ILOCOS TOUR! (Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud): 2012

Ilocos is a place that you should add on your vacation list. It is located by the North tip of Luzon. It has everything from ancestral Spanish houses and churches, gorgeous waterfalls, lush mountains, caves and white sand beaches. Remember, be sure you are prepared for an 8-10 hours long drive. You may also opt to fly here via Cebu pacific that lands in Laoag airport for 45 mins coming from Manila.

VIGAN
We took the Partas Bus in Cubao ( 680.00php/head) around 11pm and arrived in Vigan at 7am, the whole ride took us about 8 hours bec there is no traffic along the way since its late night. Booking an accomodation is not a problem as most of the Inn's here are flexible with their check-in time. From the Vigan terminal we flagged a trike (P50 fee for tourists like us) then we went straight for breakfast at the Grandpa's Inn which will welcome you with the rustic spanic ambience.

http://www.grandpas-inn.com/

We ordered their famous Vigan Longanisa that is so tasty and this comes with free coffee or choco. The garlic taste and a little saltiness of the longanisa was perfect! Oh and they have free wifi so you can still stay connected in your urban life while at Grandpa's Inn.

You may also consider booking here, they have unique Kalesa rooms. This Inn is near the hot spot like the famous cobble stone street Calle Crisologo and historical museums. Among the other places to stay in Vigan, I also recommend Villa Angela, a big family-owned Spanish house with spacious rooms and nice lawn.

After we finished our breakfast and sip of their freshly brewed coffee we asked the staff for a Kalesa tour around Vigan, a horse-drawn carriage for P350.00 for 3 hours tour. They also have vans for rent but we opted for Kalesa ride to really feel the old time and it is more romantic anyway, plus it is way cheaper than their van rental!

Manong kutsero brought us to:

Calle Crisologo

Bantay Church

Bantay Bell Tower

One view from top of the tower bell, a cemetery on top of a hill!

Pottery Making at Burnay

Syquia Mansion

Burgos National Museum in Plaza Burgos

We also went to Palacio de Arzobispado, Plaza Salcedo, Baluarte ni Singson and the Butterfly Garden. Was it tiring? Yes, but worth it! We finished the whole thing in 3 hours just before lunch. We were dropped by our Kalesa to Partas same terminal coming from Manila but this time we are taking bus to Laoag!

LAOAG
Laoag, is another 40mins to1 hour drive from Vigan by bus, fee is at P120.00/head so we planned to finish our first day here and book at Fort Ilocandia Hotel. We just told the bus ticketing guy or as we called "konduktor" that were going to Fort Ilocandia and they know right away where to drop us.

After 40mins we were dropped along the highway of Laoag where there are trikes and jeepney's passing the hotel. Jeepney is always cheaper but it will take a long route around the town. So we opted for the trike which will take 30mins and that is considered faster already at P200.00 fee.

Finally we arrived at Fort Ilocandia at exactly 1pm. Believe me my tired body is suddenly awakened with this gorgeous trapped in time hotel. We felt like we were in that movie "Somewhere in Time"! The hotel has an antique grand lobby and al fresco tables with indoor water falls and fountain in the middle and a shopping arcade, yes there are boutiques inside!

Lounging Cafe

Grand Lobby

Lap Pool

The beachfront restobar..with wide greens!

Disco at night..Classic!

Rooms are clean and spacious enough, with 2 king beds, terrace, mini fridge and bathroom with bathtub and hot & cold shower. Two things though, tv is not up to date and no internet on their rooms. If you want a wifi in your room you have to pay the minimum 500 pesos, good for a whole day use. Then we just learned upon check-out that they have free wifi by the main lobby and restaurants, which they did not advised us when we asked for wifi signal..instead, they sold us a card.

Our Room

Terrace by our Room

The next day we had our complimentary buffet breakfast for two, it was a good selection of Pinoy breakfast. All in all, I would still love to come back to this place.

Sinking Bell

We checked out at 12nn and hired a trike again to give us a tour around Laoag before we hit Pagudpud. tricycle fee for the tour is at P500.00. Sadly, we were not able to take much photos because we forgot to charge our cam. Places to see here are the Sand Dunes, Malacanang of the North, a must see Paoay Church, Marcos Museum, Sinking Bell Tower, Tobacco Monopoly and some other more that we were not able to see anymore bec they are hours apart from each other.

At the end of the tour our trike brought us to a van terminal going to Pagudpud. We grabbed a quick lunch by the taiwanese resto near the terminal while we are waiting for the van to get full.

SAUD, PAGUDPUD.
Pagudpud has two nice beaches, the Saud beach with light-beige colored sand and the Maira-Ira which they also call The Blue Lagoon or Mini Boracay bec of its white sand and blue waters. From Laoag it took us almost 2 hours to reach Pagudpud.

Our first stop here is at Saud beach, which numerous resorts are lined-up along the stretch of the beach from budget, to middle to splurge.

Coconut Trees in Saud

Saud Beach

We booked at APO IDON which rooms starts at 2,500php during that time.. the rooms are big enough to fit 4 and complete with the things we need. What we love most about this place is their big cafe with the full view of the sea and the beautiful native setting and it's near the other restaurants.

They also have an indoor mini pool. The front part though are big rocks and Apo Idon is elevated a bit almost like by the mini cliff. Beach sand is just a minute walk which lets you explore the whole Saud Beach.


Front part of Apo Idon

The next morning, we tried this place for our breakfast beside Apo Idon, it is a resto bar, but they serve good food not just booze!


Imagine starting the day with this view.

After breakfast we started our Pagudpud tour with our tour guide kuya Jomar which we contacted ahead, his fee is at 600php each bound (North and South Pagudpud) his trike can fit up to 3 person, which I found reasonable beacause all the hot spots are kilometers away from the other.
Here are the places we went to:

Bantay Abot Cave

Patapat Viaduct

Trail to the waterfalls.

Kabigan Falls

Bangui Millls

100 steps to Cape Bojeador

Amazing view from top of the lighthouse.

..with Kuya Jomar, he was really nice and took care of us the whole trip. You may contact him at 092031183948 or email jomar.villaluz@yahoo.com.

White Rock Formation at Kapurpurawan.

We went back to our resort tired but very satisfied with all the wonders nature has to offer right here at the north tip of Luzon.

PAGUDPUD MAIRA-IRA BEACH
The next morning, we had kuya Jomar again to take us to the further end of Pagudpud where the renowned mini Boracay of the North is.. the Maira-Ira beach also known as Blue Lagoon. This is where our last accommodation will be at Kapuluan Vista Resort.

Swimsuit from BLACK BOX SHOPPE

Gorgeous white sand!

No wonder it was called the blue lagoon.

We were entirely breathless of this gorgeous scene. I believe there are only 2 decent resort here, the Hannah's and Kapuluan Vista Resort, others are residentials that welcomes transient stay for budget travellers at 300/head or so. On the way to Kapuluan, you will pass by Hannah's and we are so glad we did not book in this one because they have a couple of videoke machines that you may find loud and annoying if your up for a relax and tranquil stay.

Going to Kapuluan Vista Resort

Small chapel along the way..

Kapuluan vista Resort

Kapuluan Vista Resort is known for surfers too at some months where there are good waves right infront of the resort. This place is not really big, it is just right for a romantic getaway. It is also good for families who really wanna spend some quality time together and enjoy the beach or simply play cards by the resort and appreciate the beauty of nature. The resto and lobby area is wifi ready.


You will be welcomed by these two cuties..Ziggy Marley and Julia Roberts. ;)

Zen Setting inside..

Our welcome drink, their signature margarita. Very refreshing!

Path leading to our room.

Standard Aircon Room for 2 with free breakfast at 2,700php.

Our bathroom which has zen garden inside really cool!

Simply Gorgeous!

Complimentary Breakfast

They are also knownfor serving fresh greens and herbs that are handpicked everyday from their garden. Try their Tuna Kilawin!

Tuna Kilawin

The beach sand in front of Kapuluan off-beige and and there are pebbles and corals since it is in the end of the cove of Maira-Ira, but it has it's own beauty to offer and was very tranquil.