April 10, 2012

San Narciso: Bondoc Peninsula’s little gem

“Let your tears come.
Let them water your soul.”
- Eileen Mayhew

Sabit Beach

San Narciso Church

Centurions at Talisay Beach

San Narciso Lighthouse




Napinto Cave


Caghaligue Beach


Calwit Beach

with Tita Nora


There are places that become memorable not only because they are breathtaking or beautiful. There are places that you will never forget simply because in some ways, it has changed you. San Narciso, a sleepy but enchanting town in the less traveled part of Quezon, is such one place. Named after Governor General Narciso Claveria who visited in 1846 and helped establish the place, San Narciso boasts of its long-tradition of senakulo enacted every Holy Week, friendly locals who make you feel at home, and natural beauty that could make your heart smile again.

How to get to San Narciso and tips:
1. Superline buses in Cubao have daily trips to San Narciso. Another option would be to go to Lucena and take another mini bus bound for San Narciso. Travel time usually takes 7-8 hours.
2. Mostly all the beaches in San Narciso are accessible by tricycle except Napinto Cave which can be reached via a motorized banca, which you can hire by or near the pier. Cost for the roundtrip boat ride is P700 good for 4 pax and P1,000 for 10 pax.
3. There are no hotels in San Narciso, but you can stay at Friend’s Diner at a very affordable price; you may contact Tita Nora at 0928-3120640. The three beach resorts in Calwit, Talisay and Sabit have only open cottages.

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24 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 15, 2012 at 2:32 PM

    Hi Frenz

    Please tell me more about San Narciso, Quezon. I'm quite intrigued.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 16, 2012 at 7:21 PM

    Hi Frenz

    After riding a bus bound to San Narciso, what's next? Please give me specific directions.

    Thanks!

    I'm the same Anonymous (Apr 14 post)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frenz FriesApril 17, 2012 at 10:23 AM

    There are two daily bus trips to San Narciso-San Andres daily from Manila, pero minsan kasi punuan yun. So better ride na lang the bus going to Lucena, get off at the Grand Central at marami na dun mini buses going to San Narciso-San Andres area (first trip I guess is 5 am). These mini buses are non-aircon, minsan punuan, and majority of the passengers are locals, expect na may mga malalaking boxes, paninda, even poultry kayo na makakasama. From Lucena it usually takes 4-5 hours before reaching San Narciso depende sa dami ng stop-over; but if you have a car kaya daw ito ng 3 hours lang.

    We got off dun sa highway going to Calwit Beach (before the town proper). Going to the beach is about 10 minute walk. But don’t get your expectations too high from this beach – marami lang sya mangroves but it’s not white sand. Entrance is P10.

    If you don’t know anyone in the area, you better get off dun sa town proper, then check in sa Friend’s Diner. So far, yun lang talaga ang inn sa area. They also serve good food. Non-aircon rooms cost P300, the aircon room di ko na natanong kasi last Holyweek, they were all occupied. Just contact Tita Nora, she’s a warm and friendly host. The Diner is a 5-minute walking distance sa may outpost kung saan maraming bangka. Just haggle with the bangkeros, they won’t charge you that much. It usually take 30 minutes to get to Napinto Cave – passing by the Lighthouse and some coastal communities. Napinto Cave is a small swimming area, with a beautiful stone archway. Buti nga pag punta namin dun solo namin ang area, but I guess kung may mga 20 pax dito parang overcrowded na. Kwento ng mga locals these area many years ago used to be the hideout of some NPAs from Bicol, but don’t worry wala na sila dun, as confirmed by a local official na nakausap namin.

    After Napinto we asked kuya to take us to Caghaligue. It’s a nice beach but littered with so many coconuts. Punuan daw dito come summer time. Then nagpababa na kami sa Sabit Beach. Sabit Beach is beside Talisay Beach Resort (entrance is P10), this is a small, nice white sand beach too (also accessible by tricyle (fare P20) from the town proper or Sabit Beach.

    Medyo sleepy town pa ang San Narciso, natutuwa ang mga locals pag may tourists. And I really enjoyed my Napinto experience, as well as the simplicity and peacefulness ng place. If that’s what you are looking for, I know you will enjoy San Narciso too, like I did.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    Hi Frenz

    Many thanks for the comprehensive information about San Narciso. Yes, I think I will love it there as I prefer rustic and quiet places.

    I'm the same Anonymous

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    is it safe to go in san narcisco? i've heard there is some called communist people there? is this true?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    is is safe to go in san narcisO? ive heard there is a communist people there? ty

    ReplyDelete
  7. Frenz FriesNovember 30, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    there was an incident before of NPAs hiding in the mountainous part of San Narciso... but the last time I was there, natugis na raw sila. People of san narciso are friendly and peaceful :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 26, 2013 at 6:30 PM

    Hi if you don't mind me asking, I would just like to know what cam are you using? :) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 26, 2013 at 6:35 PM

    Are you form San Narciso, Quezon?? :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Frenz FriesDecember 26, 2013 at 7:05 PM

    Hi. I'm using Nikon D3100 :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Frenz FriesDecember 26, 2013 at 8:57 PM

    Hi I'm not from San Narciso :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. vinMarch 27, 2014 at 5:53 PM

    i was researching about alibijaban when i stumbled upon this post. quezon has a lot of good beaches talaga. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Frenz FriesApril 1, 2014 at 7:20 PM

    u should go there vin especially during holy week :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousMay 23, 2014 at 11:51 PM

    Hi! How do you get to caghaligue or the napinto cave if youre in San Narciso already? @frencel tingga

    ReplyDelete
  15. Frenz FriesMay 24, 2014 at 5:09 PM

    in san narciso town proper, just ask the locals for the outpost, meron na dun nag papa rent ng mga boats - about P700 to napinto and caghaligue :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousJune 6, 2014 at 9:00 PM

    Wala po ba hotel sa san narciso? Until now?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Frenz FriesJune 6, 2014 at 11:02 PM

    wala pa ata hotel doon :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Frenz FriesJune 6, 2014 at 11:03 PM

    wala pa ata hotel doon :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousSeptember 18, 2014 at 12:04 PM

    There is now.. i thing about 2 to 3 hotels now. just ask some people there in San Narciso they can tell you some info.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lori P.February 27, 2015 at 6:11 PM

    Hi, Frenz. I'm glad to discover your blog today. You have such beautiful pictures! I particularly liked this post about San Narciso because I hail from San Francisco, which is a town near San Narciso. I haven't been to San Narciso, though, but my lolo (Zamuel Allarey) served as mayor there a long time ago. I didn't know San Narciso is such a lovely place. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Frenz FriesFebruary 28, 2015 at 6:57 PM

    Thanks Lori. You should visit san narciso, it's really peaceful and beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousApril 19, 2015 at 8:43 PM

    Magkano poba ang pamasahe sa bus going to san narciso..papunta kami tomm.thankz reply asap thankz

    ReplyDelete
  23. AlbertJune 11, 2015 at 4:10 PM

    This is the only blog with complete information about San Narciso, parang ang gandang puntahan...Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  24. Frenz FriesJune 12, 2015 at 8:19 AM

    thanks albert :)

    ReplyDelete