Adventure sports drew foreign and local participants in the 2015 Fiesta Del Mar (Festival of the Seas) recently at Narvacan Outdoor Adventure Hub (Noah) in Barangay Bulanos, Ilocos Sur.
Paragliding and bikathon challenges highlighted the three-day celebration to promote Narvcan as the country’s latest extreme sports destination.
Narvacan Mayor Zuriel Zaragoza said the province, which he hopes to be known as the “Extreme Sports Hub of the Philippines,” offers new facilities for traditional and extreme sports.
“We want the world to know that there’s more to experience in Ilocos Sur apart from cultural tourism—and that is through Narcavacan’s new ecotourism and extreme adventure site,” said Zaragoza.
Participants of the paragliding event had a spectacular view of the South China Sea before their touchdown on the Narvacan venue’s pristine beaches.
The bikathon challenge, meanwhile, had the racers negotiating the mountains and steep downhill trails of Narvacan.
Beach volleyball and soccer competitions were also some of the traditional sports events held during the festival.
Zaragoza said Narvacan plans to stage more extreme sports events as Noah features other natural facilities for rock climbing and rappelling.
But aside from the adventure hub’s new offerings, Zaragoza said the support of various sectors made it possible for the local government to transform Narvacan as an ecotourism spot. Jasmine W. Payo