Gotan: Cagayan Valley’s best kept-secret

MANILA, Philippines - Spending weekends in the city may sound boring. When my week gets stressful, I begin to think of a place where I can relax peacefully when the weekend comes.

Recently, I asked a friend and he suggested why not try exploring Gotan Beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. Perfect recommendation. The place sounds unfamiliar but exciting. The following day, I packed my bags and headed over to Cagayan Valley’s paradise Gotan Beach for some much-deserved rest and relaxation.

Cagayan Valley is rich in agricultural yield. From Tuguegarao to Sta.Ana, it is endowed with flat land and coastal areas, making it ideal for eco- and agri-based tourism.

It sits on Northeastern Luzon between the Cordilleras and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.

Unknown to many tourists, Cagayan Valley is blessed with amazing, pristine white beaches. It is also home to the Cagayan Special Economic Zone, where you’ll find a casino resort, an 18-hole gold course, a theme park and other recreational and tourism activities.

Many of its towns are quiet and quaint, peaceful and idyllic with spic and span roads. The coastal area is very inviting and invigorating. Amidst rolling hills and lush greens lies the breathtaking Gotan Beach, San Vicente, Sta. Ana.

“Gotan will be a very exclusive and a high-end integrated leisure and beach resort development. We intend to further develop, protect and nurture the natural surroundings of trees, mangroves, sandy and watery plants and grass that continually grow, even and especially among the many mini-islands. In addition to the wild life, monkeys and birds, these God-given gifts of nature contribute highly in maintaining its pristine, lending themselves to a refreshingly ‘green,’ naturally-toned, effervescent, clean and healthy environment. These are qualities that discriminating people look for when going to a beach or a resort,” said Katrina Ponce Enrile, CEO of Jaka Corp.

For now, Gotan is by-invitation-only.

“Though I should make occasional ocular visits to the place to determine the scope of work to be done, I will probably be performing these tasks in the near future. My family and myself oversee the management of the place,” she proudly added.

Others must-see places in Cagayan are Palaui Island, Anguib Beach and Mapurao Beach.