This document provides information on the Cagayan Valley region of the Philippines, including its location, geography, population, and the 5 provinces that make up the region - Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. For each province, the capital city is identified and key details are provided on area, location, geography, and select tourist attractions with brief descriptions. The document aims to educate readers on the political and cultural aspects of the region as well as identify tourist sites and how to access different parts of the Cagayan Valley.

1. Philippine Culture,
Tourism & Geography
Region 2 - Cagayan Valley Region
By: Prof. Mary Kristine Laurilla, MBA

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Identify the location of the provinces
where tourist attractions are located on
the Philippine map.
• Identify the major gateways or entry points
into different provinces.
• Understand the political structures,
cultural, historical, religious, and
educational aspects of the provinces where
tourist attractions exist.

3. FUN FACTS
Area 26.858.79 square kilometers
Location Located on the northeastern part of
mainland Luzon
Geographi
c
Profile
As of year 2000, the population was
2,813,159.
Political
Profile
Composed of 5 Provinces: Cagayan,
Isabela, Batanes, Quirino and Nueva
Vizcaya.

4. CAGAYAN
Capital: Tuguegarao

5. AREA AND LOCATION
Lies in the northeastern
part of Luzon.
It has an aggregate land
area of 9,002.70 square
kilometers which
constitutes 3% of the
total land area of the
country making it the
second largest province
in the region.

6. GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE
About 2 kilometers from the northeastern tip
of the province is the island of Palaui, and
a few kilometers to the west is Fuga Island.
How to get there?
Through domestic airlines and buses.

7. AGGAO NAC CAGAYAN
This is also known as Cagayan Day, celebrated
every June 29

8. BUNTUN BRIGE
At 1,124 kilometers, this bridge is the
second longest in the country and offers an
unobstructed view of Cagayan river. It is
located some 2.5 kilometers from the
Tuguegarao Town property.

9. IGUIG CALVARY HILLS
A duplicate of the 14 stations of the cross
is situated atop an 11-hectare rolling
terrain overlooking the Cagayan river.

10. ST. PETER’S CATHEDRAL
A picture of the hangs in the basilica in
Rome. It is considered one of the most
beautiful works of art in the world.

11. THE MIRACULOUS LADY OF PIAT
Considered the “Antipolo Northern Luzon”, the
Mecca of the devoted and the Pilgrimage
center of Cagayan Valley.

12. ISABELA
Capital: Ilagan

13. AREA AND LOCATION
Located in the northern part of Luzon, and
bounded in the north by Cagayan.
At 10,665 square kilometers, Isabela
comprises almost 40% of the regional
territory, making it the largest province in
the region and the second largest province in
the country in terms of land area.

14. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
The eastern and coastal areas experience
moderate rainfall evenly distributed
throughout the year. The western part has a
wet and a dry season.
How to get there?
Cyclone airways and Asian spirit offer
special flights to Cauayan airport in
Isabela.

15. AGUINALDO SHRINE
This was where General Emilio Aguinaldo was
captured by American forces, ending the
Philippine revolution in 1901.

16. CHURCH OF ALICIA
The church is
famous for its
antique Spanish
architecture.

17. CHURCH OF ECHAGUE
This particular
church has a unique
architecture that
is hardly found
anywhere in the
Philippines.

18. DIBULO WATERFALLS (DINAPIGUE)
The waterfall
has an estimated
length of 100
meters.
Dinapigue is the
tallest
waterfall in the
Province of
Isabela.

19. MAGAT DAM TOURISM RESORT COMPLEX
Asia’s biggest dam project, the reservoir
area is suitable for fishing, swimming,
boating, sightseeing, and picnicking.

20. BATANES
Capital: Basco

21. AREA AND LOCATION
Its capital town of Basco is about 280
kilometers north of Appari, Cagayan on the
Northern tip of Luzon Island. Through some
860 kilometers north of Manila, it’s only 190
kilometers south of Taiwan.
Batanes has a total land area of 230 square
kilometers.

22. GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Batanes is made up of 3 major islands,
Batang, Sabtang, Islets including Y’Ami, the
northern point of the Philippines.
The 4,500 square kilometers in territorial
waters and 42% of the land beings steep hills
and mountains.

23. MOUNT IRAYA
Mt. Iraya is a dormant
volcano rising 1,517
above sea level. Its
last eruption was in
505 AD. It is a good
source of fertile
soil.

24. NAIDI HILLS
Offer a panoramic view of Basco town proper,
Mt. Iraya, and the rugged seascapes that
Batanes is famous for.

25. SAN CARLOS BORROMEO CHURCH
(Mahatao)
This church was completed in 1989 and still
retains centuries-old features.

26. SAN JOSE CHURCH (Ivana)
This church was built in 1814. It has a
crenelated fortress-like campanile.

27. NUEVA VIZCAYA
Capital: Bayombong

28. AREA AND LOCATION
Nueva Vizcaya, located 210 kilometers north
of Manila is the southern gateway to Cagayan.
It occupies a land area of approximately
3,903.90 square kilometers which is about
10.72 percent of the regional land area and
1.30% of the total land area of the country.

29. GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Numerous mountains and forests and a
considerable number of rolling hills, plains,
and valleys characterize the terrain of Nueva
Vizcaya.
How to get there?
Bus going to Isabela and Cagayan pass through
here.

30. KIRANG PASS (Kirang, Aritao)
A monument in
honor of the
gallantry of
the Filipino
soldiers during
World War II.

31. SALINAS SALT SPRINGS (Bayombong)
A natural wonder consisting of hills made
entirely of petrified white salt.

32. CAPISAAN CAVES
This recently discovered wonder features
impressive limestone formations, one can have
a great adventure exploring this site.

33. QUIRINO
Capital: Cabarroguis

34. AREA AND LOCATION
Quirino occupies a total land area of
3,057.18 square kilometers, 8.4% of the total
regional area, and about 1.02% of the total
land area of the country.
It is located in the southeastern part of
Cagayan Valley.

35. GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE
The Sierra Madre mountain range provides a
natural barrier between the eastern and
southern borders.
How to get there?
Take any of the many buses that regularly go
to Isabela or Cagayan and get off at Cordon,
Isabela. From there, jeepneys and minibusses
ply the route to Quirino.

36. AGLIPAY TOWN
A historic town
that got its
name from Father
Gregorio
Aglipay, a
Filipino priest
who rebelled
against the
Spanish
colonizers and
founded the
Philippine

37. ARAW NG QUIRINO
Various tribes
participate in this
event, which
commemorates the
birth of the
province.

38. BISANGAL WATERFALLS (Maddela)
Caves have their own
unique characteristic
different from each
other. The falls inside
this cave is a surprise
to every spelunker.
Bisangal falls is located
in one of the limestone
walls of Governors Rapid
(river) in Madela Quirino
Province.

39. GOVERNOR RAPID (Maddela)
Is famous for its gigantic limestone
formations which serve as shelter for the
Dumagats and the adventurers.

40. NAGBUKEL CAVE (Diffun)
Located at Barangay Luttuad, Diffun, and Quirino
with an area of 16 hectares.
Its special natural features are its glamorous
caves, rocky limestone mountains with forest
vegetation of small trees, and forest trees
plantation lying beside the grandeur Ganao River
a tributary to Cagayan river.

41. NATIPUNAN TOWN
It is characterized by a
lush virgin forest.
The town is being
developed as a gateway to
Aurora Province through
Barangay Sangbay.
The town’s name was
derived from the native
word “Convergence Point”,
in reference to several
major tributaries of the
Cagayan River in Aurora,

42. UPPER CAGAYAN RIVER BASIN
(Nagtipunan)
The Cagayan River is the longest and largest
river in the Philippines. It is located in the
Cagayan Valley Region in the northeastern part
of Luzon island and traverses the provinces of
Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, and Cagayan.

43. VICTORIA FALLS (Barrio Sangbay,
Nagtipunan)
The Victoria Falls in
located in the southwestern
part of Aglipay town at a
distance of 15 kilometers
from San Leonardo, the
municipal center of
commerce and government as
well as situated 16
kilometers away from
capital town of
Cabarroguis.

45. REFERENCES
Department of Tourism. (2018). Tourism Guidebook and
Manual.
Retrieved from
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Guidebook_Manual/TourismGuideboo
k.pdf
So, P. L. (2018). Philippine Tourist Destinations. Manila,
Philippines: Accumicro I.T. Solutions.
Domingo, B. B. (2017). Philippine Tourism. Foreign Service
Institute.
Libosada, C. M. (2017). Domestic Tourism. Pasig City,