Mention Cagayan Province perhaps these three are the first to pop to mind: the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the fossils of the earliest man in the Philippines, the Callao Cave. You may not know it but all three are connected. The Callao Cave is one of the many caverns of Sierra Madre Mountains, the country’s longest mountain range, and the Homo luzonensis relics were discovered in the Callao Cave. With history, geology and archeology intertwined in a single spot, these are good reasons to get you on the plane to this destination. 

But there’s more. Cagayan is an explorer’s paradise. With a vast land bordered by mountains and sea blessed with nature’s wonders, Cagayan is loaded with endless fun and adventure on land (and inside it) and water (and under it). There are kilometers of beaches to comb, extensive underwater scenes to marvel on, countless lakes, rivers and waterfalls to enjoy, acres of valleys, mountains and verdant forests to trek and hundreds of caves to explore. It also has its fair share of old churches and the cuisine is as exciting. With so much to see and do in this Northern province, how long should one visit Cagayan? The answer is, how much have you got, because a short one just won’t cut it. 

On the first visit, be the pious one, the sun worshipper or the adrenaline junkie. Have a stab at one of everything Cagayan has to offer. Go to a famous cave, a pilgrimage site, a far-off beach, an island with views perfect for movie settings, a lagoon, river and canyon with waterways that vein from the famed Cagayan River, the largest and longest river in the country, and cross the bridge over it, also the longest in the past, and mingle with the locals. Then pick out your choice of adventure so you’d know exactly where you’ll be exploring more on the succeeding visits. 

By air travel, Tuguegarao City is the gateway to all the province’s attractions. From Davao down South (or Cebu, Bacolod And Iloilo) to the Cagayan capital city up North via Manila, the trip is seamless with Philippine Airlines. With the connection and the ease of it, the bucket listed sites are not too far away. Leave Davao early morning and you’re at the destination by midday, just in time for brunch and a hearty meal of the iconic Tuguegarao Pancit Batil Patong. The dish is whipped up with freshly made noodles topped with savory meat, vegetables, and sunny side up egg, all served with a side of rich egg soup. Native coffee plus the glutinous rice local delicacies of Pawa, Sinabalu, Sumanlatik, Tupig and Patupat, make ideal meal enders (and merienda, too). You need to load up on the carbs anyway for an adventure-filled, calorie-burning time ahead of you. 

While in Tuguegarao, a quick stop at the Cagayan Museum and Historical Research Center can give you a picture of the province’s storied past, including the country’s earliest inhabitants, up to the present. Head off to your adventure with added knowledge about the province, But to have a more in depth understanding of each destination, have an accredited Department of Tourism tour guide. It’s worth it. 

About 24 kilometers from the capital city, in the municipality of Peñablanca, is the postcard-perfect image of Cagayan tourism, the Callao Cave. It’s recognized as an important cultural property of the Philippines, one of more than 300 caves in the vicinity of Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape in the western foothills of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountains, and home to Ubag (Homo luzonensis), fossils of the the country’s earliest inhabitants. 

Spelunkers will rejoice delving into the cool depths of chambers adorned with nature’s handiworks. Stalactites, stalagmites and various limestone formations— the massive columns, skeleton, elephant, praying angel, rocket, lion, dog, plus the famed cavern transformed into a chapel illuminated by rays from heaven through a natural skylight. 

Before the sun sets, paddle through the calm waters of the Pinacanauan River adjacent to the Callao Cave. Here, you can catch the colonies of bats flying out of a cliff opening. Stop for a picnic on a rocky formation at the lake’s end, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy the breathtaking views changing hues as the moon rises. 

In the town of Piat, about 44 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, is home to the venerated ‘Apo Baket,” the “beacon of charity and hope among the locals and devotees.” The image of the black Madonna traveled from Macau in 1604 to the town of Lal-lo and finally in Piat in 1616, where the centuries-old image is enshrined at the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat, a pilgrimage site, which gets busy during festival season. Devotees attest to the miracles Apo Baket has granted. 

An adrenaline-packed adventure awaits at Baggao, about 60 kilometers south of Tuguegarao. Along canyons and gorges are raging rapids and waterfalls to the calmer pools, hot springs, and cave systems, too. Within dense forests are surreal spots like the Bluewater Lagoon, falls and cave, and the nearby Lipit Canyon. These are just two of the many which make for ideal cinematic backdrops. 

Named after the water’s hue, the Bluewater feat kicks off with a river trek upstream along 20 multi-tiered small cascades, rapids and shallow waters, to the end point where the lagoon is. Dive into the cool turquoise water for a refreshing dip. The mouth of the cave at the pool’s end invites you to probe into the cavern’s belly where an “Olympic-sized” pool awaits. Deeper into the six-kilometer intricate labyrinth are more waterfalls, streams and sumps. 

Steps away is an adventure on calmer water. The Lipit Canyon is believed to be a cave with an underground river in the past because of the flow beds and stalactite formations on both walls of the gorge. On a raft, traversing the cool, calm and peaceful setting is almost dreamlike. Lipit Canyon lures you for a dip in its cool waterway but it also beckons the more daring to rappel or cliff jump. 

In Alcala, 36 kilometers from the capital, the town ingeniously fuses tourism with its Small Water Impounding Projects, reservoirs meant for farm irrigation and flood control. The 12 sites double as recreation areas for picnics, boating and fishing. It joins the list of the town’s major attractions like the 19-century built St. Philomene Parish Church and the Ponce ancestral house. 

Lal-lo, aka Ciudad de Nueva Segovia in the past, is 80 kilometers south of Tuguegarao. It was the former capital of Cagayan during the Spanish colonial era. Two churches, one in ruins and the other standing, are notable in this town. Tocolano Ruins, recognized for its historical and cultural significance, was a 17th century built church that was never restored after several calamities, and the Sto. Domingo Parish Church, built in 1596 and today a national landmark, was home to the black Madonna before it was moved to its current location in Piat. 

Sta. Ana, a coastal town 147 kilometers from Tuguegarao and bordered by the Babuyan Channel and Pacific Ocean, has islands and beaches as its allure. The must-visit place? Palaui Island’s Cape Engaño Lighthouse. It may be an hour’s trip on bangka (motorized boat) from San Vicente port but the reward is great. The scenery at Cape's summit, a short trek from the shoreline, is captivating! The century-old, 11-meter high lighthouse still lights up (now solar-powered) and stands tall within the weathered structures of the compound, and the 360-view of the area captures breathtaking views of the island’s cove and Dos Hermanos Islands. 

Make a quick stop at Crocodile Island on the way back to port. It may be named after its shape but surprisingly, it also bears a crocodile scale-like feature on its rock formation. Beyond its uniqueness, the islet serves as a natural barrier from the Pacific Ocean’s swelling waves entering the narrow strait leading to the main island. 

Crabs for entree? It’s normal in this town. For the gastronomes, a two-hour trip,106 kilometers from Tuguegarao is nothing compared to the seafood delights Buguey town has to offer. Buguey is the Crab and Malaga Capital of North Luzon and celebrates a week-long Crab Festival in May. Aside from crab farms, the town’s rich mangrove ecosystem plus a 14-kilometer stretch of clean river allows crabs, shrimps, oysters and fish to thrive. Forget your diet when you’re visiting this town. 

Visited in three days: eight towns and a couple of attractions per town is just a scratch on Cagayan’s surface. Imagine this: the province consists of 28 municipalities, each with its own unique character, history, cuisine and lots of attractions. So let me ask you again, how many days can you spare to visit? 

Truly, Cagayan is an explorer’s paradise where fun is endless. The Cagayan Tourism Office can direct you to the must-visit spots and help you plan your adventure of choice.

In the municipality of Peñablanca, about 24 kilometers from Tuguegarao City, is the Callao Cave, Cagayan Tourism's postcard-perfect image. It's one of more than 300 caves in the vicinity of Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape in the western foothills of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain recognized as an important cultural property of the Philippines, and home to Ubag (Homo luzonensis), fossils of the the country’s earliest inhabitants. 

Among all the caves, Callao Cave is the most accessible. A flight of stairs with 184 steps will take you to the cave's entrance.

The cave is a paradise for spelunkers. They will rejoice delving into the cool depths of chambers adorned with nature’s handiworks. Stalactites, stalagmites and various limestone formations: the massive columns, skeleton, elephant, praying angel, rocket, lion, dog, plus the famed cavern, the cathedral-like room  — the largest in area and the show chamber of Callao Cave, transformed into a chapel illuminated by rays from heaven through a natural skylight.

Vaccines available, travel restrictions easing and the virus to be treated as endemic soon, it’s the green light we will all be waiting for. It’s time to move forward. After being cooped up for a long period, what will your big leap be? 

Businesses are eager to open their doors wide open— restaurants want to serve full capacity, entertainment centers want to reopen, the hospitality industry wants to operate in full force, tourism spots want to welcome back its visitors, schools want to fill its classrooms with students once more. 

Just as the airlines are hungry to fill up its fleet of wide-body aircrafts with passengers, the travelers are itching to hop on one to a destination they missed most. Perhaps more than shopping, which was accessible online in the course of the pandemic, it’s traveling that most people miss most. The itch needs a good scratching. As soon as traveling becomes hassle-free, globetrotters will leap and soar to where their heart desires. 

Where will I head first? Japan is on top of my list. The ramen and the desserts, the politeness of the people, the Cherry Blossom, the cool weather, the well-preserved old world architecture against the modern backdrop, nature highlighted on a pedestal, small streets waiting to be explored, the bullet train ride to another prefecture. Of course, the Sakura gives away the time of year I want to visit. Are they welcoming back tourists at the end of March? Most importantly, will they be granting tourists visas soon? 

I asked world wanderers on social media what the first post-pandemic destination will be. The place would register quickly for sure. From the 50 respondents, guess which countries scored highest? 

Japan ranked first with 15 points. The Japanese Consular Office in Davao will be happy to know this and pitch it to ANA to make the Davao-Tokyo direct flights happen. 

Unanimously, the top three reasons for the visit (and revisit) are 1. Food; 2. Culture; and 3. Nature & the sights. While there are those who dream to tick Japan off the bucket list, those who did have fallen in love with the Land of the Rising Sun. Yes, Japan can be pretty addictive. I can attest to it. 

“I had always been enamored with Japan and its fascinating food scene and culture,” shared Ken Ong. 

The USA came in second with 11 points. While the US is an ideal destination for the brood for its theme parks and shopping, family is the main reason for travel to the US this time. After years apart, many long for reuniting with loved ones. 

“I want to give my son a big hug,” shared Chari Gavino, who hasn’t been with his son for three years. 

South Korea is on the third spot with seven points, and you may have an idea why. The long lockdown period has viewers glued to Netflix and its myriad of K-dramas. It was an escape from the dreadful situation outdoors. 

And not to forget the BTS, who melted hearts like butter with their baby faces, fashion, smooth dance moves and melodic tunes. Travelers get the permission to dance their way to Seoul, live out K-drama scenarios in palaces, feast on authentic Korean cuisine and if lucky enough, have a selfie with a favorite boy band member. 

“I’ve indulged in so many K-dramas and BTS concerts during the pandemic so I want to cap it off with authentic kimchi, Samgyup and some Soju. Borahae!”, Bunny Sy exclaimed. 

Clearly, women dominated this destination for the reasons given above. For the men on the list, the food and weather were the primary reasons. “I want to relax in a cold place like Korea and see beautiful views. This covid is too much of a bad experience,” said Anthony Ang. 

The fourth placer is not just one country. With 4 points, these travelers want their pandemic-aborted European tour to happen soon. Deprived of travel for a long period, they might as well see as many countries as they can in one go, they said. It makes sense. 

Number five is Spain with three points. The reasons are varied- to see family, anniversary destination and fascination for the place and wanting to see it for the first time. 

Thailand and Hong Kong tied for the sixth spot. The former being culturally rich and gastronomically exciting, and the latter for its proximity and familiarity, and the thrilling big city vibe compacted in the small area. 

Votes came in for Vietnam, Taipei, UK, the Holy Land, Switzerland, even Iceland. 

Dream it, claim it. The Universe is very generous. All you have to do is ask. 

Now ready for boarding…. 

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