Up North in the Philippine archipelago, 324 miles away from megalopolis and more or less 18 hours of travel by land and sea, the adventure to Calayan Island is no place for the faint-hearted or a typical sightseer. Rather, it’s a Utopian feel for dauntless travelers willing to take cuts and scrapes as souvenirs in exchange of experiencing the rustic simplicity and untouched beauty of nature.
Photo by MATT DE SAGUN
This is the Ultimate Travel Guide to Calayan Island in partnership with Go PH Travel and Tours.
How to get there
Via bus and boat – Our trip to Calayan Island was arranged by Go PH Travel and Tours. It’s more or less 18 hours of travel (13 hrs. by land and 5 hrs. by sea). The meetup venue was at GV Florida Bus Station in Sampaloc, Manila, where we took a deluxe bus ride (with reclining seats and a bathroom) and departed at around 16:30. Safely arrived in Aparri, Cagayan at around 05:30, we transferred to a tricycle and headed to the port. Big boats heading straight to Calayan Island cannot dock in the wharf since the water is shallow, so we took a smaller boat to get to the main boat. The boat sets off early morning from Aparri and the schedule is very limited. Set sail via MB Godfrey, our travel to Calayan Island took 7 hours (normal duration is 5 hrs.) due to a small delay. Another boat, ahead of us, had a machine glitch that we need to assist them with since rescue might take more time. We arrived in Calayan Island at around 14:00 safe and sound.
Via plane, van, and boat – Instead of a long bus ride, another option is the time-saving flight from Manila to Tuguegarao via Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines (1hr and 15 min duration). Upon arrival in Tuguegarao, take a van heading to Port of Aparri. From Aparri, take a boat ride straight to Calayan Island.
Where to Stay
The accommodation was included in our tour package. We stayed at Villa Innocencia Inn, a rustic cabin by the sea. Has the basic amenities (an suite bathroom, comfy beds) yet is not the place for travelers with high hotel expectations (no fan/air-con but sea breeze instead, no room keys so bring along valuables). The power supply on the island is limited as well, available only from noon and shuts down by midnight. A true island experience, simple and serene, and an ultimate break away from the cyber world. Here are some other cheap hotels where you can stay in Tuguegarao before or after your trip to Calayan Island.
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