The second day of Lakbay Norte 3 started at 5:30 AM. Finally getting full rest on a real bed at Los Palmas in Tuguegarao, we immediately boarded a jeep that would transport us for this day’s itinerary; a full day of whitewater tumble and rumble at the mighty Chico River in Kalinga.

Two hours into the cold and windy ride, we transferred to the jeepney’s roof, were gonna ride topload style! This was gonna be my first time to ride atop a jeep and after seeing the photos taken from such viewpoints, I was quite excited.
Hanging on for dear life, we roared through the zigzags of Tabuk. After an hour of scenic vistas, tree tunnels, sundried coffee beans laid out on the streets, craggy rock formations and chilly weather, we arrived at the border of Tabuk and Pasil.

With our rafts inflated and our briefing done, it was time to ride the rapids! It took us three hours to traverse the waters of Chico River, passing both calm waters and raging rapids. The view was breathtaking, almost Tolkienesque in fact. It was almost impossible not to imagine the two gigantic Argonauts to appear on every bend of the river.

On the last part of the tour, most everyone jumped off board to float along the river. We washing machined our way through a rapid, bumping our fat asses on boulders and gulping gallons of Chico water before drifting peacefully to our rendezvous.
The three-hour ride was both exhilarating and calming at the same time and I was almost secretly wishing our boat would spill us through the river, which it almost did, but unfortunately our team was much too good in balancing our raft.

After a late lunch, we headed back to Los Palmas for some R&R.
But, that’s no fun, so a few minutes in the hotel and a handful of us were back on the road again, this time to shoot the sunset at the massive Bunton Bridge.

The sun was already throwing its last rays as we clambered down the banks of Cagayan River. Afterglows left by the retreating sun was good enough for us and it was fully dark when we packed up and made our way back to the hotel for yet another round of eating spree.

   L A K B A Y   N O R T E   3   S E R I E S
  
   ON THE ROAD: LAKBAY NORTE 3 CAVING AT NORZAGARAY & BASS FISHING AT PANTABANGAN DAM
   TOPLOADING & WHITEWATER RAFTING AT KALINGA | SHOOTING LANDSCAPES & SURFING AT THE BLUE LAGOON
   PADDLE BOARDING & BIRDWATCHING AT PAOAY | HIKING AT HOLCIM’S ECOTRAIL & AIRSOFT AT BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB
   RIVER CRUISE AT DAGUPAN & GO KARTING AT TARLAC | JUNGLE SURVIVAL, SPA TIME & PINOY HENYO AT SUBIC
   PUNING’S HOT SPRINGS & LUBAO’S PRADO FARM
   HOW I JOINED LAKBAY NORTE 3 LAKBAY NORTE 3! | PICKED 4 LAKBAY NORTE 3!

   LAKBAY NORTE IS AN ANNUAL MEDIA FAMILIARIZATION TOUR AROUND NORTH LUZON
   ORGANIZED BY NORTH PHILIPPINES VISITORS BUREAU