Tra-Abel Guide to Palaui Island, Cagayan

Cape Engano Lighthouse!

Palaui Island is located on the most northeastern tip of the Philippines in the province of Cagayan, where the last kilometer marker (642 km) up north of Luzon can be found. It is a small exotic island with a rich flora and fauna, home to the historic Cape Engano Lighthouse and surrounded by stunning and beautiful beaches and islets such as Anguib, Nangaramoan, Punta Verde, Crocodile Island and Dos Hermanas.

How to Get There

By Land

You can catch any bus from Manila bound to Cagayan (Tuguegarao City). There are a number of them both regular and air-conditioned. Here’s a list of the buses going to Cagayan Valley:

1. Victory Liner (From Pasay, Sampaloc and Cubao/Kamias Terminals)

2. GV Florida (From Sampaloc and Cubao Terminals)

3.  Five Star (From Cubao and Pasay Terminals)

4. Other buses with route Manila to Cagayan Valley: Auto Bus, Ballesteros Bus, Dagupan Bus (Most of the buses bound to Cagayan Valley can be found around Sampaloc and Cubao area)

From Tuguegarao City take a Van to Santa Ana Market/Poblacion. Approximate travel time is 2.5 to 4 hours. In Santa Ana Poblacion, you can opt to stay overnight in one of the budget hotels around the area or you can go directly to San Vicente Port by taking a tricycle. From the port area, you can hire a boat (see rates below) to Punta Verde or Anguib Beach where you can spend the night. This will actually depend on the time of your arrival at Santa Ana. For the tips on where to stay at Santa Ana, Punta Verde and Anguib please refer to the accommodations section of this post.

The uninhabited shorelines of Punta Verder in Palaui Island

By Air

If you have limited time to spare, there is a direct flight from Manila to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Cauayan City in Isabela from budget airlines PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Air. From Tuguegarao City please refer to the directions above. From Cauayan City take a trike to the town proper/town bus terminal. From there you can take a bus to Tuguegarao City. Travel time from Cauayan to Tuguegarao is around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Boat rates (PASAMOBA Cooperative)       

From Port San Vicente to:

A.      Long Distance

Destination	Estimated Travel Time	Allowed Passengers	Amount
Cape Engano	45 min.	8	1800
Anguib	25 min.	8	1500
Siwangag	30 min.	8	1500
Puzurubo	1 hour	8	1800

B.      Short Distance

Destination	Estimated Travel Time	Allowed Passengers	Amount
Jerolinda Resort	10 min.	8	300
Crocodile Island	5 min.	8	500
Punta Verde	15 min.	8	750
Pugo Moro	5 min.	8	500

They also have a special trip costing Php3,500.00 for a tour around Palaui Island consisting of the following stops: (1) Cape Engano (2) Anguib Beach (3) Crocodile Island (4) Punta Verde. Or you can make your own itinerary and just negotiate the boat rental price with the Bangkero.

Where to Stay

Santa Ana Town Proper/Poblacion

When you arrive late or the weather does not permit for boats to travel to Palaui, there are plenty of resorts, hotels, inn and guesthouses around Santa Ana Poblacion. Don’t be shy to ask the locals where to stay overnight and how to get there (sometimes they go to the extent of accompanying you directly to the accommodation of your choice). Rates of accommodations in Santa Ana range from 200 to 1,000 per night.

San Vicente Port

If you want somewhere closer to Palaui, take a 10-minute trike to San Vicente Port where a few accommodations are available. However room rates at this area tends to be more expensive than those that can be found at the town proper. Rate for a room ranges from 500 to 1,500 per night.

Punta Verde (Palaui Island)

The campsite inside Nature Village!

The only place at Palaui Island where tourist can camp/stay overnight is at Punta Verde. Camping near the beach or at Cape Enganco Cove (the area near the lighthouse) is no longer allowed to ensure the protection and preservation of the Island. For accommodation at Punta Verde, you may contact Nature Village or Ate Elsa at cellphone no. 09052832559. The rates are as follows:

            Camping Fee                           250 per head overnight*

*This includes the tent, mattress and pillows. However if you bring your own tent there is still a 250 charge per head and they will provide you with mattress and pillow. So it would be best not to bring your own tent.

            Room                                       1,000 per room overnight

            Extra mattress                          50 per piece

            Extra pillow                               40 per piece

            Extra blanket                            50 per piece

Anguib Beach

How could someone resist camping on this fine white sand of Anguib Beach?

If you want a more secluded ala survivor place to stay, you can camp overnight at Anguib Beach. This beach is not part of Palaui Island but connected to mainland Cagayan. Land travel from Santa Ana to this beach is not recommended since roads are scarce and not yet developed. From San Vicente Port it is 25 minutes by boat. Camping rates are the same to those offered at Punta Verde. A beach caretaker can be found on the “Tourist Drop-Off Point” offering tents for overnight stay. There are no concrete houses around here, only nipa huts, one small “sari sari store” and some very basic amenities. So if you decide to stay here, you should be prepared to bring all the things you need, especially food.

For my personal recommendation, I believe that you should stay 1 night at the mainland and camp overnight at Anguib Beach. I prefer Anguib over Punta Verde for an overnight camping because of the following reasons. First, the beach at Anguib is way better than that at Punta Verde. The sand at Anguib is finer and whiter, the beach area is cleaner since there are no houses/people living in the vicinity. Unlike at Punta Verde where you can see plastics and garbage at the shore especially those near the community, Anguib is quite clean and maintained (maybe that’s where the entrance fee goes to). Second reason for you to stay at Anguib is the thrill of camping in a place where there is no electricity, little resources and totally cut-off from civilization. Finally, I recommend Anguib because of the tranquility of the place and its raw beauty. If you’re not convinced yet, then go visit Anguib and Punta Verde and see for yourself. LOL.

Activities and Sights

Cape Engano Cove and Lighthouse

The rocky part of the Cape Engano Cove!

The highlight of my trip to Palaui Island was my visit to Cape Engano Cove and Lighthouse. The trek from the cove to the top of the hill where the lighthouse is located was breathtaking not because it’s hard or difficult but because the view will literally take your breath away. On your right is the clear blue water in contrast with the white sand of the Engano Cove and on your left is a vast green land and forest area where you can get a bird's eye view of the Island. 

The scenic view of Cape Engano

Upon reaching the top you will be rewarded with a historical treat of the Cape Engano Lighthouse and the beautiful view of Dos Hermanas Island.

Side view of the Cape Engano Lighthouse! 

Anguib Beach

The hidden paradise of Northern Philippines!

A beach comparable to those that is famous in the Philippines like Boracay, Panglao and Siargao. The beach was the perfect place to relax our tired legs from the trek at Cape Engano, with its fine white sand, crystal clear blue water and the overall tranquil vibe of the place. The marine life near the shores of the beach is also rich and a good location for snorkeling.

Crocodile Island

Make way for Lacoste rock formation! LOL

A small island that resembles a crocodile from afar is an afternoon delight and a perfect place to stop for a photo shoot. With the white sand, blue water and a yellow limestone shape like a crocodile as the backdrop you will never go wrong with your pictorials. A short stop on this island is a must for every traveler who visits Palaui Island.

Punta Verde

Punta Verde is a place at Palaui Island where a small community thrives and the locals live. The main source of income for the locals are fishing and farming. So expect a number of boats docked along its shores and a few rice fields in the island. Punta Verde is also the gateway for an adventure to the whole island whether it is for a trek to the waterfalls (I believe there were 3), an immersion to the Aeta community or an opportunity to play and catch colorful fiddler crabs near the hanging bridge.

Rates at Punta Verde:

Island Guide                            300.00

Snorkeling Gear                      250.00 per set (including fins, mask, snorkel)

Snorkeling Guide                    300.00

            *only reef ranger are authorized to facilitate snorkeling activities.

Additional Information for Palaui Island:

Exotic (?) flowers from Palaui Island

Plan your time of visit to Palaui Island since typhoons and low pressure area (LPAs) can greatly affect and ruin your trip. You should check the weather forecast of PAGASA and stay alert of the weather warnings before you visit since Palaui is facing the Pacific Ocean.

Since Palaui Island is an Ecotourism site, you should be aware of the rules implemented on the island and should abide it at all times. Some of the rules are: smoking is not allowed anywhere; collecting of wildlife is strictly prohibited; bonfires and cooking in open fires are also not allowed; camping anywhere except at Nature Village in Punta Verde and other rules implemented by the governing authorities.

When you opt for the special trip offered by PASAMOBA, you should never forget to bring your own food as there are no eateries on the four spots you are about to go to. A packed lunch is advisable but it is better if you could bring a pot of rice and some canned goods during your trip, especially if you are planning to spend the night at Anguib Beach. Just remember though that if you bring packed lunch in styro or plastics; you need to bring them back with you when you leave. A garbage in/garbage out policy is implemented at the island.

Don’t forget to bring essential items like sunblock with cooling effect and mosquito repellant lotion. The sunblock and cooling lotion is a must especially if you’re visiting during the summer as temperature usually reach 40 degrees Celsius. The mosquito repellant will help you ward mosquitos especially at night time. Personally I find the mosquitos here more aggressive than anywhere in the Philippines (does that make sense?) LOL.

Follow my complete adventure at Palaui Island on the following posts:
Palaui Island Trip Day 1: Tra-Abel En Route
Palaui Island Trip Day 2: Island Hopping
Palaui Island Trip Day 3: Exploring the Island