Biyaheng Ilocandia

This travel is one of my favorite. A must visit for all the travelers. My Biyaheng Ilocandia happened last year, September 23-25, 2017. This is my actually my birthday treat for my travel buddy.

Going to Ilocandia is really not an easy travel. It will consume around 10 hours if you're from Metro Manila. Good thing here in Ilocandia is that there are a lot of historical places to visit, beaches, and also activities.

Our first stop in Ilocandia is Vigan. It is a component city and the capital of Ilocos Sur. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is one of the few Hispanic town left in the Philippines. In May 2015, Vigan was officially recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders Cities of the World.

Vigan City, one of the New 7 Wonders Cities of the World.

Calle Crisologo also known as Mestizo District is a major attraction of the province. It features cobbled street and old Spanish houses. If you want to experience the Philippine Spanish colonial time, a ride of calesa our walk in Calle Crisologo is a must. You can enjoy your visit here during day because you have the opportunity to shop Vigan's best products. A walk through is very magical from night till dawn. The street was named after Mena Pecson-Crisologo, one of the most respected sons of Ilocos region.

Calle Crisologo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Walking distance to the Calle Crisologo is Vigan Cathedral, canonically known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul. Its original architectural design is Baroque that has been modified by the Ilocanos to strengthen the structure against earthquake. This is known as Earthquake Baroque. You can also see influences of neo-Gothic, Pseuo-Romanesque, and Chinese craftsmanship.

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul a.k.a Vigan Cathedral

After that, we took a ride for 5 minutes going to Hidden Garden of Vigan. It's not just a garden but a restaurant as well. We had our breakfast there, and there are a lot of food to choose from. You can order here the well know Bagnet and Vigan Longganisa. After breakfast, you can visit its garden.

The Hidden Garden of Vigan, a restaurant as well.

After breakfast, a 20-30 minutes ride from Vigan City we reached, Balurte. It is a private zoo owned by Chavit Singsong. The zoo is open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 6 PM. There are picnic area available for free. You can also visit the zoo with no charge.

Baluarte, zoo privately owned by Chavit Singson.

Other attraction that you can see in the zoo is the Safari Gallery. It is a trophy room which features the preserved remains of the animals Chavit Singson hunted in various parts of the world. Singson intended the gallery for the people of Ilocos so they could see exotic animals without going to Manila or outside the country.

Safari Gallery at Baluarte.

Safari Gallery as trophy room which features preserve remains of animals Chavit Singson hunted.

Preserve skin of an alligator.

Preserve remains of a Tiger and a Lion in Safari Gallery.

Our next destination was Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of the late and former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. 

La Paz Sand Dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte is know for its extreme 4 x 4 ride and sand boarding. Sand dunes is a must experience for those who are up for extreme adventure. The idea of this is to ride a 4 x 4, stand on the back, hold tight as you can and survive until you finish the trail. There will be a waiver that you need to sign prior the ride. Take note of this, there are no harness, knee/elbow pads and even helmet. That makes it extreme. The trail is not that easy, there are a lot of bumpy areas and big slopes that you need to passed. Driver will always make a sudden stop at the edge of slope before dropping that will sure make you shout.

Riding 4 x 4 with my fellow travelers.

After the 4 x 4 ride, the driver will drove you to the Sand Boarding area. You can do sand boarding in sitting and standing position. The slope here is same as the slope that you passed in the 4 x 4 ride. Be extra careful again because the are no protective gears provided. It is easier to do in sitting position which a lot of travelers did. Sand Dunes Experience (4 x 4 ride and sand boarding) is Php 2,000.00 good for 5 pax. 4 x 4 ride can carry just 4 to 5 pax only. 

Sand Boarding area of La Paz Sand Dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

It's my chance to try the sand boarding in sitting position.

It was lunch time when we're done at the La Paz San Dunes. We traveled for 20 minutes going to Rafael's Restaurant, Batac City where we had our lunch. They offer here authentic Ilocano food.

Garlic Fried Chicken and Bagnet Kare-Kare for lunch at Rafael's Restaurant in  Batac, Ilocos Norte.

We're done with our lunch at around 1 PM, we headed then going to our next destination, the St. Augustine Church a.k.a. Paoay Church. It is declared as National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine Government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

St. Augustine Church a.k.a Paoay Church, declared as National Cultural Treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The altar of St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

From St. Augustine Churh, Paoay, just 30 - 45 minutes we reached the Malacanang of the North ( Malacanang ti Amianan in Ilocano). It is a presidential museum in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. It was the residence of the family of Ferdinand E. Marcos when he was the president of the Philippines.

The facade of Malacanang of the North facing the lake.

Beautiful painting of the former fist lady Imelda Marcos and me on the side.

Photo Frames of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos display in Malacanang of the North.  

After that, we headed to Laoag City. The capital of the province of Ilocos Norte. We stayed there over the night. There are a lot of affordable hotels to choose from based on your budget in the city.

On our second day, we first visited the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse a.k.a. Burgos Lighthouse. It is an hour travel from Laoag City. It is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It stands on the top of the hill (Vigia de Nagparitan), over looking Cape Bojeador. After over 100 years, the lighthouse is still functioning and serves ships that enter Philippine Archipelago from the north.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse a.k.a Burgos Light house, a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

The other side of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

The over looking Cape Bojeador Lighthouse on the top of Vigia de Nagpiritan Hill.

For an hour and a half ride, we reached our second destination for the day, the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. It is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is know for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculptured by the different oceanic weather forces. 

One of the famous Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Me having a photo opportunity with one of Kapurpurawan Rock Formation.

Our third destination was the Bangui Windmills. A 45 minutes travel from Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. It is a wind farm in Bagui, Ilocos Norte. Wind mills are arranged on a single row stretching a nice kilometer shoreline of Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea. There are also souvenir shops here with affordable prices. 

The Bangui Windmills of Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

Patapat Viaduct is located in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, a coastal town on the northernmost part of Luzon. It connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley. It is elevated 31 meters above sea level. The bridge is considered as the fourth longest bridge in the country.

Patapat Viaduct as the fourth longest bridge in the country.

After the Patapat Viaduct, we had our lunch in restaurant along the way. Just 5 minutes from the restaurant, we reached the Bantay Abot Cave. Bantay Abot literally means in Ilocano "mountain with a hole".Although it is not a mountain nor even a cave, it is more a huge rock. Its beach is very rocky and waves are very strong, that is why it is not ideal for swimming. The Bantay Abot Cave is ideal for photo opportunity and photo shoots.

Bantay Abot Cave literally means "mountain with the hole".

Our last destination for the second day is the Maira Ira Cove of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. It is also known as the Blue Lagoon because of its waters' bluish tint. The water is very calm where you will absolutely love to swim. We stayed here for about two hours then we headed back to Laoag City for the night.

Maira Ira Cove a.k.a. Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

On our third and last day, from Laoag City, we headed to Bantay, Ilocos Norte to visit the Saint Agustine Parish Church a.k.a. Bantay Church. It is also know as the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. The miraculous image of Virgen Mary, crowned as the patroness of Ilocandia.

St. Augustine Parish Church a.k.a. Bantay Church.

The old historic belfry of the church known as the Bantay Tower, which serve as the watchtower for the pirates back in the Spanish Colonial Era, gave the town its name - bantay (meaning to guard).

The Bantay Belfry known as Bantay Tower.

Bantay Tower serves as the watch tower for the pirates back in the Spanish Colonial Era.

Now it's your turn to personally discover the wonders of Ilocandia. "It's really more fun in the Phippines,"

Should you have questions, please feel free to contact me and let's talk, Thank you.