Pili is the provincial capital of Camarines Sur, and is located to the south of Naga City.

Understand

Used to be a hiding spot of rebels in Spanish times, Pili has become the capital of Camarines Sur. Due to historical laws that prevented provincial capitals from being placed on independent cities, this once-sleepy town was chosen to become the new provincial capital, as Naga became an independent city.

Pili straddles the boundary of two major varieties of the Bikol languages, the Central variant of Bikol which is used in Naga, and the Rinconada at the southern part of the town. As some residents of the Rinconada district go to Pili to shop, work, or study, Central Bikol is considered as the most understood local dialect.

It's unknown to some extent whether Pili comes from the nut of the same name, which is also the town's specialty, of from the Bikol word for "choose", but you can buy jars or packs of those from pasalubong shops.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Naga Airport (WNP  ^IATA), Maharlika Highway, San Jose. (updated Apr 2020)

The plane to and from Manila to Naga City takes about one hour. As of September 2020, only Cebgo serves the airport, using an ATR 72 turboprop twice weekly.

From the airport, walk 400 m (1,300 ft) into Maharlika Highway, and take a jeepney to the downtown area (for ₱3).

By bus

Buses stop around the Super EuroXprez gas station along the Diversion road at Barangay La Purisima. Also, buses going to Partido, Rinconada district, and Albay also make stops at Anayan crossing, the junction of Maharlika and Partido highways.

By train

• Pili station. A slowly crumbling structure being rebuilt as of 2019, it is served by the Bicol Commuter route between Naga and Legazpi during weekdays. Naga-Legazpi (#500) arrives at 5:20AM and Legazpi-Naga (#1720) at 7:29PM. (updated Apr 2020)

A ticket from Naga costs ₱10 as of 2017 (₱35 from Iriga, and ₱100 from Legazpi).

Get around

Public transportation is provided by jeeps, tricycles, multicab, and motorcycles.

See

Heritage Sites

• Saint Raphael Archangel Parish Church (Pili Church). A Catholic church dating to 1819. (updated Oct 2020)
• Filipino - Japanese Friendship Landmark, Sitio Bongcao, Curry. A marker erected in 1985 to commemorate the end of Japanese occupation of Bicol and the start of stronger Filipino-Japanese relations. (updated Oct 2020)
• Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church (Curry Church), Curry. A Catholic church located at the foot of Mt. Isarog. (updated Oct 2020)

Natural Attractions

Balang Falls

1 Mount Isarog. A dormant volcano and a national park open for trekking and mountain biking. (updated Oct 2017)

• Balang Falls (Shower Falls), Sitio Bongcao, Curry. A waterfall at the foot of Mt. Isarog and is the last falls of the "eight falls in one river". It can be accessible through hiking from the Bongcao trail at Barangay Curry. (updated Oct 2020)

Do

• 1 Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CamSur Watersports Complex, or CWC). (updated Apr 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Elizabeth Hotel, ☏ +63 956 807 6391. From ₱1100. (updated Apr 2020)
• 2 Moraville Drive-inn Hotel, Maharlika Highway, ☏ +63 54 477 3947. (updated Apr 2020)

Connect

• Internet cafes. 24 hours. All over the town. from ₱10. (updated Oct 2020)

Go next

Routes through Pili

Daet/Manila ← Naga ←	N  S	→ Junction → → Legazpi
Tigaon ← Ocampo ←	E  W	→ END