DiscoverAllacapan
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Allacapan.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Allacapan
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Allacapan
- It is a large agricultural centre in the west of Cagayan that, with its endless rice paddies, continues to the horizon.
- It is known as the Rice Granary of Western Cagayan since every hectare produces bountiful harvest of hot rice grains.
- The plains are smooth and level, and along the banks of the meandering Palaee River, which brings the water that renders the fields green.
- The town also goes colour every year in the Corn and Rice Festival, a very festive event that was previously known as the Piatto Festival.
- Local farmers arrive with their fresh products to the marketplace, and the people of the village and tourists are getting to taste the pride of the area.
- A mere visit here reminds one that work coupled with nature can go hand in hand and therefore, it is the perfect place to have a beautiful time away holidays to Allacapan are very relaxing.
- Capital (of the province): Tuguegarao
- International airport: No international airport in Allacapan
- Nearest commonly used:
- Tuguegarao Airport – domestic flights
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) – major international gateway
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Ibanag, Ilocano, Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- We have wide expanses of gold corn and rice fields which appear to stretch indefinitely.
- The Palaee River passes through the farmland and it provides a peaceful place to fish and have picnics.
- St. Nicholas de Tolentine Parish Church is a house of worship with centuries of worship making its stone walls speak centuries of worship.
- Holidays to Allacapan is the entry point to the adjacent Apayao province and has an easy access to the Cordillera foothills.
- The community feeling of the town is glowing during the festivals when music and dance are mixed with the aroma of the newly cut grains.
- The rural and easy nature of the location makes the traveller relax, breathe and take life at a slower pace.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- November to May is the dry season which has clear skies with comfortable temperature to explore the open fields.
- April and May is the harvest time of rice and corn that makes the landscape to look like a mosaic of gold.
- Corn and Rice Festival is normally held during the month of August in which people of the area take great pride in displaying their harvest.
- In the rainy seasons, the river is in flood and the rice fields shone and produced a beautiful and almost mystical passage.
- The river breeze is cool even in summer and it helps in getting relief against the tropical heat.
- Planning Holidays to Allacapan to visit them during these seasons and you will see the natural beauty of Allacapan at its best.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Rice and Corn Fields Tour
- Take a drive or a bicycle ride through the endless rows of crops to see the size of the local agriculture.
- Make beautiful panorama shots of fields that shake in the wind, the dream of the photographer.
- Walk with expert farmers to learn about the growth and harvesting of rice.
- See the little, industrious insects which are an important part of the paddy eco-system.
- Have freshly milled rice at a street stall which is a no frills but good meal.
- Experience the fulfilment of the contribution of each grain to the livelihood of the community.
Palaue River Visit
- Walk along the river and hear the calming of water.
- Find local fish species that live in the rather nutrient-enriched calm waters.
- Take a small boat trip to observe the irrigation of the river in a new way.
- Learn the way the villagers wash rice and clothes in the river.
- Take advantage of the shade of trees around that makes the air cooler on a sunny afternoon.
- Enjoy the serene atmosphere that renders the river a good meditation experience.
St. Nicholas de Tolentine Parish Church
- Be amazed by the stone front and the elaborate decorations that narrate about faith.
- Go to a Sunday Mass, to visit the local worship practises.
- Explore the history of the church, which was constructed in the early $20^\text{th}$ century by the passionate settlers.
- Note the plain but beautiful inner, candles and prayer books.
- Interview the parish priest to get storeys about the past and future aspirations of the town.
- Have a pause in the silent courtyard, bathed in incense fragrance.
Local Produce Market
- Go through stalls, which are filled with colourful fruits, such as orange carrots and green cucumbers.
- Savour fresh corn taken out of the field, sweet and tender.
- Buy the goods of farmers who are smiling with pride.
- Taste local snacks, including roasted corn kernels, which is an element of the local cuisine.
- Listen to tales of the origin of crops and how they are grown.
- Go home with a shopping bag of fresh produce and a better understanding of the farming pride of the area.
Reason 05
Discover More
Apayao Foothills View
- Head west to Allacapan beach and see flat plain turn to soft hills.
- Take snapshots of the opposite sceneries, the heaven of a photographer.
- Find out how the foothills work out the weather and water run-off of the area.
- Explore the little towns that dot the hills and their peculiar ways.
- Sip local delicacies in a hill-top cafe, which has a panoramic view.
- Have a serene evening at the sunset, with the sun hugging the mountains away.
Piatto Festival Heritage
- Find out the history of the original name of the recipe called Piatto a tribute to the agrarian history of this region.
- Go to the centre of the festival that demonstrates traditional rice-planting instruments.
- See the way of life of modern farmers who mix the old and the new.
- samurai the special cuisine of the festival, prepared with locally grown grains.
- Visit a live dance performed to reenact the harvest cycle.
- Have a small souvenir that somehow summarises the spirit of the festival.
Ilocano Craftsmanship
- Visit villages where craftsmen make baskets and mats out of reeds.
- See flawless hands turn mere fibres into beautiful useful things.
- Find out the symbolism of the patterns worn in weaving.
- Buy a handmade product to have a special souvenir of your trip.
- Learn the way this trade contributes to local economy and heritage.
- Attend a brief workshop in case you want to have a sense of weaving your hands.
Regional Culinary Stops
- Ride on Allacapan as a starting point to hop local towns of Cagayan known in their culinary delights.
- Sample Pancit Batil Patong, is a noodle dish blending local flavours and spices.
- Savour Sticky rice called Kikay, one of the local sweets among children.
- Understand the effects of ingredients that are unique to each town on their special dishes.
- Have lunch with family of a local person to get to know true hospitality.
- Observe how the towns cook their foods differently, which brings the food tapestry.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Ilocano and Ibanag The Allacpan people are very proud to be mixed with each other and this produces a rich blend of their cultures.
- Life is dictated by planting and harvest time as each season is characterised by communal events.
- Hospitality is very warm and visitors are offered warmly with open arms and meals together.
- The language of the Ilocano is predominant but most citizens also speak English and Tagalog.
- During festivals, one can enjoy the traditions dances and songs, which speak of the resilience of the community.
- Family values are strong and the elderly impart their farming knowledge and storeys to the young.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- Fresh rice is one of the staples and it is usually consumed in plain and hearty bowls, which brings out the natural taste of rice.
- Corn products are numerous, sweet corn on the cob, savoury corn fritters which trap the sweetness of the grain.
- Traditional Ilocano food, including Pinakbet and Dinengdeng, feature vegetables grown locally and fermented shrimp paste.
- Pancit Batil Patong have a soothing noodle dish that is flavoured with a mix of local spices.
- Farmers markets give an assortment of fresh produce, giving the visitors a chance to sample the harvest of the land.
- A sweet ending to any type of food is provided by traditional desserts such as the sticky rice with sweet coconut.
Fun
- It is happy to attend Corn and Rice Festival as the streets are full of music, dancing, and food.
- Riding or driving through the open roads will give you an opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the gold fields.
- Photographers will be able to shoot the sunrise above the paddies which is indeed something to be memorable.
- Local games that promote the value of the community of harvesting can allow children to participate.
- Night walks: Walking along the riverbanks at night one can see the soft lamps of night festivals.
- A basic picnic in the fields will make you spend time tasting local snacks and enjoy the quietness of nature.
Fashion
- Light and breathable clothes are the best as they keep the travellers cool in humid weather.
- Wearing long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats is to shield against the blazing sun when riding in fields.
- Sandals or good-quality shoes are a necessity in order to move along on uneven and muddy paths.
- Basic, humble clothing is religious when visiting churches and local rituals.
- It is more likely that bright colours are used during festivals showing the active spirit of the town.
- A functional and stylish reusable cap with a water bottle will be a nice addition.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- There is a serene landscape of the flat and fertile plains where rice and corn grow.
- The Palaee River and its tributaries are the life-sustaining wetland habitats that provide homes to many species of birds.
- It is possible to see small wildlife like waterfowl and river fish in the early morning walks.
- Soft mountains and some cloud cover are the background of the foothills in Apayao.
- Rains in seasons change the scenery, and fields become shining cloths of green.
- Quiet meditation may be a quiet walk along the river and listening to the flow of water.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- The Corn and Rice festival occurs in the city annually and makes the town proud of its agricultural products with contests and parades.
- Praise prayers and street celebration of St. Nicholas de Tolentine on $10^\text{th}$ of September will be celebrated by the town.
- local craftsmen exhibit their work and take part in the traditional dances contests.
- There are food stalls that will provide local delicacies, which food tourists are welcome to experience.
- Local bands and folk singers fill the air with music which makes the atmosphere so happy. holidays to Allacapan are a cultural delight.
- Families come together in the town square to eat and tell storeys and laugh together thus building community ties. Holidays to Allacapan should be planned for the harvest season.