Siruma, Camarines Sur: Paradise Unlocked

Spend the weekend by the sea, far away from city.
by Pi Palaganas-Orillosa | June 06, 2017

Siruma is one of the towns in the fourth district of Camarines Sur. It’s well-known in the region for enchanting beaches that can only be conquered through long rough road trips. But the trip is always worth it.

On a recent trip, we went farther down Siruma to the Angelica Paradise Beach & Resort, a secluded beach resort in Barangay Pinitan, about 20 minutes by drive from the center of Siruma proper. It’s a location accessible by car, or if you’re not driving, you can make arrangements for a motorcycle or tricycle transfer from the town proper.

Brace yourselves, the roads are tough. But like I said, it’s all worth it. What will welcome you is a paradise hiding a long, beautiful stretch of white sand.

You’ll realize just how secluded this location is the moment you see the rolling hills of green surrounding the place. I don’t know what else to say to describe this place except for breathtaking and awesome.

The beach is further down the resort and the dirt paths are lush with tropical trees. Head out early in the morning, and marvel see the ombre sea.

The shore and the sea will stretch out in front of you, all you have to do is choose where to stay and play.

The path takes you to the shallower shore. And, yes, when the tide is low, you can walk on the sandbar and cross to the other side of the beach.

The water is deeper on the other side. It gets up to the waist in a short walk.

Most of the time, the water is calm, with no big waves. Siruma’s beaches are best for those who just want to relax in shallow waters while enjoying the scenery of the countryside.

On the farther side of the beach, there are pine-like Agoho trees that look almost perfectly spaced from each other — it makes for a great Instagram backdrop.

 

Now, here are the things you will need to prepare to reach the destination.

From Naga City via Commute by land

Travel time by land will take up to 5-6 hours depending on the weather, since there are spots that are muddy and deep craters.

You can go from Naga to Siruma by jeepney. There’s a choice between air-conditioned jeepneys and regular jeepneys. One way fare is PHP150 per head for the air-conditioned option.

There’s only one trip going to Siruma and one trip going back to the Naga City proper. The trip going is between 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Going back to Naga will be at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s better to arrange the transport at least a day before so you can choose an air-conditioned jeepney. Trust me, it’s a long, rough trip — you’d want to be cool at the very least.

Pro Tips:

Depending on the size of your group, you can arrange a special service going to Angelica Paradise Beach and Resort. You can also arrange a pick-up from the resort going back to Naga City.

You can also look for Tiyo Tibo, he’s mastered the road to Siruma over the years — the only con is his jeepney doesn’t have AC. But he’ll probably give you a good deal.

By Motorboat

You will need to go to the Tinambac port early in the morning to get a boat going to the resort. Your wait time will depend on the availability of the boats, but the travel time is shorter, 1 to ½ hours.

Given the nature of the journey to Siruma, it’s not a top of mind destination that people flock to on the regular. And this is what makes it such a fresh and wonderful place. For more information about the accommodations, you can visit Angelica Paradise Beach and Resort’s website at www.angelicaresort.com.

Got anything to add to this story? Tell us in the comments!

All photos courtesy of: Gabrielle Orillosa, Joshua Angelo Orillosa and Nicole Rozen Serafico