A Vacation up North: Cagayan Valley and side trip to Ilocos Norte 2015 (Day 3 and 4)

Day 3 and 4 of Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte trip
(Sorry for the long wait. Been busy lately and forgot to upload this. Well, anyway, here it is. Enjoy!)

So 2nd day was frustrating.

Early morning of Day 3, Thursday at 6-7am, my aunt went to the market and bought something to cook for lunch and dinner. So when they arrive at 8am we all started to prepare for our food and the things we need to bring for our trip to some places in Ilocos.



First stop, Portabaga Falls

Portabaga Falls is located in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan Valley.

This is how it looks like. Beneath the falls are different sizes of swimming pool. There are 4 pools with water as cold as ice. Ha ha ha. Although weather is hot and to think that it's April (Summer season), water here is cold naybe because it came from atop the forest. 

This one is the largest and deepest of the 4 pool. It's about 6 feet deep. There is also one for children and the other is a small jacuzzi-like pool for the oldies.

 In this photo, there are rock tables and chair where you can dine while the cold water flows.

Second stop is at Bantay Abot Cave

It is Located in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. 

(credits to the owner of this photo)

Bantay abot means "A Mountain with a hole." It is not really a cave but a hill that was wrecked by an earthquake in the 80's leaving a hole in the middle. The top of the cave is covered with lush green vegetation thus adding the beauty of the cave. To get to the interior of the cave, you need to go down a few concrete staircase and a rocky part going up to the hole.

Captured it when we were going down

 When going down be extra careful because it is sandy and slippery.

This I captured when climbing back up the main road

Here is a view of the rocky part

..... And then I got a nice shot of tourists who were busy doing some poses hahaha.. 

When going there wear some comfy clothes and rubbershoes. Flip flops/slippers are not quite good to use in this place because it is too rocky and sandy. I was using slippers at that time so I slipped many times hahaha..

 See so crowded. That's how many tourist at that time. It was April so expect many many more.

Oh hello there! Kawaii! See I wore just my slippers and will forever regret it since I slipped down the cave after taking this shot. Never will use slippers again when traveling. ha ha ha. (Left my rubber shoes in the van up in the main road because I thought slippers are better, silly me.)

Third stop and just along the way was Hannah Beach Resort.

Taken using my hubby's Canon Kiss DSLR

 Here is another snapshot (photo credits to Hannah's Beach Resort)

Actually, we only had few pictures taken and did not stayed long at the resort.

People call it "The Boracay of the North" because of the white sand that resembles Boracay Island.

Sand is as white as Boracay only it is a bit grainy, has small pebbles and some speck of dried corals.
Just few shots here and there  taken at Hannah's and we were off to out next destination.


Forth Stop is Cape Bojeador Lighthouse also known as Burgos Lighthouse.

It was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The light marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon. The northeastern-most being Cape Engaño Lighthouse on Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan.(an exerpt from wikipedia)

Here, we had the time to savor the beautiful scene of Cape Bojeador. 

 And a glimpse of the lighthouse.

Our last stop is Kapurpurawan Rock Formation also in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Kapurpurawan, coming from the root word "Puraw" means very White.
It is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces. Burgos is located on the northwestern tip of Ilocos Norte. 

Before reaching the rock formation, one have to walk for about 10-15 minutes to reach the view deck.

This photo was taken at the view deck. Few years ago, tourists could go near the rock formations but now a deck was built to protect the site.

See the view deck from afar? Here is another photo taken just before you reach the deck. The sculpture in our back is the epic story of Lam-Ang

Some clip from the Epic Story of Lam-Ang

We weren't able to go to Bangui Windmills because it was already six in the evening and since there are many windmills also in Burgos we just decide to take some pictures of it.

That's my aunt. We were making fun of her saying that Dora the explorer was in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

And here is my favorite. The Sunset, Windmills, Mountain and the Sea

For Day 4, early in the morning we went to the market. Bought some pasalubong, goods that aren't sold in Manila like the Gamet, Fresh Karamay, Dried Fish, Squid and Seaweeds and other veggies that are cheaper there than Manila price.

 This is the Dried Gamet Seaweed. And below is the Pokpoklo Seaweed.

At 9am we went swimming again in the Beach and the Lagoon. By noon ate lunch at our mama Alpha's (our aunt) Kubo and then prepared for our bus ride back to Manila.We left Claveria, Cagayan at 3:30PM and arrived at 6AM in Manila.

Four days was enough for us to visit some places up north. Though there are more places to visit yet like the Baluarte, Paoay Church and more.

Have any suggestions of places to go up north? Comment below, I might feature it here in the future.