“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Travelling is the most enjoyable thing that you can do while you are young and able. and I can say that travelling is the most exciting part in my life, I’m travelling around the Philippines but there is only one destination that I love most.
last month I’ve been searching where to go to spend my birthday, I’ve been searching top destinations here in the Philippines to spend my birthday but I come up to go to ILOCOS. I’ve doubt at first because its too far away to visit. I’ve read several blogs about the place then I found out that there is Hidden Beauty about the Place, I’m always a solo traveler or a backpacker, but this time I think I should need a travel agency to help me to go there or availing a package to make my vacation a Hassle-Free since it was my birthday though it was risky due to some bogus that can be found in the internet or online. it was difficult to find travel agency, there is a lot of promo tour package to choose from, but I’ve seen a travel agency that offers cheap package to Ilocos, I’ve sending several messages for inquiry, they respond quickly and made my reservation to them. they send me the itinerary and I’ve made a down-payment then they send me the Booking confirmation.
On the day of our departure I arrived at the pick up area in MOA, on the time of our departure the coordinator contacted me to go to the assigned van for the seating arrangement I’ve been assigned in the last row of the van and it is okay because of their comfortable seats reserve for me. we’re 12 person in a van that’s why we’re not so crowded.
Then we depart going to ilocos at 9pm, there were stop over for coffee and rest for a while. I really feel the excitement while on the road going to Ilocos that’s why I cant sleep,
as we arrived in Vigan at 5am it is still dark and early for us to have our breakfast, the coordinator take us to Calle Crisologo for picture taking as part of the itinerary,
1ST DAY
Majestic View of Calle Crisologo at Night, It takes us back in time AMAZING! It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines where its structures remained intact, and is well-known for its cobblestone streets and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine and Oriental building designs and construction, with colonial European architecture.
There is a lot beautiful tourist spot in ilocos where you can never forget, our First day In Ilocos was indeed a very tiring yet full of excitement, coz every tourist spot are captivating and beautiful, we’ve been to several churches like the
PAOAY CHURCH or also known as the St. Augustine church that was built on the year 1649-1710
Paoay Church is the Roman Catholic church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.
after the churches etc. we feel so toxicated and tired we cannopt wait for the time to check in at the hotel but the coordinator takes us to Paoay Sand dunes which is also part of the tour at first we’re scared and i cant decide, I’ve try it and I payed P500 for the 4×4 ride, I should say that this was the most exciting and extreme experience part of the tour which i can never forget, breath-taking experince ever.
Overlooking View at Paoay Sand Dunes
4×4 ride in Paoay Sand Dunes
Malacaniang Of The North
Room of Senator Bong Bong Marcos inside of Malacaniang Of The North
A Replica of Study Room of late President Ferdinand Marcos in Malacaniang palace, where can be found at Malacaniang Of the North In Paoay Ilocos Norte
Rafaels Restaurant
Rafaels Restaurant
after a long day of the tour we’ve taken our lunch at Rafaels Restaurant where you can eat some of the Ilocano food, like the Poqui-Poqui (an Ilocano dish made of eggplants, tomatoes, onions, and eggs. It’s so easy to make and is simply delicious.) they also have menu and ready to eat food that are available near the counter.
they 
We’re so tired and we need to rest in our accommodation because cannot proceed to another spot, the name of the Hotel that were going to sleep for 3days and 2 nights is the paty garden which can be found in Laoag and it is recommended for those who travel via Plane( Cebu Pac or PAL) since it is very near in the airport, it has spacious and comfortable Rooms, with WIFI access, Private CR, Tv.
Standard Room of Paty Garden
Standard Room of Paty Garden
2ND Day
First day was a very tiring yet we enjoy, Ive wake up with a smile 🙂 because it was my second day in Ilocos and im ready again for the tour, taking my breakfast is important in order to have an energy for the next adventure.
This time I’m very excited coz its more on water adventure like swimming in the Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud
Prestine clear water at Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud
It has a clear water and powder-like sand, around the blue lagoon you can also “PALUTUAN” or “DAMPA STYLE” for lunch etc. next to blue lagoon is the Bantay-Abot Cave.
Bantay Abot Cave means “a mountain with a hole.” It is an exceptional formation embracing the clear blue sea. The whole sight of the little mountain is an image of a green whale resting ashore.
Aside from the very popular beach in Pagudpud aThe Bantay Abot Cave located along the shore of the little town of Baloi in Ilocos Norte. This interesting geological formation is not really a cave but a rocky hill that resulted from an earthquake that happened so many years ago. Around the place you can also find the Patapat Viaduct that lies along the coastal area of pagudpud wherein it connect the Ilocos Norte and Cagayan province.
The Patapat Viaduct is a viaduct at the municipality of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, a coastal resort town on the northernmost tip of Luzon Island in the Philippines. The bridge is elevated 31 meters over sea level. It is a concrete coastal bridge 1.3 km long and connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley Region. It rises along the town’s coastal mountains, which is the starting point of the Cordillera Mountain Range that snakes through Northern Luzon. It is the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines.
Another one in our list to go to is the kapurpurawan Rock formation. people are not allowed to go near nor climb the formation anymore because the caretakers said some former visitors have tried to vandalize the place. So they built a vantage point to view the formation and still get good pictures.
The Kapurpurawan rock formation is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces. Burgos is located on the northwestern tip of Ilocos Norte.
KAPURPUWAN ROCK FORMATION Kapurpurawan is an Ilocano word for kaputi-putian ( white)
We also visited the famous 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 in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic CAPE BOJEADOR where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town.
Bangui Wind Farm is a windfarm located in Bangui Ilocos Norte, it compose of 20 giant Vestas that measures 70 meters high (Height) and its blade is 42 meters and its rotor diameter of 82. It lies along the bay of Bangui Bay facing the south China Sea, the place is quite interesting because the windfarm is one of their source of electricity in the place.
Bangui Wind Farm is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea. Phase I of the NorthWind power project in Bangui Bay consists of 15 wind turbines, each capable of producing electricity up to a maximum capacity of 1.65 MW, for a total of 24.75 MW. The 15 on-shore turbines are spaced 326 metres (1,070 ft) apart, each 70 metres (230 ft) high, with 41 metres (135 ft) long blades, with a rotor diameter of 82 metres (269 ft) and a wind-swept area of 5,281 square metres (56,840 sq ft). Phase II, was completed on August 2008, and added 5 more wind turbines with the same capacity, and brought the total capacity to 33 MW. All 20 turbines describes a graceful arc reflecting the shoreline of Bangui Bay, facing the West Philippine Sea. -*WIKIPEDIA
Laoag Cathedral, canonically known as Saint William Cathedral is a church in Laoag City. The current church was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel.
The first church of Vigan was made of wood and thatch when the Augustinians established the parish in 1580. The foundations of the current church was laid on 1612. It was damaged by fire in 1843 and was restored from 1873 to 1880 by the Obras Publicas under Engineer Antonio de la Camara and Father Santiago Muniz. The church was occupied by the revolutionists in 1898, and by the American forces in 1899. The ownership of the church was contested by the Aglipayans from the Roman Catholic from which the Catholic church won ownership.The church facade was renovated by adding lime plaster in 1936. It became a cathedral when the Diocese of Laoag was created in 1961. The church was again renovated from 1971 to 1972. It was slightly damaged by an earthquake in 1983. *WIKIPEDIA
When you are in Ilocos dont miss to try their specialty which is the mouth-watering EMPANADA. they say that you’venever been top Ilocos if you havent tried to taste their famous Empanada in Laoag and Pagudpud.
our second day of roaming around Ilocos norte is again satisfying because of the beauitiuful spot from Blue lagoon, bantay abot cave, patapat bridge, Bangui Windmills, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Laoag Church and its Sinking Bell Tower. the tour wouldn’t be complete without tasting its Empanada. Day has just ended and get to hotel to freshen up and recharge for the 3rd day.
last day of our tour, we check out at the hotel and get back to vigan for pasalubong shopping along the Famous
CALLE CRISOLOGO that was named after Florentino S. Crisologo. there was alo t of stores along calle crisologo and also you can find their fdamous Restaurant that serves authentic Ilocano food, wait for 30-45 mins for the serving time, its worth the wait, try their Poqui-Poqui, Pinakbet na may Bagnet etc.
All I can say that I didn’t regret to travel alone going to ILOCOS because the beautiful tourist spot, hospitable Ilocano people when you are there it seems that you are at home because of their accommodation to the tourist. 3 days 2 nights is not enough to explore ilocos because there are some hidden beauty in Ilocos which was discovered by some. I can share to you the package and itinerary that I’ve availed in a travel agency for your reference if you want to travel to Ilocos for you to not to get lost in the place.:) I gonna say that its gonna more Fun in the Philippines and Its More Fun exploring the North., 🙂
3D2N Ilocos Tour Package
Day 00
Departure MOA
Day 01
Calle Crisologo
Bantay Bell Tower
Baluarte Ni Chavit
Marcos Mosoleum
Paoay Church
Paoay Lake
Malacanang of the North
Sand Dunes
Shrinking Bell Tower
Norte Capitol Building
Juan Luna Shrine
Bacarra Church and Museaum
Day 02
Blue Lagoon Beach
Patapat Viaduct
Bantay Abot Cave
Paraiso Ni Anton
Cape Bojeador
Kapurpurawan Rock formation
Bangui Windmills
Kabigan Falls
Day 03
Vigan Cathedral
Plaza Salcedo
Calle Crisologo (Pasalubong Shopping)
Crisologo Mansion
Burnayan.
if you want to know more on my travel to Ilocos I can also share to you my expenses or the tour package that I’ve availed in a travel agency, you can reach me at
Globe: 09273071736
Smart: 09182029584
Globe: 09173345206
Landline: 046-4240842
Viajero Gabrielle Travel and Tour 