping – Discover the white-sand beaches of Misibis Bay and nearby islands.
• Lake Cruising – Relax on bamboo rafts at Sumlang Lake with Mayon as your view.
• Trekking & Zipline – Hike Ligñon Hill and enjoy the thrill of ziplining with stunning landscapes.
• Cultural Experience – Taste authentic Bicol dishes like Bicol Express and Pinangat, and immerse yourself in local festivals.

• Philippine Ceramics Arts and Crafts Center (barangay Putsan, Tiwi, Albay) sells ceramic products.

• DJC Halo-Halo, Baybay, Tiwi, Albay. A homegrown restaurant near Tiwi Boulevard.

• Sabando Ocampo Beach Resort, Oas, Albay.
• Mayon Garden Resort & Hotel (Purok 8, Masarawag, Guinobatan, Albay) - a nature-inspired paradise resort that lies at the foot of the glorious Mayon Volcano.

Main dangers in Albay are the inclement weather and the sudden eruption of Mayon Volcano. The province is in the typhoon belt, and cyclones wreak havoc in Albay every rainy season. Mayon, true to its name, is beautiful, but deadly, being one of the most active volcanoes in the Pacific region.

• Masbate - on Burias island via Pio Duran port
• Catanduanes - via Tabaco port