Legazpi Sights and POI

So you've dropped your bags at a hotel somewhere in Legazpi and enjoyed that refreshing welcome drink at the reception area, it's time to see the sights Legazpi City has on offer! But where do you start? If you have been quite the busy bee and have not written down an itinerary, we've narrowed some attractions that we're sure you'll enjoy as much as we did.

Mayon Volcano

You see it as soon as you step down at the airport's runway and you realize why people say you have to see it at least once in your life. You don't even have to be into volcanoes, you don't even have to be into nature. It is just surreal to see something so beautiful, something so perfect. We're waxing poetics because that's what it does to you. The best thing is it's free and can be seen practically from anywhere in the city. If you feel more adventurous, you can follow the volcano trail up the Mayon. There are one-day and two-day options available.

Cagsawa Ruins Park

This park is open to the public and it is perhaps the most famous image one has of Legazpi City as it graces countless textbook pages and postcards for decades. It is a grim reminder of the 1814 eruption that buried an entire town and spared only the church belfry. You can also get an amazing view of Mayon here however it can get really crowded so best avoid going on weekends or holidays. Also, it is best to visit before 8am when the sky is clear to get a clean shot of Mayon, anything later and it'll be shrouded in clouds. Wandering around is free.

Cagsawa National Museum

If you're into cultural awareness then you'll have a grand time here. The museum houses a vast collection of photos of Mayon's eruption as well as rocks, minerals, tektites, fossilized shells, zoological artifacts, porcelains, stoneware, and other stuff excavated from the region. They're open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. Weekend and holidays by appointment.

Black Sand Beaches

Reminiscent of the black sand beaches in Hawaii, the region also boasts similar coastlines particularly in Bacacay, Sto.Domingo, and Tiwi. We're quite used to white or creamy coloured shorelines so it was a rare treat to sink our feet on jet black sands. We were told that the colour is due to the natural erosion of volcanic rock. If you do decide to visit, make sure to check the tide. If you happen to come at high tide, you won’t see any shoreline whatsoever. Packing your own food and drinks for a picnic is a great idea.

We visited a couple of places and some of them to our great disappointment were severely littered. Looks like nobody takes care of the beaches and trash and garbage fill the shoreline making for a shocking contract with the mighty silhouette of Mayon.

Century Old Churches

As the Philippines are a predominantly Catholic country, churches abound in every city and municipalities. Revel in the history and religious architecture of Legazpi City's century-old churches, some of which were built before the Second World War. There are several in the area but we've shortlisted the best ones to be Daraga Church for its Baroque architecture and scenic location, Saint Raphael Church which dates back to 1834, and Camalig Church which was built entirely by huge blocks of lava rocks.

Quitinday Hills and Nature Park

Ever been to Bohol's Chocolate Hills? This is Legazpi City's own version. It's located about 15 kilometres from the city and is accessible by motorcycle, tricycle, and four wheel drives. It's a stunning cluster of 200 or so hills with 4 peaks open the public.

If you flew in, chances are you'd seen these amazing clusters as you were about to land. The view from the hilltop is even more breathtaking with verdant hills rolling seemingly into the horizon. And if you're lucky, you might even be rewarded with a sight of Mayon in the background. This is a new attraction so it's not fully developed yet. We paid PHP20 for the entrance fee. We also suggest wearing comfortable hiking shoes and donning sunscreen.