6 TOP Destinations in Apayao

There are undoubtedly many places you can visit in the province of Apayao. You may get a list of the 39 tourist attractions that are open or if you do not have enough time and running low on budget, there are top 6 choices you can try.

The Provincial Tourism Services Office (PTSO) identified the most frequented areas by tourists and here is the list: The Lussok Cave in Dagupan; Manacota Underground River and Dupag Rock formation in Marag; Bayugao Falls in Turod; all of them are located in Luna, Apayao, as well as Mount Kilang and Mount Sicapoo in Butao, Calanasan.

According to PTSO, these have been the most visited places in the province, attracting thousands of visitors since they were opened to the public.

The records likewise showed from their tourist tracker that visitors, mostly from other provinces and towns, keep coming back as there were those who came back more than twice.

Most of the reasons they mentioned as factors that make them come and again are road accessibility, mesmerizing sceneries, springs of waters, and mountainous terrains that provide explorers with unique and worthwhile adventurous experiences.

Additionally, these areas feature tourism products and services that include the following: Caving, swimming, camping, fruit/vegetable picking, boating, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, kite flying, cloud catching, rainbow catching, bird watching, and mo

Provincial Tourism Officer Rebecca Mamba, in an interview, said the tourism industry in Apayao has evolved and transformed over time, from zero discovered tourism destinations to over 39 now.

Nevertheless, this was not until during the time of Apayao’s founding father Elias K. Bulut Sr. that tourism in the province started to flourish. Since then up to the present, tourist attractions in Apayao have become more prominent, aiding economic development and environmental preservation.

In 2023, Lussok Cave, Dupag Rock Formation and the Manacota Underground River generated a total revenue of P839,024.61 and attracted 12,924 visitors. During the first semester of 2024, from January to June, the same tourist spots gained P629,097.04 with over 10,888 total visitors.

Mamba said from the profit, 40% goes to the Provincial government, 30% for the barangay where the tourism site is located, and 30% for the Municipal government, except for Bayugao Falls in Luna, Mt. Kilang, and Mt. Sicapoo in Calanasan which are manned by their respective LGUs.

If one desires to have an unforgettable exploration, in terms of tourism services, Apayao, is the best choice. Come and experience its nature’s beauty and wonders.