 |
| Small lampitaws dock at the beach fronting the main village of Centro in Calayan Island |
Located 60 km north of Luzon in the Babuyan Channel, Calayan Island is the seat of the municipality of Calayan, which includes the islands of Camiguin, Dalupiri and Babuyan Claro. The Calayan Islands, plus Fuga Island of the Aparri municipality, forms the Babuyan Island Group between Luzon and Batanes. Calayan Island boasts of stunning seascapes, secluded coves, white-sand beaches and lush rainforests, home to an endemic species of flightless bird, the Calayan rail, locally known as piding.
Since the island sits along the typhoon belt, the best time to visit is during the summer months of April to May, when the weather conditions allow a relatively calm and safe voyage. Nonetheless, the Babuyan Channel is unpredictable; and rough seas may be experienced even in the most favorable weather. According to our host, some visitors can get stranded for weeks, during the wet season. Monitor the weather at Typhoon 2000 and PAG-ASA before heading to the island.
 |
| M/V Eagle Ferry at San Vicente Port in Santa Ana, Cagayan |
HOW TO GET THERE
Calayan Island can be reached by lampitaw (motorized pumpboat) or ferry from the towns of Claveria, Aparri and Santa Ana in northern Cagayan. Take a GV Florida bus to Claveria (13 hours, via Laoag, PHP 850), Aparri (14 hours) , or Santa Ana (16 hours, via Tuguegarao, PHP 750). Pumpboats from Claveria and Aparri leave between 5 to 7 AM everyday, weather permitting. Contact them in advance for schedules, reservations and the latest weather updates.
• M/V Eagle Ferry (capacity: 180) travels twice a week between Santa Ana (San Vicente Port) and Calayan (PHP 700), via Camiguin Island (PHP 350); Travel time: 6 hours; Contact # +63 9477733904 or +63 9395680817.
• M/B Macarra (lampitaw) travels daily between Claveria and Calayan (PHP 500); Travel time: 5 hours; Contact # +63 9214779167 or +63 9273277889. Claveria is the nearest access point on the mainland to Calayan.
• M/B Romina (lampitaw) travels daily between Aparri and Calayan (PHP 500); Travel time: 8 to 9 hours; Contact # +63 9196634954.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: When riding a lampitaw, prepare to be under the heat of the sun, and be seriously drenched in seawater for hours. Protect yourself from the sun; and splash-proof your baggage and valuables with plastic (eg. garbage bag).
 |
| TPS Homestay, the best place to stay on the island |
WHERE TO STAY
The eponymous municipal councilor Tessie P. Singun runs the lovely TPS Homestay (capacity: 30 persons) in the middle of town, along the main road of J.P. Rizal St. Rate: PHP 200/person/night. Reserve rooms at least a week in advance. Contact # +63 9298375737. Email: rpsingun@yahoo.com or asingun@yahoo.com
Note: Electricity is only available from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM daily. And the only cellular network on the island is SMART. Smart Bro works, the signal is weak and intermittent.
 |
| Fresh lobsters for dinner! |
WHERE TO EAT
Arlene Arellano owns a sari-sari store across TPS Homestay. She can prepare meals – mostly seafood and vegetables – for you on a daily basis (PHP 60/meal) You can also request her in advance to have your meals packed for hikes and for you to enjoy at the beach. Sometimes, she also sells barbeque at night. Contact # +63 9214599597.
Gretchen’s Store just down the street has a small grocery. There’s no public market in town. Fresh seafood and produce are sold door to door by villagers. Or you can always buy straight from fishermen along the shore. At Caniwara Cove, we bought half a kilo of lobsters (four pieces) for only PHP 150, and had them cooked by Arlene.
 |
| Enjoyed biking to the beach coves everyday. |
HOW TO GET AROUND
• Take a motorbike, tricycle or kuliglig (farm trailer) to get around poblacion.
• Borrow or rent a bicycle from TPS Homestay.
DAILY BUDGET
• Around PHP 500 per day
 |
| Sweet banayuyu wine |
WHAT TO DO
• Swim and explore the rock formations and white-sand coves of Caniwara, Sibang and Cababaan. Also a fantastic place to camp – just watch the weather.
• Hike up along the jaw-dropping chasms of Nagudungan Hill
• Watch the sunset at Centro Beach in poblacion
• Go jungle trekking in Longog Wildlife Sanctuary in search of the endemic Calayan rail (piding)
• Drink sweet banayuyu wine, made from native wild berries. Available in PHP 75, PHP 150 and PHP 225 bottles. Ms. Singun is the sole producer of this wine on the island, together with other products such as banayuyu vinegar and wild honey.
• Explore the unchartered. There are waterfalls and caves in the interior of the island, accessible by several hours hike through dense jungle or boat ride around the coast, weather permitting.
Very Helpful Edgar!!!!! Can’t wait to save penny and ride those Lampitaws. Panalo ang biking I like it! I am also curious about the banayuyu wine. Hala, ang raming surprises dito, ang raming pwedeng gawin. Ang galing mo talagang travel writer! So helpful ang mga iti. mo :))
I partly regret not going with you, Edgar! Saw your photos in FB. Maybe soon I’d be able to visit din. I got sick din and had one tooth taken. Although risky yung way going there, kitang-kita na worth it naman 🙂
@Edmar: Thanks Edmar! Make sure to visit during the summer months and monitor the weather when you visit to lessen the chances of getting stranded on the island for weeks =)
@Mica: Yeah, the seas were really rough, especially halfway on our way back to Santa Ana. Parang theme-park pirate ship yung boat sa laki ng alone. Wild. Just monitor the weather before you decide to visit =) Thanks!
great! very detailed and helpful tips =)
bisaya-traveller.blogspot.com
Thank you Orville!
very helpful tips. 🙂
Well, why do i miss the Calayan Island, after watching this pics and detailed info! thanks for the Travelers guidance! Lisa
Thanks Anton & Bose!
this makes me wanna go there! with this guide, i already have an idea on how to get there… thanks for sharing EAZY! 🙂
very helpful talaga! 🙂 Thanks. I will definitely try hiking here next Holy week.
Thanks, Christine! Will be blogging about the hike to Longog Wildlife Sanctuary soon…
@Pinoy: You’re welcome!
ayus! another North north to look forward to.
salamat sa where to’s / how to’s!
@palos: You’re welcome! Good luck on your future trip to Calayan! =)
WOW GANDA PLA NG CALAYAN ISLAND prang gusto ko ng pumunta dun…..:)
Thanks for the post. We’re going to Calayan on the 25th this month. Looks like you took the Eagle Ferry. Ano oras umalis sa San Vicente ung ferry? Would you know ano ang sked ng ferry papunta dun, i mean what day?
I married a “Calayanan” but too bad I lost her. It is really a great place! MUST SEE!
@Lujill: Thanks for reading!
@queen: Usually at 6:00 AM. Twice weekly. But please call them to confirm the schedule =)
@missingthatisland: Sorry to hear that. I hope my posts bring back good memories!
Hi, how many days did you stay in Calayan? How does it compare to the neighboring islands of Camiguin Norte and Fuga?
If I remember correctly, 4 to 5 days. I cant compare, as I haven’t been to Camiguin Norte or Fuga yet… =)
so helpful!thank you for sharing !
You’re welcome!
Wala na daw po ang M/V Eagle Ferry sa Santa Ana, nasa Aparri na daw sila.
Thank you for the update!
anu na ung laterst network dun..may sun signal na ba dun?
wala pa po…smart pa rin po
Ano po mas advisable na sakyan yung M/V eagle ferry or lampitaw? Plan to go there this summer. Salamat
The ferry offers a safer ride to Calayan… Pls check if they still leave from Sta Ana, as I’ve been advised that they now depart from Aparri.
meron na po bang globe signal sa calayan?
Thanks for the very useful info! What time does the bus leave Manila and what time does it arrive in claveria? Thanks!