AURORA | Dicasalarin Cove: Bays, Lighthouse, and a Senator

The sun finally skyrocketed on the horizon that summery Sunday morning. Hours before that were some drizzles that led some travelers in Baler to join the prayers on the weekend mass for a fine weather ahead. Our guide was amazed that we traveled from Ditumabo Falls to Dicasalarin Cove in just 15 minutes, compared to the usual 30-minute travel time. Thanks to our very competent driver.

Going to Dicasalarin Cove is a very tricky task that tricycle tours decline even you offer them bucks in bringing you to the famous cove in Aurora. You need to have a car to surpass the sharp and curvy roads, perks of renting a van from Manila.

We waited for our turn to ascend the road since a group was going down the hilly road from the cove. Due to the steepness and narrowness of the roads, the management employs that system to ensure safety on all tourists visiting the destination.

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Dicasalarin Cove is privately owned by the Angaras. Actually, if you are a Costa Pacifica guest, the prime resort in the town also owned by the Angaras, you will only pay Php100 for the entrance fee. That’s a Php200-off rate from the original Php300 for walk-ins. For us, since some members of the group were scheduled to stay at Costa Pacifica that day, we got a vehicle pass and only paid Php100 per person.

The cove is also a resort that aside from cottages, has fishponds, Ifugao houses, seedling nursery, and log houses that also serve as accommodations. An artist village, which we weren’t able to visit, features the works of local artists.

We were on our way to the beach when we spotted a familiar face in one of the cottages. It was the former Senator and now a current representative in Aurora, Edgardo Angara. We were star-struck and asked if it’s okay to have a photo with him. He even asked us to go out of the shade for a better and clearer photo. It was too late when I realized that he was one of the politicians who supported the DOST Scholarship Grant, the one that helped me with my college education.

We thanked him for having a photo with the group and afterward, our guide already led us to the cove. Except for a family feasting on some biscuits and fruits with their picnic mat spread on the sand, we dominated the cove. Basking under the crisp rays of the morning sun on the not so classy lounge chairs was an idea that hit some. While others spent some of their time waddling in the waters.

The guide convinced us to have a short trek to the cliff and visit the lighthouse. The modern lighthouse, which sometimes blends with the clear horizon, is somehow similar to a gnomon of a sundial but has a triangular base. The trek starts from the beach, traversing a river flowing to the sea, and surviving the canopy of wild pandan plants. This will lead you to a stairway that gives a panoramic view of the stately cove.

The area is only secured by ropes so please be sure not to loiter when you head there as you might slip and end your life on an unexpected cliff jump. A smaller cove is also visible from that point and a rock formation that houses a mini-cave as per the guide. We weren’t able to visit the cave since it was already high tide when we arrived.

Going down the steep stairway was another story, a different angle to observe the strip of sand that envelops the cove. The lush greenery on the side of the cliff makes it more picturesque and worth a stop for picture taking. The visit to Dicasalarin Cove was a short one but the cut-rate entrance fee was enough to see the charm of the famous cove of Baler. Thanks to the new found friends who got a pass for the entire group.