1 Nation, 1 Lifetime, 7k107 Islands
These places are Surfers Paradise. Facing directly the vast and furious Pacific Ocean to East.
Seasons:
March through June - calm surf & good beachfront for swimmers and windsurfers.
October to February - waves tower up to 14 feet high, excellent for local & foreign surfer. Wetsuits are needed for protection.
Other Sports: Snorkeling and Wall Diving during the calm season from April to June. Baler & Dingalan are a popular haven for lobsters and other marine species.
Driving from Manila to Baler:
From Manila, enter the North Expressway at Balintawak and exit at Sta. Rita Bulacan. From there, follow the highway leading to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. From Cabanatuan City Proper, follow signs leading to Bongabon until you come to see a sign "to Baler" headed right. Turn right and you will reach the foot of the Baler-Bongabon highway which eventually runs right into Aurora National Memorial Park. You are now inside the virgin forests of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. First town is San Luis then Baler in few minutes.
Buses to Baler:
Genesis Transport Bus, Pantranco North, Baliwag Transit, Genesis Sierra Madre.
What to See, Where to go in Baler & Dingalan:
NATURE AREAS &
BEACHES
Sabang Beach
Location: Barangay Sabang, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper and
ask to be taken to the site.
Travel Time: Approximately 5 minutes
Located on this long stretch of gray sand beach are several
resorts.
Cemento Beach &
Reef
Location: Barangay Cemento, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, you can either hire a motorized
banca for a 10-minute ride to the reef, or take a 40-minute walk.
White sand, seashells, and crushed corals carpet the stretch
of Cemento Beach.
Dimadimalangat Islet
Location: Off the coast of Barangay Cemento, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which
can take you to the area.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 15 minutes by
boat.
This rock formation is actually a small island just a few
meters away from the reef shore of Barangay Cemento and serves as a point
identifying the southernmost tip of Baler Bay. During low tide, this islet
becomes a peninsula, of sorts, where one could walk and wade from the reef
shore to this natural rock formation. Around this island are reefs for the more
daring divers.
Hillsite of Proposed Ermita Park
Location: Barangay Zabali, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, one can walk to the site.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle, approximately 35
minutes' walk to the foot of the hill and 15 minutes' trek uphill. This shrub-covered area provides an excellent view of the
town of Baler, Sabang Beach, Cemento and Dimadimalangat islet. This is the best location to get panoramic shot of Baler.
Lukso-Lukso Islets
Lukso-Lukso IsletsLocation: Off the coast of Barangay
Zabali, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which
can take you to the area.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 25 minutes by
boat.
At least three islets comprise the rock formations known to
the locals as "Lukso-Lukso." One of these small islands is connected
to the mainland and at low tide you can see white grainy sands, crushed corals
and numerous seashells, some inhabited by hermit crabs.
Aniao Islets
Location: Off the coast of Barangay Zabali, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which
can take you to the area.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 20 minutes by boat
Two small but imposing islands lie south of the islet of
Dimadimalangat. These islets jut straight from the sea like bullets, with
shrubs, small trees and other greenery growing on top surfaces.
Sierra Madre Mountain
Mountain RoadLocation: Parts of Aurora Province
Getting There: The best jump-off point is Barangay Ditumabo.
Travel Time: Two hours' drive to reach Barangay Ditumabo.
This mountain range covers a large part of the province of
Aurora. In fact, apart from the Aurora coastline, the mountain range is where
the flora and fauna of the province is concentrated. Waterfalls, rivers and
crystal-clear streams of varying sizes are located within, if not adjacent to,
the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
Digisit Beach
Location: Barangay Zabali, Baler
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which
can take you to the area.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and 30 minutes by
boat.
From the islands collectively known as Lukso-Lukso, one can
hike to the white coral beach of Barangay Zabali. Digisit Beach stretches to
about a kilometer in length.
**From
Digisit Beach you hike to Philippine
Atmospheric Observatory, then to Dicasalarin Cove and to Cape Encanto.
Maria Aurora's main attraction is Balete Park, home to the
country's Millennium Tree, a
centuries-old balete that is the biggest in Asia.
Balete Park &
Millennium Tree
Location: Maria Aurora
This park contains a 600-year-old balete tree that was
designated the official "Millennium Tree" of The Philippines. It is
the largest tree of its kind in Asia, and it would take 60 grown men, holding
one another at arm's length, to encircle its gigantic trunk.
Due to its age, the tree's thick roots have grown above
ground, such that caves have formed under various sections of the trunk. This
unique tree has generated national media attention and is now the most visited
tourist spot in Aurora.
Dipaculao Town Attractions
Dipaculao has perhaps the most beautiful coastline in the
province. Its main attractions are the coastal areas of Dinadiawan Beach, Ampere Beach and Borlongan Beach.
Dinadiawan Beach
Location: Along the Dicadi Highway
Getting There: Take a private vehicle from Baler town proper
and use the Dicadi highway to drive north.
Travel Time: Four hours
Dinadiawan Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in
Aurora, with a fabulous view of the Pacific Ocean, the lush, diverse forests of
the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, and the rock formation along the shoreline.
And, Dinadiawan Beach is resort-free.
Ampere Beach
Location: Ampere, Dipaculao
Getting There: From Baler town proper, take a tricycle going
to Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca and ask to be taken to the
site.
This beach is covered with smooth rocks of various sizes and
darker color. This beach is an area called Bunga Point or Ampere Point, where
local residents flock to Okotan Cave, a time-honored locale for forecasting
the weather.
Borlongan Beach
Location: Barangay Borlongan, Dipaculao
Getting There: From Baler town proper, take a tricycle going
to Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca that can take you to the
site.
Travel Time: About two hours
Borlongan Beach, like Ampere Beach, is covered for several
kilometers with gray pebbles and smooth, fist-size stones. This makes Borlongan
beachfront different from most other beaches.
Dinalungan Town Attractions
The municipality of Dinalungan is located between the
mountains of Dipaculao and Casiguran. Trees abound in its mountain areas, where
forests and falls dominate the landscape, and rare exotic birds, such as the
endangered Philippine Eagle, soar over untrammeled coastline. Because of its
variety of natural attractions, the area is ideal for nature trekking.
Casiguran Town Attractions
Most of the municipality's attractions are located by the
shimmering waters of Casiguran Sound, an ideal locale for surfing, windsurfing,
snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as simple relaxation. Motyong, the site of
a small airport, is a beautiful white-sand beach with largely unspoiled
scenery.
Casiguran Sound
Location: Casiguran
Getting There: Hire a motorized banca from Baler town proper
and head north.
Travel Time: Approximately 5.5 hours
Casiguran Sound is a bay nearly enclosed by the Casiguran
landmass and the cape of San Ildefonso. Only a kilometer-wide inlet serves to
connect the sound to the sea. Its very location provides protection from the
typhoons that seasonally ravage most of the province. Casiguran Sound is also
unaffected by the monsoon winds that blow from October through February, making
it an ideal spot for windsurfing, should facilities be available. For the time
being, bring your own windsurfing equipment.
Motyong
Motyong BeachLocation: Motyong, Casiguran
Getting There: From Baler town proper, you can either hire a
motorized banca and head north or take a private vehicle and drive along the
Dicadi highway, passing through Dinadiawan and Dinalungan municipality.
Travel Time: Six hours
Motyong is a popular beach filled with fine white sand.
There are no resorts in this area. However, there are few private resthouses.
There is a private airstrip located nearby, however, and plans are underway to
make it into a full-sized airport, making Motyong ideal for possible resort
investment.
Dilasag Attractions
Dilasag
is known for its many white-sand beaches. The most popular is Canaware, a secluded lagoon with
velvety sand and soothing waters.
Dilasag Coast
Location: Dilasag
Dilasag, a municipality at the northernmost area of Aurora,
offers a coast with kilometer upon kilometer of white sand beach alternating
occasionally with forests, hills, and cliffs. Its undeveloped features and
natural attractions offer tourists the sensation of discovering something new
and unspoiled. Inaccessible to most transportation, Dilasag Coast is a true
getaway.
South of
Baler
San Luis Town Attractions
Pimentel Falls
[National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Watershed]
NIA WatershedLocation: San Luis
Getting There: From Baler town proper take a private vehicle
or hire a jeep to Poblacion San Luis. From there, the NIA Watershed is just a
few kilometers away, easily accessible along the main road leading to
Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.
Travel Time: One hour and 15 minutes
The NIA watershed is a small dam built beside a picnic area
in San Luis. The water below the dam is clear, with a greenish reflection of
the vegetation surrounding the pond. The place is a coconut plantation covered
with short carabao grass and some shrubbery, making the place ideal not only
for swimming but for picnicking as well.
Ditumabo Falls
Location: Barangay Ditumabo, San Luis
Getting There: Hire a jeep or take a private vehicle from
Baler town proper going to Bgy. Ditumabo passing through Poblacion San Luis.
From there, it is a 4-km hike over rough terrain and river trail. It is
advisable to hire guides who are knowledgeable of the area.
Travel Time: Two hours and 15 minutes' drive and another
3-hour hike.
The crystal clear water of Ditumabo Falls gushes endlessly,
flowing and twisting among countless rocks and boulders. The trek to the falls
traverses several kilometers through the river and over a few steep mountain
trails surrounding the falls on both banks. Occasionally, the trekker will
unavoidably come upon fallen or cut logs that serve as either natural bridges
or obstacles. Approximately 140 feet high, the falls are surrounded by huge
cliffs-an unforgettable sight for nature lovers!
Dicasalarin Bay
Location: Dicasalarin, San Luis
Getting There: Take a tricycle from Baler town proper to the
river outlet south of Sabang Beach. From there, hire a motorized banca which
can take you to the area.
Travel Time: Five minutes by tricycle and approximately 45
minutes by boat.
With beaches, hills, a peninsula, a Grotto of the Blessed
Virgin, coves, caves, a cave-pool and reefs; Dicasalarin Bay; while small in
area, offers hours of recreation and relaxation for the entire family.
Dibut Bay
Location:
Off Barangay Dibut, San Luis
Getting There: From Baler, hire a motorized banca and ask to
be taken to the area.
The wide Dibut Bay coast affords numerous sights-island
formations, peninsulas, short stretches of beaches, and imposing cliffs. One
formation, appropriately named "Birhen" (meaning "virgin"),
resembles the Virgin Mary praying amidst the waves. Since Dibut Bay is not a
favored spot for the fishing industry, tourists may catch a glimpse of the
magnificent Hammerhead shark and Mako shark. For diving enthusiasts, moreover,
Dibut Bay is the perfect place to test out your latest flip.
Banju Springs
Location: Barangay Real, San Luis
Getting There:Take a private vehicle or hire a jeep from
Baler town proper to Barangay Real in San Luis. Another kilometer-and-a-half
walk on a rough road passing through a rice field will take you to this site.
Travel Time: Approximately an hour's drive
Natural terraced steps overflowing with spring water best
describe the Banyu Springs. A mass of ferns surrounds the springs, which
stretch up to a hundred meters toward the source of the spring, hidden amidst
shrubbery.
Cunayan Falls
Location: Barangay Pimentel, San Luis
Getting There: Hire a jeep or take a private vehicle from
Baler town proper to Barangay Real in San Luis, where a short walk from the end
of the road near the river will take you to the falls.
Travel Time: Two hours
Barely a hundred meters away from a dirt road passable to
most vehicles, Cunayan Falls is one of the more accessible falls of Aurora. The
falls strongly sprays from a cliff where greenery and even some flowers grow,
creating a great contrast against the white and light gray gravel sand area
washed out by intermittent floods.
Dingalan Tourist Sites
View Deck It is located in Barangay Tanawan
which offer a panoramic view of the natural harbor of Dingalan Bay as it merges
with the Pacific Ocean. Brgy. Tanawan
Tanawan Falls experience the natures beauty and dip in the cool
refreshing splash of Tanawan Falls that you will truly enjoy. Brgy. Tanawan
Rocks of Dingalan
Location: Barangay Tanawan, Dingalan
Large boulders of black igneous rock litter the mountainside
all the way from the borders of the province, despite the absence of volcanoes
in the area. Some local residents suggest that the rocks must date back to
prehistoric times, since they've been there as long as the residents' ancestors
could remember.
Nuestra Senora De La
Paz Y Buen Viaje Her Feast Day is on
May 31, many devotees from different parts of the country came to visit the
Miraculous Virgin Mary and celebrate Her feast day in a fluvial parade for she
is the Mother of Peaceful and Good Voyage. Brgy.
Paltic
Saint Patricks Parish
Church It is sited at the top of
the hill at Barangay Paltic. The residents of Paltic celebrate His Feast Day
every 17th of March. Brgy.
Paltic
Lamao Caves land adventurers always love the forested
mountains of Dingalan. Hiking, bird-watching, rock climbing, camping and
exploration of the Lamao Caves in Paltic are the activities that foreign and
local tourists will surely enjoy. Brgy.
Paltic
White Beach only 10 -minutes boat ride from town
proper. It is a natural enclave and isolated hideaways which has wide white
sand beach. It is also suitable for recreational activities. Brgy. Paltic
Fish Sanctuary the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
has pushed for the establishment of marine sanctuaries especially in Barangay
Paltic to preserve nature's richness and beauty. It is a potential site for
diving and snokling. Brgy.
Paltic
Dingalan Feeder Port Dingalan is envisioned primarily as an
International Container Port for Central Luzon on the Eastern Seaboard to
compliment Subic Bay Freeport on the west coast. The role of Dingalan is defined
by Regional planners (NEDA, SCAD) as that of a transshipment hub. Brgy. Paltic
Paltic Falls
[Inter-Pacific Forest Resource Corporation (IFRC) Nursery & Falls]
Location: Paltic, Dingalan
Getting There: From the town proper, it is possible to reach
the site on foot or by any private vehicle.
Travel Time: Approximately 15 minutes' drive.
The nursery is used to raise hardwood for replanting logged
areas. Trees such as narra, kamagong, mahogany, kapok, yantoc and others are
planted in small plastic bags and lined up underneath larger trees that provide
shade and moisture to the young trees. Not far from this nursery is a stream
that leads to two falls, one about 15 feet high and the other about 20 feet
high. The falls, approximately 50 meters apart, form pools that are perfect for
swimming or relaxing after a poolside picnic.
Lamao Caves
Location:
Paltic, Dingalan
Getting There: Take a boat from the Dingalan fishing port
located north of the town proper.
Travel Time: 35 minutes
A dozen caves along the seaside cliff of Paltic, Dingalan,
are constantly pounded by Pacific Ocean waves. A few mini-beaches serve as
docking points for bancas and during the calmer months of April to June, one
can maneuver a small banca inside the caves.
White Beach
(Dingalan)
Location: Paltic, Dingalan
Getting There: Take a boat from Dingalan town proper. One
can also hike from the town to the beach.
Travel Time: This two-kilometer long beach has numerous
shells and corals scattered along the entire length of its southern half, which
is approximately one kilometer long. The shore is made up of coral reefs that
gradually slope into the sea, and a bit farther from the shore is a sudden drop
into the sea bottom. This area has a variety of undersea flora and fauna for
divers to observe.
Windsurfing is another water adventure that local and
foreign tourists will enjoy at Dingalan beach. Brgy.
Aplaya & Butas na Bato
RORO Port Dingalan is envisioned primarily as an
International Container Port for Central Luzon on the Eastern Seaboard to
compliment Subic Bay Freeport on the west coast. The role of Dingalan is
defined by Regional planners (NEDA, SCAD) as that of a transshipment hub. Brgy. Aplaya
Matawe Inter-Tidal
Area during low tide, a
vast tidal flat of about 10 hectares is exposed, making it possible to walk
over 400 meters towards a promontory that encloses a large tidal pool, 20 feet
deep. The tidal pool is completely sealed from the surrounding sea water making
its water perfectly still even as the waves roar just a few meters behind the
promontory. Brgy. Matawe
Sea Ranch is located at Cabog in Barangay
Matawe was once a favorite tourist destination but was closed in 1980รข€™s and
then handed over to the Matawe Cooperative after falling into the coverage of
CARP. Now it regains its beauty and tourists from different parts of the
country visit Sea Ranch especially during summer season. Brgy. Matawe
Abungan Falls Abungan Waterfalls is approximately 98 feet
in heights. Nature lovers will surely enjoy the fresh and cool water of Abungan
Falls located at Barangay Ibona which embrace the beauty of nature. Brgy. Ibona
Lipit Picnic Area is in the upstream portion of
Ibona River. It is an attractive place for family gatherings and picnic during
weekends. Brgy. Ibona
Laktas Falls It is an ideal place for group gatherings and picnics
because of its wide swimming area. It is a perfect hideaway for families and
friends who want private and quiet place and at the same time enjoy nature. Brgy. Ibona
Iyapit Falls Its a two hour trekking from the town
proper. You can embrace nature as you enjoy each step feeling being one with
nature. It has various baby falls that nature lovers will surely enjoy. Brgy. Umiray
immediately immersed in the deep sea. Rare marine life such
as giant turtles and some sharks patrol the area. Local fishermen have spotted
more interesting undersea life along the coral reefs a few hundred meters
southeast of the caves.
Tabi Falls get in touch with the beauty of
nature. Tabi Falls is an attractive place for family picnic especially during
weekends where they can also enjoy hiking. Brgy.
Umiray
Ilocos Norte.. 1 Nation, 1 Lifetime, 7,107 Islands
