Backpacking Philippines: Driving By Nueva Vizcaya

Driving By Nueva Vizcaya

"Welcome to Nueva Vizcaya," the welcome arch near the historic Dalton pass says with an obelisk marking the gateway to Cagayan Valley with the town of Sta. Fe where Tutubi made a brief stop to take pictures of Balete Pass viewdeck.

Nueva Vizcaya is nestled amid the Caraballo, Cordillera, and Sierra Madre mountains, with Ifugao province to the north, Isabela to the northeast, Quirino to the east, Aurora to the southeast, Nueva Ecija to the south, Pangasinan to the southwest, and Benguet to the west. Three major towns of the province are Bayombong, the capital town, Solano and Bambang.

While driving by Bambang after Aritao town, Tutubi's driver was able to see an old friend in his store just on the main road. It's in Bambang town where cheap vegetables grown in the upland town, with cold weather, of Kasibu are sold (Kasibu, besides boasting a cool weather, also prides itself with the Capisaan Cave system for spelunking). You can also find direction signs leading to Salinas Salt Springs, a mountain topped with salt, actually called travertine, coming from salt spring of the hill.

Signspotting: Don't ever try to sell something here. People are miserly :P

Salinas Salt Spring, anyone?

After Bambang town is Bayombong, the provincial capital but due to lack of time, Tutubi decided not to pass by Bayombong town proper to catch a glimpse of St. Dominic Cathedral, the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Capitol and People's Museum and Library that showcases the province's history and heritage

Next to Bayombong is the town of Solano, quite progressive judging from various establishments you see on the road. Tutubi passed by an alternate route inside town to avoid traffic and was able to see large hotels and places like Centro (shown below)

an anti-aircraft gun in Solano, probably of WWII vintage, with Scouting references.

Nueva Vizcaya has large eco-tourism potential that can attract adventurers with a list of interesting places and tourist spots. Tutubi hopes to fully explore the place given the chance to return there.

Again, pictures taken inside a moving vehicle with tinted windshield :(

Notes on Nueva Vizcaya Tourism:

For adventurers, trekkers, mountain climbers, the towns of Ambaguio and Kayapa offer an alternate jump-off point to Mt. Pulag, the Philippines' second highest mountain, home of rare plants like pitcher plant and animals like the nocturnal giant cloud rats (locally called buut). Spelunkers can visit Lion-Alayan Cave, Malabing Valley network of pristine underground caves and subterranean river in Kasibu particularly Capisaan Caves visited by one of Tutubi's friends. (Note this is undeveloped and not for the faint of heart but pretty much rewarding for brave souls)

People chasing waterfalls can choose to look for Imugan Falls in Sta. Fe town and Mapalyao Falls in Quezon town

For "hysterical" people, historical sites include Dalton Pass (Balete Pass) in Sta. Fe and Kirang Pass in Aritao, both silent witnesses to bloody battles between the Americans, Filipinos and Japanese at the end of World War II.

For those into Visita Iglesia visiting old churches, the province lists St. Dominic Cathedral and the Dupax del Sur church, St. Vincent Ferrer Church declared a National Cultural Treasure (Tutubi was too much in a hurry he decided not to again pass by this town since it's way too out of way)

Town fiestas and festivals are also present particularly Panagyaman Festival, or Thanksgiving Festival, celebrated on May 19 up to May 23 in Bayombong, the capital town of Nueva Vizcaya with its capitol located in a park.

For the ever-present pasalubong, there's G&B buko pie in Bagabag just before the fork on the road going to Isabela and Ifugao provinces.

Where to Stay in Nueva Vizcaya: Hotels, Inns, Lodges and other accommodations

Finding a place to stay in Nueva Vizcaya is just like most other places in the country. Most of them are located on the main highway, with
no Internet sites to look up information and rely mostly on walk-in guests, a list below may prove helpful with some photos (some items sourced from an old NV tourism brochure that may need updating of telephone numbers):

Bambang Lodge
Bambang Poblacion

Bambang Pension House
Bambang Poblacion

Elnora Zulaek's Rainbow Hotel Serviced Apartments
(Solano?)

Governor's Hotel
Solano
Tel. No. +63.78.326.6053

Juel Garden Hotel
Hilltop, Bambang
Tel. no. +63.78.803.1315

Josefina's Hotel
near the Bayombong welcome arch

MC Capitol View Inn and Restaurant
Bayombong
Tel. No. +63.78.321.2001

Melissa Lodge
Solano
Tel. No. +63.78.326.540

MY Dream Garden Hotel
Solano
Tel. No. +63.78.326.6149

Neptune Hotel
Solano
Tel. No.: +63.78.326.5701

Rafael Inn
Gaddang St., Solano
Tel. No. +63.78.326.7343

Saber Inn
Bayombong
Tel. No. +63.78.321.2222

Sports City Hotel
Bayombong

Villa Margarita Mountain Resort
Tel. No.: +63.78.326.5501

Nueva Vizcaya is composed of 15 towns, namely: Alfonso Castañeda, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Diadi, Dupax del Norte,
Dupax del Sur, Kayapa, Kasibu, Quezon, Santa Fe, Solano, and Villaverde

How to get to Nueva Vizcaya:

Commute: Bus companies servicing the province include Baliwag Transit, Victory Liner, Royal Eagle and Autobus all bound for Cagayan Valley pass by the province.
Driving Directions: Follow this route going to Nueva Vizcaya:

Driving Directions: On NLEX, take Sta. Rita Exit then just follow the route that will lead to Pulilan, Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso, and San Miguel, Gapan, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, Muñoz, San Jose then Sta. Fe town.

Those with motorcycles or want to avoid toll fees on NLEX can opt to go via MacArthur Highway passing through Caloocan, Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto (Tabang), Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel , Gapan, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, Muñoz, San Jose City before seeing the boundary arch of Nueva Vizcaya with Sta. Fe town.

Labels: Accommodations, Cagayan Valley, Hotels, Nueva Vizcaya

posted by GingGoy @ 8:20 PM,

51 Comments:

At Aug 13, 2008, 7:28:00 PM, Toe said...: Haha... nakakatawa yung Barat. Ang dami palang mapupuntahan sa Nueva Vizcaya. Very interesting post. Tutubi!
At Aug 13, 2008, 9:53:00 PM, GingGoy said...: toe, huge potential indeed for tourism but largely untapped and undeveloped. good for backpacking though :P
At Aug 15, 2008, 10:24:00 AM, Anonymous said...: How long does it take from Manila to reach this place?
At Aug 16, 2008, 9:54:00 AM, GingGoy said...: kyels, it's about 5 hours if you have your own car or 6 hours by bus from Manila. tha't just the main towns on the road. the mentioned caves are far but worth it said my traveler friend who've been there
At Sep 1, 2008, 11:45:00 AM, Anonymous said...: ganda umaga paano po pagpunta sa ambaguio san po pinakamalapit na daanan? salamat
At Sep 1, 2008, 9:43:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, there's a road going to ambaguio in Solano...there are direction signs there or ask locals. from manila, i posted the directions going there
At Sep 2, 2008, 12:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I stayed at Juel's before. won't recommend staying there.
At Sep 2, 2008, 9:20:00 PM, GingGoy said...: ispikikay, what happened? do you have a review? thanks
At Sep 10, 2008, 7:52:00 AM, edi said...: anybody who knows how to go to salinas salt spring? can we buy rock salt there?regards
camil > camil073155@yahoo.com
At Sep 10, 2008, 7:53:00 AM, edi said...: greetings, anybody who know how to go to salinas salt spring? can we buy salt there?

regards and thanks> camil

> camil073155@yahoo.com
At Nov 23, 2008, 9:28:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I stayed at Neptune Hotel located at Solano. The hotel is clean plus the accomodation fee is affordable. There's a cable TV and water heater.
At Dec 13, 2008, 5:03:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I'm planning to visit solano this coming month....kailangan ko ba ng 4wheel drive suv?
At Dec 13, 2008, 11:03:00 AM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, you don't need a 4x4, even sedan will do. roads are good
At Feb 17, 2009, 10:30:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hi!
I'm thinking about going to Aldersgate College to finish my English teacher studies.What would you recommend me? (accomodation...)
At Mar 4, 2009, 3:28:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I want to go to dupax del norte..i will take a bus from manila, may i ask kung san ako dapat bumaba?tnx
At Mar 6, 2009, 8:35:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, the nearest si Aritao to dupax del norte but you can also drop off in Bambang...just request the bus conductor to drop you off at the jeepney stop
At Mar 12, 2009, 2:31:00 PM, Anonymous said...: im planning to visit aritao where po ba sa nueva vizcaya ang kasibu falls ?thnx......
At Mar 16, 2009, 10:08:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, kasibu is an upland town in nueva vizcaya and quite far and challenging to get there. There are jeepneys going to Kasibu in Bambang but I think you need to do some trekking to get to the waterfalls
At Mar 27, 2009, 8:57:00 AM, dianajay said...: ang ganda ng vizcaya kaso d q po mhanap history ng bangan hill can u help me guys inc. n kas aq kelangan q gmawa ng file video about that place can u suggest some other places thanks
At Mar 27, 2009, 8:59:00 AM, dianajay said...: ang ganda ng vizcaya but i cannot find the history of bangan hill pls help me naman po incomplete na po kasi aq s isang subject or recommend anthr places nid ko kasi gmwa ng file vidoe regarding places
At Mar 27, 2009, 9:15:00 PM, GingGoy said...: dianajay, i haven't hears about bangan hills either. what sort of places are you really looking for?
At Apr 20, 2009, 2:05:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hello, po... we are planning to go to capisaan cave and imugan falls.. how do we get there po? magkano po pamasahe? from baguio po kami...
At Apr 21, 2009, 9:39:00 AM, gurl said...: right now,what are the negetive chaNGES in salinas salt spring at the bambang?
At Aug 6, 2009, 4:58:00 PM, aileen RAKKK said...: well Bangan hill is a place where catholics have their station of the cross during holy week, and it's a nice place to go when i was a child, but like you haven't heard ancient stories about bangan hill, well yougave me the idea to look into that,.i hope that our elders can be a big help.
At Sep 24, 2009, 2:56:00 PM, Anonymous said...: if you're looking for an affordable place to spend the night in nueva viscaya, try the new juel shanelle hotel in solano. the rooms are waaaay much better than juel garden hotel (shown above). room rates for twin sharing is P680.00. the service is great too..
At Nov 25, 2009, 12:18:00 PM, kristina said...: nakakalungkot, wala na pala yung salinas salt spring..
At Nov 25, 2009, 12:19:00 PM, kristina said...: theres wifi in jolibee shown on the pic!
At Nov 25, 2009, 2:01:00 PM, GingGoy said...: kristina, yeah, dried up already due to man's usual negligence of the environment
At Feb 1, 2010, 5:11:00 PM, Yanni said...: My dad is from Nueva Vizcaya and we visit here often. And yes, Vizcaya has a lot of potential for tourism! It has a lot of nature sites to explore as well as some historical sites.

I think one of its charms is that the sites are untapped. So peaceful and quiet... This is the perfect place to escape the fast paced life in the city.
At Apr 6, 2010, 6:33:00 AM, Anonymous said...: plano po naming pumunta ng aritao, nueva viscaya, para umattend ng kasal meron po bang malapit na hotel o inn na maaari kaming mag stay ng overnight lng. help naman po manila pa kasi kami galing maaga ang kasal. ty po...nsc
At Apr 6, 2010, 10:33:00 AM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, i think i noticed one or two hotels in Aritao just along the highway. you can just drive there or just go to solano, bambang or bayombong for a place to stay overnight
At Jul 6, 2010, 8:25:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hello,

Pupunta ako ng Bayombong this Thursday? Ano ang magandang time na umalis dito sa Manila and ano ang ok na bus company na sakyan?

Thanks
At Sep 30, 2010, 12:51:00 PM, shirleyjd0916 said...: Im planning to stay at balai gloria pero the rooms are fully book for oct 2...anyone sugests a place to stay na yung maganda at hindi tipong cheap.tnx
At Feb 21, 2011, 8:26:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Nueva Vizcaya has changed a lot. There are more better places to stay there compared before. You can stay at a resort for only 850 clean and comfi.

The Salinas salt spring is a mountain of salt where in , if you get to the top there's a spring. . There are also offspring near the mountain.

From bambang(you can go to the Barat/Salinas Tricycle Terminal and ask how to go there. Or from the main road turn left at novo. it goes straight to salinas salt spring.

Any thing else...thats it for now..till next time..

Ow.. another thing there is a dragon fruit plantation in Bambang.(0916629309)
At Feb 21, 2011, 8:33:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I only found this site today. I'll be glad to help since Im from Nueva Vizcaya.

Do you know that a road exist going Frm Aritao to Baguio and it will take 3 hours and your there at the Summer Capital of The Philippines...(09166293903)
At Feb 21, 2011, 8:34:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Tutubi: Im going home this summer im thinking of taking photos and share it to you. just tell me how..Thanks (09166293903)
At Mar 12, 2011, 9:34:00 AM, shana said...: I've been in bayombong just for 2days but I really enjoyed the place... thanks to my friend. i found love in bayombong.... i hope i can find time to go back.
At Mar 28, 2011, 11:08:00 AM, Anonymous said...: hi! Here are a list of places that i know of here in Vizcaya

For Restaurants/Bars:
In Bayombong - Red Orange Bar near the town center
- Mrs. Baker's, a semi-bakery/restaurant...
- Saber Inn Hotel & Restaurant, they also
have a coffee shop up front & they serve
good food, usual hangout of businessmen,
yuppies, gov't officials & families
- Highlander Hotel in Bayombong & in Solano
- Juel Inn just along the main highway in
Bayombong... NOT the one shown on top
- FTM Food Fiesta - located at the center of
the town - THEY HAVE WIFI

Solano - Balai Gloria - i recommend this place, they
do have a swimming pool also
- Breads & Bites - i also recommend this place
- Governor's Place Hotel
- Gorio's - just along National highway

Resorts/Inn:
Bayombong - Tatin's Resort with room accommodations
and with a wave pool, as their ad said,
the first in Cagayan Valley & many other
small resorts... road going to La Torre
- Villa Margarita

Hope these infos may be of help to anyone...
At Apr 18, 2011, 1:01:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I Love Bayombong, I am always here for business purposes. I highly recomend eating at mrs. baker's. Good manila quality food and very reasonable price. They also serve breads & cakes
At Apr 18, 2011, 7:15:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Hey!

Thanks a lot for this "site" - - - very informative.

I am going to Bambang and Solano Nueva Vizcaya this coming 27th of May for a wedding on the 28th (Saturday). I did NOT have to ask anything. All infos that I need has already been published.

I am coming from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (used to be Clark Air Force Base)in Angeles City on the 27th of May. I am flying form San Francisco, California on the 26th of May. I shall be driving - - - I exactly know how to get there from the infos I gathered from your site.

Info on accommodations, very informative - thank you very much.

Again, thanks a lot!

Jaime
At Apr 19, 2011, 9:41:00 AM, GingGoy said...: jaime, glad to be of help and for reading first before commenting. too many readers here ask questions without even reading my posts :(
At May 21, 2011, 8:50:00 AM, kareen said...: hi tutubi,
we'll be going to solano today. thanks for all the info esp the hotel accomodations and recommendations. we'll definitely try Balai Gloria and bread and bites as recommended by anonymous..thanks!. comments and blogs likes these are better than checking hotels websites kasi dito totoo based from experiences of real people. i'll try to post my blog here when we come back to help others also. thanks!
At May 22, 2011, 7:31:00 PM, GingGoy said...: kareen, be careful on blogs. not all of us are "true." some have affiliations, some got freebies. some disclose them while some, have the guts not to disclose any affiliation or freebies in exchange for glowing reviews.
At Oct 5, 2011, 11:37:00 PM, Ngipong Imperfect said...: tutubi, how about getting there via tugue? bus companies and the like and winding up most probably saber inn? thanks in advance... your site is helpful indeed and agen thanks in advance for a reply.
At Feb 10, 2012, 9:40:00 AM, Mye said...: Hi i am going to nueva vizcaya next week and would like to ask if any of the hotels or inns mentioned above have internet connection po? or if you know som other place to stay with internet po?. thanks in advance.
At Mar 27, 2012, 2:50:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Planning on going to Solano for 2 weeks in June, looking for a hotel room with a kitchen. If not, a room with a refrigerator so I can eat as much tropical fruits as I can. Any recommendations. Thank you.
At Mar 27, 2012, 2:58:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Planning on going to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya for 2 weeks in Demeber. Looking for a hotel room with a kitchen. Villa Margarita Mountain resort used to have a nice room with a big kitchen and living room. Wonder if they still have this set up. Just really want to enjoy all the tropical fruits like mangoes, pine apple, jack fruit, papayas, etc. etc. Thank you!
At Jul 6, 2012, 11:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: hi im planning to go to banganan aritao next week saan po b ang malapit n hotel or inn dun wer i could spend d nyt?my hotel or inn po b mismo sa aritao?thnx
At Jul 7, 2012, 3:27:00 PM, Anonymous said...: thanks tutubi I've just been to solano and balai gloria is a fantastic place i even extended my stay for 2 days bec. i enjoyed solano allot and may i just mention the superb food in balai gloria i love the pasta and the Hungarian sausage is really good best part is having the breakfast in the veranda overlooking the garden imugan falls is also beautiful but its quite far from solano and you have to hike going to the falls.. just a tip and advice if you want to stay in a hotel with a swimming pool go to 24/7 inn its just along the national highway and try j.r.leas pansitan try cabagan pancit and batil patong its really good and cheap try to eat were the local eats and you'll be surprise... also went to salina salt spring and im quite disappointed bec locals did not take good care of it vandalism in the mountain of salt is really visible and the mountain of salt is not that white anymore i'm definitely going back there to go some cave exploring and mountain hiking and I've heard this wonderful falls called siniora falls from the locals and i will definitely stay in blai gloria and 24/7 inn again
At Oct 14, 2012, 4:27:00 PM, Anonymous said...: tiga bambang ako at last ko nakita salinas salt spring 1974,8 years old pa lang ako,may mga picture kami on top ng salt spring ,maliit lang ang butas kung saan lumalabas ang salt water,parang madulas sya kung titingnan pero rough sya. Ang mali lang, ginawang wishing well, hinuhulugan ng coins na nging dahilan pagkabara.Sa bandang itaas may mga namatay na naunang salt spring at balita ko may bagong tumubo.Sana huwag abusuhin, ingatan natin po.
At Oct 14, 2012, 4:44:00 PM, Anonymous said...: bambangueno ako ,last ko nkita salinas salt spring 1974 pa 8 years old ako nun,may mga pictures kami on top of the spring.Sa unang tingin parang madulas yung surface pero very rough siya,maliit lang ang butas kung saan lumalabas ang salt water,sapat lang na maisuot mo kamay.Ang maling practice ng mga visitors ay ginawang wishing well,ang mga coins na hinulog naging dahilan pagbara, sa bandang itaas may mga nauna pang salt spring na namatay at naging color black na..Balita ko may bagong tumubo, sana huwag abusuhin, ingatan po natin.

Driving By Nueva Vizcaya

51 Comments:

Post a Comment