Travel Guide: Nueva Ecija (2023)

Nueva Ecija, best known as the “rice granary of the Philippines,” is an underrated tourism destination. Aside from quick visits for work or stopovers in some towns like Cabanatuan City, we usually just pass through the province during road trips on our way to other destinations in the North.  

We’ve taken road trips to Dingalan in Aurora passing the towns of Laur and Gabaldon. We’ve also driven through the zigzag mountain roads of Bongabon on the way to Baler. During previous motorcycle rides, we usually just stopped at the tourist markers, welcome arches, and the views of mountains on our way to the coastal towns. 

It was interesting to discover some of the new attractions in the province, during a recent Lakbay Norte media familiarization tour. Below are some of the tourist spots that might be of interest to road trippers, motorcycle riders, and cyclists looking for new destinations to visit for their post-pandemic weekend getaways.

Where exactly is Nueva Ecija?

Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province located in the Central Luzon Region. The province is bordered by Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Viczaya, and Aurora. The former capital and the province’s largest LGU Cabanatuan City is accessible via the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), exiting in Tarlac. Depending on the traffic and route you take, travel time from Manila takes about three to four hours. 

For bikers and motorcycle riders who can’t use expressways, the usual route is via AH26 or the Pan-Philippine Highway. Coming from the North (Quezon City), Nueva Ecija is the next province you encounter after Bulacan.

Where to go in Nueva Ecija

Lumang Gapan

One of the newest attractions in Nueva Ecija is Lumang Gapan, also known as “Little Vigan.” This is a row of ancestral houses and a new outdoor food park called Tagpuan sa Lumang Gapan that’s become a hangout place for locals and destination for tourists. The area was renovated in 2021 as part of a tourism project in to revive interest in the city’s history. Several of the well-preserved houses here belong to celebrities. 

The street is a quick detour from the town center and intersection in Gapan and there’s no entrance fee to visit, so tourists can easily swing by on their way to other destinations. Those with cars and motorcycles have to park on the side street near the church, but cyclists can bring their bikes, so the old houses offer a unique photo op in the area.

Dupinga River & Labi River

For locals, the refreshing rivers flowing from the mountains in the province offer places for picnics to beat the summer heat. Several bridges in the province offer easy access to motorcycle riders and bikers to cool off during their rides. In Gabaldon, locals often hang out near the bridge at Dupinga River, which features natural flowing water, shallow, child-friendly pools, and rustic cottages.

Labi River in Bongabon, which offers a wider wading area and more nipa hut cottages for rent, is also a favorite weekend destination. The riverside area is about an hour away from the capital of the province along the Nueva Ecija-Baler Road.

Gabaldon Falls

Gabaldon Falls is a 10-foot high waterfall with a natural pool where you can take a dip. The falls can be reached by a 20- to 40-minute hike from the parking area through an uphill gravel trail, paved stairs to the picnic grounds, rocky terrain, and small stream crossings.

According to local guides, there’s no entrance fee to visit, though a small ecotourism fee may be charged in the future. Tourists can bring their own food and drinks only at the designated picnic grounds to keep the actual waterfall area and trail free from litter.

CAFGU Shrine

The CAFGU Shrine is a newly opened pilgrimage site in the town of Laur, located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Located within the country’s 70th Infantry Battalion in the 7th Infantry Division, this shrine is a 34-foot high white cross atop a hill, accessible through a nature trail and stone steps.

The shrine was named after the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and cadres whose efforts led to the success of the shrine’s construction. The hills surrounding the area also offer a perfect playground for cyclists, with bike trails all around.

Pantabangan Dam

For those passing the Pantabangan route in Nueva Ecija going to and from Baler, Pantabangan Dam offers a scenic photo op stop. Pantabangan Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Pampanga River located in Pantabangan.

The multi-purpose dam provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power  generation while its reservoir, Pantabangan Lake, affords flood control. The reservoir is considered one of the largest in Southeast Asia and also one of the cleanest in the Philippines. 

Carron Dreampark

Carron Dreampark is the biggest amusement park north of Manila, located at Bgy. Sto. Cristo, San Isidro, about 30 minutes from Gapan.

This old-school theme park offers fun rides and attractions for kids of all ages, including bump cars, a Ferris wheel, gravity drop, and spinning disk similar to those you’d find in Skyranch. The entire family can enjoy wandering around the park, which features 14 rides and 8 mini-games. 

Address: Carron Dreampark, Sto. Cristo, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Facebook: Carron Dreampark

Minalungao National Park*

For years, Minalungao National Park was one of the most popular natural tourist spots in Nueva Ecija. This  protected area located in the municipality of General Tinio covers an area of 2,018 hectares centered along the scenic Peñaranda River bordered on both sides by up to 16-meter high limestone walls in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

The park is said to be one of the few remaining natural environments in this region north of Manila and was formerly promoted by the local government as an ecotourism destination with simple facilities for picnics, swimming, fishing, raft riding and cliff diving to attract visitors. 

*NOTE: As of April 2023, Minalungao National Park remains closed to all tourists. Visit their official FB page site for updates on the reopening: https://www.facebook.com/minaluofficialaccount/ 

What and where to eat in Nueva Ecija

El Resto by Farrah’s Garden

Located in Gabaldon on the road leading to Dingalan, El Resto by Farrah’s Garden is a restaurant that offers comfort food with a refreshing view of the mountains. They offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, and coffee for hungry road trippers.

Address: Brgy, 1188 Pook Magsaysay, Gabaldon, 3131 Nueva Ecija. Open Monday to Sunday 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Facebook: El Resto

Krispy Pa Mor

For those looking for budget-friendly eats in Gapan, Krispy pa Mor offers a good place to stop and eat. This cheerful homegrown eatery serves dishes like Crispy Kare-Kare, Sizzling Sisig, Kaldereta, Papaitan, Dinakdakan, Creamy Tofu and lots more dishes.

Address: Intersection (in front of Gapan City Gas Station GCG, Pambuan), Gapan City, 3105 Nueva Ecija. Facebook: Krispy Pa Mor.

Aying’s Pastillas de Leche

Aying’s is a homegrown brand from Nueva Ecija that has been creating the well-loved Pastillas de Leche (milk-based candies) since 1995. The delicacies made from pure carabao’s milk comes in various flavors including original, toasted, ube, special yema, buko de pandan, caramel, langka, and queso, to name a few. This makes a great souvenir item to take home.

Address: 7V79+74C, Jose Abad Santos Ave, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. Facebook: Aying’s Pastillas

Other local specialties

Nueva Ecija is known for having one of the best types of longganisa. Make sure to try the Cabanatuan garlic longganisa for breakfast, a tasty version of the popular local sausage best served with garlic rice. This is celebrated during the annual “Longganisa Festival” of Cabanatuan.

Other towns of Nueva Ecija are also known for unique dishes including homegrown brand Puno sherbet and the novelty Tilapia ice cream. Nueva Ecija is a major producer of onion and celebrates a Sibuyas Festival every April, so expect a lot of dishes around town that make use of onion.

Where to stay in Nueva Ecija

Camp Paraiso powered by Cocotel

Camp Paraiso is an eco-resort in the mountains of Bongabo ideal for camping, glamping and nature stays. The cabins here will appeal mainly to nature lovers, trekkers, backpackers, and local families who want to enjoy the great outdoors. We stayed in the cozy cabin good for 6 pax, but the resort also has Kubo huts starting at P800/night.

The resort has three infinity pools filled with natural cold water flowing from the mountains of Aurora. Aside from staying overnight, guests can also visit on day tours for swimming (from 7:oo am to 5:00 pm). Weekdays – P120, Weekend – P150/person.

Guests can enjoy nature activities like trekking, swimming, camping, glamping, picnic, yoga, stargazing, forest bathing, waterfalls chasing, river trekking and bonfires. A short trail down to the riverside leads to an area with Bali-style bird’s nests, photo spots, and a swing.

Address: Sitio Camp Martyr, Brgy. Labi, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Facebook: Camp Paraiso

Many thanks to Camp Paraiso for hosting our stay for the #LakbayNorte media tour!

Sevilla Paradise Resort

Another option is Sevilla Paradise Resort, an eco-resort where you can enjoy the mountains, the trees, the cold breeze and spring water in Bongabon. This new resort offers mountain views and cool pools, where guests can escape from the summer heat.

Address: Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Facebook: Sevilla Paradise Resort

NOTE: Visits to the newer tourist spots in Nueva Ecija were made possible by the Lakbay Norte 2023 media familiarization tour.