Caramoan

Caramoan, officially the Municipality of Caramoan, is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
The town became known worldwide after being used in an international television show. The area features white beaches, calm lagoons, caves, rocky cliffs, and rich marine life. Even before its media exposure, Caramoan was appreciated for its natural and unspoiled island setting.

History

The name Caramoan has been officially used since 1619, the year it was named by a Spanish missionary friar, Francisco de la Cruz Y Oropesa. Fr. Oropesa penetrated the thick virgin forest of the Caramoan Peninsula and founded a small settlement in a place called Baluarte. This settlement was subsequently turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric in 1696.
Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, it was determined that the place was once called Guta de Leche, which was given by Dutch traders who operated a gold mine in Lahuy Island and who frequented the area to trade with the natives. The name was perhaps derived from the milkdrop stalagmites found among the rocks of Guta Port. Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the place came to be called "Carahan" for the sea turtle, which was at that time to be found in great number along the shores of the Peninsula.

Geography

Caramoan is bounded on the north by the town of Garchitorena formerly town of Caramoan and the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean; on the north-east by the island province of Catanduanes; on the south by Lagonoy Gulf; on the east by the Maqueda Channel and on the west by the municipality of Presentacion.
The municipality covers approximately with approximately of irregular coastline surrounded by the vast ocean, bay, seas and swamps. It is approximately from Metro Manila; from the municipality of Pili, where the seat of the provincial government and the Naga Domestic Airport are located; and east from Naga City, the heart of Bicol.
The municipality is located at the tip of the Caramoan Peninsula, a rugged place of land extending into the waters of the Maqueda Channel on the north and east and Lagonoy Gulf on the south. It has been dubbed as the Emerging Paradise of the Pacific due to its white and pink sand beaches known internationally.

Caramoan Islands

Off the coast of the peninsula are numerous small islets. The 10 principal islands of the group are:

Barangays

Caramoan is politically subdivided into 49 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Agaas
Antolon
Bacgong
Bahay
Bikal
Binanuahan
Cabacongan
Cadong
Colongcogong
Canatuan
Caputatan
Gogon
Daraga
Gata
Gibgos
Guijalo
Hanopol
Hanoy
Haponan
Ilawod
Ili-Centro
Lidong
Lubas
Malabog
Maligaya
Mampirao
Mandiclum
Maqueda
Minalaba
Oring
Oroc-Osoc
Pagolinan
Pandanan
Paniman
Patag-Belen
Pili-Centro
Pili-Tabiguian
Poloan
Salvacion
San Roque
San Vicente
Santa Cruz
Solnopan
Tabgon
Tabiguian
Tabog
Tawog
Toboan
Terogo
Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Caramoan was 50,433 people, with a density of.

Economy

Tourism

Tourist destinations include the Caramoan National Park, the Centro, and Gota Beach, where activities include diving, swimming, snorkeling and spelunking.

''Survivor'' series

Caramoan has been the site for several editions of the competitive reality television show Survivor. The area has hosted the U.S. version in two consecutive seasons, the Serbian version for two consecutive seasons and the Israeli version for three consecutive seasons. Bulgarian Survivor also filmed its fourth season there in May to July 2009. Robinson 2010, the 12th season of the Swedish version of the franchise, was filmed in Caramoan from May to June 2010. Finnish versions were filmed in there in 2018 with all-celebrity cast, and in 2019 half-famous and half- regular people cast.
The 8th season of Koh-Lanta, the French edition of Survivor, also was shot there. TV director Corinne Vaillant stated that "the powdery sand, the coconuts on Gota beach and the neighboring islets are a 'dream' for the French people. We chose Caramoan because it’s really wild. It’s necessary that contestants don’t see anything other than nature for them to believe that they’re really lost in the wilds.”
The only season of Survivor India was shot in Caramoan, with an Indian production crew spotted in the area in March 2011.
The first season of Supraviețuitorul, a Romanian reality game based on Survivor was shot in Caramoan in the summer of 2016, as well as the first and second season of Robinsonův ostrov.
In spring of 2016 the first season of the Slovenian version of Survivor Philippines was filmed on 4 different islands, including Catanaguan and Tayak.

Education

The Caramoan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

Agaas Primary School
Agawan Elementary School
Antolon Elementary School
Bacgong Primary School
Bahay Elementary School
Bikal Elementary School
Bikal Fishery School
Cabacongan Elementary School
Cadong Primary School
Cagnipa Primary School
Canatuan Primary School
Caputatan Primary School
Caramoan Central School
Colongcogong Elementary School
Daraga Elementary School
Gata Elementary School
Gibgos Elementary School
Gogon Elementary School
Guijalo Elementary School
Guinahoan Elementary School
Hanopol Elementary School
Hanoy Primary School
Haponan Elementary School
Homatoy Primary School
Ilawod Elementary School
Instituto de Caceres
Lidong Elementary School
Lubas Elementary School
Malabog Elementary School
Maligaya Elementary School
Malindog Primary School
Mampirao Elementary School
Mandiclom Elementary School
Maqueda Primary School
Marian Formation Center
Minalaba Elementary School
Oring Elementary School
Oroc-Osoc Primary School
Pagolinan Primary School
Pandanan Elementary School
Paniman Elementary School
Patag-Guijalo Elementary School
Patag-Poloan Elementary School
Pawican Elementary School
Pili-Centro Elementary School
Pili-Tabiguian Elementary School
Poloan Elementary School
Salvacion Elementary School
San Francisco Elementary School
San Roque Elementary School
Sta. Cruz Elementary School
Tabgon Elementary School
Tabiguian Elementary School
Tabog Elementary School
Terogo Elementary School
Toboan Elementary School
Secondary schools
Bonifacio D. Borebor Sr. High School
Gibgos National High School
Guijalo National High School
Oring National High School
Tabgon National High School
Tawog National High School
Tawog National High School
United High School