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Claveriais a coastal municipality in Cagayan on Luzon, the Philippines. It is the primary beach destination in northwestern Cagayan, with an extensive series of beaches and rock formations set amidst background of the Cordillera mountains.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Formerly known as Cabicungan, Claveria is located in a peninsula at the northwestern edge of the Cagayan panhandle. It was founded in the late 16th century as a fortified Spanish settlement to protect the route between Cagayan and the Ilocos region from marauding pirates along the Babuyan Channel and Isneg raiders from the Cordillera mountains of Apayao to the south. It was renamed after a 19th century Spanish governor general and is the second-most northerly town of Luzon, surpassed only by Pagudpud.
Claveria is roughly divided into three clusters of settlements. Downtown Claveria is in the middle of a secluded cove along Cabicungan Bay. East Claveria is at the edge of the coastal plain running the length of northern Cagayan and is separated from downtown by the Cabicungan River, while West Claveria is a set of barangays in a valley that is shared with the municipality of Santa Praxedes and is separated from the sea and downtown Claveria by a spur of the Cordillera mountains.
It is home to about 33,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
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Claveria is along Manila North Road and is the penultimate town in Cagayan before reaching Ilocos Norte. Buses traveling between Cagayan's capital Tuguegarao pass through the town on their way to Ilocos Norte's capital Laoag and other destinations in Ilocos. It is also served by passenger vans and minibuses from Tuguegarao. Travel time from either Tuguegarao or Laoag takes between 3-4 hours.
A junction in Barangay Dibalio leads south to the neighboring town of Calanasan in Apayao province. This is also served by passenger vans from Tuguegarao and Claveria.
GV Florida operates daily bus trips to Claveria from Metro Manila.
Claveria Port also serves as a gate of entry towards the Calayan Islands.
- 1 GV Florida Bus Terminal, Manila North Road, Centro I.
- 2 Claveria Port, Taggat Norte.
- 3 Claveria Transport Terminal, Manila North Road, Centro VII (beside Petron gas station). The central terminal for passenger vans and minibuses.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Tricycles are the main form of transport.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Taggat Lagoon (Blue Lagoon), Taggat Norte (at the back of Claveria Port). Claveria's seas are often very rough except for this section of beach that is protected by natural rock formations. You may have to keep clear of the fishing boats that are parked around the lagoon, testifying to the area's active fishing community.
- 2 Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket Rock Formations, Taggat Norte. A pair of rock formations at the edge of a cape that separates Taggat Lagoon from Cabicungan Bay, named after a local legend about a couple that was turned into stone by a curse and are now the said rock formations. Lakay means man in Ilocano, while Baket-baket refers to his wife.
- 3 Cabicungan Public Beach. An extensive stretch of gray sand running the length of Cabicungan Bay from Claveria Port to the mouth of the Cabicungan River. Most of the town's resorts are concentrated around this area, while Claveria Boulevard, also known as Belado Avenue, the town's main promenade, runs parallel to the beach.
- 4 Claveria Viewdeck, Manila North Road, Camalaggoan. An observation point on a hilly stretch of the highway overlooking Cabicungan Bay and downtown Claveria. This should not be confused with an older viewdeck a few meters on the same road that has now been abandoned and overgrown.
- 5 Sentinela Cove, Camalaggoan. A small cove containing the Ubing-Ubing Rock formation, said in local legend to be the child of the couple turned into the Lakay-Lakay and Baket-baket formations who was also turned into stone by the same curse that struck his parents.
- 6 Pata Lighthouse, Pata East. A lighthouse overlooking the mouth of the Pata River, which separates Claveria from the town of Sanchez-Mira to the east.
- 7 Bantay Kalbo, Taggat Norte. The northern-most point of Claveria is a 100 metres (330 ft) hill jutting out into the Babuyan Channel and ringed by rocky cliffs. It is named as such for its grassy appearance (bantay means watchman and kalbo means bald).
- 8 Santa Maria Ecotourism Park, Santa Maria. A small park along the Cabicungan River with mangroves and cottages.
- 9 Culao Pekkan Falls, Santiago. A small cascade on the hills separating Claveria from Sanchez-Mira.
- 10 Villa Aurora, Claveria Boulevard, Centro I. A grove of casuarina trees along Claveria Beach.
- 11 Saint Joseph Parish Church (Claveria Church), Rizal Street, Centro I (beside Claveria Gymnasium and Saint Joseph's Academy). Claveria's main Roman Catholic church.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Claveria Public Market, Semana Street, Centro IV.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Caferiano, Claveria Boulevard, Taggat Sur, ☏ +63 917 793 8109, info@caferiano.com. A beachside cafe.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Claveria Agri-Based MPCI Tourist Inn, Burgos Street, Centro II, ☏ +63 995 231 1263, +63 999 832 8076.
- 2 El Dia Beach Resthouse, Claveria Boulevard, Centro I, ☏ +63 919 063 6634.
- 3 EuVenice Inn and Restaurant, Claveria Boulevard corner Aducayan Street, Centro I, ☏ +63 956 496 7799, euvenice10@gmail.com.
- 4 Arizabal Bayview Inn, Claveria Boulevard corner Semana Street, Centro VI, ☏ +63 956 496 8530.
- 5 Claveria Grassroots Ocean Inn, Claveria Boulevard corner Commonwealth Street, Centro I, ☏ +63 906 310 3714, claveriagrassrootsoceaninn@yahoo.com.
- 6 Johndrey Resort, Purok Star Ruby, Taggat Norte, ☏ +63 945 468 7312, johndreyresort@gmail.com.
- 7 Eau de Claveria, Claveria Boulevard, Centro III, ☏ +63 960 438 5666.
Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Stretches of Manila North Road along Barangays Camalaggoan and from Taggat Sur to Union can get blocked by landslides during the rainy season.
The Philippine Coast Guard has a station in Claveria.
Stay healthy
[edit | edit source]There are clinics and a health center run by the municipal government, but the nearest hospitals are in neighboring Sanchez-Mira and Pagudpud towns.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town’s postal code is 3519.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Claveria |
| Tuguegarao ← Sanchez-Mira ← | E  W | → Pagudpud → Laoag |