After almost two years of being stuck at home and riding only to nearby areas because of the pandemic, we decided to go on a motorcycle road trip right before Christmas last December 2021. Social gatherings were still limited, checkpoints in some areas were still strict, and borders to select destinations were just easing up. At the time, Dingalan in Aurora was one of the few places accepting tourists from other provinces and Metro Manila without a lot of requirements.

While we previously rode to Dingalan in 2019 and stayed overnight before heading to Baler, on our second trip we took it easy and stayed two nights to explore lesser-visited spots. Compared to Baler, Dingalan is still a bit off the tourist radar. In case you’re planning to ride to Dingalan for the first time (whether by motorcycle, car, or bicycles), here are some tips to help you out.

Where is Dingalan?

Dingalan is a coastal town surrounded by mountains located about 183 kilometers north-east of Manila. It’s bounded on the north by San Luis, on the west by Gabaldon and General Tinio in Nueva Ecija and Donia Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan, and on the south by General Nakar in Quezon. Dingalan directly faces the Dingalan Bay and Philippine Sea on the east.

There’s currently only one cemented road passing Nueva Ecija to get to this town. From the main town proper of Paltic, branching alleys lead to other barangays in the south, including Aplaya, Butas na Bato, Matawe, Ibona, Dikapanikian and Umiray. Tourists with limited time usually visit here on day trips or joiner’s tours with private vans to visit the main attractions.

What makes Dingalan great for riders?

Dingalan is a simple and laid-back coastal town that you can reach within a 4-5 hour drive from Metro Manila. It’s a good destination for those who live in the north of the metro in the mood for a long ride and get away from the city for the weekend as an alternative to Real and Infanta in Quezon.

The mountain roads and scenery along the way are a joy for motorcycle riders and road trippers to ride through. For cyclists, the rolling terrain, zigzagging roads and uphill ascents going to the town provide challenging terrain to test your mettle. While the first half of the ride is flat, it gets more fun once you turn right to Palayan from Cabanatuan.

How to get to Dingalan

By private transport

Like our previous road trips, we just followed the route suggested by GoogleMaps. For this trip, we planned to stay in Gina’s Guest House, so that was our waypoint. It’s roughly 182 kilometers from Quezon City. Depending on the traffic conditions, your route, speed, and number of stops, getting here will take roughly about 3.5 to 5 hours by private vehicle. For cyclists, it could take about 12 hours (or more) of saddle time.

Driving to Dingalan is pretty straightforward just following the Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26. If you’re driving a small displacement bike that can’t pass tollways, expect some traffic in the service roads and major towns along the highway to Cabanatuan, particularly the intersections.

The ride gets better once you turn right to Palayan City or on the bypass road in Santa Rosa to Fort Magsayasay (better route). You’ll take another right going to Gabaldon and onwards to Dingalan.

The last stretch of the route will take you through beautiful mountain views, bridges, and riverside areas in Nueva Ecija. We made a couple of stops at viewpoints and bridges before heading down to the Dingalan town proper and our chosen inn.

By public transport

It’s also possible to get to Dingalan by public transport. Bikers who want to skip the more congested areas can board their bicycles on the bus and start biking in Nueva Ecija or Dingalan itself.

• Ride a bus from Metro Manila to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Buses like Five Star Bus and Baliwag Transit depart from Cubao and Caloocan. Travel time on the bus roughly 2-3 hours depending on the traffic.
• At the Cabanatuan Central Terminal, transfer to a van going to Dingalan (1.5 to 2 hours) or board a bus headed for Umiray and get down at Dingalan.
• Once in Dingalan, transfer to a tricycle to get to your chosen inn or pension house.
• UPDATE: Effective March 2023, a new bus route from Baliwag Transit goes directly from Cubao to Dingalan via Cabanatuan without the need to transfer.

• 4:20 AM Dingalan to Caloocan
• 3:30 PM Caloocan to Dingalan
• 4:00 AM Cubao to Dingalan
• 3:00 PM Dingalan to Cubao

What to do in Dingalan

Dingalan is a destination for nature lovers and adventurers. If you’re looking for luxury hotels, lots of restaurants, and nightlife, this isn’t the place to go. But it is a great place to go for a digital detox and enjoy simple joys like nature views, coastal roads, the beach, and great seafood that you don’t get in busy cities.

Take a hike to the mountain view deck

Want to stretch your legs after a long ride? One of the best views in Dingalan can only reached by foot. You can ride a boat from the Feeder Port to the White Beach or just walk to the beach from town and hike up to reach the famous mountain viewpoint. The view of the mountains and the rugged coast here has drawn comparisons to Batanes. The trek takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. 

Cross the Umiray Bridge

The two towns of Dingalan in Aurora and Umiray in General Nakar, Quezon are connected by Umiray Bridge, a 358 meter-long bridge that goes over the Umiray River which separates the towns.

The location itself makes it a point of interest for a joyride and good vantage point to watch the sunrise.

Take a dip at Umiray River

Umiray River is a tributary of the Pacific Ocean. From the bridge, we looked for a spot to drive down to the riverside. You can wade, take a dip, or enjoy simple picnics here. Just bring your own snacks and take your trash back with you, as there’s not a lot of places to buy food near the river.

Enjoy the waves at Matawe Beach

The beaches facing Dingalan Bay have gray sand and the waves can be strong during the amihan season and if there are typhoons. To be safe, stay close to the shore as there aren’t any lifeguards at this beach.

Some areas like Matawe Beach have rock formations while other beach areas offer cottages you can rent. Just drive around and you can find spots to relax along the beach.

Climb up Zen Tierras view deck

Zen Tierras Farm, one of the mountain farm resorts in Dingalan, has a nature trail to a view deck where you can get a great view of the coast surrounded by all the trees. If you’re dining at their restaurant, you can take a walk up to this scenic rest stop before or after your meal.

Feast on budget seafood meals

One of the best things to do in Dingalan is to feast on budget-friendly seafood. There are simple eateries at the market like Arlyn’s Seafood Paluto where you can buy fresh seafood from fish stalls and have them cooked on the spot.

Market vendors here sell fresh lobsters, crabs, salmon, squid, shrimps, fish, and shellfish at a fraction of the cost of seafood restaurants in the city. Pair your meals with vegetables like like pako (local fern) and beer or soft drinks for a great meal.

Most inns and resorts specialize in seafood.

If you have more time, you could also visit other points of interest in Dingalan such as:

• Dingalan Lighthouse
• White Beach 
• Lamao Caves
• Tanawan Falls
• Intertidal Zone
• Tabi Falls
• Makibato Falls

Where to stay in Dingalan

Gina’s Guesthouse

Ginas Guesthouse is a lodging house near the town proper of Dingalan that offers a great view of the coast. Rooms are clean and modern. They have an in-house grill and restaurant with an overlooking view of the ocean.

They also have a swimming pool and in-house restaurant. We arrived on a Thursday and were the only guests checked in, so it felt very peaceful and we got to enjoy the place to ourselves.

Families and groups started arriving on Friday evening and Saturday morning (as we were leaving).

Room rates start at P2,500/night for poolside views and P3,500/night for ocean views & family suites. Book rooms at Gina’s Guesthouse directly from their FB page.

Zen Tierras Farm by Cocotel

Zen Tierras Farm by Cocotel is a peaceful retreat hidden in the center of the mountains. The farm offers an experience that highlights the beauty of nature, the calm of the mountains, and the importance of sustainable living.

The farm has simple rooms, natural pools, a hiking trail to a viewing deck, and a restaurant that serves good and beautifully presented meals. I loved their binakol, fried garlic shrimps, and fresh buko juice that used straws made from leaves.

While the place is a bit remote and involves a rough (but short) ride to get to the parking area from the main road, it’s the kind of place that foreign tourists and nature lovers will want to hunt down for a meal and hike or stay overnight to get away from it all. It’s very peaceful here and ensures you are away from the karaoke crowd if you happen to go on a weekend.

Room rates start at P1,450/night on Agoda. Book rooms at Zen Tierras by Cocotel here.

Cave Beach Resort

Cave Beach Resort near the port in Brgy. Aplaya is also a good option because of its central location and amenities. Air-conditioned rooms are clean and decent, with hot and cold showers, TVs and free WiFi.

With 10 rooms, this place offers a nice, private and quiet getaway for couples, solo riders, families or small groups. Each room has a garage area for parking. Cave Beach Resort has a garden, swimming pool, picnic huts facing the beach, and a few table games like a Foosball table and billiards for checked-in guests.

For international tourists traveling by public transport who want to ride once they get there, the resort also has a couple of motorcycles available for rent. The resort can arrange tours if tour guides are available. Room rates start at P3,200/night on Agoda. Book rooms at Cave Beach resort here.

Trip summary

This trip kicked was our first long motorcycle ride during the pandemic era. I forgot to keep track of the total number of kilometers traveled and fuel consumed, but the Umiray Bridge is about 201 kilometers from Quezon City, so the whole ride was over 400 kilometers back and forth.

After waking up to the view of the sea and mountains and driving around traffic-free roads, I dreaded going back to the city. We left mid-morning and were making good time.

The weather had been fair, cloudy, and windy for most if our ride going there and back, but as luck would have it, there was a heavy downpour once we reached Caloocan. Kung kelan malapit na makauwi.

I miss long motorcycle rides like this. We’ve been doing a lot more biking since the pandemic hit, but hopefully this year, I can get back into riding to new destinations, even if it’s just simple breakfast or coffee rides. There are still so many places I’d love to explore on two wheels. Any suggestions for our next motorcycle destination this year?