Also known as the Rio Grande de Cagayan, it is the widest river in the Philippines, and the longest at 400 kilometers. 

It flows through Apayao, Aurora, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The basin is surrounded by the Sierra Madre, the Cordillera Central, the Caraballo-Maparang, and the Babuyan Channel.

Nourishing the earth

The river nourishes the valleys along the bank, where farmers grow produce such as bananas, citrus fruits, coconut, corn, rice, and tobacco. According to a study in 2005, the river provides irrigation for more than 200,000 hectares of rice fields and more than 130,000 hectares of cornfields. 

In 2017, Cagayan was dubbed the grains granary of the Philippines, and Isabela was called the corn capital of the country.

Tourist spot

The river plays another important role in the province: tourist attraction.

Over the years, it has become a favorite of tourists, who do everything from kayaking and river trailing to swimming and ferry touring at different points on its long stretch. Some parts even have bancarera, or boat racing, and a fluvial parade for the Lady of Piat is celebrated every July. 

For those unfamiliar, whitewater rafting is an activity when people navigate rough waters on an inflatable boat. It may look intimidating but it’s open to everyone, including beginners.

Today, there are five companies that offer rafting services at the Cagayan River, with courses ranging from beginner to extreme. All have been certified by the International Rafting Federation, and trained guides will accompany groups.

Any day is a good time to visit the Cagayan River, as there are rapids every 10 to 15 minutes.

Those who’d like a more relaxing ride down the river can try canoeing or river tubing. Tubing is exploring the river on an inflatable donut. River conditions may affect the experience, though. Calm waters mean a carefree ride, while rougher days may be more thrilling.

Cagayan River

Budget: A Siitan River tour package at Quirino is PHP 699 (USD 13.88) per person. This includes boat rental, river tubing, lunch, and a guide as company.

Contact: Provincial Tourism Office at Cabarroguis / +63 9174165945 / tourismquirino@yahoo.com

How to get there: Tuguegarao City is accessible by plane from Manila and other local airports.

Travel Safely!

Tourist destinations in Cagayan are ready for local travelers! Guests are required to wear a face mask and shield, practice social distancing, and regularly wash hands before dining in. These places have sanitary and contact tracing procedures such as registration and temperature check at the reception and using alcohol to sanitize hands before entering the premises. To know more about Cagayan, visit http://www.cagayan.gov.ph/.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post Cagayan River: Lifeblood, Light Giver, Tourist Spot, and Home appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

When in Cagayan Valley, go on a spelunking adventure and explore these caves. 

Day 1

Callao Cave (Cagayan)

Located in the western foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range, Callao Cave is one of the 300 found in the  barangays of  Penablanca. These caves are the reason why the town got its Spanish name which, when translated, means white rock.

In 1935, Callao Cave and the 192-hectare area surrounding it became a national park, one of the earliest in the country. Today, the cave, named after the Kalaw bird endemic to Sierra Madre, is part of the enlarged 118,000-hectare, present-day Penablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS). 

Most recently, the National Museum officially declared the cave as an “important cultural property of the Philippines” for the exceptional cultural, artistic, and historical significance of the discoveries inside it. 

Stalactites, or icicle-shaped formation that hang from the ceiling, and stalagmites, or an upward-growing mound of mineral deposits are abundant inside the cave. 

It has seven chambers. The Aviary Room is home to the balinsasayaw or swiftlets. The Chapel, which is set up inside the cave, features a rock formation serving as the altar with a figure of Our Lady of St. Lourdes and a natural skylight illuminating the long wooden benches for mass attendees. 

The Dark Room, called such because it barely gets any light, is a chamber featuring flowstones, glittering dripstones, cave curtains, crystal helictites, and columns sparkling brightly in the dimly-lit portion of the cave. 

The Cream Room gets its name from a notable formation that resembles a melting ice cream made more visible through the cave’s second natural skylight. Other notable formations at the fourth chamber include what seems like the head of an elephant, a lighted candle, and a heart-shaped stalactite

The fifth chamber, called The Jungle, is teeming with plants while another natural skylight brightens up the area. There’s no shortage of interesting formations here, which includes a mushroom-shaped and coral reef-like stalagmites, and even a skeletal system’s skull, eyeball, nose, and mouth. Singapore’s famous Merlion figure has seemingly found its way inside Callao Cave, too, except there’s no water coming out of its mouth.  

Meanwhile the sixth and seventh chamber, called The Danger Zone and The Dead End, respectively, are now off-limits to visitors for safety. From the fifth chamber, however, the remaining two chambers feature more rock formations and patches of greenery.

Callao Cave’s significance, however, stems from the discovery of a previously unknown human species at the first chamber. Approximately 67,000 years old, Dr. Armand Mijares and a team from the University of the Philippines, unearthed seven teeth and six bones from the feet, hands and thigh of at least three individuals.

In 2019, it was confirmed to belong to a now extinct human subspecies. It was named after its discovery site: Homo luzonensis or Callao Man. 

In 2021, Mijares and the team found fossils yet again. This time, a previously unknown giant rodent called cloud rat or locally, buot or bugkon was discovered. Unlike rats typically seen in homes, these rodents are much like squirrels who live in trees and have tails that can grow to as long as 13 inches. 

These cloud rats are believed to have lived alongside Homo luzonensis, but two species went extinct 2,000 years ago.

The tour inside Callao Cave takes 45 minutes to an hour and costs Php50 for the entrance fee.

At present the Penablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS), which is under the management of a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Day 2

Santa Victoria Caves (Isabela)

Part of the 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park, a protected area, the Santa Victoria Caves are a series of limestone caves at the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. 

It is widely believed that nomadic Agta or Dumagat people occupied it in the past. 

Currently, exploring it is one of the many ecotourism activities offered at the Ilagan Sanctuary, which is a 200-hectare reserve park. 

Guests must go on a tree top adventure, which involves walking on a hanging bridge with seven stations featuring endemic tree species. This leads to the over 12 limestone caves that make up the Santa Victoria Caves. Three are currently open to visitors: Main Cave, Altar Cave and Adventure Cave. 

Inside these caves are various rock formations, which can be seen up close through relatively dry walk-through caverns, as well as a waterfall. 

Apart from an entrance fee (Php100), a vaccination card as proof of inoculation must be presented. 

Day 3

Aglipay Caves (Quirino)

Found within the hills and forests of Aglipay in the province of Quirino, Aglipay Caves is a network of eight limestone caves with a total of 37 interlinked chambers. 

Initially discovered in the 1970s, Aglipay Caves was opened as an eco-tourism destination in the 1980s. 

Today, six chambers are open to tourists and run as deep as 20 meters. 

A big cathedral-like chamber can be seen upon entry to the caves, revealing a variety of stalagmite, stalactite, and other limestone formations. 

Notable formations include a calcite structure that looks like the Banaue Rice Terraces, and a three-stalagmite tableau that resembles a wedding with a bride, a groom, and an officiating priest. 

Further into the cave, more rock formations can be seen, including those that resemble snakes and rollercoasters. There’s also an underground spring. 

Going deeper into the cave, the exploration becomes more challenging. Guests will have to duck, walk, crawl, and climb through muddy paths, and gaps as the spaces get tighter. Exiting the cave involves climbing up a slippery 26-rung ladder in dim light. 

Entrance and exploration of Aglipay Caves for an hour or so, depending on the guests’ pace. There is a Php25 entrance fee. The caves, along with the nearby campsite, spans 101 hectares overall.  

Day 4

Capisaan Cave (Nueva Vizcaya) 

Over 57 kilometers away from the provincial capital, Bayombong, the multi-chamber Capisaan Cave system is located at the Municipality of Kasibu, in a limestone-rich barangay of the same name.

Bat hunters were the early visitors of the cave but it was only in 1999, following an extensive exploration of the cave, when its potential as a spelunking destination was discovered. Capisaan Cave, with a total passage length of 4.2 kilometers, is the fifth longest cave system in the country.

With a total area of 1,515.96 hectares, Capisaan Cave houses rock formations that resemble curtains, solid waterfalls, pillars, columns, islands, castles, and even human figures. 

Two segments of the Capisaan Caves have been classified as Class I, which means that there are delicate and fragile geological formations in the area. 

This is also indicative of the cave’s threatened species, archeological and paleontological values, and extremely hazardous conditions. Mapping, photography, and educational and scientific purposes are its allowable uses. 

Another segment has been classified as Class II. These areas have sections with hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological, biological, archeological, cultural, historical and biological values or high quality ecosystems. These are the areas open for experienced cavers or guided tours. 

The limestone cave is a karst, a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock creates sinkholes, sinking streams, springs, and the like. Because of this, visitors can expect not-so-usual cave interiors once they begin the guided tour. 

“Caves are all uniquely beautiful,” says Jerry Laroso, the chief guide at Capisaan Cave. “Unlike Callao Cave, which is dry and terrestrial, Capisaan has a subterranean river inside.”

Capisaan has nine known entrances, including the main entrances Lion, Alayan, and Sabrina, and three others in Barangay Malukbo. 

These different cave openings are teeming with wildlife, too, including native and endemic species of plants and animals. There are a total of 91 plant species found in the said areas, 10 of which are endemic to the Philippines. 

Spiders, insects, and small crabs can be found thriving inside the cave. There are also snakes, frogs, lizards, and different kinds of fish, from orange carp and catfish to mudfish and wild guppy. 

There are at least four different bat species dwelling in various sections of the cave. Meanwhile, a total of 931 birds from 61 species were recorded, 36 of which are endemic while eight are threatened. 

As natural pollinators, both species are crucial in keeping the cave’s ecosystem thriving. 

Currently, however, only the halfway routes are open to tourists for safety purposes. 

Regardless of which route visitors will take, it’s a must to wear lightweight clothing that also covers the arms and legs to prevent scratches.

Guests can also bring their own but safety equipment is available for rent at Capisaan Cave: helmet (Php20), flashlight (Php30), life vest (Php30), and aqua shoes (Php30). 

There’s also an entrance fee (Php100) and guests are required to present a negative swab test result and follow all safety protocols.

Stay Here

For accommodations, visit the official Cagayan Valley Tourism website, region2fun.ph, for the list of DOT-Accredited enterprises. 

Outsource the Planning

For a seamless trip, you may leave the planning to DOT’s accredited tour operator in Region 2: 

• Isabela

Pink Diamond International Travel and Tours

pinkdiamondinternational@yahoo.com; http://pinkdiamondinternational.weebly.com/ 

• Quirino

Explore Quirino Travel and Tours

0916 635 9978; http://www.explorequirino.com/

• Nueva Vizcaya

Travelesque Tours 

book@travelesquetours.com; http://travelesqueph.wordpress.com/ 

Travel safely!

All tourist destinations in Cagayan Valley have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post Spelunking Paradise: Exploring Cagayan Valley Caves appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

While many would just see it as a peaceful drive, there is a lot of history that happened on the ground of Balete Pass. Also called Dalton Pass, the road that connects Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya was where the Battle of Luzon, one of the bloodiest encounters in World War II, happened.

Brief history

Balete Pass traces its history to March 1945, the end of the war. By then, Allied forces had staked their claim on key locations in Luzon. But General Tomoyuki Yamashita—yes, that Yamashita—resisted and built defenses in the mountains. They wanted to delay the retreat from Baguio to Bayombong and Ifugao.

U.S. Col. James Dalton of the 161st Infantry Regiment led the attack at Balete Pass. The Battle of Luzon lasted for three months, yielding 17,000 casualties, including Dalton, who was killed by a Japanese sniper. On May 31, 1945, the allied forces took control of the pass and drove the Japanese out. The area was named after the American colonel, and to this day, it is sometimes called Dalton Pass. It is now maintained by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

Visitors to Balete Pass can see three memorials that pay respects to the soldiers who bravely fought during the war.

The American Memorial is an obelisk, while the Japanese monument features several plaques, engraved stones, and a cross with the text “peace forever.” There is also a memorial that commemorates the eight members of the Chinese Overseas Wartime Hsuekan Militia (COWHM) who lost their lives fighting with the Americans. Their plaque reads, “May their brave heroic efforts in fighting for freedom serve as a shining model for all peace-loving men and women for all times to come.”

Beyond the memorials is Perez Park, which features a 150mm Japanese Howitzer and a cave. A highlight is the deck with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and forests. There are benches and picnic sheds where tourists can rest, reflect on the history of the place, and admire the mountainscape. It also has an 800-meter zip line that goes through a forest, a project of the Department of Tourism.

These days, the sounds of nature have replaced battle cries and gunfire. Close to 50 species of birds have been spotted here, including the endangered Japanese night heron. DOT-trained tour guides are available daily for walk-in visitors.

So much has changed in Balete Pass but it still serves as a reminder of the heroism of Filipinos who sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom that we enjoy today.

Because of its strategic location, Balete Pass is known as a gateway to the ​​Ifugao Rice Terraces and Cagayan Valley. Make sure to include this in your itinerary to admire the view of the hinterlands and learn more about the country’s past.

Balete Pass
Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Opening hours: 8AM-5PM

Entrance fee: FREE

Facebook: @tourismsantafenvphils

How to get there: Tuguegarao is accessible by plane from Manila. Take a flight from Manila to the Cauayan City Airport in Isabela. Then take a 3-hour drive to Tuguegarao. 

Meanwhile, Sta. Fe is some five hours drive from Metro Manila via NLEX and SCTEX. 

Travel Safely!

Tourist destinations in Nueva Vizcaya are ready for domestics and foreing tourists. Guests are required to wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and regularly wash hands before dining in. Be ready to present your vaccination card or certification.

These places have sanitary and contact tracing procedures such as registration and temperature check at the reception and using alcohol to sanitize hands before entering the premises. 

To know more about Nueva Vizcaya, visit https://nuevavizcaya.gov.ph/.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post This Historic Road Has Encompassing Views of Cagayan Valley appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

The food locals love to eat and share are just as inviting as the region’s many attractions.

Here are all the dishes and snacks you should sample when in Cagayan Valley.

Patupat

At Bannawag Norte in Santiago, Isabela, a humble roadside shop called Bretania Organic Food Products sells a merienda favorite among locals—patupat.

Its owner, Jocelyn Bretania, wraps the glutinous rice in buri leaves, soaks it in water overnight, and cooks it in sugarcane juice to produce a naturally-sweetened snack.

Though the kakanin delicacy has different iterations in the northern region of the country, Bretania’s take on the rice-based delicacy guarantees the use of fresh sugarcane juice as the store is situated near a plantation.

“I, myself, used to plant sugarcane before,” Bretania says. “In 2006, however, I learned how to make patupat and began selling it.”

A bundle of 13 pieces of patupat retails for Php110.

Pancit Batil Patung

“You’ve never really traveled to Tuguegarao if you’ve never had pancit batil patung,” says Eric Lim, owner of Lokal Kanan + Pasalubong, a restaurant serving local dishes. “It’s easily the most iconic dish of the city.”

A spin on a Filipino food favorite, pancit batil patung features miki noodles with ground carabao beef or cara-beef, fried egg and other toppings, as well as a serving of  beaten egg dropped in beef broth called kaldo, hence the words patung (topping) and batil (to beat) in its name.

Both components of the dish should be present for optimal flavor, along with a side of chopped onions, soy sauce, chili, and vinegar sauce or calamansi to taste.

Panciterias often get experimental with the toppings to distinguish their version from others. They put any topping imaginable in what locals consume as a daily staple: balut or fertilized duck egg, chicharon bulaklak or crispy pork intestine, carajay or deep-fried pork belly slices, among many others.

Depending on the panciteria and choice of toppings, prices range from Php60 to Php150.

Sinanta 

As the unofficial pancit capital of Cagayan, it’s no surprise that Tuguegarao cooks more variety of the dish than anywhere in the province. Apart from pancit batil patung, they also have what is called sinanta.

The first to offer it on a daily basis, serving it just like any other local dish is, according to Lim, is Lokal Kanan + Pasalubong’s claim to fame.

“Its origins go way back, probably even before pancit batil patung but they don’t serve it at restaurants,” he says. “It’s because it’s typically eaten during wakes or funerals.”

The noodle soup dish features flat noodles, rice vermicelli noodles, dried shrimps, clams, and atsuete or annatto. According to Lim, it’s important that the two types of noodle be present in the dish because if not, “it’s not sinanta.”

“I would liken it to laksa,” he says. “It looks like laksa but instead of the soup being coconut milk-based, this one gets its flavor from seafood and its color from atsuete [or annatto].”

A bowl good for one person costs Php100.

Pawa 

The municipality of Piat in Cagayan may be famous among pilgrims for the century-old church and holy image of Our Lady of Piat, but it’s also home to an equally popular snack called pawa.

Its origins are unknown, but the root word of pawa is pau or bao in Chinese, which means “to wrap.”

True enough, the coin-sized sticky rice delicacy—typically consumed as a dessert or snack—hides sweetened peanuts inside. Its softness can be likened to mochi when still warm. To prepare, it is rolled into a ball, filled with sweet ground peanuts then steamed.

Pawa retails for Php 50 per 9-10 pieces and is taken home as pasalubong after a pilgrimage visit.

Birut

It’s called numerous names like bunog, talimuska, bukto, palileng, mori, udinga, or ipusan, but birut, as Tuguegarao locals call the goby fish, is another must-try when in Cagayan.

The small freshwater fish is black in color and can be cooked in a variety of ways: stewed in tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and some vinegar; wrapped in banana leaves and steamed; or dipped in spiced flour and deep fried to a crunchy treat.

This dish is served for a limited time only, though. The best chance to try this is when it’s in season during the summer.

A serving good for two retails for Php 250.

LSB Buko Pie

While buko pie is not necessarily unique to Cagayan Valley, there’s a Nueva Vizcaya-based maker of this merienda favorite that’s worth trying.

LSB Restaurant and Buko Pie, located in Tuao North in the municipality of Bagabag, has a special take on the delicacy courtesy of a secret ingredient.

“The clue is in the milk,” says Menchie Dacanay, the restaurant’s owner. “There are different types of milk but there’s one that’s best for buko pie.”

Much of the coconut they use is also harvested in the provincial capital, Bayombong.

Each box containing a 400-gram buko pie retails for Php 100.

Inabraw

“This is an iconic Vizcayano dish,” says Jehan Damasco, head chef and co-owner of Nueva Vizcaya-based restaurant, Mrs. Baker’s, on inabraw. “Everybody here knows it and eats it.”

Also called dinengdeng or bulanglang in other parts of the country, inabraw is a vegetable soup dish with string beans, eggplant, okra, jute leaves and bitter gourd, flavored with fermented fish sauce then served with fried fish.

But ingredients for inabraw can be whatever vegetable is available.

“Whatever they want to put in the soup dish, they can. Locals have their own versions,” Damasco says. “Whatever was bought from the market or harvested from their backyard can be included.”

For every inabraw, bagoong or fermented fish sauce is key. At Mrs. Baker’s, Damasco and the rest of the kitchen staff make it more special than usual.

“What made our version special is we simmer our bagoong in fish bones, either fried or grilled, to give it a depth of flavor,” she explains. “It’s like when you eat it in our restaurant, you will think that it’s your mom’s cooking.”

Each serving good for two to three diners cost Php190.

Bennek and Bildat 

Though Mrs. Baker’s offers a variety of food, from pizzas to cakes, the Nueva Vizcaya-based restaurant still serves food locals love to enjoy.

“There’s always a touch of Vizcaya in everything we serve,” Damasco says.

Native clams like bennek and bildat, for instance, are available when both are in season. Damasco and the rest of the team cooks the clams in two ways: kinilaw or raw with vinegar-based dressing, much like a Latin American ceviche, and inuram or cooked over fire.

These freshwater clams are part of what the restaurant calls the Chef’s Table, a fine dining service featuring a custom menu. The rates differ for every Chef’s Table, so it’s best to ask the staff ahead of time through their Facebook page or landline at (078) 805 3500.

Tubikoy

Who would’ve thought that combining three native delicacies is a good idea? Apparently, the people of Diffun in Quirino did.

Putting together tupig, bibingka, and tikoy, the result is tubikoy. It’s made out of flour, ground glutinous rice, brown sugar, margarine, coconut, milk, and cheese. The result is a unique rice cake that’s just as delightful as the three delicacies individually.

A box of tubikoy retails for Php 65.

Chicharabao

Believe it or not, carabao skin, just like pork skin, can be fried into chicharon goodness. Instead of curling into crunchy morsels, fried carabao skin puffs into crisp and airy balls.

It’s enjoyable enough seasoned with salt and pepper. However, Lighthouse Cooperative, a local maker and seller of the snack, began offering it in three different flavors: garlic, onion and vinegar, and hot and spicy. It even gave its now well-known name, chicharabao, which is a portmanteau of chicharon and carabao.

Abundant in Tuguegarao and pasalubong centers all over the region, an 80-gram pack of any flavor retails for Php 40.

_

Outsource the Planning

For a seamless trip, you may leave the planning to DOT’s accredited tour operator in Region 2:

• Isabela
  Pink Diamond International Travel and Tours
  pinkdiamondinternational@yahoo.com; http://pinkdiamondinternational.weebly.com/
• Quirino
  Explore Quirino Travel and Tours
  0916 635 9978; http://www.explorequirino.com/
• Nueva Vizcaya
  Travelesque Tours 
  book@travelesquetours.com; http://travelesqueph.wordpress.com/

Travel safely!
All tourist destinations in Cagayan Valley have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regular handwashing, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post All the Must-Try Food When in Region 2 appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Nueva Vizcaya is known for its heart-pumping tourist attractions. There’s spelunking at the Aglipay Caves, whitewater rafting at Governor’s Rapids, and soaring through the air with Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding while enjoying its cool climate.

If you feel like catching your breath and slowing time down, make sure to visit Macababbad’s Orchidarium, Cacao, and Coffee Farm.

This two-hectare property in Bayombong has been transformed into an orchid garden with resort-like landscaping and amenities in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, a few minutes’ ride from the paragliding village of Tiblac, in the town of Ambaguio.

There is a fountain and a gazebo, rows of orchids from around the world, and a patio to sit on and admire the view. Nearby, a farm grows its own cacao and coffee.

Named after the family who owns it, it is managed by Sophia Macababbad Garrucho. She and her nine siblings inherited the property after their parents passed away. At the time, they all lived in the US but Garrucho was the only one who flew back home to tend to the farm.

Many of the facilities were built to entertain her family when they visit and even prolong their stay. For example, the bakery was constructed so her siblings could make pastries. A sibling likes orchids, so Garrucho expanded the farm’s collection.

Thousands of blooms

Today, there are 6,000 orchids on the farm. Half are vanda orchids, which produce beautiful blooms, while the rest are a mix of other genera.

The orchids are purchased from all over the world. Garrucho, who used to travel twice a year, would buy over a hundred orchids to bring back home. Hobbyists will recognize popular genera such as phalaenopsis, dancing-lady, and dendrobium.

Apart from orchids, the Macababbad Farm also grows dragonfruit, lanzones, passionfruit, durian, longan, bananas, calamansi (Philippine lime), and rambutan. They sell their produce at more affordable prices.

A cacao and coffee haven

The Macababbad farm is home to the Nueva Vizcaya Cacao Growers Association, and they have also partnered with a Belgian company to improve the quality of their chocolates.

There are 1,000 cacao plants, and the tablea grown here is turned into hot chocolate and included in the piaya (unleavened flatbread) that they serve to guests. According to Garrucho, they are learning to make cakes and other confections as well.

There are also 500 coffee plants, which the farm processes, serves, and sells to guests. They take pride in their homegrown blend, a mix of robusta coffee beans and hazelnut.

Macababbad’s hot chocolate and coffee are so in demand that there’s not enough supply to bring to Manila. A guest once bought 20 bags, while a local official usually buys six to 10. If you want to try these out, you have to visit the farm. Prices are competitive: a 250-gram bag of coffee costs PHP 150 (USD 2.98).

Even their pastries are sought-after: guests sometimes drive by to purchase piaya to bring back home. One time, a guest bought 500 pieces. Another time, a customer bought 1,000 pieces of hopia (a flaky pastry with a filling).

Macababbad’s Orchidarium, Cacao, and Coffee Farm provides the balance for the high-adrenaline activities in Nueva Vizcaya. After days of exploring the land, waters, and air of the province, there’s nothing like biting into a freshly-made piaya, dipping it in hot chocolate, and breathing in the aroma of orchids.

Macababbad’s Orchidarium, Cacao, and Coffee Farm
Purok Tres, Busilac, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Opening hours: 8AM – 4PM

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063676250385

Contact Number: +63 935 432 1783

Entrance fee: PHP 50 (USD 0.99), which comes with hot chocolate or coffee, piaya, pan de sal (bread roll), and hopia

How to get there: Macababbad’s Orchidarium, Cacao, and Coffee Farm can be accessed through a private or public vehicle since it is located along a highway.

Outsource the Planning

For a seamless trip, you may leave the planning to DOT’s accredited tour operators in Nueva Vizcaya:

• Travelesque Tours
  +639 (078) 430 0147 / +63917 673 1031 / +63926 776 6869

Travel Safely!

Macababbad’s Orchidarium, Cacao, and Coffee Farm is part of the tourism circuit  Feel the Vibe Vizcaya!

Tourist destinations in Nueva Vizcaya are ready for local travelers! Guests are required to wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and regularly wash hands before dining in. These places have sanitary and contact tracing procedures such as registration and temperature check at the reception and using alcohol to sanitize hands before entering the premises. To know more about Nueva Vizcaya, visit https://nuevavizcaya.gov.ph/..

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post This Bayombong Property is an Orchidarium, Cacao Farm, and Coffee Plantation in One appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

When she left her job in 2016, a time when she was experiencing mental health issues at its worst, Lucasi turned to paragliding to cope. 

“I thought these loud thoughts in my head were normal. I thought it was normal to have a thousand things on my mind altogether,” she shares. “When I tried paragliding, it was the first time that my mind went blank and it became quiet in my head.”

This experience and the turn of events in her life would lead her to pursuing a paragliding pilot license and co-founding the International Flying Education Center. 

In 2019, that same center established the first paragliding company in Nueva Vizcaya and the whole of Cagayan Valley. 

Aptly called Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding, the organized flying site based in the town of Ambaguio is the only Department of Tourism-accredited, and Philippine Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association (PPHGA)/International Aeronautical Federation (FAI)-licensed flying school in the region. 

Beginnings

With no job, paying for the pricey paragliding lessons was impossible for Lucasi. Her instructor named Kwang Kyun Park, a Korean pilot and licensed instructor who goes to different places looking for and developing fly sites, urged her to travel with him as his translator. 

“The job allowed me to try paragliding in places like South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia,” says Lucasi, a Nueva Vizcaya local. “But among the fly sites my instructor has been to, the best air space was my hometown. That’s how everything started.”

According to Lucasi, when nobody wanted to try, her instructor gave free flights to those who were willing to experience paragliding. At least 100 safe flights were carried out before the company officially started inviting more paragliding pilots to come. To date, there have been over 800 successful flights at the site.

The flying officially opened in January 2019 and tourists from Tuguegarao, Baguio, Pangasinan, and even locals flocked to the site. 

Paragliding Experience 

The experience begins with a briefing on how the flight will go, and reminders of dos and don’ts. 

“We properly show them the process and we show them the license,” Lucasi says. “We do it slowly so they understand.”

Flying rates per person vary during the weekdays (Php2,700 for groups of three; Php2,900 for groups of two) and weekends (Php3,200 for groups of three; Php3,500 for groups of two). 

For beginners, tandem flights with a licensed pilot are available. 

No matter the rate, inclusions are as follows: expertise of an FAI/PPHGA-licensed experienced pilot, full paragliding equipment and safety gears, transport from meetup to takeoff or landing zones, and a gentle 10 to 15-minute glide over scenic views of Nueva Vizcaya. 

The use of GoPro equipment (Php500) for a full flight coverage is also available as an add-on. 

To reserve a priority slot, a down payment (Php 500 on regular days; Php1,000 on holidays) is required for each person. This is non-refundable but transferable within the booking month only.

Flights typically take off from 10 AM to 4 PM. However, due to unpredictable weather, as well as changes in wind direction and condition, Lucasi’s advice is for guests to free up a whole day—and a second, alternative flying date—for paragliding.

Constant updates will be provided via a Facebook group chat to be created a day before the flight. 

On flight day, guests must wear the proper attire: comfortable t-shirt, dri-fit top or long sleeves, pants or leggings, snug close shoes (no sandals or slippers), and a jacket for when it gets cold on the fly site. 

Must-haves for safety, including face masks and sanitizers, should also be worn and used, respectively. 

“If you’re the type to feel dizzy easily, make sure to get enough sleep before flight day,” Lucasi suggests. “You may also take any dizzy tab an hour before the flight.”

For the video documentation add-on, visitors are required to free up at least 5 GB storage on their phone or bring a USB.

Future developments

“I do my best to make them feel no regrets coming here,” Lucasi says. 

For her, this involves developing the fly site’s other features. A campsite, for instance, has just been opened. Here, visitors can pre-book an experience camping at the fly site (Php200) or at Log cabin (Php300), the grounds of the company’s office. 

Though visitors can bring their own equipment, there are tents (Php300), yoga mats (Php50), and sleeping cushions (Php100) available for rent. 

There are locals who are opening their own campsites, too. 

“Vizcayanos who have vacant lots have been cleaning it for campers,” she shares. “We manage the bookings for them and give them a share of the fee.”

The campsites can accommodate a maximum of 20 people, all of whom must follow the 9 PM to 6 AM quiet time. Otherwise, they will be fined or asked to vacate the area. 

“This is still a tribal neighborhood,” Lucasi says. “We don’t want to create noise and disrupt the community.”

But the bigger plan is to turn Nueva Vizcaya into a paragliding haven. 

“We have already identified 15 other fly sites,” she says. “The goal is for each municipality to have one run by locals. 

A continuing journey 

Lucasi has come a long way from the first time she tried paragliding. She is now a PPHGA-licensed beginner pilot. 

Though she still experiences bad episodes, she has been able to forgo medication for mental health issues and escape its negative side effects. 

“This time, when I fly, the natural high and adrenaline help me manage my condition,” she shares. “Whenever I feel down, I would go paragliding by myself or with another pilot.”

Ready to fly

Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding is already open to visitors who wish to try paragliding.

“Ambaguio is the only municipality open to tourists at the moment,” Lucasi says. “This is because the fly site and the activity itself is outdoors. All pilots are vaccinated, too.”

Tourists just need to pre-book their paragliding experience via Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding’s website. 

Outsource the Planning

For a seamless trip, you may leave the planning to DOT’s accredited tour operators in Nueva Vizcaya:

• Travelesque Tours

+639 (078) 430 0147 / +63917 673 1031 / +63926 776 6869

Travel safely!

All tourist destinations in Nueva Vizcaya have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

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