The hearty meal we had in Punta Verde made us sleepy, to be honest. Wala naman na talagang sasarap pa sa antok na hatid ng kabusugan, lalo pa kung dadagdagan ito ng maganda at payapang kapaligiran. We do not have the time to take a nap though. After our lunch, we just settled the bill, rested a bit, then bade goodbye to Palaui Island.

Just a few minutes on the sea and we caught a glimpse of our destination. Known to locals as Manidad Island, Cagayan’s own Crocodile Island is a rock formation on an islet that got its name from its resemblance to the renowned reptile. It has been said that a considerable part of the island becomes under water during high tide. When we were there though, the tide was indeed low.

Our boatmen told us that they would be leaving us for a while as they would just have to take care of something, then would return to fetch us. Ayos lang naman sa amin. That would mean more time in the island just for ourselves.

As soon as we reached the shores, we immediately explored the island.

From where we docked, we went straight to the top of the rock formation and viewed the island from there.

When we were done appreciating the view, we then proceeded to our ritualistic picture taking.

We did not take a dip in Anguib Beach, but we would no longer allow ourselves not to give-in to the temptations of the waters of Crocodile Island.

Since the Crocodile Island is still part of the protected seascape, one may not expect any manmade shade on the island. Since the rock formation is practically the island, it is entirely bare with no natural shade. When you intend to swim just as we did, we highly suggest that you bring sunscreen lotion or wear rash guards.

We spent more than an hour in the island. We were also done swimming when we realized that our boatmen have already returned, ready to fetch us. It was time to head back to San Vicente Port.

Our day in Palaui Island and the surrounding areas of interest seemed so packed, but there was not an ounce of fatigue in us. The beauty of the sea mesmerizes us the way the mountains draw us closer to them. There is just way too much in the natural design that it can never be overstated. Every word to describe nature and its wonders is always insufficient.

Having done island hoping and sightseeing in the northeasternmost part of mainland Luzon is an achievement for us. It was an experience that we would always reminisce as one of the testaments to how far we have gone from that fateful La Union trip.