Sentinela Cove: A Secret Beach in Claveria, Cagayan

Sentinela Cove is the home of the legendary Ubing-ubing. Ubing-ubing is believed to be the son of the legendary Lakay-lakay and Baket-baket that turned into stones due to their greediness. The cove is located in Brgy. D. Leaño that can be reached thru public and private transportation. The travel time from the town proper of Claveria will take about 15-20 minutes.

Near the cove is the prominent hill known as Bantay Kalbo which is good for a couple of minutes hiking. The view at the top is definitely breathtaking. Sentinela Cove is filled with fine off-white sands that flanked by interesting huge rock formations. There is also a mini-cave wherein you can hide from the heat of the sun. The coves' rugged beauty made this place serene. 

Bantay Kalbo on the background.

Mini-cave.

Every time my relatives visits our hometown for vacation, we always find time to visit the beach. We usually visit the famous Taggat Blue Lagoon and stroll along Claveria Beach in the town proper so I suggested that we visit Sentinela Cove for a change. 

My relatives enjoyed the place. We took pictures for good memories. The sea waves are very inviting so we also went swimming. We stayed longer and gazed on the waves crashing down the shore and rock formations. We waited until the sun sets. 

It's suffice to say that Sentinela Cove is a secret beach. Aside from its breathtaking beauty, the place is not crowded. No resorts situated along the beach. You can really have the beach all yourself.

If ever you will visit up-north and headed to Claveria, find time to visit this place to experience this for yourself. You only need few cash for the fare expenses and food to eat when you get hungry. One more very interesting thing, there is no entrance fee! Visit the cove and you will definitely like its serenity. Have you been to this place? Share me your thoughts my dear readers! 

Experiencing Why Cagayan is called "The Smiling Land of Beauty"

Traveling together once in a while is a bonding moment of our family. Being the jet-setter, I suggested that we explore our home province for a change. This experience is one for the record because it was their first time to visit other parts of Cagayan. Below are the different places we visited that proves why Cagayan is called "The Smiling Land of Beauty". 

MAGAPIT HANGING BRIDGE

Magapit Hanging Bridge is located in Lallo, Cagayan which is 72 kms from Tuguegarao City. It is the first of its kind in Asia and serves as the gateway to the Ilocos Region through the Cagayan-Ilocos Norte inter-provincial highway. Lallo town is also home to the St. Dominic Spanish Colonial Church, the former seat of "Ciudad Nueva Segovia". Ciudad Nueva Segovia is featured in the annals of Philippine History as one of the four oldest cities in the country. 

BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF PIAT

It is also called as "The Lady of the Visitation" and is located 35 kms from Tuguegarao City. It was originally called the Lady of the Holy Rosary, perhaps because the devotees of the Rosary, the Dominican Friars, supposedly brought it from Macao to the Philippines in 1604. This more than four-centuries old image was first enshrined in Nueva Segovia now called Lallo. The image is famous in the country and abroad as the Black Mary making Piat the Pilgrimage Center in the Cagayan Valley Region. 

CALLAO CAVES

The seven-chambered Callao Cave boasts of massive limestone formations, skylights and a chapel. Its cave entrance is accessible by climbing the 184-cemented steps. This famous cave is located in Peñablanca, Cagayan. 

Pinacanauan River at the background.

184-uphill steps is not for the weak-heart. You have your cardio tested as you go up while enjoying the view of Pinacanauan River and the other parts of Peñablanca, Cagayan. If you are into caving, you will enjoy your visit here. Limestone formations are very inviting for picture-taking.

Exactly 184-cemented steps!

Cave chapel on the background.

After caving, try cruising the Pinacanauan River. It is conducive for kayaking, boating, and swimming while the mountains on its sides are perfect for trekking and mountaineering. The daily phenomenon of the circadian flight of insect-eating bats from a bat cave occur at dusk enthralling visitors. 

With our friendly tour guides. 

These are just 3 reasons why Cagayan is called as "The Smiling Land of Beauty". I believe, Cagayan is not just about bridges, churches, rivers and caves. This wonderful province has more to offer that will make everyone smile. 

Mabnang Falls: Claveria, Cagayan

Who would have thought that a simple barangay, Mabnang, in my hometown is a home of a wonderful falls? I was only high school when I last visited this place. After a couple of years, I was able to visit once again, this time with my brother, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

I've seen a lot of new improvements on the area. The last time I was here, it was all natural, virgin-like place wherein no other people except the locals appreciate its beauty. Maybe as the time goes by, development was underway and you can now see that the basin was already developed. 

What else to do around 14:00 not to dip on the very cold water coming from the mountain?! Water here is freezing but due to the hot weather, we don't mind. We enjoyed swimming on the raging falls. It was fun! Summertime and we need to enjoy it.

The pool area was destroyed by a typhoon. Big rocks and strong current coming from the mountain tops maybe the reason why it was destroyed. Local folks from the barangay still managed to save the area to draw local and foreign tourists.

Now I will tease you how to get to this place. Just a few minutes from the provincial road, this is accessible by walking or any means of transportation. Will share you things that will make you even eager to hit the place for relaxation. Along the way, you can see these:

Can't get enough? Definitely! Barely in less than 30 minutes you will reach your destination. What is interesting is that, part of getting there can be done by transportation and still you need to step-off from the car and walk for about 5 minutes to get to the falls. Not a problem, it's just an easy hike, just look at the trail below:

Easy task right? Burned calories in getting to this place and you'll soon find that the place is great! Such a great hour for me and my colleagues to enjoy our summer vacation. I would rather suggest hit this place once you visit my hometown, Claveria, Cagayan.

Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Heading to northernmost part of Ilocos Norte will not be interesting without visiting Patapat Viaduct in Pagudpud. The panaromic view of mountain ranges and the sea view of Pasaleng Bay is great. Air is so fresh and you can see waves splashing on the shore.

TRIVIA:

The bridge is elevated 31 meters above sea level. It is a concrete coastal bridge 1.3km that connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag City, Ilocos Norte to Cagayan Valley Region. It rises along the coastal mountains of the town, which is the start point of the Cordillera Mountain Ranges through Northern Luzon.

It is also the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines.

Visit the bridge when you happen to hit Pagudpud. It is one of the most popular tourist destination in the north. After which, you can visit the Bantay Abot Cave just nearby the area before heading to Blue Lagoon.