Another thing that made the Isabela trip a wondrous experience for me is when we passed by the captivating province of Nueva Vizcaya, considered as the gateway to the Cagayan Valley Region.
You would know that you are in the Nueva Vizcaya province when you pass by roads as scenic as the one above, the Caraballo Mountains found on San Jose, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya province
BOUND TO ISABELA
On our way to Isabela, we had a stop over and coffee break at the charming town of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. The aching joints and knees from the long road trip would be immediately forgotten once you step out of the vehicle and see this..
This is the restaurant where we stopped by to have coffee and snacks. The name is Kuya Lar’s. It’s a popular stop over for travelers. It’s a nice, cool place where you can park your vehicle, eat, drink coffee, and stretch your legs, with the wind softly tickling your skin.. There are souvenir shops selling local delicacies, brooms, and other native products.
GOING BACK TO MANILA
On our way back to Manila, we had a stop-over again at Nueva Vizcaya, this time at Dalton Pass (also known as Balete Pass), which is near the Nueva Vizcaya-Nueva Ecija boundary… There’s entrance fee amounting to ten pesos each. At the foot of the Dalton Pass is the iconic tower of Region 2.
It’s a not-so-steep climb, and the view at the top is absolutely worth it.
Dalton Pass is actually the terrain where Japanese forces, American and Filipino soldiers clashed during World War II. There is a marker at the highest point of Dalton Pass commemorating the death of General Dalton during the war. Dalton Pass is a shrine to those who sacrificed and perished during the war.
I’m sure many travelers who have passed by Nueva Vizcaya on their way to Ifugao, Isabela or Cagayan province would agree that passing by the Caraballo mountains of Nueva Vizcaya is an exhilarating experience. On my next blog, I will feature the famous local delicacy Nueva Vizcaya is known for.. their version of buko pie. 🙂