Lantangan Beach, not your usual Caramoan white sand strip

The moment I set foot on the shallow water of Langtangan Beach in Pitogo Island in the Caramoan Peninsula, something was different. Although there were a group of visitors having lunch at the far end of the beach with their banca (motorized outrigger boat) anchored just a few meters, it was still, well, except for the rustling of leaves and the breaking of the waves.

I went farther to the shore and just beyond the line of immature trees, the view just surprised me. It was another beach, parallel to where we docked. But instead of a white strip of fine sand, something that we associate with the islets and beaches within this beautiful peninsula, what I saw was starkly different.

At the shore are smooth and elongated rocks and as the waves come, you hear the sound of these stones banging against each other. As you go farther from the shoreline, the rocks become irregular. Once you pass the line of trees, to where I was, pebbles, smaller.

My party from the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (ACTO) and Kaddlagan who were my hosts started their ascent to the grassy hill while I was still busy exploring and photographing Lantangan Beach but then followed suit after a few more minutes.

I know that I should have been more active as even while climbing the short but gradual incline, I was already out of breath. I stopped, gazed around and below and lo and behold, the sight of Lantangan Beach, its twin shores back to back that reminded me of Cabugao Islet and Antonia Beach in Isla Gigantes.

I went up farther, to the top and was just in awe at the unfolding scenery. Islets, islands, rocky outcrops. Different shades of blue both of the sea and of the sky. Green patches atop hills, gray rocks. And a cool wind blue. I was mesmerized. Enthralled. I can’t just do anything that after taking the obligatory photos, I just have to surrender myself and gaze. And take in the whole vista.

Thanx to ACTO/Naga Excursions and Kaddlagan for making this trip possible.