Belle of the Pacific – Canimog Island, Camarines Norte
Canimog Island is home to a diverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife. Join us as we explore this island in Mercedes, Camarines Norte!
Aside from the Calaguas group of islands for which the province of Camarines Norte is known for, another contender gave a good and clean fight; that is the Mercedes Group of Islands.
Unlike any other islands in the country that will immediately attract anyone with their breathtaking charms, the Siete Pecados begs top differ. It will let you explore the islands first until the place grows within you that makes it even harder to leave. There’s this kind of magnetic charisma that you need to explore first.
The Largest of Siyete Pecados
As soon as we woke up the following day, we had breakfast and broke camp by 6:00am. Restrooms are free of use provided by the locals and after tidying up we waited for our boat service that arrived by 7am and off we go on our last stop. The water by early morning is a lot different from that last afternoon’s raging ones. It is much calmer today as we swiftly passed through the Malasugui and Quinapaguihan Islands.
And to our surprise, a Manatee/Sea Cow or commonly known as Dugong appeared right before our eyes swimming freely around the area before it disappeared from our sight. Mercedes will keep on surprising people despite the modern day changes and effects on the environment. Slowly, we approached the biggest of the Siyete Pecados or the seven islands, Canimog Island. The shore is composed of fine white sand to pebbles and large rocks.
From here, the trek to the lighthouse will commence where the pebbly shore ends and where the concrete pathway begins.
The Beacon
Canimog Island is home to a diverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife, fruit bats also roam around here. From the beach the light house will be reached after 107 steps on a stone stair case leading to it.
We reached the place in no time. The light house was built and was utilized by the local fisherman since June 1927 to signal and guide their fellow fishermen as they enter the craggy shores of Mercedes. It used to run on gasoline until the late 1990’s and was later turned into a solar powered lamp that is operational until today.
Opposite from the island is a 500 meter shore that has a breath taking view of the Pacific Ocean.
We headed back to the shore by 8:40am and arrived back at the Mercedes Port by 9:00am. From there we continued our adventure to reach the solitary giant of Camarines
How To Get There
- By land, you can take any Superlines, Philtranco, DLTB, or Amihan Buses with terminals in Cubao, Quezon City or Pasay. Travel time is 8 hrs
- Upon arrival in Daet, transfer to Mercedes bound jeeps. Their terminal is located at the back of Mercury Drug near the town plaza. Alight at the Mercedes fish port. Travel time is 10-15 minutes
- Register at the Mercedes Tourism Center located inside the fish port then book your boat
