Fun things to do in Province of Cagayan

Piat Church is where you can find the image of Our Lady of Piat. The icon arrived in Lal-lo, Cagayan in 1604 from Acapulco, Mexico, but was later transferred to Piat which became her permanent home.

The icon is said to have miraculous and healing powers. As such, it has become one of the various pilgrim sites in the country for devotees of the Virgin Mary. The ideal time to visit is on the first Sunday of the month.

Callao Cave (pronounced Ka-law, after the hornbill that used to inhabit the area) is an 8 chamber cave connected to each other. However, according to locals, the 8th cave has not been fully explored, because of the total darkness that envelops the cave, that even the use of flashlight and gas lamp proved futile.

The caves are situated atop a hill that can be reached via a 186 step concrete stairs. The best time to explore them is from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, when the light from the sun provides lumination. For instance, the 1st chamber has a "hole on the roof" (similar to Rome's Pantheon) where the light (or the rain?) passes through.

Incidentally, the 1st chamber is the only one we visited since we got there late afternoon and it was already getting dark. I almost got cold feet entering the caves, because it was getting cold, too. But after getting accustomed to the conditions, we found out that the 1st chamber already houses the chapel which is the highlight of the caves.

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Went to see this place before going to Centinela Beach. Cottages with karaokes are available for visitors. The rocks contribute to the beauty of the Lagoon.

This swimming spot has long been famous among the lacals of Cagayan, but for this to attract more visitors, the place needs more improvement.