Top 3 Tourist Destinations in Cagayan

If you plan to visit up north, one of the interesting places to go to is Cagayan Valley. Located between the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras, this warm and laid back province is rich in culture and heritage. Here are top 3 of the tourist attractions in Cagayan Valley:

PALAUI ISLAND

#1 - PALAUI ISLAND : Hot on spot number 10 of CNN’s "World’s 100 Best Beaches", Palaui Island’s raw beauty will mesmerize anybody who is tourism savvy. It is situated on the northeastern tip of Luzon, specifically in the municipality of Santa Ana, in Cagayan; and, it was where Survivor: Blood versus Water and Survivor: Cagayan, were filmed in 2013. Hence, it is altogether fitting and proper to call Santa Ana as the “Untouched Paradise” or “Luzon’s Last Frontier”. The most interesting thing to see In Palaui Island is the Cape Engano Lighthouse which is an exciting trek away from Engano Cove.

CALLAO CAVE

Located just 24 kms. northeast of Tuguegarao, the capital of the province, is the seven-chamber Callao Cave, It can be reached by climbing 184 steps and the most accessible among the 400 dot caves in the area. This beautiful and gargantuan cave is made of limestone rocks where the remains of a 67,000 year old fossilized metatarsal of what is referred to as the Callao Man was discovered in 2007. The seven chambers have been given different names, the second referred to as the “Divine Room” because its shape is likened to figure of a mother and child. It is also considered a somewhat sacred place for meditation and prayer. In fact, religious visitors can pray inside where a chapel was built.

BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT

There are about ten churches you can visit while in Cagayan Valley such as St. Peter Thelmo in Aparri and St. Philomene Church in Alcara. However, one of the most visited is the one located in Piat, the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat. Religious people and devotees go there to pray and ask for miracles by climbing the stairs at the back of the altar and holding the garment of the image. This pilgrimage site attracts a large number of devotees especially on July 1 and 2 when the feast of Nuestra Señora de Piat is celebrated. The thing that was different about the Basilica of Our Lady of Piat was its entrance arch. It was located at the back of the church. You’d have to go around from the entrance to see the the church facade.

Sources triptheislands.com http://www.thephilippines.com http://www.ambot-ah.com