A trusted Philippine travel blog with detailed guides, hidden gems, and cultural stories from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao’s 82 provinces.
Located in the northeastern tip of Luzon, Cagayan Province is a land of majestic mountains, ancient churches, and pristine natural wonders. It serves as the gateway to the Babuyan Islands and boasts a rich blend of history, adventure, and coastal beauty. The province is best known for Callao Cave in Peñablanca, the idyllic Palaui Island in Sta. Ana, and the centuries-old churches that speak of its deep Catholic heritage.
Jump to: About Cape Engaño Lighthouse | History and Significance | How to Get There | Entrance Fees and Boat Rates | Things to Do | Travel Tips | Nearby Attractions
Perched on the northernmost tip of Palaui Island in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, Cape Engaño Lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the Babuyan Channel and Dos Hermanas Islands. Built during the Spanish colonial period, it served as a vital guide for ships navigating the northern seas of the Philippines.
It is one of the must-visits in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, because it has a long-curvy stretch of fine white sand landscaped with greens on the side. The sand has a mixture of colorful shells, pebbles in different shapes, and living crustaceans running back and forth. From the quaint cottages by the beach, the crystal clear water and emerald seas are visible, separated by the horizon from the blue sky. Its preserved tranquility can definitely make your day a lazy day.
Palaui Island is situated in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. Aside from the Callao Cave, this paradise became one of the top tourist destinations in the province because of its beauty that stole the eyes of the world. Since the province is situated on the North East side of Luzon, due to its topographical location, the serenity and the breathtaking beauty are well preserved.
Jump to: About Callao Cave | Cave Features | How to Get There | What to Do | Travel Tips | Nearby Attractions
Callao Cave is one of the most famous limestone caves in the Philippines, located in Peñablanca, Cagayan Valley. Known for its seven-chamber cave where scientists and experts discovered 67,000-year-old fossilized remains of a Callao man in 2007, which is a thousand years older than the Tabon Man in Palawan. Callao Cave is definitely the top tourist attraction in Peñablanca, Cagayan. This cave is situated on the Northern foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. By the way, Peñablanca, the name of the municipality, is a Spanish word that means white rocks because of the limestone present in the area.
Cagayan Province, or Cagayan Valley, has one of the top natural attractions in Luzon, and it is Palaui, one of the Virgin Islands, situated in the municipality of Sta. Ana. It became prominent because it was the location where the two seasons of Survivor, a hit US TV reality show, were held. It is small but has a lot to offer, such as the historical Cape Engaño Lighthouse, the artistic rock formation of Dos Hermanas, the fine white sand of Mabolbol Shore, and the flora and fauna along Siwangag and Lagunzad trails. Of course, the serenity and the breathtaking beauty are well preserved, with fewer visitors due to its topographical location.