Unlocking the Last Frontier | Pandan, Catanduanes
Pandan is located at the northernmost part of Catanduanes.
The only mode of transportation going here is by riding a commuter van from Virac Town Center.
It was oddly interesting to set foot at an island that’s, if not, always directly hit by typhoons before ravaging the mainland Luzon. The plane ride proved to be bumpy enough, that a day before our flight, the same plane was not able to land due to bad weather conditions.
Early that rainy morning, our van passed through snaking coastal roads and numerous landslides along the way. It took around 2.5 hours before I was dropped off at North Travel Lodge in Pandan.
The effects of typhoon is still evident, some trees are upturned, tin roofs and other debris are still scattered in the middle of the street.
Albeit the gloomy weather, partnered with the incessant whistling of the wind on my ears, I left my stuff and met my guide for the day.
Cagnipa Rolling Hills
From the lodge I am staying in Pandan Poblacion, our trip to Brgy. Balagñonan, aboard Kuya Noel’s motorbike, took around 20 minutes and about 9 kilometers. After the rolling cemented road, we entered a muddy patch surrounded with a few coconut trees and small houses.
Then we set on foot after parking the motorbike. Around 10 minutes, the sweeping landscape was stunning enough, I thought I was in paradise.
Pandan, Catanduanes is a complete package, as they say, and I believe it now that I saw it. There’s an entire hill-to-sea ecosystem, where everything met each other in a beautiful manner.
There’s magnificent view of the sprawling, almost manicured lawns, reaching out to the barreling waves of the sea. The force of the raging waters diffused and dissipated as it hits the jagged rocks down the sheer cliff faces.
From afar, several secluded coves covered in fine golden sands complementing the rolling hills, makes it even more stunning. Some of them are the Cagnipa Cove and Muraw Beach.
There’s no entrance fee and even any kind of structures built around these attractions. I had the place all to myself that afternoon, but too bad that the weather wasn’t good enough for a swim during my visit.
Tuwad Tuwadan Tidal Lagoon
Not too far from the main view point of Cagnipa Rolling Hills, there’s a cemented staircase leading down into a tidal Lagoon. This is an amazing work of nature, a natural swimming pool by the cliff.
Tuwad-Tuwadan Lagoon is not that deep and is a great place to swim and spend the rest of the day when in Pandan. True to its name, some portions may cause you to stumble and/or fall, hence “tuwad-tuwad”. So please practice safety when going here.
During my visit, due to the inclement weather, the lagoon is inaccessible and is filled to the brim with raging waves. The sea, foamed out its shame as it battered the rock walls around the secluded lagoon.
Hiyop Highlands
Around 8 kilometers from the town center is the Hiyop highlands.
This is one of the highest view points in Pandan that will reward anyone visiting with sweeping views of the town’s coastline and the Pacific Ocean.
Cows are scattered all around the place and graze this pastoral land. This rugged mountain stretches out to the vast deep blue colored ocean, no trees are in sight that cold and piercing winds kept on blowing from all sides.
After a quick afternoon tour in Pandan, the weather got worse that we were soaking wet as we traverse the road going back to Poblacion. There’s only one eatery open that time where I can buy food and nothing else.
I spent the night alone at the travel lodge, trying to lull myself to sleep. The howling wind outside banging my windows were haunting and eerie all the same. The following morning, a Virac bound van my guide reserved came around 07:00 am.
Next stop! Virac!
How to Get There:
- By Air:
- Cebu Pacific flies to Virac, Catanduanes 4x a week from Manila (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sunday). Flight takes an hour, departs 06:10 from Manila and arrives 07:25am in Virac
- By Land:
- From Manila (Pasay, Cubao) take a bus going directly to Tabaco in Albay. Travel time takes 11-12 hours and costs around 900php/pax
- From Tabaco, take a pedicab going to Tabaco Port.
- At Tabaco Port, take a passenger boat going to Catanduanes (4 hours travel time):
- via San Andres – 290php (aircon), 220php (non-aircon)
- via Virac – 320php (aircon), 240php (non-aircon)
- There are also fast crafts going to Virac (2 hours travel time) but trips are limited
- At Virac Town Center, take any van bound for Pandan, it leaves hourly or until it is filled with passengers. (Travel time 2-3 hours, 150php/pax)
If planning to explore the Happy Island, always avail the services of the guides since most of the destinations are tricky to go to. This trip wouldn’t be possible if not for my very accommodating guides:
Virac/Bato/Baras: Kuya Michael Tanael (0948 742 3206), Kuya Joel Tanael (0948 125 5566)
Pandan: Kuya Noel (0927 180 0840)
Chasing Catanduanes: This 2-day adventure series takes us to the pristine pastoral hills, stunning beaches and sweeping coastline views of Catanduanes. This happens to be my 64th province that I visited last December 09-10, 2019.
The Land of the Howling Winds and the Happy Island; this island facing the Pacific has been sculpted by devastating typhoons passing through here since time immemorial. This made its awesome topography truly a work of nature.
Catanduanes Adventure 2019
Taming the Land of the Howling Winds – Catanduanes
Land of the Howling Winds | Catanduanes Travel Guide 2020
Surf Town of Baras | Puraran Beach, Catanduanes
Unlocking the Last Frontier | Pandan, Catanduanes
The Mighty Hills of Binurong Point | Baras, Catanduanes
Bote Lighthouse | Bato, Catanduanes
Unlocking the Last Frontier | Pandan, Catanduanes
Updated May 25, 2020
