Camarines Sur: Oh Dear, Oh Deer!

We hit the road again, driving from Albay Province back north towards the 2nd volcano on our itinerary, the Taal Volcano. But it would be two days before we get there. We stayed overnight in Naga, Camarines Sur, and the following night in Lucena City.

We didn’t have specific plans during these two days, apart from hotel bookings. So when my brother-in-law mentioned about a deer farm in the town of Ocampo, Camarines Sur, spontaneity kicked in, and to deer farm we went!

The farm was at the foot of Mount Isarog, a volcano! Now that fits perfectly with the theme of our road trip. Mount Isarog is classified as ‘active’ although there have been no known eruptions in the recent history.

We never knew that there is deer farm in the Philippines, so we were quite excited to check it out.

From the unplanned trip to the deer farm, we headed to Naga City where we’d stay a night. Naga was also one of our ‘pitstops’ earlier in the road trip – from the north, Manila, through Lucena City to Naga then to Mount Mayon in Legazpi. This time it was the reverse – from the south, Misibis Bay, then to Naga and Lucena City, to Taal Volcano in Tagaytay City.

We booked the same hotel in Naga, the Avenue Plaza Hotel. It wasn’t easy to find a good hotel outside of the major cities in the Philippines, so we were thankful that this one turned not bad at all. In fact, we would not mind staying there again if we’d ever go back to Naga. We enjoyed the food at their restaurant especially the local breakfast spread. It was walking distance to restaurants and convenience stores.

Naga has beautiful churches and thankfully we had time to visit one, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

On our way to Lucena City the following day, military men stationed in Naga instructed us to make a detour and go via Daet in the mountainous Camarines Norte (instead of the usual route via Camarines Sur). It was a longer drive but the roads there are well maintained especially the stretch the cuts through Bicol Natural Park.

Some information that you may find useful:

Ocampo Deer Farm

• Brgy. Sta. Cruz , 4419 Ocampo, Camarines Sur, Philippines; +63 926 723 1773
• http://ocampo.pacificsantas.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/rudolphansanta/
• An hour and a half drive from Naga City

Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia

• Balatas Rd, Naga City, 4400 Camarines Sur,+63 54 473 3644

Tourist Attractions in Camarines Sur

• https://wikitravel.org/en/Camarines_Sur

Other posts on our volcano road trip in the Philippines:

Three Volcanoes and a Road Trip

Mount Mayon: The Majestic Lady and the Rugged ATVs

Mount Mayon: ATV Summit Trail Video – All the Way Up

Albay Province: Hiking on Quitinday Green Hills

Albay Province: Jovellar Underground River and Dry Cave

Albay Province: Sumlang Lake and FarmPlate

Albay Province: Misibis Bay Resort