Wander with me to Bulusan

Let’s leave the city behind and immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of this little town in the province of Sorsogon.

We’ll hike down to Bayugin Falls, and feel the power of the water on our backs. We’ll take a dip in Dolipay river, next to the neighborhood mothers doing their laundry.

We can trek the trail that goes around Bulusan Lake, or glide on the water in a kayak or a rowboat. We’ll work out a sweat then take a refreshing swim in the mineral-rich waters of Masacrot Spring.

Or we can take it easy, spend the afternoon lounging at the beach, not worrying about crowds or vendors selling anything from pearls to massages.

Our meals will be cooked by Ate Ely, who’s been cooking the same dishes for decades, and Tata Ari will be driving us around on his jeep that he’s had for just as long. Isang can teach us how to make a banig (woven mat) or a kalo (woven hat) using karagumoy (dried leaf of a native tree), and if you want, we can ask Kuya Pepe to teach us how to milk a coconut.

This is your trip, this is your tour. Tell us what you like, and we’ll make it happen.

About

We offer personalized all-inclusive tours of Bulusan and surrounding areas in Sorsogon. Each tour is customized for your group’s preferences and schedule. We’ll take the hassle of researching and booking for you: tell us what you want to do, where you want to go, and we’ll do everything for you. Just show up in Bulusan, and enjoy your trip!

What’s included:

  • Ground transport in Sorsogon
  • Meals, snacks, and drinks
  • Accommodation
  • Admission fees
  • Activities
  • Gratuities
  • Taxes

What’s not included:

  • Airfare or bus ticket to and from Bulusan
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Optional activities (kayak, stand up paddle board, massage, etc.)

We aim to keep it local: sourcing materials and ingredients from the town and contracting service providers from within the community.

Just Wandering Tours is headed by Nina Fuentes, an avid traveler who has roots in Bulusan. She has chronicled her travels at justwandering.org.

Tours

Here are some sample itineraries for your Bulusan tour.

Town Highlights Tour

Day 1
Arrive in Bulusan. Brunch at a private property near the Dolipay river. Hike to Bayugin Falls after lunch, be at Dancalan Beach for sunset.

Day 2
Breakfast, then travel to Bulusan Volcano Natural Park. Trek around the lake, kayak, or ride a rowboat with a guide. Enjoy an organic farm to table lunch at Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm. Swimming at Nasipit Spring in the afternoon.

Day 3
Tour of Punta Diamante and pasalubong shopping in town in the morning, and then take the bus back to Manila in the afternoon.

Bulusan and Surrounds

Day 1
Hike to Bayugin Falls in the morning, trek around the Bulusan Lake in the afternoon, soak in the hot springs of Irosin in the early evening.

Day 2
Travel North to the town of Barcelona to visit at the church and the ruins in the morning. Surfing lessons at Lola Sayong Eco-surf camp in Gubat until the early afternoon. River cruise, dinner and firefly watching at the Buhatan River in Sorsogon.

Getting here

Located 623 kilometers from Manila, it requires a very long drive to get to Bulusan (or a very short hop via airplane followed by a 3-hour ride).

By Bus

This is the easiest way to get to Bulusan, though it takes between 14-16 hours.

Elavil is the only bus company that has a terminal in Bulusan. They have aircon buses that ply the route to and from Pasay. Fare is around Php 900, and can only be booked through their booking office.

DLTB has regular aircon buses and premium buses with lazyboy seats, but only goes as far as Gubat (the premium buses only go as far as Sorsogon). They have terminals in both Cubao and Pasay. Departing buses in Cubao leave from the new Araneta Bus Port, but the bus back to Cubao terminates at their terminal along Aurora Avenue. The fare is Php 980 for the regular aircon, Php 1,400 for the premium lazyboy seats (Php 1,405 if booked from Gubat, for the additional insurance).

Peñafrancia Lines also have both regular aircon buses and premium buses with lazyboy seats, and like DLTB, only goes as far as Gubat and Sorsogon. They have a terminal along EDSA Cubao (near the Cubao MRT on the Southbound side), which they use for both departing and arriving buses). Fares are also Php 980 and Php 1,400, but they can be booked online through Bicol Isarog.

Raymond and CUL also have buses to Gubat. Raymond also has a station in Sampaloc.

From Gubat, you just need to hop on a jeep bound for Bulusan, or we can arrange a pick up service for you.

By Plane

The closest airport to Bulusan is Legazpi. From Legazpi airport, take a trike to the grand terminal. Tell the driver that you will be riding the van to Sorsogon. Fare for the trike is between Php 20-50, while the van to Sorsogon is Php 90 per seat (you might need to buy an extra seat if you have a lot of luggage).

Ask the van driver to drop you off at Chowking, where the jeepney terminal is located. At the terminal, walk towards the end, where the jeep to Gubat are parked.

Hindi Bulan,
Hindi Juban,
Bulusan!

There will be barkers at the entrance to the terminal, but ignore them, as you might end literally on the other side of the volcano from where Bulusan is. Remember, not Bulan, not Juban, but Bulusan!

The jeepney fare from Sorsogon to Gubat costs Php 29, and the fare from Gubat to Bulusan costs Php 38.

Inquiry

Interested in touring with us, or just have questions about Bulusan? Drop us a line!