TARA SA PANANACPAN BEACH, SANTA ANA CAGAYAN

Looking for a long drive adventure with scenic views and extra challenge? Cagayan Valley presents Pananacpan Beach, one of the beautiful treasures hidden on the edge of Santa Ana with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. HOW TO GET TO PANANACPAN BEACH? Only 2-3 hours from Aparri, Cagayan or 14-16 hours travel from Manila, Pananacpan beach is quite far from civilization with no network service and electricity. The only thing that will connect you with the world is nature. To get to Pananacpan beach, it’s best to take a car or ride on a motorbike, from Sta Ana town proper and turn right at the first road you’ll find after crossing the bridge at the mouth of Palawig River. Just keep going straight, and at the end of the road you’ll find two rivers that you can cross easily cross by wheels or by foot. Keep going until you reach the area of Pananacpan beach. How will you know you've arrived? You’ll see signage on your left directing you to the beach or a campsite, and there’s an information booth on your right. You can ask the locals along the way if you need directions. There are small communities there and they are super nice. WHAT TO DO UPON ARRIVAL You will need to register at the information booth. There you have to pay the entrance fee, you can inquire about the activities offered at the beach or ask about the cottage or room rentals. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST FOR A DAY TOUR OR OVERNIGHT STAY IN PANANACPAN BEACH? Entrance fee per head is Php100 Cottage is Php1,500 Outdoor table - Php500 Room (good for 3-4 pax) - Php3,500 WHAT TO EXPECT IN PANANACPAN BEACH Pananacpan beach is a great place to chill. The waves are not that strong, so you can enjoy a nice swim there. There are a lot of rock formations that are super Instagram-able. There are also beautiful mangroves that you can explore. There’s a small community of Aetas and they are nice people. Weather is unpredictable since it’s close to the Pacific Ocean. Our visit was during the 'Ber' months so we can see rain clouds brewing at a distance. It would rain from time to time but it doesn’t last long. There’s no network service so you can’t connect to the internet or text/call anyone. It’s perfect for those who really want to disconnect from the world for a moment. There’s no electricity but the resort has a generator. They don’t turn it on that frequent unless there are a lot of tourists on your visit. Best to bring your own powerbank. But if you want to stay overnight, inform the resort caretaker right away so he can buy diesel for the generator and he can have it running during your stay. There are no grocery stores here. There are mini sari-sari stores but you can’t get much food. Best to buy whatever you want to grill or cook before getting here. We are lucky to be able to find fishermen who are willing to sell their catch to us so we can have something for lunch.