Thursday, March 21, 2013

Paguia Cottages, a budget resort with big hotel-type rooms

February 27, 2013

paguia cottages,budget,philippine travel,philippine mapping,camiguin resort,hostel,schadow1 expeditions,backpacking

When staying on a budget in Camiguin, you would be looking for the most affordable yet cozy place to stay; while the places you would like to check out must be accessible. Being at the heart of the town of Agoho where other famous resorts in Camiguin is located and an arms' throw away from the White Island, Paguia Cottages must be the place you are looking for to stay.


When we reached Benoni Port of Camiguin, we actually have no idea where to stay. But I have one thing in mind: to stay near Yumbing town because from there, Schadow1 Expeditions will start to traverse Hibok-Hibok. I was able to talk to Sauro (+63 927 4055966) and Jonel (+63 927 6307606) who were both offering tours and motorcycle rental; that they know a place to stay that matches my requirement. After a few minutes of calls, they returned to me and offered Paguia Cottages which is in Agoho, an adjacent town of Yumbing and is near White Island and is just across the famous Paras Resort that faces White Island

I do wanted to make sure that it is a good place to stay so I told them that I need to check it out first. I rented a motorcycle and headed-on with them to check out the place. It was a 30-45 minutes motorcycle ride as the place is 26 kilometers away from Benoni Port.
When I arrived at the place, it must not be called Paguia "Cottages" because the room is actually a house with two queen-sized beds, air-conditioned, cable TV, a reliable internet, and with a clean restroom. The price is originally P1600 per day. However due to Sauro and Jonel's help and so as the hostel manager, Ruby, knows we are here for an advocacy; they offered the room to us at half the price at P800/day. We stayed there for 4 days and yet our last few hours of stay on the 4th day was even waived!

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The place at Paguia Cottages where we stayed

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Inside our room at Paguia Cottages


The drawback is what they only offered us during our stay are towels and a roll of tissue paper. However you can ask for hot water for your beverage. Variety stores are nearby so you can buy what you need. Restaurants and bars are also a few meters away which prices ranges from street-food price to an average price of a restaurant in Manila. Water heater for showers is not available.

paguia cottages,budget,philippine travel,philippine mapping,camiguin resort,hostel,schadow1 expeditions,backpacking
Enjoying the morning at Paguia Cottages, Camiguin


Tap water in Camiguin is clean and safe for drinking. In my own opinion, it is even better than the water sold in Manila by water stations. Everything is natural.

Furthermore, our boat ride to the White Island was arranged by the hostel at P400 and it was Dudut who brought us there. For more info on our White Island itinerary, check our article White Island, A majestic solitary sand bar at Camiguin.

paguia cottages,budget,philippine travel,philippine mapping,camiguin resort,hostel,schadow1 expeditions,backpacking
Dudut, our trusty boatman that helped us get to the White Island


Nearby restaurants are Luna which offers Italian and Filipino dishes; Terraza, which offers Italian and Mediterranean, as well as the nearest bar... Northern Lights.

Staying at Paguia Cottages, so far, is the cheapest yet most accommodating resort I've been to as of the time this article is written.

We thank the hostel managers, care takers of Paguia Cottages for an accommodating and comfortable stay we had as we mapped Camiguin, the Island Born of Fire in the Philippines.

Contact:
Our contact was Ruby (a guy) who is very accommodating. But the number he gave us was the proprietor's number: Hospecia Paguia at number +63 915 3664963

This resort and other establishments around Yumbing and Agoho, Camiguin has been mapped and has been contributed to the +OpenStreetMap Philippines  project for free use of travelers who plan to roam around Camiguin with GPS assistance.


Map 
Openstreetmap Philippines Map (link)
Schadow1 Expeditions Contributions (link)

How to use for your Navigation System (link)




For a more detailed account of Schadow1 Expeditions on its 4- day Camiguin Adventure and Mapping Expedition, check on the links below:

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