Palaui For a Day.

Not to be confused with Palauig (Zambales), Palaui is a an island in Sta. Ana, Cagayan where the international TV series Survivor shot one of it's series.

To get to Palaui, you first need to get to Sta. Ana, Cagayan from Tuguegarao. Vans ply the main road with signages, so it'll be easy to spot and flag them down. Fare is P140 per person. The trip takes about four hours through breath taking landscapes of the Cagayan region. People are familiar with that noon time show theme saying that Aparri is the end or edge of Luzon. In my humble opinion, it's Sta. Ana because from Aparri it still took us more than hour to reach it.  

We stayed at the Country Inn Sta. Ana because of it's reviews. We were not disappointed as the rooms were clean and obviously well maintained by the owners. Our room was in the annex and is very quiet as it is separated from the main building or the beach front. We've noticed that this resort is a favorite among locals as their restaurant is full at night with families or businessmen having dinner.

inside the restaurant

Bar area of the restaurant

We arranged our boat tour to Palaui through the receptionists of Country Inn. A tricycle fetched us from the resort to bring us to Port San Vicente where we were met by the president of the bangka operators. There is no set fare matrix here unlike in Tuguegarao, so it's up to you to decide how much you will give the trike driver. We gave P60 and this is fair enough for the distance that we traveled from the resort to the port. At the tourist office we were given a brief history of the island and the activities they offer. This is also where you choose the package/tour you want.

port San Vicente. 

The boat ride to Palaui takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how rough and rougher the seas can be and which part of the island you'll be going to. If you don't like seeing the tip of the boat about to dip because of the waves, I suggest you take the back seat. This rough sea environment will only last about 15-20 minutes so it is tolerable.

Cape Engano Cove

Our main purpose for the trip was to see the Cape Engano lighthouse. It is one of the few standing Spanish lighthouses that are still being used today. The trek to the lighthouse is fairly easy as part of the trail is cemented and this cuts through the old Spanish road. 

this is about 200 steps, fairly easy

In spite of time and the elements, these steel steps are still sturdy

It was nearly noon when we reached the lighthouse, so the noonday sun beat it's harsh heat upon us. The beach where we docked is full of corals, so it's not advisable to go swimming in that area. If you want to swim, best if you get the package that includes Anguib.

After climbing the lighthouse you can still trek to the waterfalls or to the other side of the island where the other coves/attractions are.

Now, how much did I spend? The total came up to roughly about P6,000 per person. You can lower this amount by choosing a different resort and eating at local carinderias. Or if you're a group of five, as we just split the bill between the two of us. It was bad timing that my friend and I were so tired and stressed from our jobs that we didn't have the strength to explore the town of Sta. Ana, the local eateries or go back to Tuguegarao a day early to go to Callao Cave. So we ate at the resorts' restaurant. The prices by the way for the food they serve is not really that expensive. I recommend their plate of grilled Tanigue for P95 that already includes rice and a side dish of vegetables.

Expense Breakdown:
Airfare (RT)- P715
Accomodation _ P2000
Van to Sta. Ana from Tuguegarao P140 x 2
Trike to port P60
Trike back to resort P60
Tour guide (Cape Engano) P300
Boat ride to Palaui P900 (the tour costs P1800, so split by two)
Food roughly about P1000-1500 or P300-500 a day