South Luzon Loop β Day 2: Our New Year’s Day ATV Adventure at Cagsawa Ruins
After celebrating and welcoming the New Year at PROXY by The Oriental Albay the night before, we were greeted on the very first morning of 2026 by the majestic view of Mayon Volcano in Albay, Bicol. I honestly couldn’t think of a better way to begin the year than by waking up to one of God’s most beautiful creations.
When we first arrived at the hotel the previous afternoon, the summit was hidden behind thick clouds, almost as if Mayon wasn’t quite ready to reveal itself. So waking up to a perfectly clear view the next morning felt like a little reward after our long journey. I found myself staring at it for a few minutes from our room before finally convincing myself to brush my teeth and head downstairs for the hotel’s complimentary breakfast buffet. π
As blessed as we felt that morning, our phones also began receiving alerts from the NDRRMC, informing us that Mayon Volcano had been raised to Alert Level 2 due to signs of increasing volcanic unrest. The advisory mentioned a significant increase in rockfall activity along with ongoing ground deformation. Looking back, it’s a little funny to think that while we were completely mesmerized by its beauty, we didn’t fully realize how serious the situation was at the time. π
So despite all the alert messages we had been receiving, we went ahead and continued our adventure around Albay. I had even prepared a mini itinerary beforehand because I wanted to make the mostβor should I say, make sulitβof our time there.
We checked out of the hotel at around 11:00 AM on January 1, feeling refreshed and excited for the day’s adventure.
Before the trip, I had listed the top five tourist spots I wanted us to visit in Albay. In my head, I confidently assumed we’d be able to explore all of them in just two days. π
My mom, however, had a completely different plan.
After checking out, she simply wanted us to visit the Cagsawa Ruins, take plenty of creative photos like they used to during their first trip there with their friends, and then start the long drive back home.
But… my hubby, my youngest brother, and I weren’t about to let that happen. π
We arrived at Cagsawa Ruins at around 11:20 AM. Contrary to the breathtaking view of Mayon Volcano that greeted us in the morning, the summit at noon was completely hidden behind thick clouds. Nevertheless, the weather was still sunny, and we were excited because our Albay adventure was only beginning.
It was my first time seeing the Cagsawa Ruins up close.
For those who may not be familiar with its history, the Cagsawa Ruins is one of Albay’s most iconic historical landmarks. It is the remains of a Franciscan church that was buried during the catastrophic eruption of Mayon Volcano in 1814, which destroyed the town of Cagsawa and claimed thousands of lives. Today, the church’s bell tower still stands as a reminder of one of the country’s most devastating volcanic eruptions.
Standing there, it was hard to imagine that the peaceful place we were exploring had once witnessed such a tragic event. Looking back as I write this now, I still can’t quite believe that we were walking through a place where thousands of people lost their lives more than two centuries ago. It’s both humbling and surrealβa place that beautifully preserves history while quietly reminding us of the incredible power of nature.
There were also a few souvenir shops near the entrance, along with Jimaynah’s Kainan, which is located on the left side of the area and is hard to miss as you enter the Cagsawa Ruins. We decided to have our lunch there at around 12:00 NN.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take a photo of the restaurant. It wasn’t particularly big, nor did it have an Instagram-worthy aesthetic. It had more of a simple carinderia vibeβbut don’t let that fool you. The food servings were generous, delicious, and definitely worth trying. The locals who served us were also incredibly warm and friendly. They even encouraged us to try one of their specialtiesβtheir famous Chili Ice Cream.
I have to admit, I wasn’t interested at first. π The only spicy dishes I usually enjoy are fried chicken, Laing, and Bicol Express, so the thought of spicy ice cream sounded… questionable. But somehow, curiosity got the better of me, and I ended up ordering their Level 1 Mango-Flavored Chili Ice Cream.
To my surprise, it didn’t disappoint at all! It had a gentle kick of spiciness, but the sweetness of the mango balanced it out so well that it never became overwhelming. Or maybe it was just because I ordered Level 1? Haha. Either way, I genuinely enjoyed it, and I’d definitely recommend giving it a try if you’re visiting Cagsawa Ruins.
After our hearty lunch and our surprisingly enjoyable Chili Ice Cream experience, we headed back to the Cagsawa Ruins to start taking photos. We initially explored the area on our own, snapping a few shots here and there while waiting for the official photographers.
We were told that photographers wearing brown uniforms roam around the site and are easy to spot. Unfortunately, they happened to be on their lunch break when we arrived, so we waited for a few minutes before finally seeing one walk back into the area.
While waiting, we tried taking some photos of the ruins ourselves… and well, here’s how they turned out. π
A few minutes later, we finally found one of the official photographersβand the difference was unbelievable. π
Just look at how creative these shots turned out! They knew exactly where to position us, which angles worked best, and even how to make the ruins and Mayon Volcano stand out beautifully in every frame. It’s honestly impressive how they can transform a simple pose into something that looks professionally planned.
If I remember correctly, they didn’t ask for a fixed payment. Instead, they simply accepted donations, and we were more than happy to give one. Considering the creativity, effort, and quality of the photos we received, it was definitely money well spent and one of the best little experiences we had at the Cagsawa Ruins.
More Photos from Our Cagsawa Ruins Photo Session:
Aaaand yes, 1:30 PM was still way too early for us to call it a day. π Just as we were about to leave the Cagsawa Ruins, we were offered to try the ATV Adventure at the Cagsawa Trail.
My mom was very hesitant at first. She happened to be wearing a long dress that day, and with the scorching afternoon heat, riding an ATV wasn’t exactly the most ideal activity. π We honestly thought she’d sit this one out, but it wouldn’t be complete without her.
After a little convincing, my mom finally gave in and joined us. Since my dad has heart failure and has to avoid activities that could put too much strain on his heart, my mom took the driver’s seat while he simply enjoyed the ride as her passenger.
Looking back, I’m really glad she decided to join because it turned out to be one of the most memorable and exciting parts of our Albay adventure.
Our ATV adventure officially began at around 2:00 PM. Before hitting the trails, we were given a short orientation covering the basics of riding an ATV, the dos and don’ts, the estimated duration of each trail, and what we could expect along the way.
There were several trail options to choose from, depending on your preferred level of adventure. Since we wanted a fun ride without taking up the rest of the afternoon, we chose the Cagsawa Forest & Ruins Trail, which lasts around 40 minutes to 1 hour, including a photo stop with the majestic Mayon Volcano as your backdrop.
Note: During our visit, the Black Lava Trail was temporarily unavailable due to Mayon Volcano’s Alert Level 2 status. For safety reasons, access to the trail was suspended, so guests could only choose from the other available routes.
If you’re planning to try the ATV Adventure yourself, here’s a quick overview of the different trails available:
- Black Lava Trail β 2β3 hours (An extended 22-km round trip passing the 2006 lava wall)
- SkyDrive Grassland Trail β 30β40 minutes (Beginner-friendly route with scenic grassland views)
- Cagsawa Forest & Ruins Trail β 40 minutesβ1 hour (Features river crossings, agoho trees, and a photo stop overlooking Mayon Volcano)
- SkyDrive Combo Trail β 50 minutesβ1.5 hours (A combination of multiple trail sections for a longer ride)
- Green Lava Trail β 2β2.5 hours (A challenging off-road adventure leading to the foot of Mayon Volcano)
All of the photos and videos were taken by one of their photographers using my own phone. I’m really glad my phone still had plenty of storage because they captured so many great shots throughout the entire ride. π
The only downside was that Mayon Volcano’s summit was hidden behind thick clouds in almost every photo. π Looking back, I can honestly say that the morning would probably be the best time to experience the ATV adventure if you’re hoping for a clear view of the volcano. Or maybe it was simply because Mayon was under Alert Level 2 that day? π
Despite the volcano’s elevated alert status, what surprised me the most was how calm everything felt. The locals went about their day as usual, and there was no sense of panic in the atmosphere. Seeing how composed everyone was gave us peace of mind and allowed us to simply enjoy the adventure while still respecting the situation.
As much as my mom originally wanted to head straight home after our Cagsawa adventure, the three of usβmy hubby, my youngest brother, and Iβmanaged to convince her to stay one more night in Albay. π We initially planned to book a simple budget hotel just to rest for the evening, but then we realized we’d probably end up doing nothing inside a plain four-walled room.
So we searched for a place where we could actually relax and enjoy our last night in Albay, and that’s when we came across Bernese Resort Hotel. Thankfully, they still had a Family Room available when we inquired. It honestly felt like everything was just falling perfectly into place throughout this spontaneous road trip.
If you’re curious about our overnight stay, the room, amenities, and overall experience, you can read my full review of Bernese Resort Hotel in a separate blog post by clicking HERE.
New Year’s Day ATV Adventure Highlights at Cagsawa Ruins:
π¨ Read: Bernese Resort Hotel Review
πΊοΈ Previous: South Luzon Loop β Day 1
πΊοΈ Next: South Luzon Loop β Day 3
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