Nueva Vizcaya: An ideal stopover up North

The North Philippines Expedition kicks off today at Clark Field in Pampanga, on to a six-day tour of various sights in Northern Luzon.

The first stop in this trek of some 600 participants riding in 200 cars and vans will be Nueva Vizcaya’s capital of Bayombong where lunch will be served, courtesy of the provincial government, before they proceed to Banaue in Ifugao, home to the world-renowned Rice Terraces, for an overnight stay.

A one-hour stay in Bayombong or a two-hour cruise along the Maharlika Highway from Dalton Pass (gateway to Cagayan Valley) in Santa Fe to Diadi town is not enough to show the totality of the many scenic and historical spots this landlocked province has to offer.

For participants who wish to stay behind for a day before catching up with the rest of the caravan, the provincial government has a ready tourism menu catering to all their wishes.

For those seeking adventure and are fond of mountain-climbing and spelunking, there’s the Alayan cave system in Kasibu town, one of the world-class spelunking sites in the country. Here, one can see centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites and other spectacular limestone formations.

A walking distance from the present provincial capitol grounds is the pre-war Provincial Capitol turned into a People’s Museum and Library. Although the museum is still in the process of gathering artifacts, a glimpse of those already on display there will at least give visitors an idea of how Vizcayanons lived in bygone days.

Just next door is the centuries-old Saint Dominic Cathedral with its façade renovated a few years ago.

Those interested in Church history could go to the laid-back town of Dupax del Sur, the Vigan of Nueva Vizcaya, where rare religious artifacts and works of art are on display at the rectory of the parish church which itself is one of the oldest in Northern Luzon.

The five-hectare Capitol grounds, dubbed the Luneta of the North, can be a major attraction in itself, what with its numerous features like the romantic boat rides in the lagoon, the murals depicting the history of the diverse cultures of the province and a replica of the Salinas Salt Springs.

Not to be forgotten is the former Nueva Vizcaya’s tourism gem, the Salinas Salt Springs. Although it has somewhat lost its grandeur, remnants of this region’s once major tourism destination are still extant, making it a must-place to visit. The springs have stopped spewing salt water due to the collapse of a cavern during the 1990 earthquake. In its "prime," the spring’s deposits resulted in crystal-like formations going down the hills from the water source.

And while here, don’t forget to taste the juicy Vizcaya oranges from stalls that line a stretch of the national highway in Bayombong as well as a bite of probably one of the most delectable buko pies in the country in nearby Bagabag town, gateway to Banaue.

For an overnight stay here, one has many places to choose from. There are the classy Governor’s Garden Hotel in Solano town and Bayombong’s Saber Inn, both DOT-accredited facilities.

If one wants something more akin to living in nature but with the comfort of modern amenities, there are the Villa Margarita and Banaue Mountain Resorts, all located at the outskirts of Bayombong.

With an almost impeccable landscape of rolling hills, verdant mountains and crystal-clear streams, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, Nueva Vizcaya is a tourism gem just waiting to be discovered.

For Explore 2002 participants, with their extremely short stay, the province is surely worth a return trip.