Lying on the northern coast of Cagayan is the town of Gonzaga. Wangag, the former name of the place was changed to Gonzaga in honor of Don Gracio Gonzaga, the first Governor of Cagayan.

The early inhabitants of Gonzaga were the Negritos and the Ilokano settlers. With the coming of the missionaries, more settlers were attracted and Wangag grew. With this, another settlers was founded by the missionaries and they called "Gampao" (meaning mountainous). Wangag was given ecclesiastical recognition on February 23, 1769 with Nuestra Seņora del Pilar as its patroness. The two settlements were then fused and it was called "Rumag-ay" (meaning progressive). Francisco Torres, one of the distinguished leaders of the town, submitted a petition to the effect that Gonzaga be made an official town. The government refused to recognize their plea on account of the town's few taxpayers. As a solution, Torres convinced the Negrito laborers in his lumberyard to pay their annual "cedulas" and it was only then that Gonzaga was finally established as a regular municipality in 1918.

Apart from fishing and farming as major sources of the towns income, forest products have also been contributing to its annual revenues.

Gonzaga is an ideal place for fun-seekers. The wide caves in Cabanbanan Norte, the hot spring in Baua and the beautiful crater of Mt. Cagua. Cool, shady, running brooks at Mission and Pateng are inviting grounds for swimming and picnicking.