Top Loading to Baras

There are two ways to get to Puraran in Baras town via public transport from Virac. One may take a bus going to Gigmoto and get off at the junction going down to Puraran Beach or take a Baras bound jeepney and take a tricycle from Baras to Puraran. Jeepneys and buses bound for Baras are located along the boulevard near the Port of Virac.

Bus, Jeepney & Van Terminal in Virac

There isn’t much option for my cousin and me since we missed the last trip going to Gigmoto that day. It leaves around 11 a.m. everyday.

Traveling top loading style

After having our P35 lunch nearby we settled ourselves on the roof of one Baras bound jeepney. This is traveling top loading style. Is it fun? Yes. Is it safe? Not quite. Really.

At around 1 p.m. the jeepney left Virac. Being on top of the jeepney offers one unparalleled views of the place compared to being confined in the jam-packed seating below.

Along the way we saw the Spanish era Bato Church and crossed the Bato bridge spanning the wide Bato River. 

 Bato Church

 Bato Bridge reputed to be the longest bridge in Bicol

Bato River

Rice threshing

After Bato, the road zigzags over the hills until we reached Baras. A new Doppler radar tower of PAGASA is currently being built along this section of the road.

 PAGASA's new eight-story Doppler radar tower

Winding road to Baras

Somewhere at the downhill section of the road before Baras we saw a Gigmoto bound bus that collided with the hillside. I guess we were lucky that we weren’t able to catch this bus from Virac.

Gigmoto bound bus that had faulty brakes

The trip to Baras lasted over an hour. We bought some supplies before heading to Puraran. At Baras, we met Onyong, who took us to Puraran Beach. It was a semi-special trip since there was another passenger on board the tricycle with us.

We reached Puraran beach in twenty minutes. The road winding down from the highway to the beach below gave us a panoramic view of Puraran. I was ecstatic upon seeing the view and so eager to set my foot on the beach.

Puraran Beach