DiscoverCalayan
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of Calayan.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Calayan
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Calayan
- The first ever description of the place, the term, holidays to Calayan, Cagayan, takes the essence of a place where the sea and the sky gently embrace each other in silence, almost mystically.
- You can also make your trip easier with the help of the booking with world pinoy flights which makes it easier to travel between Manila and the small port of the island where the journey can begin on the right foot.
- The island belongs to Babuyan group of Luzon Strait, and is known by its pristine turquoise waters glittering with the tropical sun.
- Tourists will be in the midst of dramatic cliffs that come out of the shore in a sharp manner thus giving a dramatic background that is both awe-inspiring and humbling.
- Sometimes in the centre of the island one can find caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, which talk about the days long gone by, and the people of the island preserve these secrets just by telling storeys in a simple, but still very touching way.
- During the evenings, the nights are crystal clear to see stars that appear to be touching the water therefore making the nights appear quiet and more of a sacred atmosphere.
- Capital (of the province): Tuguegarao City
- International airport: No international airport in Calayan
- Nearest commonly used:
- Calayan Airport (Calayan Island) – airstrip; limited / not for regular commercial flights
- Laoag International Airport (Ilocos Norte) – domestic and limited international flights
- Tuguegarao Airport (Tuguegarao City) – domestic flights
- Basco Airport (Batanes) – domestic flights (geographically closer, but not commonly used for Calayan travel)
- 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: Ilocano, Ibanag, Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The Calayan Rail, a flightless bird that has no other home other than this island, turns into a kind of classroom to the birdwatchers who visit the island to observe the movements of this gentle bird.
- The Canuebe beach has a lengthy screen of fine white sand and the water remains clear and calm which makes the place ideal to sunbathe, go on peaceful swims and also just sit back and relax.
- The rocky and cliffy structures that surround the Sibang Cove are so high and have been shaped by waves over centuries, and give a dramatic outlook that makes one feel like it was a living sketch.
- Paddayag Cave featuring limestone walls and natural stalactites is a place that offers adrenaline rush to the discoverers, but must always be guided by a local to define the most safe path.
- The rugged landscape of the island is loaded with rare flora like palm trees and herbs that can only be grown in this micro-climate, which makes the island botanical.
- The spirit of community is felt; the people of the island receive one another with a welcoming smile and a warm welcome of Kumusta, which makes every visitor immediately at home.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- March to May are the best periods to travel on holidays to Calayan, Cagayan as they are the periods of the dry season where the seas are calm with cleaner skies.
- The boat adventures taking place during these months are more secure and guaranteed, and therefore the travellers will arrive at the island without much delay.
- Between October and February the Luzon Strait is filled with severe winds and high waves that may lead to the cancellation of ferries and make the journey a little less predictable.
- Tropical climate of the island keeps the environment warm throughout the year although the humidity increases during the rainy season and hence light and breathable clothes are necessary.
- Visitors intending to hike the island cliffs are advised not to travel during the months that record the most rains since the slippery rocks may be risky.
- The lush vegetation of the island even during the wet season is of vibrant green colour and the sound of rain is heard echoing in the canyons making it a calm condition to those who appreciate peaceful nature.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Canuebe Beach
- The sand in the beach is soft white like powdered sugar and the water is so clear such that one can see the fish swimming in the water but they are of different colours.
- You may rest on a towel or a hammock, and be as much at liberty of the sound of the cities, and be rocked by the music of the waves into a trance.
- The beach is also very secluded and you hardly come across other tourists and you can fully experience the silence of the island.
- Local sellers sell fresh coconut water and grilled fish, and you have an idea of the natural abundance of the island at the beach.
- When you like watching stars, keep on until the night; the sky is clear enough to make out constellations that you cannot see in the mainland.
- The soft waves of the beach also render it perfect in swimming, particularly when the family just wishes to have children splashing about without any danger of losing their lives.
Sibang Cove
- You might have to have a little boat ride or walk a low path to get to the cove, but whatever the mode of transportation, the end results are the beautiful view worth the trip.
- The cove is enclosed by high and rough cliffs creating a dramatic contrast to the smooth water underneath, and almost creates a mirror effect.
- As you stroll along the beach, you will find that the foam of the sea creates a distinctive pattern upon the rocks creating a continuously changing picture of nature.
- The silence in the cove is as though a hidden retreat, and one can sit on a smooth rock and just listen to the wind and the waves.
- With a camera, the rays of the sun will shine at sunset or sunrise and make a photograph that seems to be almost ethereal over the cliffs.
- The cove is rarely visited by local fishermen who occasionally drop the nets, and taking a glimpse of the daily routine of the fishermen would give one an idea of the lifestyle of the island.
Calayan Rail Birdwatching
- Calayan Rail is a slow form of movement in the thick vegetation, and it takes time, silence and a low profile to see it.
- You will get to know how to hear the specific call made by the bird and locate its secret nesting places by joining a guided tour with a knowledgeable local.
- This is a fulfilling experience, as watching the rail is a one-in-a-lifetime experience to most of the visitors who love wildlife.
- You will also be made aware of the efforts that are being put in conserving this endangered species against poachers and loss of habitat.
- One of the guides will point out the place where the rail likes to conceal itself, and it will be either in the direction of tall grasses, or in a small stream that flows through the woods.
- When the birdwatching is over, you will be able to talk with the guide about the way the visitors can contribute to the maintenance of the natural state of the island.
Paddayag Cave
- This entrance of the cave is plain, and when you enter they will give you a world of stalactites and stalagmites which glitter in the lantern light.
- Every single rock structure has a storey as to how it was deposited and the surfaces are cool to the touch of your fingertips.
- A local guide will show you the most interesting places in the cave which includes a big room that reflects your footsteps.
- There are little kind of pools of water that accumulate water that drips through the roof, and the dripping water makes a very relaxing sound.
- The road leading into the inner part of the cave is very narrow and slippery in some areas thus an essential to keep safe is a pair of strong shoes and a headlamp.
- Exploring behind, you may walk out into the fresh air and feel the wave of the island wind blowing through the trees.
Reason 05
Discover More
Ferry Port Area
- The arrival and departure of the ferry is a glimpse into the life-blood of the island, it is the constant flow of people and goods that continue to make the island prosper.
- The busy port can remind people of the importance of sea transportation to the citizens who are dependent on the mainland fish and produce.
- Fresh fruits, seaweed, and homemade snacks are sold by the local vendors which is a quick bite before going out to explore.
- The rhythmic background of the sound of waves hitting the dock is mesmerising and invigorating.
- When you see how the boat crew manoeuvres the boat, you admire how the island cherishes the maritime traditions.
- Fishermen may also be encountered who discuss the most favourable areas to fish and give a glimpse of their everyday life.
Malacdang Lighthouse (Viewpoint)
- When you are up on the lighthouse, you get to see a vast stretch of turquoise water that extends through to the horizon where the sky would join.
- The lighthouse per se is an antique building, which was constructed to help the ships navigate the occasionally inauspicious Luzon Strait safely.
- The short staircase offers a panoramic sight as one ascends the stairs and feels like being at the edge of the world.
- Looking outside, you will see small islands and little boats that spread across the ocean, and each of them tells a storey of a human being standing strong.
- The fresh air that flows on the top makes it an ideal location to have a moment of silent contemplation.
- When flickering at dusk the light of the lighthouse forms a hypnotising pattern that makes you remember how the island has always been the protector of the sea.
Local Fishing Villages
- A trip to a fishing village will allow you to see how the local fishermen, pre-dawn, rig their nets and boats and go off to the sea.
- The simple houses of the community composed of timber and nipa demonstrate how the community utilises natural resources to make shelter.
- The fishermen are seen fishing which is a real life lesson of what can be done to be sustainable and to respect life in the ocean.
- Villagers will many accuse you of refusing to eat fresh fish that has just been caught, and squeezed with lime and a pinch of salt.
- You will hear about the moods of the sea, about the storms which have been overcome, and about the hidden riches of the island.
- The big grins and big hearts of the fishermen will make you realise that the hospitality is the cultural aspect of the island.
Calayan Town Proper
- The main square of the town is a tranquil spot where members set up to gossip or play cards or just sit back and view the waves at a local pier.
- The streets are very small with ancient wooden houses smelling of sea salt and freshly woven mats.
- There is a small market within the town that contains homemade crafts, woven baskets, and local pastries that can bring you home.
- Community centre frequently arranges mini-get-togethers, which provide the visitor with the opportunity to listen to folk music and dance played by the locals.
- You will find that everybody knows the name of the other and the friendly atmosphere that the interactions provide a warm welcome to all.
- Taking a walk through the alleys of the town is an experience that makes one feel that the people of the island have a history and that they coexist with nature.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- The prevailing language is Ilocano that still has the echo of the history of migration of the mainland, though it is mixed with the influence of Tagalog.
- This isolation has enabled the development of a very strong sense of community in which the neighbours assist one another whenever there is a storm or during planting season.
- The traditional festivals are generally celebrated around the ocean and the abundance of the waters to the islanders.
- The Calayan Rail is a treasure to the people, and they engage in proper conservation to ensure that the bird is safe.
- Whenever a family celebrates, they come together at the communal hall of the town where they eat the meal they prepare themselves, sing folk songs and dance in long circles.
- The people of the island cherish simplicity, humility and endurance which is reflected in their every day life and in all their encounters.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- The culinary culture of the island is dominated by fresh seafood products, which are caught every day and cooked with local spices: fish, shells, crustaceans.
- One of the dishes served daily is grilled fish in banana leaves and spiced with garlic and a little coconut milk to provide the dish with a smooth taste.
- Sweet potatoes and taro are also root crops that are cooked in simple stews and serve as a hearty and comforting meal to all.
- The natives enjoy preparing pinakbet which is a blend of vegetables such as bitter melon, eggplant, and squash, and flavoured with fermented fish sauce.
- As dessert, there will be sweet coconut rice cakes, which melt in the mouth, using local coconut milk to sweeten it.
- Due to the fact that the island has few supplies of goods, the community highly appreciates sharing meals where everybody is involved sharing the food provided to them by the sea and land.
Fun
- The rugged landscape of the island also offers trekking activities and you may wander, discover secluded coves, rocky ledges, and groves among the trees.
- Spending your day in the beach, with your feet on the sand and the sea air on your face is very calming and refreshing for holidays to Calayan.
- Birdwatching is a very stimulating experience; the serene atmosphere enables one to pay close attention to the activity of the Calayan Rail.
- One of the things you can do is to snorkel in the shallow waters near the cliffs whereby you can see the colourful fish swimming around in the corals.
- To test your spirit, have your personal journey in a local fishing adventure, where you get to know how to cast a net or a line and get to have a first hand experience of the sea based economy of the island.
- Lastly, the time of the night is ideal to view stars since the clear skies present an amazing sight of constellations which are seldom seen in the urban areas.
Fashion
- Light and breathable materials like cotton or linen are also necessitated to keep cool in the tropical sun.
- Functional shoes such as durable sandals or hiking shoes are required to walk on rocky and sandy trails.
- Beach days are incomplete without swimsuit and your face will also be covered with wide -brimmed hat to save your skin against glare of the bright sun.
- Since the supply on the island is meagre, it will be prudent to carry a small first-aid kit and any personal medication you may require.
- The local fashion is informal and practical; a plain T-shirt and a pair of shorts will be useful in the majority of outdoor events.
- Evening events should be done in a simple loose dress or a simple shirt and pants to keep you cool and at the same time to be respectful to the local modesty.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The most valuable holidays to Calayan wildlife on the island is the Calayan Rail which is a small, flightless bird and the presence of the animal reminds people of the extraordinary biodiversity of the island.
- The Luzon Strait that encloses the island is deep and strong and the waves can be both exciting to the experienced sailors and a call to the power of nature.
- The sea has cut the cliffs of the island over a period of thousands of years creating dramatic scenery that is beautiful as well as difficult to climb.
- The island has ancient geological patterns as seen in limestone caves such as Paddayag where stalactites and stalagmites tell the storey of the silent history of the island.
- The vegetation of the island is composed of tall palm tree down to low herbs, which are all important to the surrounding ecosystem of the island.
- Local and national conservation companies are trying to preserve these natural features by conserving them, but at the same time letting the visitors enjoy them in a responsible manner.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- Calayan Town Fiesta on the $10^\text{th}$ of May every year is celebrated in honour of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador and is a thanksgiving day of the successful harvest.
- The fiesta is celebrated by hanging colourful lanterns along the major street of the town, and there is music in the streets with the help of ancient drums and flutes.
- The families of the local people have their celebrations in processions, where they carry the statues of their saint with them and sing the hymns in Ilocano and Tagalog.
- The streets are lined with food stalls which are selling grilled fish, fresh coconut beverages and homemade pastries that will leave the taste buds in no doubt.
- The culmination of the fiesta involves a common meal in which all the people gather around a big pot of rice, fish and vegetables, an action that implies unity for holidays to Calayan.
- Dance shows, which combine traditional dance moves with modern rhythms, could also be observed by the visitors and demonstrate how the cultural process on the island develops without losing its traditional roots for holidays to Calayan.