Catanduanes is at the easternmost tip of Camarines Sur and northeast of the Philippine Sea. Its boundaries include the Magueda Channel in the west and the Lagonoy Gulf in the south. Both the north and east sides of the islands are open to the Pacific Ocean.

The province, due to its geographical position is relentlessly exposed to typhoons. As such, it has no dry season. Heavy rains are common particularly between the months of September and March.

The province was formerly known as Catanduan, meaning "where tando trees abound".

In 1573, Juan de Salcedo explored the island and found Malayan settlers believed to be descendants of the Bornean datus who came from Panay in the 13th century. Up to now, one of the islands off the northeast coast of Catanduanes is called Panay.

In 1576, a galleon sailing from Acapulco in Mexico to the Philippines was shipwrecked near the coast of Catanduanes. Ten Augustinian friars were aboard. It is said that survivors of the disaster were either killed by the natives or made servants of the datu. The Holy Cross of Batalay in the town of Bato is said to mark the burial site of the Augustinian´s leader Father Diego de Herrera.

Throughout the Spanish era and the American occupation, Catanduanes was a subprovince of Albay. It became a separate province on September 26, 1945.

The Catanduanes populace, totaling 202,464 are warm, hospitable, and highly trainable. They speak Bikol and are conversant in English.

The inhabitants speak the Bicolano dialect with a distinctive accent. The natives are known for their religious fervor, which many attribute to their constant exposure to typhoons.

The major industries of Catanduanes are fishing and farming. The provincial economy remains basically agricultural with 29.2 percent of its total land area being utilized for farming. Major crops are rice, corn, coconut, abaca and rootcrops. Fishing ranks second to farming as the main source of livelihood.

Catanduanes is also currently one of the country’s largest producer of unprocessed abaca fibers cultivated on some 19,438 hectares of available cropland.

The waters around the province is considered rich in marine products. Variety of fishes abound – blue marlin, tuna, tanigue; and crabs and prawns which are shipped and sold to several Metro Manila outlets.

Of the province’s 315 barangays, only one – Buenavista in Caramoran – is not served by the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. Full energization of the island will be a reality by the end of 2004. The capital town of Virac accounts for 60% of the power consumed by the island.

Power is supplied by the National Power Corporation sourced from the Balongbong mini-hydro power barges and generator set. The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative also operates its own generating plant while a power rental company beefs up the grid’s capacity.

There are four water districts in Catanduanes that provide potable water to 67 percent of the population. These are the Virac Water District, Bato, Pandan, and San Andres Water Districts.

Catanduanes has an airport, the Virac Airport, situated in San Isidro Village, which is presently served by the Asian Spirit Airline with daily flights during peak months and five weekly flights during the rest of the year . Its runway is presently being expanded and upgraded in anticipation of the implementation of the regional flagship program on tourism.

There are 17 marine ports officially listed in Catanduanes, comprising of three national, one municipal, and 13 fishing ports.

News and public affairs and entertainment in Catanduanes are accessed through three radio stations, four cable systems, and three television repeaters.

The two radio stations in the province are: DZVC-AM (1 kw) Radyo ng Bayan Virac, DZAA-FM (5 kw) and Radyo Natin FM.

The print media is distributed in all towns, with majority distributed in the towns of Virac, Bato, and San Andres. Prior to 2004, three highly polarized local weeklies compete with 15 national dailies and tabloids. These were the Catanduanes Tribune, Catanduanes Islander and The Forum, all published weekly with a circulation of 1,000 copies each. As of the present, only the Catanduanes Tribune survives, reaffirming its status as the oldest and most credible community newspaper on the island.

Catanduanes has numerous inns, resorts, and pension houses. Among the more popular resorts are the Puraran Beach Resort which remains to be the premier destination of international surfers; Twin Rock Beach Resort with stretches of white sands and coves ideal for fishing and snorkeling; the Balongbong Mini-Hydro Damsite and Forebay Resort in Bato for those who love to hike; the Catanduanes Island Resort in Panganiban offers dining pavilion, duplex cottages, and an 18-hole golf course for golf lovers; the Toytoy Beach Resort offers snorkeling and spear fishing.

Other places to stay include: Dolly’s Beach Lodging Resort in San Vicente, Virac, with its floating cottages, beach volleyball facilities, a dance hall, and baby sitting and laundry services; Marem’s Pension House in Rawis, Virac; Bosdak Beach Resort and Restaurant in Magnesia del Sur, Virac; Sorelli Chateau Lodging House in San Jose St., Virac; and Sandy’s Blossoms Pension House and Fast Food in Sta. Cruz, Virac.

Like the other provinces, Catanduanes is blessed with a good number of places of interests. One of them is Nahulugan Falls in Gigmoto with its waters cascading magnificently on three tiers of rocks creating spectacular sprays; the Bato Catholic Church, the Luyang Cave in San Andres, and the Batalay Shrine where the first cross in the province was erected over the grave of Fr. Diego de Herrera of the Augustinian Order who died in 1576.

Transportation going to the province is not a problem. Thee Asian Spirit Airline has daily flights to and from Manila during peak months and five flights weekly during the rest of the year.

Visitors and tourists who want to take in all the scenic views can go by water and try any one of four ferries: M/B Star Ferry, M/B Eugenia, M/B Calixta II, and M/B Calixta III. These roll-on, roll-off ferries carry passengers, vehicles and cargo from Tabaco to Virac or San Andres. Land travel is facilitated by Tawtrasco, which has its station in Sta. Elena, and the RSL Bus Line which is a sister company of Regina Shipping Lines which operates three of the four ROROs.

There are many good investment areas in Catanduanes, particularly in Virac where tourism projects are given top priority. The chains of beaches with cream and white sand, the verdant landscape around the province, dotted with waterfalls, caves and rivers, and majestic waves are sure to excite foreign as well as local tourists.

There is also the fish and crab or prawn farming, which are considered promising industries apart from cottage industries which are abaca and forestry based.

Abaca production is also a potentially good investment area. Given the volume of abaca fiber harvested from vast plantations in the province it is possible to broaden this industry into processing abaca to pulp, yarn, and fiber. At present, the production is limited to stripping and harvesting.