Coming from a whole day of island hopping at the Calayan Group of Islands, Tuguegarao is a three-hour drive from Sta. Ana, Cagayan to which the means of transportation to and from Sta. Ana is either a bus or a van (SAVFTODAI) from Sta. Ana Market or Don Domingo Public Market of Tuguegarao. Fare is Php 180 per person.
Tuguegarao is just right at the east of the Cagayan river bank which is the longest river in the Philippines running from Aparri, Cagayan until Quezon. Buntud bridge is one of the long bridge of the north that connects Tuguegarao to Kalinga Province.
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| Cagayan River |
We stayed at the Grand Victoria Lodge which a good choice for travelers and backpackers which would only cost you Php 600 per day. And is already fully airconditioned with a queen-sized bed. It is highly important to note to check and choose your room first as are there are some rooms that are dilapidated and which is infested with mosquitoes. Most rooms I saw at 2nd Floor to which we stayed is alright. However those in the first floor is not recommended.
The main means of transportation around the city is a tricycle which would cost you Php 10/passenger. Further down south from the Tanza Junction is the town's main plaza where more establishments are available.
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| Walking along at Tanza Junction, Tuguegarao |
We stayed there during Maundy Thursday until Black Saturday so most establishments are closed when we were there. It was only by Saturday that they opened when it was already our last day. Not to mind anyway as there are still some restaurants and fast food that are 24 hours open such as those that are near Tanza Junction which includes Jollibee and one hotel at the diversion road, Hotel Carmelita, which has a restaurant at its first floor called Culinare that offers both Italian and Filipino dishes.
The native delicacy to crave for in Tuguegarao is their Batil Patung (en. Mixed Noodles, tl. Halo-Halong Pansit)) which tastes so great, I can compare it to Pancit Malabon which one of my favorite local dishes.
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| Batil Patung by Culinare |
The Batil Patung is a noodle dish comprised of different types of local noodles sauteed in soy sauce yet its saltiness is mild. Mixed with it are crumbled pork rinds (chicharon), cabbage, carrots, scrambled egg soup and also topped with sunny-side up egg. As the default taste is catered to those who doesn't want it to be too salty, you can add it up with chopped onions, more soy sauce, vinegar, chili (siling labuyo), calamansi (local lemon) and an egg soup which is served with it. One plate of this would make you 2-meal full. Put of course, this is still subjective depending on your appetite.
I have tried Batil Patung from two restaurants. One is at Jomar Panciteria which is famous for serving Batil Patung and is along Macapagal road, parallel to where the road to Don Domingo Market is. The "Super" Batil Patung is big enough for my wife and I however, mostly this is good for one person already. The super Batil Patung is Php 70 and making your own condiments is self-service and unlimited!
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| Jomar' Panciteria |
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| Batil Patung at Jomar's |
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| Dine-in area Jomar's |
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| Self-service unlimited condiments at Jomar's |
Another restaurant we tried with Batil Patung is Culinare at Hotel Carmelita just about in front of GV Florida Terminal, the bus we would be riding back to Manila. The noodles cost Php 100 here and tastes just as good plus the comfort of fine dining.
Culinare is also famous for their Italian Cuisine, smoothies, shakes and gelato.
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| Enjoying Tuguegarao's Pride, Batil Patung |
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| Culinare, a cafe and an Italian/Filipino Restaurant |
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| Milkshakes and Frappucino at Culinare |
Down at Don Domingo Market, just in front of Mariton Grocery is the main Tricycle station that you can ride to get to the Callao Cave complex of Penablanca, Cagayan for Php 40/passenger one-way. The Callao Cave is along the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range and is 25 kilometers away from Tuguegarao.
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| 7-passenger tricycle to Callao Cave |
Tuguegarao is a gem city of the north, is filled with great food, an access to tourist spots of Cagayan Valley and is part of Schadow1 Expedition's itinerary to the northeastern tip of Luzon for its mapping expedition. Over 100 waypoints and tracks gained from our road trip to Cagayan Valley and the mapping expedition of Cagayan Valley has been contributed to +OpenStreetMap Philippines for free use of Filipinos who would like to use this data for navigation and humanitarian purposes.
Map
Openstreetmap Philippines Map (link)
Schadow1 Expeditions Contributions (link)
How to use for your Navigation System (link)
View Cagayan Road Trip in a larger map
For a more detailed account of Schadow1 Expeditions' Palaui Island and Cagayan Valley Mapping Expedition, check on the links below:
- Roadtrip to Cagayan Valley and Island Trekking at Palaui and Calayan
- Palaui Island and the Serene Cape Engano, a mountaineer and a beach bum's Paradise
- Anguib Beach, Tranquility at the Northeastern Tip of Luzon
- Crocodile Island of Cagayan, an islet with many names
- Uncovering the treasures of Balintang Channel from Calayan Group of Islands
- Callao Cave System, one of the largest cave systems in the Philippines is here at Cagayan
- Tuguegarao, the Gateway to Cagayan Valley's Tourism
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