Governor’s Rapids of Maddela – Quirino’s Wild River Adventure

November 30, 2020July 24, 2021 Rex Lim Lim governor's rapids, TRAVEL GUIDE

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Welcome to the Governor’s Rapids of Quirino province. The seething murky waters of the river collide in perpetuity with the towering limestone precipices.

A Piece of Rio Grande de Cagayan

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After a quick visit around the provincial capitol of Quirino, a van bound for Maddela brought us to the last leg of our Quirino trip.

From the fork going to the town proper of Madella, our rented tricycle took the road on the right. As soon as we got off, a wide river flanked with limestone cliffs from both sides welcomed us.

Donning one of the many colorful life vests hanging on the registration area, we then made our way down to the riverbanks. Seeing the river from afar is nothing compared to when you are dwarfed by these giant crags.

One of the local fisherman in the area gave us a boat tour along the river. Some parts were definitely called rapids as the water flows turbulently along the stream.

These limestone cliffs has been continuously sculpted by time. What’s interesting is that parts of which has caves inside where Dumagats take refuge during inclement weather conditions. To add, there’s a waterfall inside one of the caves!

The General’s End

Governor’s Rapids is a tributary to the longest river in the Philippines, the Cagayan River or famously called as Rio Grande de Cagayan.

It is said that back in the days, when the roads are not yet paved, this river is the main thoroughfare in the area. Locals travel along the river aboard wooden canoes called Balasyan.

Moreover, a Japanese Governor drowned in the rapids during the Second World War, his body was never found. Thus, the name of the river: Governor’s Rapids.

During the summer, the water in here is crystal clear that you can actually see the bottom. It even received an award as one of the cleanest inland bodies of water in the country.

Quirino, Numero Uno!

What started out as a spontaneous Plan B, turned out to be a rewarding adventure all along. This landlocked region still haunts my adrenaline-junkie spirit every time I think of it.

No questions asked: Quirino is definitely, Numero Uno!

P.S. Cagayan Valley still haunts my appetite and makes my mouth water with their overloaded servings of Pancit Batil Patung and Pancit Cabagan. HAY

How To Get There

Governor’s Rapids is located in Brgy. Divisoria Sur, Maddela, Quirino.

Quirino is a landlocked province in the Cagayan Valley Region bordering the provinces of Aurora, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya

By Air: There are no direct flights going to Quirino, but the nearest airport is in Cauayan City in Isabela which is two hours away from Maddela (76.5kms)
- Cebu Pacific flies 4x a week to Cauayan Isabela, please check flight availability and local quarantine restrictions and regulations

By Land: Several buses go directly to Quirino, scheduled daily and usually leaves at night:
- Five Star – 911-7359 ,(Globe) 0927-712-4349, (Sun) 0943-7065083 (24/7)
  - Cubao Terminal to Cabarroguis, 8pm & 10pm (Fare: 611.00, Travel Time: 8 ½ hrs)
  - Cubao Terminal to Maddela, 8pm & 10pm (Fare: 672.00 , Travel Time: 9hrs)
  - Cubao Terminal to Diffun, 8pm & 10pm (Fare: 596.00, Travel Time: 8hrs)
- GV Florida – (02) 743-3809 & (02) 781-5894
  - Sampaloc Terminal to Maddela, 9:20PM (Fare: 500.00+, Travel Time: 8-9hrs)

What we did: We hopped on a Tuguegarao bound Victory Liner bus in Cubao and alighted at Cordon Junction in Cordon, Isabela. From there, we hailed a tricycle that took us to Diffun for Ganano Falls, then transferred to a van bound for Maddela
Maddela town proper is 9-10 kilometers away from Governor’s Rapids. Upon reaching the fork of Maddela and Divisoria Sur, alight then transfer to a tricycle bound for Governor’s Rapids