Bicolandia: Cagsawa Ruins, Daraga, Albay

Huge Signage along National Highway 

Destroyed by Typhoon Juaning

Lava flow trek

Php 10 Entrance

Cagsawa Belfry

Souvenirs Shops

Assorted Pili Nuts

Handicrafts

Maruya - unsweetened

Pili Shells

Cagsawa Ruins From Legazpi City: Cagsawa is approximately 8kms ways from Legazpi. Take a jeepney, with signboards of Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Polangui and Oas. We paid Php15 from Embarcadero to Camalig. Ask the driver to drop you off at Cagsawa. Look for the large Cagsawa Ruins signage at the right side of the road.You may opt to take a trike going to Cagsawa, but they'll just drop you at the end of the road before the bridge, since the bridge was destroyed by the recent typhoon Juaning. So you'll passed by the makeshift bridge before reaching the Cagsawa Ruins.With entrance fee of Php10, tourist will surely captivated by the majestic Mt Mayon and will have a picturisque scene captured.Folklore states that originally Kagsawa was derived from the word “KAG” meaning owner and “SAWA” meaning python. Kagsawa could also mean excesses or too much. The February 1, 1814 Mayon eruption was said to be a divine justice for the people’s overindulgence.The 1814 eruption was recorded to be worst eruption of Mt. Mayon. Some 1,200 people who took refuge and sought the sanctuary of the church during the eruption all died when the church was engulfed by the flowing lava.Only the Cagsawa church belfry remains today. It is a grim reminder of the events that took place and many people come to see the belfry as a reminder of times past. Through all the developments done by the local government, the Cagsawa church belfry remains standing, with the giant stones spewed by Mt. Mayon around and with the history of the region buried underneath.The place is now called Cagsawa Park. It is managed today by the municipal government of Daraga, Albay.Cagsawa Ruins Park is one of the most visited places in the area. From this point tourists are afforded with an unhampered view of the majestic Mayon Volcano with its world renowned perfect cone.At the entrance you'll passed by wide variety of souvenir shops and stalls selling magnets, shirts, native handicrafts and pili candies and delicacies, woven materials, keychains atbp. Inside the park are restaurants where tourists and local residents feast on native food and delicacies.