About an hour from Legazpi City, Albay’s provincial capital, lies the sleepy town of Camalig. Here, you’ll find one of the province’s hidden gems: Quitinday Hills, a 400-hectare sweep of verdant terrain that’s reminiscent of Bohol’s famed Chocolate Hills.

Related Adventure: Mount Paliparan DIY Guide

BACKGROUND and TRAIL

Standing at about 127m above sea level, the main hill can be easily surmounted with a 15-minute trek (even shorter if you’re hardcore!) along an established trail. The rutted path has a good sprinkling of craggy rocks and is secured by a length of bamboo fence. It also has a width of about one arm span, so visitors are advised to climb in single file. Overall, however, the trail’s subtle and steady incline makes it beginner- and kid-friendly.

Once you get to the top of the hill, you’ll have a choice of several viewing areas. One of these is a swath of even ground lying between two mounds, thereby affording visitors a different perspective of the hills. Here, you’ll find a nipa hut, where you can catch your breath while admiring the expanse of rolling hills and jagged peaks.

Alternatively, climb up onto one of the mounds, where you’ll be able to glimpse the looming form of Mount Mayon amidst the knolls. The view makes for a postcard-worthy photo on a clear day.

SIDETRIPS

Sidetrips to the Cagsawa Ruins, Sumlang Lake, and Jovellar Underground River and Cave are highly recommended.

Related Adventure: Albay Day Tour

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Dayhike (from Sorsogon City)

06:10 to 07:15 - Sorsogon Town Proper to Legazpi, Albay via van

07:15 to 07:30 - Legazpi to Bañag via tricycle

07:30 to 08:10 - Bañag to Quitinday Intersection via jeepney
08:10 to 08:40 - Quitinday Junction to Quitinday Green Hills via rented tricycle

08:40 to 09:15 - Register, pay fees, trek, picture-taking

<Sidetrips>
09:15 to 09:50 - Quitinday Green Hills to Jovellar Underground River and Cave via rented tricycle

09:50 to 12:10 - Register, explore underground river and cave
12:10 to 12:45 - Wash up
12:45 to 13:10 - to Rayben's for lunch via rented tricycle
13:10 to 14:00 - Lunch
14:20 to 14:50 - Rayben's to Sumlang Lake via rented tricycle
14:50 to 16:00 - Balsa ride across Sumlang Lake, picture-taking
16:00 to 16:10 - Sumlang Lake to Highway via rented tricycle
16:10 to 16:30 - Sumlang to Legazpi via jeepney
16:30 to 17:45 - Legazpi to Sorsogon town proper via bus

BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES

(Per pax unless otherwise stated)
UV Van Fare (Sorsogon to Legazpi) - Php95
Tricycle Fare (Legazpi drop-off to Bañag; good for 2 pax) - Php20
Jeepney Fare (Bañag to Quitinday Intersection) - Php15
Tricycle Rent (Quitinday Intersection to Quitinday Green Hills, Jovellar Underground River and Cave, Sumlang Lake, and to Highway; good for 2 pax) - Php750
Entrance Fee (Quitinday Green Hills) - Php20

For expenses for Jovellar Underground River, click here. For Sumlang Lake, go here. For the complete Albay Day Tour, check this out, or see this Facebook photo album.

HOW TO GET THERE
From Sorsogon town proper, take a tricycle or walk to the municipal hall where there is a UV van terminal. Get on a van bound to Daraga or Legazpi. Once in Legazpi City, take a jeepney. Once there, ride a jeepney with “Polangui” signage and alight at the Quitinday junction. Then, rent a tricycle for the round trip to Quitinday Hills.