Naga City

Day Trips

Begin at the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia to admire its vibrant façade and centuries-old murals. Wander across Plaza Quince Martires to study Spanish colonial architecture and chat with local vendors. Pop into nearby antique shops to unearth vintage postcards and ecclesiastical relics.

Stroll along Calle Pasig and Calle Elias, browsing ancestral houses converted into intimate museums. Stop at a hole-in-the-wall eatery to sample the region’s signature kinalas noodle soup. Visit the Museo ni Peñafrancia for an up-close look at devotional artifacts and embroidered vestments.

Savor a dinner of spicy Bicol Express and creamy laing at a cozy carinderia in the old town district. Take an after-dinner stroll along the Pasig River promenade to enjoy cool breezes and riverside lanterns. End the night with fresh buko juice under a canopy of twinkling stars.

Join early-morning worshippers at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia for a serene pilgrimage experience. Admire the gilt altars and centuries-old iconography before walking the landscaped gardens. Chat with local devotees to learn about ancestral traditions and festival lore.

Board a traditional banca for a guided cruise along the Bicol River, drifting past lush nipa palm stands and fishermen casting their nets. Learn about the river’s ecology from a local naturalist and spot kingfishers hunting in the shallows. Disembark at a riverside park to enjoy a picnic lunch of grilled tilapia.

Return to a quaint riverside café to sip calamansi iced tea as dusk settles. Attend a cultural performance featuring Bicolano kundiman songs under lantern light. Dine on sinigang na hipon and fresh seafood skewers by the water’s edge.

Depart early for Mount Isarog Natural Park and meet your guide at the forest station. Hike through moss-draped trees and listen for endemic birdcalls echoing in the canopy. Pause at a crystal-clear spring to refill water bottles and rest.

Reach the mid-elevation ridge for a riverside picnic lunch beside a hidden waterfall. Continue the ascent, marvel at pitcher plants in the high-altitude shrubland, and admire panoramic views of the Bicol plain below. Begin your descent as afternoon light filters through fern-covered trunks.

Return to Naga and unwind with a warm ginger tea at a local café. Treat yourself to a traditional hilot massage to soothe tired muscles. Cap off the night with a bowl of hot pinangat by candlelight in a family-run eatery.

Drive east to Lake Buhi at dawn and board a small outrigger for a birdwatching tour. Spot egrets and endemic species along the misty shoreline. Learn about the sinarapan, the world’s smallest fish, from conservationists in a floating research station.

Enjoy a hearty seafood lunch of sinigang and grilled tilapia at a lakeside homestay. Rent a kayak to explore hidden coves and papyrus-lined inlets. Photograph lush reed beds where endemic birds feed and rest.

Head back to Naga for pasalubong shopping along Sirama Lane, picking up pili nut brittle and native jams. Sample artisanal pili chocolates at a boutique shop. Finish the day with a sweet halo-halo at a bustling evening dessert stall.

Enroll in a hands-on cooking workshop to learn how to prepare laing and ginataang langka using traditional methods. Shop for fresh ingredients at a local wet market and trade recipe stories with vendors. Roll up your sleeves to craft coconut-milk-infused stews over an open fire.

Tour a pili nut processing facility to see the full tree-to-table operation, from harvest to roasting. Taste an array of pili treats—brittle, butter, spread—and learn about their nutritional benefits. Purchase handcrafted jars of pili honey and nut clusters as gifts.

Embark on a street-food crawl through Naga’s food market, sampling skewered meat, grilled seafood, and kinalas noodle soup. Drop by a roadside stand for freshly made suman sa lihiya wrapped in banana leaf. Cool down with creamy ube and coconut smoothies under the night sky.

Set off before sunrise for the drive to Donsol, arriving at the shore for a safety briefing. Hop aboard a pump boat and don snorkeling gear to observe gentle whale sharks in clear coastal waters. Glide alongside these majestic creatures under the guidance of marine biologists.

Relax on Rizal Beach with a picnic lunch of fresh fruit and local delicacies beneath swaying coconut palms. Attend a coastal conservation talk to learn about community-led protection efforts. Walk along the shoreline hunting for rare shell varieties and driftwood art.

Return to Naga for dinner at a riverside café offering piping-hot peanut soup and grilled squid. Unwind with live acoustic music performed by local singer-songwriters. Sip on calamansi cocktails while reflecting on your marine encounter.

Depart Naga before dawn and catch a boat from Sabang Port bound for the Caramoan archipelago. Cruise past dramatic limestone cliffs and emerald lagoons. Stop at untouched sandbars for sunrise photography and beachcombing.

Explore hidden gems like Secret Beach, Cathedral Caves, and dramatic rock formations by kayak. Enjoy a beachside lunch of grilled fish and coconut rice prepared by island locals. Swim and snorkel among vibrant corals teeming with tropical fish.

Return to Naga City and indulge in a comforting bowl of chicken linaga at a family-run eatery. Wander through Plaza Quezon’s night market to sample street-grilled skewers and sweet kakanin desserts. End your evening sharing stories with fellow travelers under colorful market lights.

Travel to a Rinconada high-value cropping farm to meet farmers cultivating chili, tomato, and sweet corn. Pick ripe produce straight from the fields and discuss organic techniques over chilled coconut water. Wander among dew-tipped rows as the sun warms the valley.

Join hosts in the open-air kitchen to prepare a farm-to-table lunch using freshly harvested ingredients. Learn to balance Bicolano spice blends with creamy coconut milk while sharing stories around the communal table. Sample pepper-corn vinaigrette salads alongside vegetable stews.

Explore Mercado Sawi upon returning to Naga, feasting on fried kinalas noodles and shellfish skewers. Browse handicraft stalls for woven hats and bamboo flutes. Sip a strong barako coffee in a historic café to cap off the day.

Head to the outskirts of Naga to visit a handloom weaving village specializing in piña and abaca textiles. Watch skilled artisans weave delicate patterns by hand and try weaving a small coaster under their guidance. Learn about plant-based dyes extracted from local leaves and bark.

Stop at a nearby pottery workshop to mold and paint clay bowls, vases, and jars. Then visit a bamboo craft cooperative to see intricate basketry and furniture assembly. Refresh with cold calamansi bars at a roadside stall.

Return to the city center for a live folk dance performance at the Balatas Performing Arts Theater. Savor shrimp sisig served sizzling tableside and sip on gin-infused calamansi tonic. Mingle with performers and artisans over dessert.

Sleep in before wandering into Barangay Concepcion market to sample fresh tropical fruits, native kakanin rice cakes, and rich barako coffee. Chat with vendors about seasonal produce and local farming practices. Try a cup of pili nut latte at a pop-up kiosk.

Relax at the Peñafrancia Riverside Park with a picnic of seasonal fruit and artisanal cheeses. Rent a bike to explore shaded trails dotted with public art installations. Participate in a friendly game of sepak takraw with local teens on the grass.

Toast your final night with craft cocktails at a rooftop bar offering panoramic views of Naga’s cityscape. Order locally brewed beer paired with crispy chicharrón and spicy vinegar dip. Watch the sun set over the Pasig River as city lights begin to twinkle.