Paragliding, Camping, And The Great Outdoors: 5 Activities Families Can Enjoy In Nueva Vizcaya

There’s no shortage of tourist sights to visit north of Luzon from the beaches of Aurora, heritage sites of Ilocos, and the mountains of Benguet. But, when it comes to family-friendly outdoor activities, Nueva Vizcaya has some of the greenest offerings families can experience this side of the island.

Located in north central Luzon, Nueva Vizcaya consists of 80% forest land spread across its 15 municipalities which are bound by Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan to the South, Benguet to the west, Ifugao and Isabela to the north, and Quirino and Aurora to the east. Being landlocked, there are no beaches here but hidden within its vast forest land are multi-tiered falls, pristine camping and picnic grounds, protected parks and watersheds, and tourism-accredited farms all available to the public. 

The road trip here (Nueva Vizcaya is 250 kilometers from Manila and an 6-8 hour ride by car or bus) is already a treat to the senses, thanks to the three mountain ranges that will greet visitors once they get past Nueva Ecija. There’s the Caraballo to the south, Sierra Madre to the east and Cordillera to the west. One can stand at any point in the province and be assured of 360-degree mountain views.

For decades now, the valley marked its place in the Philippine tourism map as home to one of the country’s longest cave systems, the Capisaan Cave located in the municipality of Kasibu, and as a gateway to Luzon’s highest mountain peak, Mt. Pulag in the farming town of Ambaguio. More recently, thrill-seekers have been flocking to the latter for another exciting reason--to paraglide and experience the province a thousand meters above sea level.

The weather is perfect for the great outdoors with October to April being the driest and coldest, thanks to temperatures ranging from 25 to below 20 degrees Celsius. May to September are alternately sunny and rainy but still not enough to dampen a weekend here. For overnight stays, there’s a great selection of hotels, inns, parks, farms, and camping sites, many of which just opened during the pandemic. 

If you’re looking for a truly green experience in little discovered spots, then Nueva Vizcaya is your best bet for a nature-filled family adventure. Where to start?  Here’s a Novo Vizcayano’s recommendations to make your first time here one for the books. As the locals would say, intayon--let’s go!

5 things to do in Nueva Vizcaya with the family

1. Go paragliding.

Nueva Vizcaya is just as beautiful above as it is below. Since Nueva Vizcaya Paragliding founder Violet Lucasi established a paragliding flysite in the province in 2019, a first in Region 2 and the rest of Cagayan Valley, many locals and tourists all over Luzon have flocked to the quiet town Ambaguio to experience being ‘superman’ for a day. Even actor and avid paraglider Ian Veneracion was so impressed by his flights here that he has declared Nueva Vizcaya as the “best flysite in the Philippines.” 

To date, the DOT-accredited flysite and social enterprise has catered to 2,000 passengers, its youngest being three years old and oldest, 82. This means your toddler as well as lolo or lola can come flying as long they can “make the decision to fly on their own and understand and follow basic instructions like ‘run’, ‘stop’ and ‘leg up,’ says Lucasi.

Unless you are a professional paraglider, you will be accompanied by one of the flysite’s 12 pilots who are especially trained to handle children on air. Once up in the air, one can marvel at the stunning mountain ranges, beautifully patterned plantations, and towns below. On good days, you just might be lucky to have an eagle fly alongside you. Check out the rates here. 

2. Camp on a mountain.

While you and your family are already in one of the greenest places in the Luzon, why not skip the hotels and inns for a night or two and go camping instead? Most camping sites like Sky Escape 360 and Naked View Hub in the municipalities of Ambaguio and Bagabag are located on elevated properties or hilltops that guarantee peaceful mountain and valley views when you wake up in the morning. 

If you come around December to February, you may wake up to veils of fog or, better yet, a sea of clouds. Not all camps will require you to bring your tent. At Camp Oliweg Landing Destination—a former landing strip developed into a camping ground located in the town of Kayapa, families have the option of renting a tepee at Php300/night.

While it has a restroom, cooking equipment, and a Sari-sari store nearby, you will still need to bring your own food, water, and beddings. Bring warm clothes because it can get seriously chilly in the province especially in the towns of Kayapa and Ambaguio which borders the province of Benguet. 

3. Relax in a farm. 

One of the inspiring impacts of the pandemic is the opening of once-private agricultural and flower farms to the public. They offered a safe outdoor reprieve for whole families, providing them spaces to enjoy picnics, fruit-picking, camping, overnight stays, swimming, farm tours, and more. These farms continue to thrive today and some have even upgraded their amenities to give visitors a total outdoor experience.

At Nueva Vizkawa Wellness Farm you  get a complete spa experience that is highlighted by a warm soak in a huge cauldron or kawa  while you get a scalp massage, At Rocel’s Farm you and your family can pick fruits in season such as Lanzones (July and September), Rambutan (August-October), and Dragon fruits (May to October).

Both are located in the capital of Bayombong.  If strawberries are your jam, then head to Humming Strawberry Farm in Bagabag between December to March for that ‘farm-to-mouth’ experience.

Further east, in the municipality of Castaneda, is Banag’ s Garden where you can camp, fish, bike, and swim in the river all within the farm’s premises. Not to be missed are the growing flower farms here like Paitan Flower Farm where you are guaranteed endless Instagrammable angles. Entrances vary from Ph 25 to Php 100.

4. Spend a day—or two—at an eco-park.

The Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park (LMET) is the perfect one-stop, nature-filled destination for the whole family.  It is located in Diadi, Vizcaya’s northernmost municipality famous for its delicious corn and pineapples. The 1000-ha forest park is part of the 24,000-hectare Lower Magat Forest reserve and is home to 100 tree varieties and 20 bird species.

An overnight stay here allows families to enjoy varied activities such as guided eco-trail walks, weekend yoga session, overnight camping or lodge stays, bird watching in the early mornings as well as biking (bring you own bike), boating, swimming, and fishing the rest of the day. One of Vizcaya’s pride for its preserved biodiversity and well-maintained grounds, a single visit here gives you a slice of the stunning nature that the province has to offer.  Entrances fee is Php100.

5. Chase waterfalls.

Long before swimming pools were introduced to the province, locals always had a waterfall to go to a few kilometers from their municipalities. Waterfalls can be found all over Vizcaya and a visit to the province is not quite complete without visiting one. Every waterfall offers different features from white cascades that flow down multi-layered drops to crystal clear pools fenced by stunning rock formations or thick flora.

Just as impressive are the lush trails with great views that lead to them. Imugan Falls in Sta. Fe features a number of pools to dip in, Machelet Falls in Kasibu is considered one of the tallest there is, while Edralin Falls, also in Kasibu, features a storey-high drop that end in a clear reservoir. Lintungan in Quezon is a two-tier waterfall and is one of the most accessible from the capital town of Bayombong. Environmental fees range from Php25 to Php100.

Want to know how the outdoors benefits your child's development? Read this story.