Pamplona (Cagayan)

For other places by the same name, see Pamplona (disambiguation).

Pamplona is a coastal municipality in Cagayan on Luzon, the Philippines.

Pamplona is located at the mouth of the Masi River at the northwestern Cagayan panhandle. It is wedged on a narrow coastal plain between the Cordillera mountains of Apayao to the south and the Babuyan Channel to the north. It was founded in the mid-19th century following the merger of the settlements of Abulacan (now Barangay San Juan) and Masi, which became the town center. It was named in honor of the priest who engineered the merger, who came from the Spanish city of Pamplona.

Pamplona is dominated by Ilocano migrants, with a substantial minority of native Ibanag speakers. There are also some Aeta tribes in the highland areas related to those in the Sierra Madre and Zambales mountains. It is home to about 25,000 people (census, 1 July 2024)

Pamplona is along Manila North Road, the main thoroughfare in northwestern Cagayan. 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, as well as Junction Luna in Abulug leading to Apayao. It is also served by passenger vans and minibuses from Tuguegarao and buses from Metro Manila heading to Junction Luna. Travel time from either Tuguegarao or Laoag takes between 3-5 hours.

Tricycles are the main form of public transportation within town.

• 18.463784121.3396931 Saint Peter the Martyr Parish Church (Pamplona Church), Manila North Road, Centro (at the back of the municipal hall). Pamplona's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in 1614. It is one of the oldest churches in Cagayan.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 18.41721121.2910492 Mount Malagabavi, Masi. A mountain that is said to resemble a pig (bavi). There is a cave at its base.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 18.466228121.2779863 Pikkan Falls (Noisy Falls), Gattu. A pristine cascade.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 18.499113121.354534 Isla Paraiso, Nagtupacan. An island at the Masi River delta translated as "Paradise Island". It has rentable floating cottages and swathes of nipa groves.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 18.517203121.3217155 Millennium Beach. A long stretch of gray sand running west from the Masi River delta to the boundary with Sanchez Mira municipality.  (updated Oct 2026)

As a coastal and estuarine town, a common souvenir is handicrafts made from the nipa palms that grow at the Masi River delta.

• 18.46655121.3426991 Pamplona Public Market, Manila North Road, Centro.  (updated Oct 2026)

Spirits made from nipa are commonly-sold in town.

• 18.536937121.2865191 Nena's Beach Resort, Barangay Road, Nagattatan.  (updated Oct 2026)

The town’s postal code is 3522.

• 18.463746121.340531 Pamplona Tourism, Pamplona Municipal Hall, Bayot Street, Centro, pamplonatourismoffice@gmail.com.  (updated Oct 2026)

Laoag ← Sanchez Mira ←

W  E

→ Abulug → Tuguegarao