Close encounter with Daragang Magayon

Relaxing at the ATV with the full view of Daragang Magayon!

Traveling for two decades as a travel journalist, Bicol has always been on my bucket list. I want to see the world-famous perfect-coned Mayon Volcano for myself up-close. But the nearest I could get to Bicol was a travel in Daet, Camarines Norte back then when Mayor Tito Sarion was still single and a certified bachelor.

Thus, when the chance to travel to Albay for free finally came – through the invitation of the office of Gov. Joey Salceda , the Daragang Magayon Festival Committee, and the local Department of Tourism -- I readily grabbed the opportunity despite some odds at work and in the homefront . In fact, I willingly shouldered the re-book of my fare ticket at P3200+ because I came quite late and the Cebu Pac staff who assisted me wasn’t good enough.

Traveling alone for the first time

Anyway, I made it to the 12:30 pm flight, and that was the first time that I travel by plane alone. Despite some glitches – including a 30-minute plane standby at NAIA runway due to air traffic – I made it safe and sound at Legazpi airport which gave me a glimpse of the majestic Mayon. It was broad daylight and the volcano's cone is shrouded by thick clouds.

And because I came one flight late, I missed meeting and the photo op session with the amiable, workaholic governor. But I like the 'I Love Mayon T-shirt' and 'it's more fun in Bicol' tote bag he sent to my hotel room at Ninong’s and I couldn’t wait a moment to use them in our itineraries for the next two days.

Mayon Volcano is a towering beauty even seeing it only from the fringes of Legaspi City and Tabaco City and towns of Camalig, Daraga, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo, which Manila media toured.

Kite-flying in Camalig with Mt. Mayon as backdrop

A view of Mt. Mayon from Corangon Shoal

A view of majestic Mayon from Camalig 

To cut the story short on my close encounter with Daragang Magayon (beautiful lady in English, to which Mt. Mayon has always been alluded to), our group were treated to a free All Terrain Adventure (ATV) ride  called Bicol ATV which is located near the Cagsawa ruins.

The ATV is like a bigger version of go-kart but with big and wide tires to traverse boulder-filled river and the uphill climbs of Mt Mayon.
Virtually no prior experience on riding four wheeled ATVs is required. Everything is on the right handle – press a ledge to accelerate and retract another to brake.  The engine doesn’t turn off, even at full stop. 

Bicol Adventure ATV Manager Efren Gerona and his assistant, John, were on hand to welcome our group. We were all given a short briefing on the safety rules and some of us did a 5-10-minute practice ride and initial lessons on a mock trail along a rocky river track. This was to prepare us for the trail just in case we want to exchange place with the expert ATV driver so we can experience driving it by ourselves on the way to the volcano.

But I myself chose not to practice because I knew I wouldn't be comfortable driving one. Based on my past experience at Paoay Sand Dunes, it would be more enjoyable riding the ATV than driving it.

The Green Lava Wall Trail

There are countless paths and trails that Mayon Volcano offers and the trail pathfinders of Bicol Adventure ATV are continuously looking for new sites to develop. One of the trails they developed is the challenging Green Lava Trail 3 that is approximately 11 kilometers from base and 3,000 feet above sea level of the 8000 foot high volcano!

The start of the trail at the dried-up river, with myself standing at the bigger ATV

So we braced ourselves for a long river, sand and dust and rocks and boulders adventure challenge.  It would take us around 2.5-3 hours to and from the 1968 lava wall located 2,500-3,000 ft. above sea level in Brgy. Miisi, Daraga.

We were informed Green Lava 3 is the highest trail offered via ATV in Albay. Bicol Adventure's two competitors only traverse the Black Lava trail which reaches only the lava wall at 900 feet above sea level. 

Driving from the bleak gray of the dried-up river, the scenery turned green as we entered and drove through a forest. The trees that surrounded us were a welcome relief from the heat and the breeze was cooler. The trail, however, produced more dust. The last part of the trail was the uphill climb to the Green Lava Wall along a much narrower and bumpier road with plenty of sharp curves before finally reaching the end of the trail, the now vegetated bed of lava that Mayon Volcano spewed during its 1968 eruption. 

The stretch turned out to be 22 km long, round trip for the group. We started the trip almost 5:00 pm so our adventure literally became a race against time as our seven or more ATVs ended going up at high speed even in uphill climbs.

Apparently, our expert drivers who has been doing the lava trail for three years now, would like us to experience sunset up there at Green Lava Valley, the nearest we can get to Mt. Mayon which is included in the six kilometers permanent danger zone radius. So we have the sunset on the left while seeing  Mayon right in front of us.

Our ATV at Green Lava Valley, the nearest the ATV can reach Mt. Mayon

What a wonderful life -- basking at glorious sunset and the stunning sight of Mayon Volcano!

What an exhilarating experience -- the adrenaline rush of riding the ATV, a good view of the majestic sunset and close to kissing Daragang Magayon! What more can we ask for? My re-book fare was definitely worth it!

The scenery at 3,000 ft. above sea level is awesome! We are at a vantage point seeing the view of Albay Gulf, Misibis Bay, Legazpi City, the Third District of Albay in the west and, in the distance, the peak of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon. I felt humbled and privileged to see God’s glory in his creations that is visible within us at the moment.

The trip going back would take another hour or so and it was getting dark at past 6pm. I worried myself, and for sure most of us in the media group worried too, because it was already dark and there was only the ATV’s headlights to provide light to see the trail going back. The whole trail going back is engulfed by darkness…

But to our amazement, the experts drivers still went to driving at fast pace. My group of four (we rode a bigger ATV) just have to stop at the start of the river trail, simply because another ATV’s headlight went out. We waited for a rescue ATV for the tandem rider, and the expert driver did the rest of the river trail, replacing our photographer as driver. Sooner than we think, we were there at the   ATV terminal.

It was past 7 PM when we arrived at our starting point and, with great relief, we wash away the dust, mud and grime from our skin and hair – all proof of our great,  tiring yet challenging adventure.

We capped the day with a delicious dinner and a dessert of chili ice cream level 3!

For more information and details  to a great adventure, contact Bicol Adventure ATV: Cagsawa Ruins, Bugay, Daraga, 4500 Albay.  Mobile number: (0917) 571-4357 (Globe) and (0922) 868-2589 (Sun). E-mail:taikee@bicoladventureatv.com.  Website: www.bicoladventureatv.com.

[Thanks to DOT and media friends for some photos in this blog; special mention to Rommel Natanauan :)]

A view of Mayon Volcano from the airplane going back to Manila: Goobye, Daragang Magayon... see you again soon!