Melo Villareal
Visit Sta. Ana in Cagayan Valley
Dubbed as the “Boracay of the North,” Sta. Ana is a town located in the northeastern tip of the province of Cagayan.
Pacific Ocean view from top of Cape Engaño Lighthouse, Palaui Island – by Supermanslash – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Recently, the place has been put into spotlight worldwide after it became the location of one of the most popular reality game shows in the world — the “Survivor.” The town of Sta. Ana boasts of these two unspoiled and fine tourist destinations: the Anquib Beach and Palaui Island.
Palaui Island
In a 45-minute boat ride from the town of Sta. Ana, one can reach the famed Palaui Island. In this Island, tourists can find Cape Engaño, a historic ‘parola’ or a lighthouse situated on the top of a summit hill. Seated 92 meters above the sea level, the parola provides any tourists a perfect 360-degree view of the Dos Hermanas Island and Babuyan on the North, Engaño cove on the East, as well as the Pacific Ocean on the West.
One can climb the stairs of the parola to witness the unparalleled beauty of the scenery — lush green, white sand beach, rolling small mountains as well as crystal clear blue waters — that will surely unwind your tired limbs and soul. Because of the enchanting beauty of the place, the international reality TV show, Survivor Series, picked the pristine island as a perfect location for their 27th season.
In this place, one will also get the chance to witness some of the 21 commercial species of fish that thrive in the place’s 50-hectare undisturbed coral.
Anguib Beach
Anguib Beach is deemed as the “Boracay of the North” as it is known for its white sand beach and picturesque sceneries — which makes it comparable to Boracay – One of the Worlds Best Beach Destination. The beach is surrounded by small mountains which make it even more majestic. This beautiful place is seated in Barangay San Vicente in the town of Sta. Ana.
The place is perfect for activities, such as swimming and playing under the sun, which every traveler will certainly enjoy.
How to Get There
One can reach the scenic town of Sta. Ana via a bus from Manila to Sta. Ana, Cagayan. From San Vicente Port, one can ride a boat to these places.
After exploring these beaches, you can head to the nearby towns where you can also find other fine tourist destinations — such as the “Magapit Bridge” in Lal-lo, Callao Cave in Penablanca, Calvary Hills in Iguig, and so much more.
Yes, the trip is certainly long and tiring. But, once you have been there, you can surely tell that these places are truly well worth visiting.
Have Fun!
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Also see:
- 15 Awesome Destinations in the Philippines to Go Beach Camping
- Nakanmuan Arc in Sabtang Island Batanes
- Explore the Amazing Beauty of Pink Sand Beaches in the Philippines
