Backpacking: Things Yous Should Create When Visiting Ilocos Norte/Sur, Philippines

Welcome to !

Ilocos is divided into ii regions; the Ilocos Sur in addition to Ilocos Norte. The province offers a numerous tourist attractions both for local in addition to foreign. During summertime seasons, visitors move to the beaches, historical landmarks amongst the welcoming lovely people of Ilocos. There are few dishes that I highly recommend to travail earlier leaving Ilocos are; (pinakbet, igado,dinakdakan, poqui-poqui, deep-fried pork belly called bagnet and the native sausage, longganisa).

Ilocos Norte is noted for beingness the birthplace of onetime President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who led an authoritarian dominion over the country. There are numerous environmentally ability plants projects that include the 25Megawatt wind farm for its unloosen energy usage. One of the benefits of the ability industrial plant life is Fort Ilocandia, an upper shape hotel in addition to beach resorts, and Pagudpud. Its working capital alphabetic quality is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the ewqast, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South mainland People's Republic of China Sea to the westward in addition to the Luzon Strait to the north.

While Ilocos Sur Province, it is popularly known for its heritage hamlet of the Philippines which is located inwards Vigan. The historic urban core of Vigan was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List inwards Nov 1999. Vigan is the best preserved illustration of a planned Castilian colonial town inwards Asia. Viva Vigan Arts in addition to Industry Festival is held every get-go calendar week of May featuring epitome in addition to production exhibits, a Calesa parade, in addition to other cultural activities. Its working capital alphabetic quality also is Vigan City in addition to is bordered past times Ilocos Norte in addition to Abra to the north, Mountain Province to the east, La Union in addition to Benguet to the south, in addition to the South mainland People's Republic of China Sea to the west.

Activities in addition to attractions must meet inwards Ilocos.

Destination: Introducing Ilocos!

How to teach there:

There are a lot of tour packages available going to Ilocos. Mostly the bundle offers “Laoag, Vigan, Pagudpud Tour for 3 Days in addition to 2 Nights” amongst hotels in addition to resorts information; also a sample itinerary that you lot tin can customized inwards your tour details. The minimum cost is 3,200 pesos per person.

By air

The nearest airdrome is the Laoag International Airport, inwards the nearby province of Ilocos Norte. The airdrome caters to both international in addition to domestic flights. The national carrier, Philippines Airlines, take away maintain 4 flights each calendar week to Laoag. It’s a 45-minute flying from Manila to Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. H5N1 coach trip from the airdrome to Ilocos Sur would take away maintain to a greater extent than than an hour.

Sample Package Inclusions:

o 2 days/ 1 black Standard aircon room accommodation inwards Laoag – Budget/ Standard/ Highend

o 2 days/ 1 black Standard aircon room accommodation inwards Pagudpud – Budget/ Standard/ Highend

o Daily ready breakfast ( starting on Day 2)

o Complete Ilocandia Tours (Laoag, Vigan, Pagudpud)

o Roundtrip individual aircon van shipping ( Airport – Laoag/ Pagudpud/ Vigan – Airport)

o Driver

o Entrance fees

Excluded:

o Roundtrip Airfare

o Other meals that are non stated above

o Tour guide ( upon asking / P1,500 per guide per day)

By land

Going to Ilocos from Manila past times van commonly takes 10-12 hours away drive. Buses similar Rabbit, Partas, in addition to Dominion may take away maintain longer trips depending on the stop-overs. The coach ane agency fare is but about 700 pesos. The coach terminals are located inwards Cubao in addition to Pasay.

Here is usual sample listing of grouping tour bundle that you lot tin can select from:

3200 per pax for a grouping of 13
3300 per pax for a grouping of 12
3400 per pax for a grouping of 11
3500 per pax for a grouping of 10

Sample Inclusions

3 Days in addition to 2 Nights Ilocos tour (Ilocos Sur in addition to Ilocos Norte); meals non included
Resort accommodations at Pagudpod Klasik or Cathy’s Beach Resort (6 pax inwards a room)
Van transfers (Brand New 15-seater Toyota Hiace Commuter) Manila-Ilocos-Manila
Entrance Fees
Local Guide Fees
Taxes in addition to surcharge
Gas, Toll Fees, Driver’s Meals in addition to Accommodation
Taxes in addition to Surcharges

I. Ilocos Sur Tour

1. National Museum / Padre Burgos House

It has the collection of the memorabilia of martyred priest Jose Burgos in addition to its local history, Ilocano in addition to Tinggian archeological in addition to ethnographic displays; a hall of fame for the heroes in addition to achievers of Ilocos. However, the museum is temporarily unopen to the populace every bit of Apr 2015.

2. Archbishop’s Palace

Located following to the Vigan Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia is the oldest continually inhabited Archbishop's residence inwards the Philippines, amongst the edifice itself dating to the 16th century. It was completed inwards 1793 later a bridge of seven years. It features sliding capiz windows in addition to cut-out decorations amongst floral motifs. It has a dorsum entrance that leads to the nearby Govantes Dike, which was ane time a docking port for H2O craft. The palace has a collection of priceless ecclesiastical artifacts in addition to relics from other Ilocos churches.

3. Bantay Church in addition to Bell Tower

The Saint Augustine Parish Church, commonly known as Bantay Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. The church building was dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo. It is also known every bit the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad) housing the miraculous epitome of Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Charity, crowned every bit the patroness of Ilocandia on Jan 12, 1956. The old historic belfry of the church building known every bit the Bantay Tower, which served every bit a watchtower for pirates dorsum inwards the Spanish colonial era, gave the town its raise - bantay (meaning to guard). Established inwards 1590, the church building is ane of the oldest inwards the Ilocos Region.

4. Pagburnayan (Jar Making Factory)

It is where the famous Ilocano offend called burnay,used for storing locally made vinegar, local vino (called basi), in addition to fish sauce (bagoong); in addition to every bit decorative ware, is produced. Tourists tin can meet these factories making the burnay using pre-historic methods of production, using carabaos (water buffalos) to knead the clay, in addition to foot-powered potter's wheels to plough the clay into burnay jars.

5. Crisologo Museum

The residence of the Crisologo menage unit of measurement inwards Vigan was converted into a museum. It houses the memorabilia of the Crisologos in addition to master copy furnishings of a typical Vigan ancestral house.

6. Calle Crisologo/Heritage Village

It is what Vigan City is known for—streets lined amongst Castilian Era ancestral houses (with ancient tile roofs, massive hardwood floorings, balustrades in addition to azoteas inwards varying Spanish, Mexican, in addition to Chinese architectural styles) in addition to cobble-stoned streets, which led to Vigan's inscription inwards the listing of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tourists tin can purchase souvenirs or fifty-fifty ride a calesa (horse-drawn buggy). This street is also known every bit 'Vigan Heritage Village.'

7. Baluarte Mini Zoo

It is located inwards Salindeg where visitors tin can meet a multifariousness of animals (including tigers in addition to ostriches). It is also a pop venue for special events such every bit seminars in addition to conferences. The possessor of Baluarte is onetime Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.

8. Plaza Burgos

It is dedicated to the retention of Father Jose Burgos. It is located beside the Vigan Cathedral. Depending on the weather, the streets surrounding it (except for the street following to the Empanadaan) is unopen off to motorized traffic every Sat in addition to Sun to allow people to walk the streets freely.

9. Leona Florentino House

This ancestral dwelling trouble solid houses the Provincial Tourism Center, the Vigan Heritage Commission in addition to Café Leona, a favorite culinary destination. Here local in addition to unusual visitors tin can teach information from the friendly staff of the centre regarding the best places to visit, things to purchase in addition to do, every bit good every bit how to teach around. They’ll equip you lot amongst maps in addition to brochures to arm you lot for your Vigan adventure.

The nutrient is ready buffet-style in addition to customers select from the spread which dish they would similar to club past times pointing their finger at it. This is the Filipino agency of ordering nutrient which is called turo-turo. Visitors are encouraged to club the vegetable dishes that Ilokano cuisine is known for, every bit good every bit the Vigan bagnet (fried pork, sun-dried prior to cooking) in addition to longganisa (a garlicky sausage). Café Leona also serves Italian food. They take away maintain a wood-fired oven where they create their pizza. H5N1 novelty nutrient item inwards their card is the pinakbet pizza, which fuses Ilocano in addition to Italian flavor in addition to cooking. Visitors are advised to accompany their nutrient either amongst the trouble solid H2O ice tea or a travail of the local basi wine.

10. Mira Hills Municipal Ecological Park

Mira Hills is a favorite picnic spot because it is filled amongst trees in addition to is dwelling trouble solid to some species of birds kept inwards an aviary. There is also a swimming puddle in addition to amphitheater at the green to tempt visitors to take away maintain to a greater extent than than but a walk in addition to a placidity sit down nether a tree. It houses the H2O reservoir that has supplied the city’s H2O needs.

II. Ilocos Norte

1. Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel

The sandy beach spans 2 kilometers. It also offers the alone 5-star hotel inwards northern Philippines sprawling over 77 hectares of land. It is located inwards Laoag City in addition to is a 10-minutes’ drive from the Laoag International Airport.

2. Paoay Church

Completed inwards 1710, the church building is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted past times the enormous buttresses on the sides in addition to dorsum of the building. It is declared every bit a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine authorities inwards 1973 in addition to a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective grouping of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

3. Marcos Mausoleum in addition to Museum

The museum shows both memorabilia storage in addition to the electrical flow resting house of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. The large in addition to solemn mausoleum contains the glass-encased coffin inwards which Marcos' embalmed torso has been on populace display since presently later his remains were brought dwelling trouble solid inwards 1993.

4. St. William's Cathedral & Sinking Bell Tower

The church building is known for its Italian Renaissance design in addition to it’s Sinking Bell Tower, which sinks into the footing at a charge per unit of measurement of an inch a year. It also has an unusual two-storey façade, supported past times ii pairs of columns on each side of the arched entrance. The go past times of the façade holds a recessed niche that showcases the epitome of the city's patron saint, San Guillermo el Ermitaño. It has windows made from capiz with wrought iron screens. It is popularly known for its Sinking Bell Tower.

5. Museo Ilocos Norte

The museum is nicknamed, “Gameng,” from the Iloco give-and-take pregnant treasure. It symbolizes the wealth of Ilocos Norte. By imbuing the Ilocanos amongst pride inwards their local culture, it showcases the varied ethnicity in addition to multi-faceted cultural heritage of a sturdy, hardworking people known for their industry, resourcefulness in addition to loyalty. There is also a souvenir store that offers native products in addition to handicraft of Ilocos Norte, in addition to a few books in addition to other publications written most the province.

6. Bacarra Church & Bell Tower Ruins

Bacarra Church is a Roman Catholic Church nether the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. The church building was originally founded past times the Augustinians, who dedicated it to St. Andrew. The church building was declared a National Historical Landmark past times the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in addition to a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. It is known for its centuries-old, domeless, leaning bell tower.

The Bacarra church building is famous for its centuries-old, domeless or "beheaded" belfry known as Torre di Bacarra. The construction stands iii stories in addition to 50 metres (160 ft) high. The master copy bell tower, which is detached from the primary church building edifice in addition to made of coral bricks, was erected inwards 1828. However, periodic earthquakes from 1931 to 1971 caused the dome to start leaning. The entire dome was toppled past times a 7.8-magnitude temblor on August 17, 1983. Restoration of the church building was completed inwards 1984 at a cost of 3 meg pesos. The tower is also known every bit the "Acrobatic Bell Tower of Bacarra”.

7. Salt Making inwards Pasuquin

Salt making is also constituent of their livelihood. There are roadside stalls selling bags of tabular array salt in addition to at that spot are provincial buses that oftentimes halt at these stalls to purchase salt. The tabular array salt H2O is pumped in addition to filtered past times pipes from the beach to the burning furnace. The saltwater is cooked upwardly until the the liquid is gone amongst alone the tabular array salt crystals left. The crystals are poured over tabular array salt beds in addition to left to dry out past times exposure to the sun.

8. La Virgin Milagrosa Shrine of Badoc

Badoc houses the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the La Virgen Milagrosa. History traces the life-sized statue to Nagasaki, Japan. It was sent floating inwards the sea past times missionaries operating inwards cloak-and-dagger inwards Nippon (for fearfulness of persecution during the Tokugawa Regime), along amongst the Miraculous Statue of the Black Nazarene (Sinait's Santo Cristo Milagroso). It was get-go found past times local fishermen inwards the shores of Barangay Dadalaquiten, on the boundary betwixt Sinait in addition to Badoc, inwards the yr 1620. Only fishermen from Sinait were able to motility the Statue of the Black Nazarene. The fishermen from Badoc, unable to motility the Black Nazarene, were able to motility the La Virgen Milagrosa that came amongst it--which was, inwards turn, unable to endure moved past times the fishermen from Sinait. They took the statues to their respective towns, thence becoming their patron saints. Today The La Virgen Milagrosa is enshrined at the Badoc Church.

9. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte that was established during the Spanish Colonial period inwards the Philippines. It was get-go lit on March 30, 1892, in addition to is ready high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to canvas by. After over 100 years, it even then functions every bit a welcoming beacon to the international ships that teach inwards the Philippine Archipelago from the due north in addition to guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.

The lite marks the northwestern-most signal in Luzon. The northeastern-most being Cape Engaño Lighthouse on Palaui Island,Santa Ana, Cagayan. The 66-foot-tall (20 m) octagonal stone tower, the most prominent construction inwards the vicinity, tin can endure seen from every bit far away every bit Pasuquin town inwards the due south and Bangui on the eastward on a clear day. Contrary to pop belief, it is non the highest-elevated or tallest lighthouse inwards the Philippines. But the highest elevated even then master copy in addition to active Castilian era lighthouse inwards the country. Corregidor Lighthouse is higher at over 600 feet (180 m), in addition to amid the Castilian Colonial lighthouses, the tower of Cape Melville Lighthouse is the tallest at xc feet (27 m). In Mindoro Strait, the of late erected modern tower at the Apo Reef Light Station rises to a peak of 110 feet (34 m).

10. Bangui Windmills

Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The air current farm uses xx units of 70-metre (230 ft) high VestasV82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a unmarried row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea.

Phase I of the NorthWind ability projection inwards Bangui Bay consists of xv air current turbines, each capable of producing electricity upwardly to a maximum capacity of 1.65 MW, for a full of 24.75 MW. The xv on-shore turbines are spaced 326 metres (1,070 ft) apart, each lxx metres (230 ft) high, amongst 41 meters (135 ft) long blades, amongst a rotor diameter of 82 metres (269 ft) in addition to a wind-swept surface area of 5,281 foursquare metres (56,840 sq ft).

Phase II, was completed on August 2008, in addition to added five to a greater extent than air current turbines amongst the same capacity, in addition to brought the full capacity to 33 MW. All xx turbines depict a graceful arc reflecting the shoreline of Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea.

12. Sarrat's Sta. Monica Church

The Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known every bit the Sarrat Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church building inwards the oblacion, Brgy. San Leandro inwards Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was built inwards 1779 in addition to was originally known every bit San Miguel Church. The Sta. Monica Church complex includes the convent connected to the church building past times an elevated three-level brick stairway.

The parish church building of Sta. Monica is renowned every bit the largest church building inwards the whole Ilocos Norte province, most specially the length of the nave. The church building is made from scarlet bricks built inwards Earthquake Baroque in addition to Neoclassical architecture. Inside the sanctuary, the ceiling is a magnificent framework of wooden roof trusses, which reveal to but about 480 logs of hardwood molave, 75% of which dates dorsum to the 18th century.

12. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation