Cutting trip to Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley

Hubby and I decided to visit Cagayan Valley during Holy Week. I made an advance booking for our accommodation in Tuguegarao City for three days. But I failed to have early booking for our bus reservations, thinking that it would not be necessary. And when I ask for booking reservation a week before our date of departure, it's all fully booked.

Our plan is to leave Manila by Wednesday night, but since we don't have reservation we decided to leave Tuesday night, but when we arrived at the bus terminal in Manila, the last bus going Tuguegarao already left and we're advice to wait for 3:00 AM first trip.

Feeling hungry and frustrated. Hubby said, we don't have a choice but to wait. But still  I don't want to give up. I was thinking there must be something to be done. Then, one uniformed man ask our destination?... I sadly replied, to Tuguegagao and the last bus already left. He said... "ah Okey" but after a few seconds, he speak again and asked, if we want to do cutting trip?... Their bus is going to Banaue, but they can drop us in Nueva Viscaya junction and transfer us to other bus going to Tuguegagarao. Those buses coming from Bagiuo or Ilocos.

Rather than wait, we agreed to do cutting trip. 11:00 PM we left Manila terminal. Manila to Tuguegarao estimated for 12 - 13 hours travel. By 4:00 AM we're supposed to be in Nueva Viscaya. But unlucky we are, we're stocked for almost 6 hours at Sta. Fe. We arrived at junction almost 10:00AM, too late to catch the buses bound to Tuguegarao.

The unlucky us still lucky that there is a bus going to Roxas/Santaigo, Isabela, that arrived at junction almost same with us. Our driver is the one who talked to the other driver about our situation. No problem with them but the only available seats are the small extra chairs put at the center aisle. As hubby said, we don't have a choice, this is the best that we have, better go with it...

We left at 11:00 AM from Neuva Viscaya junction to Roxas, Isabela it took us 3 and half hours, there are traffics along the highway due to some road constructions. Arrived at Roxas at 2:30 PM. Yes, we're hungry enough, so we eat for our late lunch before going again to another stretch of Km ride.

From Roxas Isabela there are UV Express Van going to Tuguegarao City. We just asked kuya tricycle driver to drop off us at UV Express terminal bound to Tuguegarao. Since we're on the road for about 16 hours, I assumed, that it would only take us 30 mins to Tuguegarao from Roxas. But No... It took us more than 2 hours, it includes, drop off / pick up of other passengers and some stop for one way road, again due to road constructions.

Leaving at Roxas full arrived hungry at Tuguegarao, but Yes!!! Finally we arrived in our destination safe and sound. Thank you Lord.

Lesson learned, always have an early booking reservation. There are couple of buses bound to Tuguegarao that cater early booking reservation. You can go directly to the terminals or thru online.

• Dalin Liner - Sampaloc Manila
• Deltra Bus Transsit - Sampaloc Manila
• GV Florida Bus - Sampaloc Manila
• Baliwag Transit - Cubao EDSA
• Victory Liner - Kamias, Pasay, Manila, Caloocan

For Online Booking visit this pages:

https://www.pinoytravel.com.ph/