Legazpi City is one of the cities I have been that I will surely miss. A place I know I will be returning back for another travel vacation and adventure. It is a quiet city and less populous that Cebu City and a lot cleaner too. One thing unique about this is city is their city ordinance that prohibits the use of plastic bags in all its grocery stores, pharmacies, fast food chains, etc. They use brown paper bags instead.
There are quite a number of nice places to visit in Legazpi, Albay. Here are some places that topped my list and I thought that it's just fair to share to you guys in case you will be visiting Albay soon.
- Cagsawa Ruins - Of course this is definitely a place to drop by. Ever noticed that very common Mt. Mayon postcard that always shows a ruined church? That church is the Church of Cagsawa that got buried during Mt. Mayon's eruption on 1814, known to be its most violent eruption to date.
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| Cagsawa ruins and the world's most perfect cone volcano. |
- Lingñon Hill Nature Park - If you are flying bound for Legazpi airport, the very noticeable hill you'll see from the airport is already the Lignon Hill. It is 156 meter high and a perfect spot for a 360 degrees panoramic view of Legazpi City.
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| View of Mt. Mayon from Lingnon Hill. |
- Daraga Church - the Daraga church is located in the municipality of Daraga. It is an 18th century baroque church poised on a hill with a commanding view of Mt. Mayon. This church was built after the eruption of Mt. Mayon that ruined the church of Cagsawa.
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| 18th century Daraga Church |
- Bicol Adventure ATV- they said you've never been to Mt. Mayon if you have not tried their ATV (All-Terrain-Vehicle). There are lots of ATV sites/services in Albay but I'm recommending the Bicol Adventure ATV. During our visit, we took the 3.5 kilometers Pawa-Mayon Lava wall trail that started from Brgy Pawa up to Mayon's Lava Wall. It was the best!
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| ATV ride going to Mayon's lava bed. Have to stop for picture taking! |
So when is the best time to visit Legazpi City / Albay / Mt. Mayon? I say when the sun is hot, the sky is clear, and the wind is good. Summer that is!
Where to stay in Legazpi, Albay? There are lots of hotels and inns in Legaspi that you can choose from depending on your likes and budget. But you really dont need to spend so much for an accommodation. When I travel I personally choose those that fits my budget at the same time a descent place to have a good rest after a day's journey and a good bath as well. I can definitely recommend Balay de la Rama to you. It's a comfortable and clean place, and surprisingly affordable!
