Ilagan Sanctuary is the most visited tourist spot in Ilagan City today.

It is a protected
area located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Brgy. Santa Victoria,
Ilagan City, Isabela. This Nature Discovery that Isabelinos take pride of is 15 kilometers
away from the City proper of Ilagan. Ilagan sanctuary is a nature discovery where
everyone can enjoy nature’s finest beauty and experience ventures that this place can
offer.

There are many different activities that we can enjoy while we are on the sanctuary.
Attractions inside the park include Bird viewing, Mini zoo, Natural spring pool, Pinzal
falls, Butterfly park and the caves. Some activities in the sanctuary will require you to
ride on an ATV.
First, for those who love walking, they can go on a trek to reach the Pinzal waterfalls to
fully enjoy the natural beauty of the sanctuary. The trek will only take 700 meters of
walk. You will be conquering the muddy and rocky trek in order for you to reach the
majestic waterfalls. After some trekking, you can dip into the basin of the Pinzan
waterfalls. The falls is a very good place to relax after the long walk and to unwind for a
while and forget the problems of life.

Next stop - to the beautiful caves of the sanctuary!

The sanctuary features natural lattices and rock formations inside the 400 meters cave
length. The cave includes the Main cave, Altar cave and Adventure cave. For those who
are willing to discover the beauty of the caves, they are required to have their own tourist
guide. It is for their own security and also for the preservation of the natural elements
inside the caves like the stalagmites and the stalactites so that it will remain beautiful and
virgin.

Several species of wildlife animals are also taken care of in the sanctuary like tiger,
ostrich, crocodile, eagle, monkey, deer and wild pig. The animals are kept and taken care
in their Animal Kingdom.
People can also enjoy some culminating activities while they are in the sanctuary. They
can try to climb walls. They guarantee in the management that these are safe and
enjoyable.
They can also try the cable cars.

Families and friends can also try the boating area inside the sanctuary. Everyone can
enjoy this activity, very relaxing.

And the popular ride today is the zip line. You can enjoy this ride for only 150 pesos.

And off course an outing is incomplete without the swimming pool. There are mini pools
in the sanctuary and also the big pool.
What are you waiting for? The God given beautiful paradise of Ilagan awaits you.
Part of the 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park, bordering the town of Tumauini, Ilagan
Sanctuary is a nature park located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Barangay
Santa Victoria, Ilagan City in the province of Isabela. This accessible reserve makes for a quick
nature escape, if you happen to pass by Ilagan City on a roadtrip to or from Tuguegarao, for
example. Among the natural attractions are limestone caves, waterfall hikes, and viewing endemic
and exotic animals both captive and wild. This area is included in the buffer zone of the Palanan
Wilderness Area, or Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, hence, there’s a good chance for you to
spot unique birds and animals along the trails, especially if there are only a few visitors and you hike
quietly in the forest. For those looking for resort-style amenities, the nature park also has swimming
pools, ATV rides, and a 350-meter long zipline. However, I think the natural attractions were more
worth the visit!

Honestly speaking, the mini-zoo is quite pitiful with small enclosures, and can be skipped by eco-
conscious visitors. Spotting wildlife while hiking to Pinzal Falls was definitely a more rewarding
experience, instead of viewing the captive animals. It was short hike into the forest, following a
shallow stream. My favorite wildlife encounter was spotting a wild indigo-banded kingfisher (Alcedo
cyanopectus) – a species found only in the Philippines – along the water’s edge near the waterfalls.
Upon reaching the waterfalls, I couldn’t resist taking a refreshing shower.

Besides going on open hiking trails, one can also visit a number of caves within the wildlife
sanctuary. There more than 12 limestone caves that comprise the Santa Victoria Caves, with only
three of them currently open to visitors: Main Cave, Altar Cave and Adventure Cave. The dry, walk-
through caverns are very easy to explore. You can even bring children along. They are known for
their unusual rock formations and sparkling rocks. Believed to have been occupied by the nomadic
Agta or Dumagat people in the past, they are also of archaeological significance.

Falls
Cave
Animal Kingdom
Zipline and other activities
Conclusion