Aparri, Philippines

There's not much to see in the small north coast town of APARRI, but its location on the main road heading along the coast makes it a convenient rest stop if you're travelling between Tuguegarao to Laoag. The only hotel is the plain Ars City Hotel (Tel:078/822 8744; Under P500) in the Macanaya area, five minutes by tricycle from where buses and jeepneys stop on the main road through town. Aparri used to have a port with ferries to Laoag and Batanes, but not any more. The only boats you can catch here are rented bancas to take you east along the coast to Santa Ana.

About two hours' bus ride along the coastal road west from Aparri brings you to the town of CLAVERIA, a laidback place with a pleasant stretch of white sand beach and a small homestay resort, Claveria Bayview Inn (Under P500), a short walk west of town along the shore. You could break your journey with a day or two in this area. There are two gushing waterfalls, Macatel and Portabag, where you can swim, and the barely explored islands of Fuga, Dalupiri and Calayan, although to reach any of them you'll probably have to hire your own banca because public trips are infrequent.