Located in the northeastern part of Luzon, the rather unexplored Cagayan Valley is enclosed by the Sierra Madre and Cordilleras mountain ranges. It is skirted by the Pacific Ocean on the east coast and crisscrossed by the Cagayan River, the longest waterway in the Philippines.
Also referred to as Region II, Cagayan Valley comprises five provinces, namely Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. Tuguegarao City is the regional center, while the industrial hub is Cauayan City. Fishing and agriculture are the major sources of revenue, with rice and corn being the region’s main crops. In several areas, some distinctive furniture is made of rattan and other original materials; this is also exported.
More than 550 miles in length, the region’s coastline and fine beaches have much to offer its visitors, particularly snorkeling, skin diving and fishing. The primeval forests invite hiking and mountain climbing, and various caves are waiting to be discovered, especially the awe-inspiring Callao Caves.
You will also come across diverse archaeological sites and a number of appealing churches as well as some fortifications built to guard the citizens from attacks by the Moros.
Getting There & Away
A number of bus companies ply the route between Manila and Tuguegarao. The region is also served by four domestic airports; Tuguegarao City Airport, Basco Domestic Airport in Batanes, Cauayan City Domestic Airport, and Bagabag Airport in Nueva Vizcaya, the latter servicing charter planes.