Cape Engano History
When the Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards, Cape Engaño was one of the four lighthouses built. Spanish seafarers were captivated by its deceptive beauty, which led them to name it “Cape Engaño.” Construction began on September 21, 1888, and was completed on December 31, 1892.
Engaño (masculine noun) – act of deceiving
Cape Engaño is a historic lighthouse located on Palaui Island in Santa Ana, Cagayan. Palaui Island served as the filming location in 2013 for Survivor: Blood vs. Water and Survivor: Cagayan.
Season 28 of Survivor was filmed on Palaui Island.
How to Get There
My college friend who is now living in US took a visit here in the Philippines. She invited us to come over to their province Cagayan. It is at the north of Luzon and we came to visit Cape Engaño!
How to Get There by Air:
Take a flight bound for Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, take a van transfer to Santa Ana for around P200. Then, take a tricycle for P15 per person to the San Vicente Terminal for your boat transfer to Cape Engaño.
How to Get There by Land:
If commuting, you may take a Florida Bus (terminal near UST) bound for Santa Ana, Cagayan. The travel time is approximately 15 hours. After reaching Santa Ana’s town center, take a tricycle (P15 per person) to the San Vicente Terminal. You will be guided accordingly for your boat transfer once you get there.
Our boat transfer route is: San Vicente Port – Cape Engaño – Anguib Beach – San Vicente Port
The Pasamoba Cooperative’s standard operating procedure is to travel by 8 people per boat but because my friend Danicca has connections, we were able to travel even if we’re just three.
The View on the Way
While sailing, we were able to see these beautiful islands. It took us 45 mins. – 1 hour to get there.
The Climb to the Lighthouse
Touch down. Cape Engano.
We were approached by a tour guide who offered to help us reach the top easily, and we paid an entrance/conservation fee.
At the starting point, we were informed that Palaui Island was declared a National Marine Reserve in 1994, making it a haven for various species of plants and birds.
We trekked because Cape Engano is located atop the summit of a hill. 92-m above sea level!
The Engaño Cove is getting lovelier as we reached the top of Cagayan Valley tourist spot.
The hill is not steep and high but the sun is screaming hell that exhausted us easily because it was a smoldering 12 noon.
If I am not mistaken, it would only consume 30 minutes of our time going up, but because we can’t help but not to stop in awe of the breathtaking view, it took us 1 hour to reach the lighthouse.
Cape Engaño consists of a housing pavilion, service buildings, and an 11-meter octagonal tower that houses the crown and the copper lantern (now replaced with a solar-based lighting mechanism) visible from all angles of the lighthouse.
Cool down a little bit on these seats
Here’s Sandayal that serves as a compass.
The 14-hour land trip from Quezon City to Cagayan is undeniably butt-numbing (if there’s such a word). We left at 11 PM and had a 2-hour stop in Vigan. I thank God that if it weren’t for our friend’s father, it would have been nearly impossible for me to set foot on this pristine island. In the past, arranging a tour to Palaui was quite challenging. One had to be a true-blooded adventurer to witness this paradise. Fortunately, the locals have now managed to establish a centralized tour system. You can reach them by calling their local tourism office at 0905-497-8379 or 0999-758-7079.
My Reflection
My trip to Cape Engaño felt like the struggle I’m facing in my career and passion — filled with choices, like whether to go by air or by land. I chose to travel by land. It was a long ride — daunting and tiring. The farther I went, the more I doubted if I was still heading in the right direction. Each time I realized I had traveled longer without seeing another soul on the dark road, I felt left out and unsure. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “What if I had just taken the same path as everyone else? How far would I have already gone?”
But maybe I was not meant to have a trip by plane. I was meant to travel the long road, sail the boat, and climb the hill… because there are no shortcuts to a place worth traveling.
Okay, I may be speaking figuratively here, but on the literal side, going here is very sulit. Imagine visiting one place that offers so many views — a beautiful coastline, scenic greenery, a white sand beach, and a piece of history. Could you ask for more?
#SEAgue
And of course, we had our halo-halo after going down — it served as our trophy. LOL
Cape Engaño Lighthouse Palaui Island, San Vicente, Cagayan, Philippines local tourism office: 0905-497-8379 or 0999-758-7079.
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Photo watermark is named after my old site.
