Location: Iriga City
Top Things to do in Iriga City
Top Restaurants in Iriga City
The 10 Best Things to Do in Iriga City, Philippines
Iriga, officially the City of Iriga, (Rinconada Bikol: Syudad ka Iriga; Central Bicolano: Syudad nin Iriga; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iriga), or known simply as Iriga City, is a 4th class city in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 111,757 people.
Restaurants in Iriga City
1. Lake Buhi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By gabykouchacji - Washington DC, District of Columbia
I've been visiting the city of Buhi, at the extreme end of Bicol Province, since before Wi-Fi was invented, at a time when there was little outside communication. They do have Wi-Fi now (weather permitting, since the boxes are hung on coconut trees), but you'll probably be happier with the peace and tranquility, just waking up to see paradise from your room or bungalow.
Without the hordes of tourists, the people are friendlier. If you wander outside the city to the remote villages, you may become the center of attraction as they rarely see humans with big pointed noses.
The food is good, such as specialties like lechon (roast pig), sisig (pork cheeks, head, and liver), Pancit Palabok (a noodle dish in orange sauce), and tilapia in abundance. There is also Sinigang soup (soured with tamarind paste), and my favorite: Laing, a dish made with taro leaves cooked in rich coconut milk and a staple in Bicol. Morsels of meat and chili are added to give it a punch.
The best time of the year to visit is around Christmas in this predominantly Catholic country. You'll find many manger/nativity scenes to admire, made out of anything that they can find in the fields.
2. Nalalata Falls
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Roger22472 - Camarines Sur Province, Philippines
Nalala Falls in Bula Cam Sur brought me to a wonderful place--I called that as Jurassic place--behold, in owe and wonder, the place was magical, and the locals are cheerful and welcoming--from Naga, I joined the tour from Kaddlagan Outdoor shops located in SM Naga and charge me 500 PHP for exclusively fun activities--rappelling, canyoning the river and a communion with all others who joined the tour--an adventure of a lifetime! it took us les than 2 hours off Naga City proper, from there you can have all your packlunch and snacks because Nalalata falls is really isolated and no other amenities available in the place, so I suggest you bring with you food, the 500Php includes transportation and competent people to guide you with your activities like rappelling, equipment used and among other devices needed for your safety is provided--experiencing nature truly brings me an inspiration and Nalalata Falls gave me a glance of a historic place-a communion with mother nature-Nalalata Falls has an impressive gush of water providing a cool mist and spray to the area. The falls has an approximate height of 40 feet. Water streams down to a pool basin that is good for swimming. The water is clean and cool. At both sides of the falls, there are two caves that can be explored.
3. CWC - Camsur Water Sports Complex
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Ben H - Ipswich, Australia
We had a great time learning to wakeboard at CWC. Friends of ours who were accomplished took to the very large lake to wakeboard around, and for the price - it is very hard to beat. We also enjoyed relaxing by the pool and watching others while eating food and sipping cocktails.
4. Basilica of Our Lady of Penafrancia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 135 reviews
Reviewed By wonderlustMD - Manila, Philippines
If you came here because you are a devotee, or a Catholic, or just for the architecture, the place will offer a beautiful structure perfect for adoration and reflection.
5. Mayon Skyline View Deck
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By SherwinJoseph - Luzon, Philippines
Access to the Mayon Skyline park might be difficult but worth it!
I've been to Albay many times but I was able to visit the place just this month. We just decided to have a quick trip after a workshop. It's all worth it!
About 8kms from the main road (Ligao-Tabaco Road) with the road marker "Planetarium". The concrete, widened road is accessible to all types of vehicles. Now being developed with stations of the cross going up the hill.
Sunset view is great in the area. Here, you are literally at the foot of Mount Mayon.
Please don't forget to bring a jacket during the cold season.
6. Mayon Volcano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 743 reviews
Reviewed By Jose C - Toronto, Canada
the volcano is the main attration of the city and the province , it is a prefect cone, imponente, beutiful, serene, strong and volatile, i so the nature taking his course , it was absolutely marvelous, great place to see the forces of nature showing in vivant coulors the power of nature
7. Inorogan Chapel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By jbbrmlrrjlrdplr - Beijing, China
The small chapel and its well maintained garden can be reached by climbing 160+ steps up along the slope of Mt. Iriga. The view at the top extends all the way to Lake Bato and beyond. The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Anguish (Nuestra Senora de las Angustias) whose intervention is claimed to have saved the town of Iriga from the explosion of Mt. Iriga (also known as Mt. Asog or Mt. Sumagang) in the 1600s. About 100m behind the main chapel, one can find the "buhay na bato" or miracle rock on which the alleged apparition took place. The Gardens are well maintained with further development plans in place with the help of various private donors. Don't forget to look for the statue of the 3 agtas (native men) who saw the Virgin, light a candle and ring the small bell at the belfry. Also talk to the caretaker who lives in a small house behind the chapel; he has lots of stories to tell.
8. Panicuason Hot Spring Resort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Shredder1331 - Vancouver, Canada
We were in SM Naga City and decided to visit Kaddlagan outdoor shop to ask the staff there about a day trip to the hot Springs. They had the correct answers. We took a tricycle from Villa Caceres hotel to SM Naga in the morning. We talked to a taxi driver. He wanted P600 pesos or $12 USD to take 4 of us up to the Panicuason Hot Springs resort. We negotiated P1100 for a two-way trip. The driver would return after 4 hours to take us home. The drive up there was spectacular. Local jeeps will drop you off at the gate and then you will have a long hike to the resort. A taxi takes you right to the pools. Take a taxi. We paid for 3 adults and one child...ground down the price to P750...the kid got in for free...haha! Nice lady in a good mood at the gate.
The location is perfect. The greenery and tropical jungle surround by steep cliffs and a fast moving river. The resort was clean and not busy. A family had just ordered breakfast feast while we arrived and we saw the spread put out on 2 tables. Nice feast. We had just finished a breakfast buffet at our hotel. This still looked good. Fresh coffee too? We bought 2 litres of Sprite and ice...glasses...snacks. We threw on our swimming trunks and headed into the pools. I heard a high pitched scream from above and saw an object high above moving at a fast rate of speed. Zip line!! No way!!
The kid's pool was 29c and my 5 year old son loved it. Next pool was 33C and gorgeous! I ventured down to the 39C pool. I mentioned my back has been sore since 1997! Back injury at work lifting boxes. Protruded L4 and L5 discs. I stepped into the 39C pool and "boom"! My back felt better. I moved around and did some back stretching excersizes. My back felt better. I felt good. I was more flexible and the pain was gone. No hoax...I felt better. The mineral content and heat combined with the act of swimming are scientifically proven to heal back injuries. They simulate this in most major hospitals. This is the real thing as God had intended.
We spent 3 hours in the pools swimming and having fun. Not crowded that day. Two gorgeous Swedish fashion models in the pools...poor me. An Italian/Filipino family and a huge family from Batangas who insisted I join them for some Red Horse...and another...and another. Our taxi driver showed up and rescued me from yet another Red Horse. Met some awesome people in a 4 hour period. Our taxi driver was really nice. He dropped us off at our hotel. He refused a tip. He only wanted the P1100 we agreed to. We spent less than $50 USD on this day-trip for 4 people. Highly recommended.
9. St. John the Baptist Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By ImmerWandern - Palos Heights, Illinois
We visited the Church of San Juan Bautista in Tabaco during one of our exploration day trips from Legazpi City. Formally known as San Juan Bautista Parish Church, Tabaco Church served a parish founded by Franciscans in the late-1500s early in the colonial era. This particular church, however, was built towards the end of the Spanish colonial rule in 1867. It was built in a style common in the colonial era featuring relatively squat building, low and wide, with the bell-tower a separate structure. Destructive earthquakes being common in the Philippines builders had to make adjustments to their structures. Not only were these low-lying churches more stable, the separation of the bell-tower lessened the likelihood that, in case of collapse, it would strike the church. The main building itself would be build with thicker side walls and lighter material used for the upper portions of the structure. Concessions had to be made to the region due to the difficulty and expense of hauling building materials over long distances.
St. John the Baptist was well-exemplified those features. It was built with dark volcanic rock and was strikingly different from the other churches we had visited - Our Lady of the Gate in Daraga, Cathedral of San Gregorio Magno in Legazpi. The interior was also a little more ornate than Daraga Church with coffered ceiling and arches lining the nave. The bell-tower was not only physically detached from the main building but also white-washed in stark contrast to the rest of the church (though black stone was showing through in many spots). However it, too, featured squat first level before tapering upward like a slim pyramid. The bell tower naturally also function as a look out for raiding pirates.
10. Cagsawa Ruins Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 542 reviews
Reviewed By sabi0james - Manila, Philippines
The history of the ruins is already an attraction in itself. This recent visit was extra special given that the Mayon was currently erupting, though during our visit it was spewing just a few ash columns into the atmosphere. The park offers a great vantage point to view the majestic volcano. Souvenir shops and small eateries can be found inside the park complex.
TAGS
