Tuguegarao-Sta. Ana, Cagayan | Day 2. Surviving Cagayan

Day 2 was planned for the trip’s highlight. Everyone had to make sure they rested well to keep up with all the island hopping, hiking and spelunking that was in store for them.

Engano Cove, Palaui Island, Cagayan

Securing that green pass for the island hopping tour was a hassle. Avoid negotiating directly with boatmen or anyone presenting themselves as tour guides. Just go directly to the ‘Visitor’s Center’ located in San Vicente Port and ask assistance from there. The standard tour which will bring you to the destinations listed on this blog will cost P3,500 for the boat rental for a group of 6 persons. There will be other fees on top of the boat rental (i.e. island passes, guide fee). You can also skip the fee for the snorkeling guide and snorkeling gear. Just bring your own snorkel gear. After all, there isn’t so much reef life to experience at least in the places the Stokedtraveler’s group visited. Do not leave the visitor’s center without that ever so important ‘green pass’ and remember to bring it with you on the day of your tour.

Here’s the breakdown of the whole day island hopping itinerary:

Day 2

8am-5pm – Island Hopping (Cape Engano, Punta Verde, Crocodile Island, Anguib Cove)

5pm-6pm – Boat ride from Anguib Cove to Sun City

6pm – Check-in at Country Inn and Resort

Cape Engano Cove and Lighthouse, Palaui Island

From SunCity (Cagayan Leisure Resort), it takes about an hour of boat ride across shallow waters and into the open sea to reach Cape Engano. The boat ride is as much as part of the experience as the destination. It offered scenic views of the islets and limestone-like rock formations scattered in the waters north of Luzon Island.

Palaui Island is where the popular reality TV show, Survivor, shot two of its back-to-back seasons. Survivor Cagayan – blood vs water and Survivor Cagayan – Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty. 

The cinematic appeal of the island is indeed a great location to bring in that island vibe. It has that lush green terrain and a great view of a cove reminiscent of an uninhabited island. It may look uninhabited but just take a 3-hour trek or a boat ride to the other side and you’ll find yourself in small community of island dwellers. Survivor fans will also surely enjoy the behind-the-camera stories from the local guides about how the Survivor cast manage to survive the cast away life.

The lighthouse on top of the hill in Palaui Island is solitary yet radiates with a lot of history. This site was one of the key areas in the country that played a role during the Second World War. It withstood time and the elements and up to now serves as a functional lighthouse guiding passing vessels traversing the waters just between Batanes and Luzon mainland.

Dos Hermanos Island 

Punta Verde

Perhaps this is the preferred snorkeling site in the tour but for the Stokedtraveler’s friends, this is the place where they dine for the day. The ever cheerful ‘Manang Elsa’ was the host of the group’s lunch. She served octopus, crabs and veggies which were all yum especially eaten bare handed. Not much to note here except that the food was good. 

It was already low tide by the time the group reached Punta Verde. The shoreline has receded way too far that the Stokedtraveler had to walk a few meters through muddy shores and sea grass just to reach land. Not sure if this would've been a good snorkeling site anyway since there wasn’t much of living reef to see along the way.

Crocodile Island

Travelers will pass by Crocodile Island on their way to Palaui and then again as they go to mainland or Anguib beach. It is smack in the middle of the passage route used by boatmen to navigate their way around the islands. 

  

It is aptly called Crocodile Island for how the rocky island is shaped like. It is so small that it is really just an in between stopover to take some photos of before you head to your next island destination. 

The water here is much clearer than the one in Engano Cove in Palaui but why swim here when you can be off to the acclaimed best beach in Cagayan? – Anguib Beach.

Anguib Beach

The boat ride getting here gets crazier by the minute. From swirling waters to solid wave splashing, this afternoon trip to the farther Islands isn’t for the faint of heart. The first thing you’ll notice is that there is actually a private resort with lots of outrigger boats stationed just next to Anguib Beach.

Anguib beach has clear waters and white sand. It is not as powdery white as in Boracay, Bohol, Calaguas or Coron but it is nonetheless by far the best beach the group has laid eyes on during this trip. The long stretch of white sand is decked by Pine Trees which makes it also look like Anawangin Cove in Zambales.

 One can swim and do some snorkeling just like the Stokedtraveler. The water easily gets deep and the current can be a little strong in the afternoon. Be sure to wear some protective gear since there can be jellyfish legs floating around. The guides and the locals there are not very helpful to attend to jellyfish sting victims. They would rather serve their vinegar or lime to dining guests than to aid someone who has been stung. That was a really rude awakening for the Stokedtraveler who was stung by a jellyfish will swimming in those waters.

All flowery details and camera filters aside, Anguib Beach is a hard sell for someone who has recently been to Calaguas in Camarines Norte. If it wasn’t so far, it would have felt nice to spend the night here away from all the city-life and wake up in a far far away island spot. It is after all still blue waters and white sand.

The group left Anguib around 5pm. Sea travel was a lot easier by this time because the waters in the mangroves have already gone up high enough for boats to pass. No more death defying wave surfing stunts required!

Read Day 3 of this blog for more Cagayan Destinations