We took an early lunch near the Sinking Bell Tower and we asked around and commissioned a tricycle driver for P500 for our Laog-Paoay tour. Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed surfing in the sand dunes of Paoay.

The next day, we were in Pagudpud to enjoy the white beaches and the beautiful scenery. Afterwards, we went to Bangui windmills and Kapurpurwan rock formation and off to La Union for the surf swells.

We will always admire the simple pleasures at these laid-back towns.

Ilocos Attractions  

Paoay Church

 Our first stop is one of the baroque churches in the Philippines declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Herencia Pinakbet Pizza 

We tried the Pinakbet Pizza at Herencia’s and it’s really tasty! Filled with Ilocano favorite vegetable mix ingredients: eggplant, string bean, okra, tomato and green pepper—this gourmet pizza served with mozzarella cheese makes up a unique gastronomic experience. Plus who would have thought you can add bagoong (fermented minute shrimp) as toppings…no need for hot sauce to complete the day!

I remember it being featured in one of the local travel shows. The restaurant is located near in front of Paoay Church with a vintage ambiance.

Malacanang of the North

It is the former two-storey residence mansion of the Marcos family and this is one of the best examples of old Filipino-Spanish house design. It is overlooking the serene Paoay Lake. Inside, you can find Ferdinand Marcos’ office with shelves of books including the books he published, old-fashioned beds, paintings, old elegant furniture and other interesting collection pieces from the 70’s.

Click to enlarge photos:

Malacanang of the North.

Malacanang of the North. with Paoay Lake at the background.

Inside one of the rooms.

A painting of Paoay Church.

Collection.

President Marcos’ Office.

Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel

Nope, we didn’t stay here; we can’t afford it. It is a luxury resort just a few minutes ride from Malacañang of the North. At first I thought it was a museum because it looks vintage. We just surveyed the area.

Sand Dunes at Paoay

If you want to treat yourself an adrenaline pumping experience then sand boarding at Paoay Sand Dunes is worth a try. It costs P2500.00 for a 4×4 truck tour. The roller-coaster ride at the jeepney back while standing was a thrill. The guides will teach you how to surf the sands. I was pretty stoked. Also, the view was breathtaking–I love watching the waves crashing onto the beach.

Marcos Mausoleum

The museum house beside it was closed during our visit but we did wait together with other tourists to enter the mausoleum and viewed the well-preserved body of the late president surrounded by flower and shell ornaments. There is no entrance fee and you are not allowed to take pictures inside.

Beside the mausoleum is a local restaurant, Johnny Moon Cafe, known to serve some really appetizing Ilocano dishes. We did not dine there as we can’t handle eating another meal in the middle of the afternoon.

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After the mausoleum visit, we asked our tricycle guide to take to the bus station for Pagudpud.

By 5:45pm, we rode the mini-bus and arrived around 8:20pm. We texted Ma’am Cathy that we have arrived and she then had a tricycle driver picked us up at the bus stop and took us to Cathy’s Homestay around 8:45pm.

We ate the left-over pinakbet pizza we bought at Herencia’s for dinner–it still tastes good even if it’s already cold but guess we were just hungry.

Cathy’s Homestay 

The rent was for P1,000 per night and you can ask her to cook you breakfast for P80-P100. You can contact her at +639 919-5716680. She’s very responsive to our inquiries.

The next early morning, we surveyed the area and found a lovely view of the Bangui windmills.

Also found many other hostels in the area and a really lovely beach.

Saud Beach

We took a quick dip in the clear turquoise waters of Saud Beach early morning and after lunch. The sand really feels good on your feet and the great thing was that we were the only ones around like we own the beach. I heard that during monsoon season, you can surf the waves here in Saud and in Blue Lagoon nearby. This makes it a perfect beach!

By 7am, we started our Pagudpud tour for P1300 which I think was a bit expensive considering that we still need to pay some entrance fees to the sites which we weren’t clearly told earlier. We toured Pagudpud by tricycle with Kuya Raph (+639 291462505) as recommended by Cathy.

Pagudpud Arch

There is nothing really interesting with this site except that it is a sign that you have crossed the boundary to Pagudpud.

Kabigan Falls

We trekked through the rice farms and small rivers going to this falls around 40 minutes. Not really as interesting as the Kawasan Falls of Cebu, but you can have a quick dip on its cool waters. This is a good way to give yourself a time to sweat out. P10/person entrance fee and P100 guide fee.

Patapat Viaduct

It has a nice view of the winding road near the coast and mountainside.

Bantay Abot Cave

Not really a cave but has a cave-like hole with a great sea view and cool breeze. They said it used to be a small cave that created an ‘underground sea’ but a strong earthquake destroyed parts of it. I think I have my best photos here. Thanks Dorothy for taking the nice shots. P25 entrance fee.

Click to enlarge photos:

Bantay Abot Cave

Bantay Abot Cave

Hanna’s beach

They have a long strip of white sand beach where many hostels are located nearby.

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 Other spots we visited in Pagudpud

These are not really spectacular sites and not really worth the extra fee for the tour. But if you have extra time, why not tour around and just enjoy.

Agua Grande  – a flowing water on rocks to the sea. P25 entrance fee.
Dos Hermanos – a couple rock formation. P10 entrance fee.
Timmangtang Rock – just a big boulder known as “Lovers Rock” with grass and small bushes growing on it.
Paraiso ni Anton  – a small grotto.

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Bangui Windmills

The Bangui Wind Farm is definitely worth a visit. I love the sea breeze blowing through my hair and the view of the giant wind turbines. There is a P50 entrance fee and you also get a chance to ride a pony for P20.

Parola ng Cape Bojeador / Burgos Lighthouse

It was a nice visit to this historical 120-year-old lighthouse where we enjoyed taking photos. We met a young couple who had their prenup shots here. From the tower, you can have a view of the South China Sea.

Burgos Watch Tower

Dorothy.

Kapurpurwan Rock Formation

We went here around 3PM and arrived quarter to 4pm and we rented another tricycle for P300.00 and pay a P20 entrance fee. It was not part of our P1,300 tour. We had a great time enjoying the view and taking pictures.

After Kapurpurwan, we waited for almost two hours for the bus in the highway that it was already dark before we were able to get on the bus to La Union. Buses usually come by 30 minutes to an hour gap only but they said that after 5pm you’re going to wait longer. Thanks to our tricycle driver who stayed to accompany us while waiting.

La Union Surfing

Monaliza Beach Resort (La Union)

We arrived a few minutes after midnight at Monaliza Beach Resort in San Juan, La Union which wasn’t really our plan. We should have arrived around 9pm-10pm.  Luckily, the daughter of the owner, Mona, was kind enough to entertain us that late, we were really sorry to have disturbed her good night’s sleep.

The next day, I spent half of the day surfing before heading back to Manila. It was the most enjoyable among the activities for this trip. There was euphoria. I just want to stay all day catching waves; but I can’t, I got to catch our flight home, too. By noon, we packed our bags and rode a jeepney to San Fernando for lunch and hopped on the bus going to Manila with a P415 fare. [Check out my La Union surf experience blog post]

Our Northern Luzon trip was tiring, but it was definitely an awesome long trip. Beautiful Northern Luzon!

Ilocos Itinerary

Here’s our travel itinerary from Cebu-Manila to Ilocos Region:

Day 0 Manila to Ilocos Bus Ride

11:45 Arrival NAIA. 1
2:00 Took a free bus ride to Resorts World Manila for lunch.
16:30 ‘Pasay to Laoag’ Bus Ride. Stop at Vigan.

Day 1 Vigan Tour

02:15 Vigan Terminal
04:00 Check-in Hostel
08:30 Breakfast.
09:15 Tour at Calle Crisologo
11:00 Started Vigan Tour
11:30 Baluarte
12:45 Hidden Garden
13:30 Pagburnayan Pottery
14:15 Bell Tower
15:15 Mansion Syquia
16:00 River Tour
16:45 Museum Crisologo. Other Museums were closed at that time and it was raining hard so we ended our tour here.
17:15 Back at the Transient Homestay. Rest.
19:00 Dinner at Café Leona
20:15 Calesa Night Tour
21:00 Back at the Homestay

Day 2  Laoag Tour

5:00 Wake up Call
6:00 Breakfast.
6:45 Partas Bus Terminal
8:20 Long Waiting Time
11:00 Laoag
11:20 Lunch
11:50 Start Tour
12:20 Malacanang of the North
13:00 Paoay Church. Herencia Restaurant.
4:00 Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center
15:30 Paoay Sand Dunes
16:45 Fort Ilocandia
17:15 Back to Laoag
17:40 ETD Bus Terminal to Pagudpud
18:00 ETD Laoag
20:30 ETA Pagudpud
20:45 ETA Cathy’s Homestay
21:30 Lights Off

Day 3 Pagudpud Tour

6:30 Wake Up Call. Check the sunrise at Pagudpud Beach a good 3 min walk from our Homestay
7:45 Start Tour
8:10 ETA Jump off Point Kabigan Falls.
8:45 Arrival at Falls. Picture²
9:10 Back to Registration Point
9:20 ETD to Patapat Viaduct
9:50 ETA Patapat Viaduct
10:00 Paraiso ni Anton. Grotto
10:15 Agua Grande
10:40 Bantay Abot. Door View.
11:10 ETD
11:20 ETA Hanna’s Beach. Blue Lagoon
11:30 Dos Hermanos/Hangtang Rock
12:00 Lunch 12:30 Back at the Homestay. Rest
13:30 Saud White Beach
14:30 ETD Cathy’s Homestay.Packed bags
15:00 Pagudpud Arch. Wala Ra
15:25 Bangui Windmills
16:00 Parola ng Cape Bojeador/Burgos Lighthouse
16:40 Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. P20 Registration Fee
17:45 Back to the Registration Point, Wait for Bus.
19:30 Finally Rode a Bus going to Manila so we can stop at San Juan.
00:15 ETA San Juan La Union
00:30 Sleeep!

Day 4 La Union Surfing

08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Surf Surf Surf
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Ride Jeep to San Jose, La Union
15:30 Wait for Bus to Manila
8:30-9:00 Manila
10:30 Sleep at NAIA

Day 5 Going Home

03:00 Check In Flight
04:00 Flight to Cebu
05:00 Cebu
06:00 Home Sweet Home, Back to the Everyday Life

Download PDF version of Ilocos Backpacking Itinerary

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