Cagayan | Exploring Callao Cave

After spending some time in Magat Dam I boarded a van bound for Tueguegarao City in Cagayan. I left my backpack at hotel Candice then I wandered around the city. I passed by Sts. Peter and Paul cathedral. For lunch i have the famous pancit patil-patung.

sts peter and paul church

pancit patil patung

The following day I visited the Callao cave in Penablanca. The cave is consisting of seven chambers. There is also a chapel inside. It was so muddy that I opted not to explore all the chambers besides I have no headlamp.

After my caving I headed back to Tuguerrao and boarded a passenger jeep bound to the town of Tuao for the Lady of Piat church. Outside the church the sticky and delicious delicacy pawa is a must try.

I ended the day watching sunset at the Buntun bridge with the scenic view of Cagayan river. I bought some packs of chicarabao as pasalubong for my family and officemates back in Manila.

My original plan is to circumnavigate the Northern Luzon loop, from Isabela to Cagayan down to Ilocos Norte and back to Manila. But due to the typhoon some of the bridges that connecting Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Region were damaged so I have no choice but to go back to Manila boarding a bus from Tuguegarao.

Spending two days in Cagayan Valley is a memorable trip that I will try again soon. Hopefully the weather would cooperate with me the next time around! :)

How to get there

There are buses from Cubao to Tuguegarao City.

From Tuguegarao City get a tricycle and ask him to take you to the terminal going to Penablanca (p10.00). from there, the tricycle will wait for 6 more passengers before it leaves (P40.00). To the bank of Pinacanauan river then the boat (p20.00/ roundtrip) that will take you across to the entrance of the cave.

This is part of my Cagayan Valley trip

Isabela | Cagayan

Isabela | A Stormy Trip To Magat Dam

Despite the typhoon hitting Cagayan Valley I pushed through with my plans of travelling the north. I was in the middle of traffic jam along EDSA boarding a bus going to Victory Liner terminal in Kamias when my officemate texted me what she heard in the news. I replied to her to pray for my safety and my “bahala na si batman” attitude rules.

It was raining when I left Manila that evening. After 8 hours of traveling I safely reached Santiago City in Isabela. I eat in one of the fast-food there to fill my stomach for a day-long adventure. I strolls the city even if it’s raining. I don’t want to waste a single minute of my time.

I visited Balay Santiago then I headed to Magat dam. It is one of the largest dams in the Philippines and has two primary purposes: as a source of irrigation water and as a provider of hydroelectric power. Located along the Ifugao-Isabela border and irrigates at least 80,000 hectares of farmlands. It can generate some 380 megawatts of electricity for the Luzon grid. The dam sourced its water from Ibulao river in Ifugao and from the headwaters and rivers in Nueva Vizcaya.

The tourism complex centers on the 4,450 hectare lake created by the dam. There were picnic huts for family bonding and  facilities for fishing, boating, and various water sports like water-skiing.

How to get there:

There are buses from Cubao to Santiago City Isabela. From Santiago City take a jeep or van going to the town of Ramon. Tell the driver to drop you at the junction going to Magat dam. From the junction take a tricycle for 25.00 pesos/oneway or charter it for 125 pesos/oneway.

This is part of my Cagayan Valley trip.

Isabela | Cagayan