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For decades, the small, quiet farming town of Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya has been known amongst hardcore mountaineers as the gateway to Luzon’s tallest peak, Mt. Pulag. But, in recent years, the town has opened its doors to eco-tourism, offering a variety of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed from the sky above, the rivers below, and the mountains in between.
These days, Ambaguio, and the province of Nueva Vizcaya as a whole, have become synonymous with paragliding, thanks to the vision of one spunky woman, certified paraglider Violet Lucasi. In 2019, she opened Nueva Vizcaya (NV) Paragliding, attracting both local and foreign tourists to visit this often-overlooked province north of Luzon.
Today, NV Paragliding can be credited for ushering in significant tourism developments in the municipality of Ambaguio, from the establishment of cafés to camping sites. More recently, there's a proposal to build a Skyport that will further promote paragliding as a flagship activity of the province while also serving as a jump-off point for other adventures and activities that can be experienced in Ambaguio. This project proposal is one of the 15 finalists in the recent Tourism Champions Challenge of the Department of Tourism, where a P20-million fund is at stake for the best LGU proposal.
The name Ambaguio comes from the word ‘e-am-bagiw,’ which means ‘conquerors of moss,’ a reference to its inhabitants whose everyday surroundings consist of moss-covered trees and stones. Bound by the Cordilleras, mainly the Ifugao province, Ambaguio is mostly mountainous, featuring forests, a web of water composed of rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as endemic flora and fauna.
Barangay Tiblac, where NV paragliding is located, is just a 30-minute drive from Nueva Vizcaya’s capital town of Bayombong. Coming from Manila, the trip to Nueva Vizcaya takes around 6-8 hours by car. Four-wheel vehicles are ideal for those who want to explore Ambaguio beyond paragliding, as roads leading to other adventure sites can be progressively steep. While the town’s main road is well-cemented and paved, most trails are not, so expect mud on your trail shoes at the end of a visit.
While all activities are possible year-round, summer or the months of February to May are the best times to visit if you want a full, uninterrupted Ambaguio experience. The skies will be clear, the rivers tamed, and the trails less muddy. The list below provides the best nature-filled adventure you can have while here. Just a tip before heading north: bring a jacket because it is always chilly in Ambaguio.
Paraglide in Tiblac
Paragliding is one of the best ways to get to know and see Nueva Vizcaya from a different angle. DOT-accredited NV Paragliding offers visitors a worthwhile time up in the air, where views of the vast greens, towns below, and mountain ranges that surround the province can be enjoyed.
On lucky days and with perfect wind conditions, one might even paraglide alongside an eagle, says Lucasi. Since the flysite opened four years ago, it has hosted more than 2,000 guests, with ages ranging from three to 82 years old. Actor and avid paraglider Ian Veneracion was so impressed by his experience here when he first came in 2022 that he declared NV Paragliding as “the best flysite in the Philippines.” He came back twice this year to experience the adrenaline all over again.
The establishment of a paragliding flysite in her hometown is very personal for Lucasi. She turned to the sport in 2018 as a ‘medicine’ for her bipolar disorder. “When I’m up in the air, I realize that the world is big. The problems and challenges that overwhelm me are just a small part of the bigger picture,” she says.
Today, she has helped transform NV Paragliding into a 100% social enterprise. Income from the flysite goes to the training funds of pilots belonging to several indigenous tribes (Ambaguio is home to the Kalanguya, Ibaloi, and Kankanaey tribes). These pilots are being trained as athletes for the Philippines’ paragliding team. “We have entered Nueva Vizcaya in the world rankings of paragliding pilots,” reveals Lucasi. These are the same pilots who accompany guests up in the air, ensuring not just safety but also a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Go water tubing in Matuno River
If floating down the river using a water tube for two hours is your idea of fun, then you will find it here in Ambaguio, specifically in Barangay Ammoweg, where the Matuno River flows. This river opens to different tributaries, promising a long, winding, floating experience with changing water currents that can give one an adrenaline high one minute and a chill mode the next. The floating experience can be enhanced with a picnic, camping, and a sidetrip to Nan-abut, another tributary where water flowing underground creates pristine blue pools that are perfect for swimming. Rafting and kayaking are also offered during the summer.
Explore Gulon Peak
Just an easy—but slippery—20-minute walk from the town proper is Gulon Peak, located in Sitio Gulon. The short trail will hardly give you a hint of what to expect at the top. Once there, you will be surprised by the beautiful rock formations reminiscent of Palawan’s karsts, except that this one is found atop a mountain. The landscape is certainly not common in Nueva Vizcaya, making this site intriguing and mysterious at the same time. A theory suggests that Gulon Peak, which is 1,300 meters above sea level (masl), may have been submerged in water at one point.
There are many spots here that offer great photo opportunities, thanks to the carved pathways strewn with upland flower plants in hues of oranges, violets, and pinks that attract equally colorful butterflies and bees. If you are here during the 'ber' months, expect sudden veils of fog photobombing in the foreground, giving the place a foreign feel in the actual photo. Gulon Peak is a great spot from which to appreciate Ambaguio’s plantation and mountain views, but if you want to take them in from a better angle, climb up one of the rocks, and a majestic landscape is guaranteed to be revealed before you.
Climb Mt. Pullol
If Mt. Pulag is a little too difficult for you, Ambaguio offers alternative mountain trails ideal for beginners and intermediate hikers. Mt. Pullol in Barangay Salingsingan is one of several mountains worth exploring on this side of Nueva Vizcaya. It is a 108-hectare forest with a height of 1,886 masl, and it takes a hiking beginner around four hours to get to the top. A guide is necessary not just for safety but also for the educational talk that accompanies the walk.
Guests can learn about trees endemic to the area and not-so-common fruits and plants that locals gather as food and medicine. Just this October, chef and FEATR vlogger Erwan Heussaff scoured Mt. Pullol with a guide to forage for local ingredients like dagwey fruit and gipas tea leaves, which he used for a dish he created on the spot.
Because this is the land of the ‘conquerors of moss,’ prepare for foggy trails, misty air, and moss-covered trees in every direction. Some paths lead to open spaces that offer panoramic views of Matuno River, farmlands, and the mountains of barangays Ammoweg, Camandag, and Salingsingan. On a clear day, one can see Mt. Pulag from the trail. Just a hundred meters away from the summit is a campsite with natural water sources, an ideal spot for an overnight stay, highly recommended by the local tourism office for that full local experience.
Taste the local food
A visit to Ambaguio will most likely begin and end with their local coffee. The locals here are fiercely loyal to their brew, which has become synonymous with their hospitality. Even local eateries and restaurants offer meal sets that come with free or unlimited cups of freshly brewed Ambaguio coffee.
The town has an association of farmers that produce robusta and arabica varieties, and visitors are likely to stumble upon their product, ‘Ambaguio Kapi,’ available in establishments and packed as pasalubongs. Ambaguio’s brew goes best with their native kakanin called baklay, made from either glutinous rice or kamoteng kahoy.
Ambaguio is also famous for its smoked pork called kiniing, similar to Sagada’s etag but with less smoke strength. The meat, usually the belly part, is salted and smoked for two to three days using guava wood. Locals love to mix it with their vegetable dishes, especially those that are bean-based. The best way to get a taste of kiniing and end a visit to Ambaguio is to head to Skyscape 360 in Brgy. Tiblac in the late afternoon. It is a campsite-cum-eatery with sweeping views of the towns below. Order yourself a hot bowl of lomi, and while you’re at it, take advantage of their unlimited Ambaguio brew as you watch the sun go down over Nueva Vizcaya.