TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) -- Tourists now have a new option to visit when in Cagayan province.

This comes after the local government of Santa Praxedes officially opened Mingay Beach to the public on March 15, this time with complete amenities.

Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo said the opening of Mingay Beach not only boosts the municipality's tourism industry but also provides livelihoods to Praxedenians.

“For the first time, I experienced trekking through the jungle from the newly opened access road down to Mingay Beach. The trail was so arduous; it was steep and slippery, and along the way, some ravines are so deep that it makes one feel dizzy,” she said, explaining why the local government pushed for the development going to and from the beach.

With the opening of Mingay Beach, tourists can now stay overnight at the beach, either staying at the solar-equipped teepee houses or pitching a tent at the camp area.

Each teepee house costs P1,500, good for three people, and an additional P500 for extra bedding. The three teepee houses are complete with bedding and amenities, including private comfort rooms.

For those who wish to pitch a tent, the pitching fee is pegged at P100 and P200 for renting a tent.

Aguinaldo said pre-booking is a must, and overnight guests have strictly no walk-in accommodations.

To book, message the Santa Praxedes Tourism Facebook page. Picnic tables are also available for rent, P200 for a day and P300 for overnight.

How to get there?

Santa Praxedes is the farthest northwestern town in Cagayan, and it’s the gateway to the Ilocos Region. It is a three-hour drive from Tuguegarao City.

From the municipal hall of Santa Praxedes, two options exist to reach Mingay Beach.

If tourists want to have an extra adventure, trekking via Barangay San Juan in Santa Praxedes is recommended. From the drop-off point in Sitio Mingay, it will take tourists around 30 to 40 minutes to trek downhill before reaching the cove.

“It took us 30 minutes with a lot of pit stops until we reached the coastline. In hindsight, I realized that the rainforest has great potential for eco-agrotourism development like the one in Subic. It would also be a hit with foreign nationals who want extreme adventure and sports like ziplines and rock climbing,” Aguinaldo shared during her first trekking visit to Mingay Beach.

The second option is a 30–40-minute boat ride via barangay Taggat in Claveria, Santa Praxedes’ nearby municipality.

A boat ride fee of P1,500 is pegged for five people.

Other sceneries

Aside from Mingay Beach, tourists may also experience boat rides where they can visit Nanaplaan Beach, Puak Beach, Salsalaysay Beach, and Kimmanzir Beach (popularly known as Palawan of the North).

“We also have waterfalls that cascade directly to the sea, namely Burbursayok Falls and Bilbilagot Falls. Not to mention the breathtaking rock formations and boulders as big as cathedrals formed a million years ago,” Aguinaldo added. (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)