23 BEST Sorsogon Tourist Spots + Things to Do
Sorsogon is one of the most underrated provinces in the Philippines, often overshadowed by its neighboring provinces such as Albay. Unbeknownst to many, it is rich with cultural, historical, and nature attractions! If you’re a beach lover, you’ll love the island hopping tours in Sorsogon. It also has waterfalls and mountains to explore, not to mention its charming towns and old houses.
Here we’ve compiled the best Sorsogon tourist spots + things to do in Sorsogon!
Here we’ve compiled the best activities you can do in Sorsogon.
Contents
- 1. Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
- 2. Subic Beach
- 3. Bulusan Lake
- 4. Irosin (Hot Springs)
- 5. Donsol (Whale Sharks)
- 6. Gubat (Surfing)
- 7. Juban (Ancestral Houses)
- 8. Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm
- 9. Paguriran Lagoon
- 10. Buhatan River Cruise
- 11. Prieto Diaz Mangrove Park
- 12. Zoe Resort’s and Eco-Adventure Park
- 13. Calintaan Cave
- 14. Ogod River (Firefly Watching)
- 15. The Pili Haven
- 16. Organic Vinegar Refinery
- 17. Mount Pulog
- 18. Barcelona Church
- 19. San Bernardino Island
- 20. Irosin’s Hilltop Church
- 21. Botong Twin Falls
- 22. Rompeolas Baywalk
- 23. Manta Bowl Shoal (Manta Rays)
- What to read next:
1. Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary is undoubtedly one of the must-visit Sorsogon tourist spots. During summer and holiday, flocks of tourists visit this marine sanctuary to appreciate the beautiful surroundings, as well as ride a balsa to fish feed different species of fishes, giant clams, sea cucumbers, and more.
If the place is not busy, you may also ask to swim inside the fish pens to see the giant clams and fishes up close. However, take note that tourists wearing sunblock will not be allowed to swim.
2. Subic Beach
Subic Beach is known as the Pink Beach of Sorsogon. It has white powdery sands that turns a pinkish sed when wet, due to the presence of crushed red corals mixed alongside regular sand. It is divided into two coves: Subit Liit and Subic Laki Beach.
Subic Laki Beach is the main beach area where tour boats head to. Here you can find cottages and tables for day tours, and rooms for overnight stays. Camping is also allowed.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Bicol Region. Here you can admire the clear, turquoise-blue water and swim in the refreshing sea.
It can be visited on an island hopping tour from Matnog Port, along with Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary and Calintaan Cave.
3. Bulusan Lake
Bulusan Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sorsogon. The 16-hectare natural lake is nestled at the foot of Mount Bulusan — a beautiful green amidst dense forest. It’s a great place to visit for families and those who love nature.
Here you can enjoy water activities including kayaking and canoeing. It’s also a great place for photographer, as the lake is one of the most scenic areas in the province.
To get here, you need to get to the Bulusan Lake registration area, where you can also find a cafe, a souvenir shop, and restrooms. From there, electric jeeps will take you to the lake area.
4. Irosin (Hot Springs)
The town of Irosin is located at the base of Mount Bulusan, which is an active volcano. As such, it’s blessed with a natural source of hot water averaging 60-70 degree celisus in temperature.
There are a handful of hot spring resorts you can visit in Irosin including San Benon Hot Spring Resort, Mateo Hot & Cold Spring Resort, Nature Hot Spring Resort, and Tropical Hot Spring Paradise.
This is a perfect stop after a day of activity in Sorsogon. Relax and allow the rejuvenating properties of the water to soothe your muscles.
5. Donsol (Whale Sharks)
Donsol is one of the few places where you can spot whale sharks in the wild. Unlike in Oslob, Cebu, the whale sharks here are not fed or kept in one place. The locals allow them to follow their natural migration pattern, which is important for health and reproduction. As such, you can only see the whale sharks on selected months (October to May).
There are a handful of agencies offering whale shark tours in Donsol. It’s recommended to stay for at least 2 days in Donsol to increase your chances of seeing the whale sharks.
6. Gubat (Surfing)
There are different surfing destinations in Bicol: Puraran Beach in Catanduanes, Bagasbas Beach in Daet, and Buenavista Beach in Gubat. Gubat is ideal for beginners and it’s less crowded, which is perfect if you’re looking for somewhere a little quiet.
Surfing months start from October to March.
7. Juban (Ancestral Houses)
Historical and cultural buffs will enjoy strolling along Juban, a heritage town in Sorsogon. This place boasts several 18th century ancestral houses featuring Spanish and other European designs.
While most houses can only be viewed from outside, there is an open house called Casa Feliz which welcomes visitors for a tour and also offers select local delicacies, snacks and drinks (tsokolate).
8. Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm
Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm is another must-see place in Bulusan. This 3.5-hectare farm is home to over 800 colonies of stingless bees and other types of flora and fauna.
It is open for day tour excursions. The farm also has accommodations for overnight stay and an in-house restaurant where you can order farm-to-table dishes.
9. Paguriran Lagoon
Paguriran Lagoon is a natural lagoon located in Bacon, Sorsogon. It is often likened to Tangke Lagoon in Gigantes Islands. During high tide, green-ish saltwater fills the lagoon in which time you can enjoy a refreshing swim. You can also climb atop the surrounding limestone cliffs for cliff jumping.
The lagoon is located inside Paguriran Island Resort. While the shore here is ordinary, the lagoon itself is worth visiting for its unique feature.
10. Buhatan River Cruise
The Buhatan River Cruise is an eco-adventure where you can ride a floating cabana along the Buhatan River in Barangay Buhatan, which is just several minutes away from Sorsogon City. The cruise includes live acoustic music and snacks. Enjoy the good food and music while appreciating the surrounding scenery, including the mangrove trees thriving along the banks.
Aside from the river cruise, kayak is also available.
The river cruise is a great activity for those who love communing and relaxing with nature. The tourism boost is also a great help to the locals in the area, whose livelihood is mainly farming and fishing.
11. Prieto Diaz Mangrove Park
If you’re doing a Sorsogon countryside tour, don’t forget to include Prieto Diaz in your list. This town is considered an eco-tourism model and is mostly known for its mangrove park. The Prieto Diaz Mangrove Park covers about 300 hectares of mangrove forest, which helps keep the town safe from floods and is also home to 19 species of mangroves, protected sea corals, and various wildlife such as fishes, crabs, and indigenous species of birds.
Here you can enjoy a relaxing cruise across the mangrove park where you can commune with nature and observe wildlife such as birds. You can also do a stop over at Halabang Lapis Sand Bar, a white sand bar that offers views of Albay Gulf and Mayon Volcano.
12. Zoe Resort’s and Eco-Adventure Park
Zoe’s Resort and Eco-Adventure Park is one of the newest attractions in Bulusan, Sorsogon. This resort offers various outdoor activities such as trekking, bamboo rafting, and ATV ride. But undoubtedly its highlights are the three falls: Kambal Busay Falls, Hidden Falls, and Hulugan Falls.
The first two waterfalls are easily accessible for day tour visitors. Take a short trek to Kambal Busay Falls and appreciate its strong cascade. Then head to the narrow trail beside it and discover the Hidden Falls, which is literally hidden behind boulders in a canyon.
13. Calintaan Cave
Don’t you just love discovering unique nature attractions? Calintaan Cave is an underwater cave located in Calitaan Island in Matnog, Sorsogon. It’s accessible only by boat and is usually a part of the island hopping itinerary in Matnog.
The cave can only be visited when the sea condition is calm, as strong currents will make going inside dangerous. During good weather, you can swim across the rocky cave passage and land to a small cove inside, which acts like a small beach and a place to swim.
14. Ogod River (Firefly Watching)
After a day at the sea in Donsol, head to a relaxing activity: firefly watching in Ogod River which is located in the same town.
Ogod River is home to thousands of fireflies. In 2011, the World Wildlife Fund planted over 10,000 mangrove seedlings in the area which served as nesting grounds for the fireflies. Today, it’s one of the best places in the country for firefly watching activity.
If you’re lucky, you can see thousands of fireflies in a night. Regardless, it’s a magical experience seeing these insects flying around the surrounding trees.
15. The Pili Haven
Pili is one of the top products in the Bicol Region. To those who want to learn more about it, there’s no better place to be than The Pili Haven.
The Pili Haven is a farm that grows pili trees and other types of tree species. They offer demos on how to prepare and enjoy pili, such as boiled and eaten with various dips or mixed with local chocolate to create a delicious pili-chocolate spread. They also offer workshops on how to use pili nut for home decor, furniture, and more.
The Pili Haven also has an in-house restaurant where you can enjoy their own take on local dishes (such as cana pasta with pili nuts and lemon-tanglad chia drink), cottage accommodations, and a lot of photo-worthy installations such as an abandoned red jeep.
16. Organic Vinegar Refinery
If you’re into education or cultural tours, one of the places you can visit is the Corsiga Organic Vinegar Refinery in Bulan, Sorsogon. Here you can see first-hand how locals make local vinegars, from the kitchen to storage in jars.
17. Mount Pulog
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGshgfpoma/Some hikers call Mount Pulog the secret mountain climbing spot in Sorsogon. (Not to be confused with Mount Pulag in Benguet.) From the jump-off point, you need to trek for 3-4 hours across plantations of pili, coconut, hagis, and other local trees to reach the summit.
At the summit, there is a circular valley that turns into a “lake” (called danum by the locals) during rainy season.
Aside from the beautiful view of the lake, it’s also possible to see Paguriran, Rapu Rapu, and Mount Bulusan when there is a clearing.
Guides are available from Barangay Balite or Barangay Sta. Cruz in Bacon, Sorsogon.
18. Barcelona Church
The Philippines has a lot of old churches which dates back in the Spanish Era. Barcelona Church (also known as St. Joseph Church) was built in 1874 using corals and lime.
When you arrive in Barcelona, don’t forget to drop by this church. You can also visit an old ruins, which serves as a popular location for pre-nup shoots.
19. San Bernardino Island
San Bernardino Island is a beautiful island located off the coast of Bulusan, about 45 minutes of boat ride away from Bulusan Poblacion. Its main feature is a lighthouse, referred to as El Faro De Islote De San Bernardino in Spanish. It is one of the most important lighthouses during the Spanish Colonial Era, as it is part of a network of lighthouses that guide ships following the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.
Today, the San Bernardino Island Lighthouse stands intact, powered by solar panels. As of 2022, there are are government plans to restore it for tourism. Visitors can visit here to see the lighthouse and appreciate the view, as well as swim and freedive in the surrounding waters.
20. Irosin’s Hilltop Church
St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church is a common stopover for tourists in Irosin, Sorsogon. Also known as Irosin Hilltop Church, it is located on top of the hill. Visitors need to climb 74 steps to reach it. Beside the chapel is another hill called Little Baguio, where you can find the Grotto of the Virgin Mary.
The hill offers a scenic view of the town and the nearby Bulusan Volcano.
21. Botong Twin Falls
Located in Osia, Bacon, just severeal minutes away from the downtown area in Sorsogon City, you can find this natural wonder. Botong Twin Falls consists of two separate streams falling close to each other. What makes this waterfall unique is that one of the streams has a green color, while the other is blue. As such, people also refer to it as the Green and Blue Falls.
It is located inside the BacMan Geothermal Powerplant property. As such, interested visitors need to secure permission from the powerplant’s management first before visiting.
22. Rompeolas Baywalk
Located smack in the middle of Sorsogon City, Rompeolas Baywalk is a must-visit spot especially for first-time visitors in Sorsogon. Here you can take a leisurely stroll and visit food stalls for some local snacks & dishes.
The best time to go here is in the late afternoon, in time to witness the sunset.
23. Manta Bowl Shoal (Manta Rays)
Ticao Island is the main diving spot in Bicol Region. Although it is under Masbate Province, it’s easily accessible from Donsol which is only 1.5 hours away.
The main diving area in Ticao Island is Manta Bowl, which has 7 different dive sites. Here, manta rays can be seen all-year round. Other underwater animals can be seen in selected months, including whale sharks, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks, and tiger sharks.
That concludes our list of top Sorsogon tourist spots? Did we miss anything? If you have comments or questions, let us know in the comment section below!
What to read next:
Here are our guides about Sorsogon:
- Travel Guide to Sorsogon
- Sorsogon Tourist Spots + Things to Do
- Island Hopping in Matnog, Sorsogon
- Whale Shark Watching in Donsol, Sorsogon
- Buhatan River Cruise in Sorsogon
- Bulusan Lake in Sorsogon
- Zoe’s Resort and Eco Adventure Park
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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
