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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines

Virac

Give Virac one full day for the port, the WWII fountain and the market; add a second night only if you want a slow pace or an early ferry to Tabaco.

Virac is the capital of Catanduanes and the island's main transport hub, with the airport 3 km west of the centre and daily ferries to Tabaco in Albay. The sights sit within a 15-minute walk of each other, so one day covers them; a second night buys you a relaxed ferry morning or a run out to the coast.

AbucayAbuyogAgooAlaminos, LagunaAlaminosAlcalaAlegria, CebuAlona BeachAltavasAndaAngelesAngonoAntipoloApalitVirac200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Philippines
Best months
Dec–May
Avoid
Jun–Nov (rainy season)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
PHP
Money
Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
Daily spend
Budget ₱1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ₱2,000–3,000 excl. bed · High ₱3,500–5,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
Emergency
National emergency 911 · Police 117
Plugs
Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
Tipping
Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
Water
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
Toilets
Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee at a café₱80–120
Jollibee meal (breakfast 7–11 AM)₱120–180
Ferry Virac–Tabaco, non-AC₱240
Tricycle ride within town (about 2 km (1.2 mi))₱30–50

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

VRC · Virac Airport
San Isidro Village, about 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the centre; Cebu Pacific flies daily from Manila (NAIA).

Typical fares

Virac Port → Tabaco ferry, non-AC
₱240, 3½ h; AC ₱290
San Andres → Tabaco fast ferry, AC
₱330, 1 h; San Andres is 17 km (11 mi) from Virac
Tabaco → Legazpi / Naga van
₱40 / ₱180
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Jeepneys, motorized tricycles and pedicabs cover the town and nearby villages; the centre is walkable. Tricycle across town, about 2 km (1.2 mi): ₱30–50.

See and do

Known for

  • Virac Port ferry connections
  • Catanduanes World War II Memorial Fountain
  • Old Capitol Building Museum
  • Catanduanes Provincial Capitol
  • Imelda Avenue sunset views

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Tabaco (Albay)Peñafrancia shipping lines ferry from Virac Port, 3½ h, ₱240 non-AC / ₱290 A/CAbout 4 h to the Tabaco pier
San Andres fast ferryFast ferry from San Andres port (17 km (11 mi) from Virac) to Tabaco, 1 h, ₱330 A/CAbout 1 h 30 min including the ride to the port
BatoJeepney or van south along the circumferential roadCheck locally

Sleep

Rizal Avenue and town centre
Marem Pension House, Catanduanes Midtown Inn and Solybel Lodge cluster here, walking distance to the port, market and museum.
San Pedro (Rakdell Inn)
Fan single/double with own bathroom and cable TV, ₱350–450; the inn runs its own restaurant.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Thank youSalamatsa-LA-mat
How much is it?Magkano ito?mag-KA-no i-TO
Where is the port?Nasaan ang pier?na-SA-an ang pier
To this address, pleaseDito po, pakiusapdi-TO po pa-KI-u-sap
Can I pay by card?Puwede bang mag-card?pu-WE-de bang mag-card
Where is the toilet?Nasaan ang banyo?na-SA-an ang BAN-yo

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
  • Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
  • Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
  • Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
  • Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass

Scams and watch-outs

  • Ferry times change with weather and demand: confirm at Virac Port the day before you sail.
  • Transport thins out in the evening; if you miss the last boat or flight, plan to sleep in town.
  • Roads to outlying beaches can be rough in the rainy season (Jun–Nov).

Virac is generally calm for visitors; the real risks are road traffic when crossing, rough weather at sea in the rainy season, and carrying too much cash on public transport.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Virac yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Virac Port ferry connections
  • Catanduanes World War II Memorial Fountain
  • Old Capitol Building Museum
  • Catanduanes Provincial Capitol
  • Imelda Avenue sunset views

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Virac

Dito po, pakiusap

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • National emergency911
  • Police117

No embassies in Virac; the US embassy and most others are in Manila (check).

Cash is king outside the malls. 24-hour ATMs in town: BDO on San Juan Street and PNB on Rizal Avenue at Santa Cruz Street; BPI Direct BanKo and China Bank keep shorter banking hours.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/virac). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.