About Tabuk
Nested in the mountains of Cordillera is the city of Tabuk, in the province Kalinga, 480 kilometers away from Manila or around 11-hour drive from the Philippine capital. This remote highland city is a total contrast of an urban metropolis – no skyscrapers, malls, nightlife and crowded highways. It is home to Chico River and its tributaries, the country’s longest river flows from Mountain Province to Cagayan, and a popular destination for white water rafting in Luzon, with difficulty peaking at level 5 during rainy season. The river also serves as source of irrigation for ricefields of Tabuk (the biggest rice producer of the province), and the entire province of Kalinga.
Unexpectedly, Kalinga province has a lot of “not so popular” but definitely beautiful and natural attractions that are waiting to be explored. Tabuk, as it capital is the gateway to those. Experience Tabuk, where a quiet life awaits everyone in this mountain city.
How to Get to Tabuk
There are direct trips from Manila by land, but this mountain city is also accessible from Baguio, Bontoc and Tuguegarao.
By Land
From Manila, Victory Liner has daily trips from Kamias Terminal to Tabuk. It is a around 10 to 12 hours via NLEX-Maharlika Highway passing Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela; fare is approximately P620.
If you are coming from Bontoc, jeepneys and buses are available to Tabuk for a six-hour ride via Kalinga Highway and Tinglayan. First trip is at 7 AM and last trip at 11AM.
From Baguio, Dangwa Bus, Auto Bus, and GL lines have buses to Tabuk. It is a nine hour bus ride. Buses usually leave in the evening, arriving Tabuk early morning of the next day.
From Tuguegarao, there are jeepneys available in the city for an hour ride, fare is around P80.
By Air
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific fly from Manila to Tuguegarao, travel time is an hour more or less. From Tuguegarao, ride a jeepney to Tabuk.
Where to Stay in Tabuk
There are few hotels in this city, and it is very surprising to see a cozy place with internet access in this remote place like the Davidson Hotel in Bulanao, Contact No: (074) 872-2375 . It is 500 meters away from St. Williams Cathedral/Kalabaw Intersection or a short trike ride for only P8.00. It is a two-storey hotel with 15 clean rooms with toilet and bath. The hotel has restaurant, internet kiosk and a garden.
Other hotels, inns and lodges in Tabuk are the following: Bilza Lodge, Kalinga Hostel, Laoagan Inn, Las Vegas Hotel & Restaurant , Mahogany Lodge, Sandy Uy Lodge , Salidummay Inn & Resort, Sleeping Beauty In, Tabuk Pastoral Center and Tampco Training Center.
What to Do in Tabuk
- White Water Rafting in Chico River (Package Includes: hotel accommodation, breakfast, rafting equipments and transportation)
- Ullalim Run (1 day/Class 3) : Pasil to Tabuk – P4,000/person
- Mataguan Run (2 days/Class 3-5) : Tinglayan to Pasil – P7,000/person
- Ullalim-Mataguan Run (2 days/Class 3-5) : Tinglayan to Tabuk – P8,500/person
- Visit the St. William’s Cathedral
- See the Rice Terraces of Dananao, Tinglayan and Lubo
- Get a tattoo from Whang-od in Buscalan
- Explore Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park and other attractions of Balbalan
- Go and swim to Matabor Falls, Palan-ah Falls, Pasil Dam and Hot Springs of Kalinga
- Explore the Uguid-Maling Subterranean River
- Trek to Mt.Binaratan, Aguinaldo Hill, Mt. Mating-oy Dinayao and Sungang View Point
- Spelunking in the interconnected caves of Buaya
- Visit Sagada, Bontoc, Sadanga and other attractions of Mountain Province
Tips
For White Water Rafting Enthusiast, if you want to try Chico River, here is the details:
Mae Sugguiyao Shiu – Mobile # 0920-2052680
Adolf Bravo – Mobile # 09202378802
Mae Shiu – Mobile # 09177592813
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.chicoriverquest.com/index.htm
Hey, I’m thinking of travelling solo in Kalinga around October. I was thinking of trying white water rafting in Chico river. Do you have any contacts, or are there any tour operators around Tabuk that offers packages for white water rafting?
[…] Kalinga is a visual treat that the two hours travel time faded unnoticed. We went top loading from Tabuk to Pasil, with the scenic Cordillera around us. It’s been seven years since I last visited […]
Hello everyone! Davidson Hotel is offering different tour packages around the province inclusive of white water rafting and also packages from Kalinga to Sagada. You’ll surely enjoy the adventures like firing, trekking, rafting and more!!! For inquiries please contact us at 0926-412-6585. Matago tago tako losan! (updated this 18th of July 2011)www.davidsonhotel.com.ph
Thanks for this Davidson Hotel 😀
[…] my friends/colleagues Mike, Suzie and I went to Pagudpud after riding the rapids of Chico River in Kalinga and seeing the Callao Cave of Tuguegarao. During that visit, we covered all, if not most of […]
[…] my friends/colleagues Mike, Suzie and I went to Pagudpud after riding the rapids of Chico River in Kalinga and seeing the Callao Cave of Tuguegarao. During that visit, we covered all, if not most of […]
I stayed at the Golden Berries Hotel located along the National Road en route to Dagupan just past Davidson Hotel. Golden Berries proved to be more than just a hotel but also a home away from home. Nice design, friendly staff, villa-type architecture.
This is nice, i like the article of this post. well if your seeking for rafting adventure and your far from mindanao, i suggest try the river of kalinga. you will surely have a great time.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lane Matthew Utitco, Benjamin Espina. Benjamin Espina said: @matthewutitco https://www.lakwatsero.com/destinations/tabuk/ Kalinga bus trips […]
my place ba kayo pwede recommend san maganda gawin reception sa kasal? dyan sa tabuk… hotel? restaurant? resort? pls give me the name and contact. PLEASE!!! THANKS!
las vegas hotel and music lounge, you have the greatest band in town.
can somone please give me email contact info of davidson hotel, leigh’s coffee shop, thanks
Try (074) 872-2375 – Davidson Hotel
Hello everyone! Davidson Hotel is offering different tour packages around the province inclusive of white water rafting and also packages from Kalinga to Sagada. You’ll surely enjoy the adventures like firing, trekking, rafting and more!!! For inquiries please contact us at 0926-412-6585. Matago tago tako losan! (updated this 18th of July 2011)
hello, may i copy ur pics and to be posted on our site (www.oh-philippine.com) right now its under reconstruction because we’re working out adding more features on it– tnx
hello, would you know kung pwede nang mag-rafting sa chico by may 28? thanks!
sir, madam….
py t maount binaratan ket part t kalinga praovince…. part met t barangay maducayan, natonin, mt.province
why not try to explore the beauty of balatoc, pasil, kalinga. it has many beatiful undiscovered beauty spots there like the Bummag Rice Terraces and Volcano(yes!! we have an extinct volcano there!!), the Anga- ang Falls, Fangfangao Lake and the untouchable virgin forest there!!
Can you post the history of tabuk for additional information?
how do i get out of tabuk? like if im going to tugeugarao? what time are the trips? we really wanna go to Kalinga.
Thanks for the info!
really helpful!
miss you and the rest of the oct 30!
god bless! continue blogging!
Hi gel!
how much ba water rafting sa chico?
magbabakasyon ka na lang, nakuha mo pa mag blog! 8D
Nice entry and thanks for promoting our place. minor corrections lang, it’s the rice terraces of “LUBO” not “Luboa”.