Cape Engaño Lighthouse - Palaui Island

Located in Palaui Island just off the Northeastern Horn of Luzon Island, and within the jurisdiction of Sta. Ana, Cagayan, the Cape Engaño Lighthouse offers a short and simple hike that nonetheless offers the best views that one could ever imagine.

Cape Engaño Lighthouse

The Faro de Cabo Engaño is situated atop the summit of a hill, 92 MASL, and thus provides an unobstructed view of and the Babuyan Islands, Dos Hermanas Island (Two Sisters), The Pacific Ocean and Engaño Cove.

From the white sand beach of Engaño Cove, the registration area is located on the left side. It is mandatory to secure the services of a guide (although it really is not required as the trail is really visible and there are no technical aspects during the climb) at Php400.00, which is good for a group of up to 4 persons.



Cape Engaño

From the registration area, the hike will commence and pass through the trees until you reach the open space where the Welcome Sign is located. Follow the trail up to the concrete-stairs, which will go on until the middle part of the hike. Halfway, the concrete stairs shall give way to a dirt path that will ultimately lead you to the summit where the lighthouse is located.

The Registration Area

The start of the dirt path...below this are the concrete steps

Welcome

Eastern Side of the Lighthouse

Dos Hermanos Island

The lighthouse is actually considered by many as the twin of the Cape Bojeador lighthouse in Ilocos Norte, because of the similarities in their design which could have only resulted from the fact that both lighthouses were, designed by the same person.

Although relatively a short hike, the benefits of hiking up to the lighthouse are priceless. With the blue clear waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Babuyan Channel, the green forests of Palaui Island, the different islands that are visible, you would truly say that the hike is worth all your while.

***Aside from the hike up the lighthouse, there are other trails for hiking in Palaui Island.

Traipsing Chronicles 022
006.013.015Cape Engaño Hill / Lighthouse
Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan
Jump off point: San Vicente Port, CEZA, Sta. Ana, Cagayan
Minor Climb: 0.5/9
Highlights: Cape Engaño Lighthouse; Babuyan Channel; Babuyan and Calayan Islands


How to get there:

Private Transportation: From the NLEX, there are a lot of alternate routes in going to the Cagayan Valley. While the usual route is to take the Sta. Rita Exit in NLEX and traverse the Maharlika Highway passing through the towns of Baliuag, San Miguel and Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan and proceeding towards Nueva Ecija.

Others prefer the longer route which is ironically travelled in lesser time. Traverse NLEX and proceed towards SCTEX. Take the Tarlac Exit and turn right at the Tarlac - Sta. Rosa Highway. There are some variations in this route, some would continue towards Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija until they reach the Maharlika Highway, but others would turn left towards Aliaga, and then eventually reach the Maharlika Highway somewhere in Talavera. The advantage of taking the Aliaga route is that you no longer have to go through Cabanatuan City.

Nonetheless, I always prefer the longest route (longer by more or less 40kms). I have proven a number of times already that traversing this route takes at least an hour less to reach San Jose City as compared with the routes indicated above.

Take the NLEX, proceed to the SCTEX, and continue towards the TPLEX. Take the Rosales Exit in Pangasinan. Turn right at the Pangasinan - Nueva Ecjia / Nueva Vizcaya Highway, passing through the towns of Rosales, Balungao, and Umingan in Pangasinan. Lupao, Nueva Ecija follows next, and then San Jose City. At the junction in Maharlika Highway, turn left towards Cagayan Valley (the Cathedral should be on you right side. You can also see Mcdonald's and Jollibee.).

Take Maharlika Highway and continue towards Dalton Pass in Nueva Vizcaya. Isabela Province comes next and then Cagayan Province. From Tuguegarao, take the Diversion Road and then turn right towards the town of Iguig. Continue until you reach the junction in the town of Camalaniugan. Turn right towards Buguey, and you will pass through the town of Gonzaga.

You will know that you have already reached the town of Sta. Ana, once you have entered the gate of the Cagayan Economic Zone (Port Irene). Proceed until the end of the road and you will finally see San Vicente Port. Boats going to Palaui Island are available at the Tourism Office.

Travel time from Manila takes 11-15 hours depending on different factors like traffic, route take, and number of stopovers.