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Baggao (pronounced “Bug-gao”) is a town of Cagayan province in the Philippines. It is home to multiple natural attractions along the Sierra Madre mountains.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Baggao was established by the Spanish in the 19th century along the foothills of the Sierra Madre. It sits on the valley of the Pared River, a tributary of the Cagayan River. It is named after the Ibanag verb for washing on account of the numerous streams and springs in town.
Baggao is primarily an agricultural town, with decades of political instability caused by the New People's Army insurgency hindering the recognition of the town's natural attractions until the early 2000s.
It is home to about 91,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
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Baggao has long been isolated from the rest of Cagayan apart from a road running from Baybayog Junction along Maharlika Highway in Alcala. Since the 2010s, bypass roads have been built to connect the town with Peñablanca and Gattaran and alleviate traffic congestion along Maharlika.
GV Florida operates a once-a-day bus service to Baggao from Sampaloc Terminal in Manila that leaves at 6:45 PM. Most travelers instead disembark in Tuguegarao, where there are more frequent services, then switch to passenger vans leading to Baggao, sometimes labeled as San Jose after the downtown area of Baggao. Travel time from Tuguegarao is around 1.5 hours. Partas also runs local bus services from Santiago City in Isabela.
Baggao has an extensive and untouched coastline along the Pacific Ocean, but there is no road access and the area is sparsely populated. The only access is through irregular passenger ferries from the coastal towns of Isabela province or from Santa Ana.
- 1 GV Florida Bus Terminal, Herrero Street, San Jose.
- 2 Partas Bus Terminal, El Salvador Street, San Jose.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transportation within town.
Unlike other towns, the barangay called Poblacion or Centro is not the downtown area of Baggao. The real commercial hub in town is in Barangay San Jose, further east, which has been the economic and administrative center of the municipality since the 1980s.
See
[edit | edit source]Baggao's attractions are primarily natural and are located east of the town center, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre.
- 1 Bluewater Falls and Cave (Hidden Paradise), C. Verzosa. The main tourist attraction in Baggao, it is a sprawling natural complex composed of dense forests, pristine springs, a 13-tier waterfall and rapids along the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Its highlights are the Blue Lagoon, whose turquoise waters are accessible following a lengthy hike, and the Bluewater Cave, a water-filled chamber with an estimated length of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). ₱30. Mandatory tour guides for ₱500 for a group of 4 people.
- 2 Lipit Canyon, C. Verzosa. A 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long gorge in the Bluewater complex lined with peculiar rock formations.
- 3 Laglagto Rock Formation, San Miguel. A series of rock formations along a gorge of the Pared River. It also has a hanging bridge.
- 4 Duba Cave, San Miguel. 8AM–5PM. An extensive cave filled with turquoise-colored waters. ₱20 entrance fee to be paid at San Miguel Barangay Hall. ₱500 for guide, ₱50 for lifebuoy rentals and ₱150 for cottage rentals.
- 5 Asinga-Via Hot Spring, Asinga-Via. A stream with sulfuric waters surrounded by rock formations.
- 6 Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church (Baggao Church), Alcala-Baggao Road, San Jose (in front of Saint Joseph's College), ☏ +63 953 351 8891, sjmparish.1944@gmail.com. Baggao's main Roman Catholic church.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Abaggaoan Festival. February 15. The town's annual festival celebrating local history and culture.
- 1 BF Ecofarm and Leisure Park, Sitio Alitongtong, J. Pallagao, ☏ +63 926 811 3396, bfecofarmleisurepark@gmail.com. An ecotourism venue with farm and staycation accommodations.
- Aldaw ti Baggao. November 27. Meaning "Day of Baggao" in Ilocano, it is a festival commemorating the town's founding anniversary.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Baggao Public Market, Alcala-Baggao Road, Poblacion.
- 2 San Jose Public Market, Baleva Street, San Jose.
- 3 Gamboa Supermart, San Jose.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Country Inn Hotel and Restaurant, El Salvador Street, San Jose (at the back of the municipal hall), ☏ +63 917 685 2837.
- 2 Tnuno Homestay and Restaurant, Bolos Point Road, Santa Margarita, ☏ +63 995 462 9015, tnunohomestay@gmail.com.
- 3 River Breeze Hotel and Restaurant, Alcala-Baggao Road, San Jose, ☏ +63 936 111 2565, riverbreezehotel0@gmail.com.
- 4 Vicimar Hotel, Alcala-Baggao Road, San Jose, ☏ +63 977 837 4653, +63 975 145 4666.
- 5 Triple T Farm Resort, Tungel, ☏ +63 916 839 4381.
- 6 D'Rest House, Tungel, ☏ +63 977 336 9367, dresthouseprivateresort@gmail.com.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Flash floods can occur during the rainy season, especially in the upland areas.
There may be a few NPA rebels hiding in the mountains.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 3506.