AGNES PRIETO DELVES BENEATH THE SURFACE OF TUGUEGARAO AND SHARES SOME UNIQUE EXPERIENCES PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAP RIOS

Tuguegarao is a sight for the city-weary. The verdant fields that lie along the rushing Cagayan River create a vast patchwork quilt of green that stretches as far as the eye can see. The city itself is nestled in the northernmost tip of Luzon, where life is slow and mellow and residents are attuned to nature’s rhythm. But unexpectedly, first-time visitors find that the gentle pace veils exciting surprises, with rewards for the adventurous in both body and spirit.

explore caves

Tuguegarao’s 300 caves will enthrall you. These comprise unchartered territory, and should you choose to slug through the stalactites and stalagmites on your birthday, you can have a cave named after you! Spanning kilometers of magnificent limestone formations, they forge an interconnection through Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Batanes. Callao is the most famous, just an hour from downtown Tuguegarao! It has dome-like structures filtering light like a giant cathedral and there are even church pews and an altar. There are technical caves to challenge the physically fit, and wondrous ones with lagoons and streams to swim in. Some caves boast steep 150ft-high walls, which you can rappel from, and some have jar burial sites for would-be archeologists. To hire a guide, contact the Sierra Madre Outdoor Club, tel: +63 (918) 395 6160 (Guy Tiongson) and +63 (917) 272 6494 (Francis Battung).

careen down riverways

Take a raft or a kayak on the Pinacanuan River. You can drift along and appreciate the majestic scenery when the waters are serene. June to early March is a good time to go for milder speeds, which 10-year-old kids can experience as well. For a wilder option, you can go white water rafting.

Tuguegarao is a jump-off point for the rough and tempestuous Chico River in Kalinga, five hours away by jeepney. Go past breathtaking gorges, canyons, rock formations and smoking volcanoes as well as rush through 60 miles of heart-pounding rapids with an average gradient of 60ft per mile drop. The site has put us on the map as a prime water-rafting destination, for its gorgeous scenery, numerous waterfalls, vertical canyon walls, exhilarating drops and cliffhangers. Kids have to be at least 14 years old, and adults are required to be very fit. July to January is the most exciting time to go whitewater rafting; the high water levels due to the heavy rainfall promise peaks and dips as you hang on for the ride of a lifetime! Contact Anton Carag, tel: +63 (917) 532 7480, and Adventures and Expedition, aepi@ whitewater.ph

get mystical

The Babaylan culture is an integral part of early Filipino history. Over the centuries, the practices of local shamans and healers have fused with Catholicism. Shamans bring on the likelihood of rain for crops in times of drought, heal the sick and even provide amulets for star-crossed