Caramoan National Park

Caramoan Overview

Caramoan National Park, known in Filipino as Pambansang Liwasan ng Caramoan, is a coastal and island-based protected area located in the province of Camarines Sur on the Bicol Peninsula in southeastern Luzon, Philippines.

Covering approximately 13.3 square miles (34.5 square kilometers), the park includes both terrestrial and marine zones and encompasses parts of the Caramoan Peninsula and nearby islands.

Established in 1938, it is one of the oldest national parks in the country and is celebrated for its dramatic limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches, lush forests, and rich marine biodiversity. The park has gained international attention in recent years as a filming location for various editions of the reality television show “Survivor.”

The terrain of Caramoan National Park is a striking combination of rugged limestone karst formations, coastal headlands, dense forests, and coral-rich waters. Inland, forested hills give way to cliffs and caves, while the coastline is lined with coves, rock towers, and beaches.

The landscape features tidal pools, caves such as Kulapnitan Cave, and shallow lagoons. Vegetation in the park includes a mix of lowland dipterocarp forest, mangrove stands along coastal fringes, and grassy clearings. Orchids, ferns, and flowering shrubs thrive in the moist and shaded parts of the forest, while coconut palms and other coastal flora dominate the beachfront zones.

Caramoan National Park supports a diverse array of wildlife both on land and in the surrounding waters. Birdlife is particularly abundant, with sightings of species such as the Brahminy kite, kingfisher, heron, and Philippine hornbill. Bats and small mammals like civet cats and Philippine macaques inhabit the park’s forested areas and caves.

Reptiles and amphibians are also present, including lizards and frogs that are adapted to both forest and rocky coastal environments. In the adjacent marine areas, coral reefs shelter a variety of fish, crustaceans, sea turtles, and invertebrates, making the park an important site for marine conservation and reef protection.

Among the park’s most popular features are its island beaches and dramatic karst cliffs. Islands such as Matukad, Lahos, and Hunongan attract visitors for their white sands, turquoise waters, and secluded settings. These locations offer spectacular views and opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and exploration.

Inland, natural features such as caves, waterfalls, and forest trails offer alternative adventures for hikers and spelunkers. The park’s scenic mix of land and sea has made it an ideal destination for nature lovers, beachgoers, and eco-tourists seeking a more remote and unspoiled setting.

Visitors experience Caramoan National Park through a mix of island-hopping tours, snorkeling excursions, trekking, caving, and cultural visits to nearby communities. Local guides and boat operators play a central role in helping visitors navigate the park’s spread-out features.

Accommodations range from beachside resorts to homestays, and tourism is largely community-driven, supporting local livelihoods and promoting environmental stewardship.

Conservation in Caramoan National Park involves both ecological protection and community engagement. Challenges include increasing tourism pressure, illegal fishing, and habitat degradation.

However, efforts by local government units, NGOs, and national agencies have led to stronger regulation, coral reef monitoring, and the promotion of sustainable tourism practices. Community education and eco-tourism initiatives have helped build awareness about the park’s ecological and cultural value, ensuring that Caramoan remains a pristine and accessible natural treasure.

Park Map

Caramoan National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Caramoan National Park, located in Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region of Luzon, Philippines, is a striking coastal park that blends lush lowland forests, limestone karst formations, secluded beaches, caves, and islets. This diverse landscape supports a rich variety of terrestrial wildlife, especially forest-dwelling and cave-adapted mammals and reptiles that have adapted to the park’s tropical forest and rugged terrain.

Philippine Warty Pig
Inhabiting the forested interiors of Caramoan’s hills, this endemic pig roots through soil for fruits, tubers, and invertebrates. It is shy and typically active at night, playing an important ecological role in seed dispersal.

Philippine Deer (Luzon Brown Deer)
A quiet browser, this native deer is found in wooded areas and forest clearings, feeding on grasses and leaves. It is often most active in the early morning and late afternoon.

Philippine Long-tailed Macaque
This highly intelligent and social monkey lives in troops near rivers and forest edges. It forages for fruit, leaves, shellfish, and insects and is often heard calling from the treetops.

Common Palm Civet
This nocturnal mammal prowls the park’s forests and limestone outcrops, feeding on fruits, small animals, and insects. It also uses caves and tree hollows for shelter during the day.

Northern Luzon Cloud Rat (possible subspecies presence)
A large, nocturnal rodent endemic to Luzon, the cloud rat lives in the canopy and feeds on leaves, bark, and fruit. Though rarely seen, it contributes to forest regeneration.

Philippine Forest Rat
This native rodent scurries through the underbrush and limestone crevices, foraging for seeds and insects. It is an important food source for snakes and forest-dwelling predators.

Tokay Gecko
This large and colorful lizard is commonly seen clinging to cave walls or tree trunks at night. It feeds on insects and small animals and is known for its loud, croaking call.

Water Monitor Lizard
Found near streams and coastal edges, this powerful reptile feeds on fish, amphibians, and carrion. It is a strong swimmer and often basks on rocks or tree branches.

Skinks (Various endemic species)
Small, smooth-scaled lizards that dart through leaf litter and sun-warmed rocks. They feed on insects and contribute to keeping insect populations in balance.

Cave-dwelling Bats (Fruit and insectivorous species)
Numerous bat species roost in the park’s limestone caves. Insectivorous bats help control mosquito populations, while fruit bats pollinate trees and disperse seeds through the forest.

Birds

Caramoan National Park is also known for its outstanding birdlife. The coastal cliffs, limestone towers, mangroves, and forests attract a range of birds, including forest specialists, island endemics, and coastal species that nest in caves or forage in the surrounding sea.

Philippine Coucal
This secretive ground-dwelling bird hunts lizards, insects, and small animals in dense undergrowth. Its deep, echoing calls are often heard before the bird is seen.

White-eared Brown Dove
A shy and ground-foraging endemic dove, it feeds on fallen fruit and seeds in forest clearings. Its soft cooing is part of the park’s early morning chorus.

Tarictic Hornbill (Luzon subspecies)
A fruit-eating bird with a large bill and loud, honking call. It nests in tree cavities and plays an essential role in seed dispersal in Caramoan’s forest canopies.

Philippine Bulbul
Abundant and vocal, this songbird feeds on fruit and insects and flits through the mid-canopy in family groups. Its bubbly song fills the air throughout the day.

Philippine Serpent Eagle
A mid-sized raptor often seen circling above the forest canopy. It preys on snakes, lizards, and rodents and perches quietly on high branches between flights.

Guaiabero
This small green parrot, endemic to Luzon and surrounding islands, is often seen in pairs feeding on fruit, buds, and nectar in the forest canopy.

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker
A tiny and energetic bird that clings to trunks and branches in search of insects. It is commonly heard tapping or calling in the trees near trails and forest openings.

Swiftlets (Cave-nesting species)
Several species of swiftlets nest in the limestone caves near the park’s coast, using saliva to attach their nests to the walls. They feed on flying insects over the forest and sea.

Barn Swallow
These agile fliers are often seen swooping over beaches, cliffs, and open areas, catching insects mid-air. They may nest on rocky ledges or human structures near the coastline.

Kingfisher (Common and Collared species)
Often seen near rivers, streams, and coastal mangroves, kingfishers perch silently before diving to catch fish or crustaceans. Their bright plumage and sharp calls are highlights of the park’s waterways.

Caramoan National Park is a rare fusion of mountain, forest, and sea—offering refuge to a vibrant mix of endemic wildlife and birds in a remote and rugged sanctuary where cliffs, caves, and coastal forest meet the Pacific.