Cagayan Valley, Luzon's Last Frontier

After a long wait, finally the day has come.  My family and I will be going to the tip of Luzon…Cagayan Valley.  7,107 islands in the Philippines and I choose to go to Cagayan to visit Palaui Island because of the lighthouse that captivated my interest.

We took a 12 hrs bus ride from Pasay via Victory liner De Luxe (Php 700/hd).  The ride was smooth and the 12 hrs long drive is tolerable.  Victory liner deluxe bus has its own CR.  Medium size seats which one can recline without disturbing the people at your back.  We left Pasay at 7:30 pm and arrive in Tuguegarao at 7am.  We did have 1 stop over at Nueva Vizcaya.

From the terminal of Victory liner in Tuguegarao City, our hotel is short walking distance away.  We prefer to take a tryke for about 50 pesos (3 people and luggage) going to Hotel Carmelita. 

Hotel Carmelita is a well known hotel in the area since it also has function halls for bigger events.  It also has a pool.  It also offers shuttle service and has a full service restaurant.  A standard room cost (Php 1130).  This includes a matrimonial bed and a single bed.

By 9am or so, we went to Calvary Hills in Iguig.  Since it is almost Holy Week, I believe this is one place worth seeing.  From the hotel, we took a tryke to bring us to Don Domingo (Php 10/hd).  From there, you can take a van (no aircon vans are available) going to Iguig (Php 25/hd).  The Calvary Hills of Iguig, Cagayan Valley consist of 11 hectares of rolling hills atop which are found enormous concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross.  

The place also features a three centuries old well, a Dominican convent ruin and the scenic view of Cagayan River, which can be reached via a stairway at the back of the church.

 

The church, constructed from brick and stone, appears small from the front. In the back, however, one finds traditional flying buttresses; it is the only church in the Philippines to have these.

From Iguig, we decided to go back to the hotel and rest for a few minutes before we proceed to Penablanca.  Penablanca is home to Callao Cave.   

One can hire a tryke (Php 700 RT) if you want to go there and also side trip in seeing the circadian flight of bats.  The tryke dropped us off along Pinacanauan River. 

Crossing the river will cost Php 10/hd per way (kids below 12yo is free of charge).  You also have to pay Php 20/hd entrance (kids below 12yo is free of charge).  After crossing you will have to climb 187 steps.  There is also a tour guide waiting for tourist at the beginning of the step.  The name was derived from the “Kalaw” bird which was previously abundant in this place.  It is a cave with seven chambers.  I first saw this cave in the movie “THE MISTRESS” starring John Lloyd and Bea.

Back at the Pinacanauan River, we rented a boat (Php 600) to bring us to the Mororan and also wait for the circadian flights of bats.  We waited up to 7pm but no bats went out.  I was so disappointed.

The next day, after we have prepared our things, we went to leave for Sta Ana.  It is a 3-4 hrs drive.  We took a van (non-aircon as there are very rare aircon vans available).  We were in the van since 9am.  The van left at 11:30am.  The van will not leave until it is full.  We reached Sta Ana, at around 3:30pm, tired and hungry.  We were welcomed by Jerolynda’s private boat at the San Vicente port.