Smart Backpacker: Cagayan

Showing posts with label Cagayan. Show all posts

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Amazing Palaui Island!

from www.flickr.com

Tagged as the "Paradise of the Northeast," Palaui Island was recently included in CNN's top beaches in the world and was ranked number 10. But my peronal favorite is still El Nido in Palawan.

Last summer 2013, I went to Palaui Island. Though the trip was a bit cut-off by the location shoot of Survivor (they were occupying Palaui Island), I still decided to go to Palaui. From Legazpi City, I boarded a Cebu Pacific connecting flight from Legazpi to Manila and then Manila to Tuguegarao. The flight from Legazpi to Manila was good for less than 45 minutes. While the flight to Tuguegarao was also less than 45 minutes. But the land travel from Tuguegarao to Sta. Ana, Cagayan was 3 hours!

How to get there

Air and land travel - Manila flight to Tuguegarao (45 minutes) and then land travel to Sta. Ana (3 hours)

Land travel only -

Option # 1 - Bus ride from Sampaloc, Manila or Cubao to Tuguegarao (9-10 hours), then van travel to Sta. Ana, Cagayan (3 hours)

Option # 2 - Florida bus ride from Sampaloc, Manila or Cubao to Sta. Ana, Cagayan (12-13 hours)

Option # 3 - Partas or Farinas bus ride to Laoag, Ilocos Norte (8-9 hours), then GMW bus to Lalo, Cagayan (3-4 hours), then van ride to Sta, Ana (1.5 hours)

Note -
First trip to Tuguegarao from Sta. Ana
Bus - 4 am / Van 3 am
Last trip to Tuguegarao from Sta. Ana
Bus - 3 pm / Van 1:30 pm

From Sta. Ana to Laoag/Vigan (7 hours)
First trip by bus - 1 am
Last trip by bus - 3 am (If you miss the last trip, go to Magapit)

Once you reach Sta. Ana, Cagayan, head to San Vicente Port.

San Vicente Port, Sta. Ana, Cagayan

It was already pas 4 pm when I arrived in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. I had no plan of sleeping in Palaui Island. I just wanted to explore the island. And so I decided to spend the night in Sta. Ana proper. But I still waited and watched the sunset at the port.

RAV Transportation Services

Van for Hire

Derick Villegas

0998-545-0016

0917-504-0770

(043) 778-4657

(043) 703-0435

Email: rav_services@yahoo.com

Facebook: RAV Electronic Services

Address: 938 Brgy. Darasa, Tanauan City, Batangas 4232

Transportation / Tour services to any point of Luzon

Brand New Foton Traveller vehicles available

Equipped with GPS, wifi, videoke, RFID, Sky TV

Satisfaction Guaranteed! =)

Accommodations in Sta. Ana

You can choose from a variety of lodging inns located near the port in the town proper of Sta. Ana. Here are some of the lodging inns.

RCB Lodging Inn - P600.00

Country Hill - P1,500.00

Joma's Lodge - P800.00

Transient - P500.00

The following morning I hired the boat for P1,500 which included going to Punta Verde, Crocodile Island and Snake Island.

Tourist Spots in Palaui Island

Punta Verde

Baratubot Falls

Cape Engano Lighthouse

Anguib Cove

Palaui Island Campsite

Crocodile Island

Snake Island

Jerolinda Beach

Pugo Moro

Siwangag Cove

Gotan Beach

Puzorobo

Boatman

Kerwin - 0926-994-3586

Edward - 0906-759-6292

Boat Rentals

Long Distance

Boat Rent good for max of 8 pax

1. Cape Engano Lighthouse - P1,800 (45 mins)

2. Anguib Cove/Beach - P1,500 (25 mins)

3. Siwangag Cove - P1,500 (30 mins)

4. Puzurobo - P1,800 (1 hour)

Cape Engano Lighthouse

Short Distance
Crocodile Island - P500 (5 mins)
Punta Verde - P750 (15 mins)
Pugo Moro - P500 (5 mins)

Boat service is only 6 hours
Additional P100 for extended hour

Additional P300 for overnight stay at Punta Verde

Special trips
Cape Engano, anguib, Crocodile and Punta Verde - P3,500

Ms. Roselyn Fronda
Ecozone Center
0917-780-9302

Inquiries Re Palaui
0905-358-1455
0921-660-6722

Ms. Corazon Tangcora
Pasamaboa dispatcher
0905-847-8825

The trek to Baratubot Falls is good only for 20-25 minutes

from travelarcher.wordpress.com

Anguib Cove is one of the best spots in Palaui Island.

Camping site

One can have an overnight stay at the Palaui island Camping Site.

They offer various services such as massage for only P300.00.

Paluto of your favorite dishes (one day prior notice is required)

or pay P250 only for your meals.

Charging of phones, laptop and other gadgets.

Camping fee is P250/pax.

Camping tent rent is P300.

Snorkeling equipment P250.

Homestay is good only for P300.00

Snake Island

Crocodile Island

It's Really More Fun Island Hopping

in Palaui Island!

Youtube links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4soZEZ3TrE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuV_sRCC5EY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbPxV93LmPU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7oN6yRw0kQ

My Summer 2013 Best Pics

Island shopping at Crocodile Island, Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan

Every year since 2006 I travel around the Philippines.

But this blog started only November, 2012.

And every year I make it a point to have my compilation of the best pictures that I have taken in my series of travels. Of course it is a must that I need to ask for a second opinion with my friend Mek. We may not agree with some of the best shots but I always consider his opinion as the better one.

This summer 2013 here are the best pictures we (Mek) have collectively chosen.

Hope you like it! =)

Anika Beach Resort, Bantayan Island, Cebu

Sunrise at Biri Island, Samar

Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Camotes Island, Cebu

Cape De Santiago Lighthouse, Calatagan, Batangas

Crocodile Island, Palaui, Sta. Ana, Cagayan

Daraga Church, Daraga, Albay

Sunset at Subic Beach, Matnog, Sorsogon

Dakak Beach Resort, Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte

Top/Aerial View of Mt. Mayon, Legazpi

The Farm, Lipa City, Batangas

Interior of Taal Basilica, Taal, Batangas

Bell Tower of Sta. Maria de Assunta Church, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Sunset at Boracay

Sunrise at Sunrise Beach Resort, Oslob, Cebu

Sunrise at Candaba Bird Sanctuary, Pampanga

Anawangin Lake, Anawangin Cove, San Antonio, Zambales

Taal Basilica, Taal, Batangas

Potipot Island, Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales

Trekking at Mt. Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas

It's More Fun to Travel in the Philippines!

Top 15 Summer 2012 - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-10-my-pictures-for-summer-2012.html

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Second Trip to Tuguegarao

It was year 2012 when I went to Callao Caves in Cagayan Valley.

Then, I went back February 24, 2013 to Tuguegarao since I was able to get a promo flight from Manila to Tuguegarao via Cebu Pac.

Originally, the plan was to go directly to Abra and then head off to Kalinga and Apayao. Change of plan. I purchased the flight and there I was onboard the plane and looking once more at the biggest and longest river system in the Philippines, the Cagayan River.

From the airport, I went directly to Kalinga and after seeing Kalinga, I went back to Tuguegarao. http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/03/passing-in-kalinga.html

I arrived around 4 pm in Tuguegarao and the bus ride to Abra was slated 7 in the evening. Plenty of time to see and roam the city!

It was a Sunday. And the first thing I did was to go and hear mass at the Tuguegarao
Cathedral, the Biggest Church in Cagayan. Built from 1761 to 1767 under the supervision of the Spanish Dominicans who came to evangelize Cagayan Valley. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Tuguegarao or the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao and considered as the biggest Spanish-built church in the entire Cagayan Valley Region.

I stayed and finished the mass.

After the mass, I roamed the city..

I was surprised to see that they still use the horse-drawn carriage or "kalesa" as a mode of transportation in Tuguegarao. There was this mixture of the "kalesa" and the modern tricyle as modes of transportation.

from Pinoy Adventurista

Last thing to do that day was to taste again the delectable Pancit Batil Patung, Tuguegarao's Best!

Around 6 pm, I went back to the GMW terminal and waited for my ride to Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Till next time Tuguegarao! =)

RAV Transportation Services

Van for Hire

Derick Villegas

0998-545-0016

0917-504-0770

(043) 778-4657

(043) 703-0435

Email: rav_services@yahoo.com

Facebook: RAV Electronic Services

Address: 938 Brgy. Darasa, Tanauan City, Batangas 4232

Transportation / Tour services to any point of Luzon

Brand New Foton Traveller vehicles available

Equipped with GPS, wifi, videoke, RFID, Sky TV

Satisfaction Guaranteed! =)

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Callao Caves

Cagayan Valley is composed of five provinces: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. And I have toured all the said provinces. Batanes is number one spot in the region.

Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between the Cordilleras and the Sierra mountain ranges.

from www.myspace.com

Cagayan Valley is the second largest region of the Philippines in terms of land area.

Among the numerous tourist spots in Cagayan, there are three spots that I like most.

First is the Cagayan river which is the longest river in the Philippines.

From cagayanvalley

Second, is the Palaui Island in the northwestern part in the municipality of Santa Ana, Cagayan province.

And the third, is the Callao Caves..

from www.flickerriver.com

December 22, 2011

Christmas was fast approaching and I am off to Cagayan to see the famous Callao Caves.

From the plane, I was able to see the aerial view of the longest river in the Philippines, Rio De Grande Cagayan.

It was an early flight and it was cloudy that day.

Past an hour, the Cebu Pacific flight landed in Tuguegarao.

I hurriedly went to the city and went to the public market of Tuguegarao and I was able to hire a tricycle ride to Penablanca, Cagayan. I opted using the tricycle because there was no available jeepney ride that day.

Penablanca, Cagayan is the cave capital of the Philippines. In Peñablanca alone, there are 300 caves, most of them unexplored.

I cannot recall exactly how much I paid the tricycle that day but I am certain that it did not exceed P500.00. It was also my ride back to the city.

Travel time to the jump-off point is almost an hour.

The connecting bridge was destroyed by the last typhoon and the tricycle itself had to board a barge in order to reach the other side. A river runs through the locality.