Boracay of the north

MANILA, Philippines - Not many Filipinos know but the beaches in the northeastern side of the archipelago hold as much beauty as their southern counterparts. With powdery white sand and pristine waters framed by mountain ranges, two notable coasts — Anguib and Palaui — hold a treasure trove of wonder and a bucketful of charm.

Crossing the Pacific Ocean in an outrigger for 45 minutes from San Vicente Port in Sta. Ana, Cagayan takes one to Anguib Beach. Dubbed as “the Boracay of the North,” the beach is truly a tropical heaven. Set on a picturesque backdrop of lush verdant hills, the cove stretches for more than a kilometer long and is dotted with tall trees.

While Anguib offers solace, adventure seekers can head off to Palaui Beach — where the reality TV show Survivor took place last year. Docking at Cape Engaño, the itinerary starts off with a trek going up the Faro de Cabo Engaño or the Cape Engaño lighthouse. Sitting atop the summit of a hill 92 meters above sea level, it takes around more than 200 steps to cover three-fourths of the trail, while the remainder requires a short hike along an incline of 45 degrees.

All the energy required to reach the top is rewarded with a breathtaking view. The still-working lighthouse offers a superb 360-degree view of the Babuyan and Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters) Islands on the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Engaño Cove to the east.

 Both beaches are nature reserves; all activities must be enjoyed with a certified tour guide. A small ecotourism office in San Vicente Port is where arrangements are made for the tours. Boat rates are priced depending on the number of islands tourists want to visit. For the Anguib and Palaui day tour combination, expect to pay a P3,500 fee — quite hefty by well worth the price, since it covers for the boat and a tour guide.

Before boarding the outrigger, it is best to buy food and bottled water as there are no eateries in the islands. A quaint halo-halo store under the canopy of trees and a makeshift tent is a welcome treat, though, as adventure seekers descend from the lighthouse.

To get to the Sta. Ana Port from Manila, tourists’ jump-off point is Tuguegarao, the capital of Cagayan. Tuguegarao is a 12- to 14-hour trip via bus.

Victory Liner, the most preferred and trusted bus liner servicing Northern Luzon routes for 48 years now, is the most convenient, comfortable, economical and safe way to travel to these destinations by land.

Victory Liner buses offer ample leg room, wide seats and air-conditioning. Each bus is also equipped with Japanese-technology tacograph that alerts drivers if they exceed the maximum driving limit of 90kph.

Daily trips on regular, deluxe, super deluxe, and first-class buses are available. For information on bus schedules, visit www.victoryliner.com.