Ilocos is the Philippines' first region, encompassing the island of Luzon's northwest coast. Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte are the most visited provinces in Ilocos due to their historic sites, sand dunes, windmills, and beaches.
How to get there?
Based on our experience, you can save a lot of money by joining a tour rather than doing DIY in Ilocos because the tourist spots are spread out and commuting would be difficult and time-consuming.
This is not sponsored, but I highly recommend booking a tour with EC5 Tours. They are accommodating, and they require no down payment. Or you can trust Klook as your go-to app!
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DAY 0
The meeting point was at MOA, and the departure time was around 9 p.m. We had plenty of time because we arrived early, so we went to the mall to get some food and then strolled along the seaside. Following that, we met with the driver and waited for other joiners. Then, it was a 9-hour comfortable journey for me because the van is large and the seats are comfortable, so I just slept the entire time, but tall people may still find it uncomfortable.
Hidden Garden (6:00am-8:00am)
We arrived early in the morning and rushed to a restaurant without taking a bath because the tour began immediately.
Note: They usually stop at very expensive restaurants or carenderias but you could look for cheaper alternatives.
Vigan (8:00am-10:00am)
I only saw Vigan in textbooks when I was in school, so seeing it in person is pretty amazing. However, Vigan's historical houses are only on one straight road; on other roads, the houses have already been renovated, but it's all about the history of the place. Since it is one of the few remaining Spanish colonial towns in the Philippines with its original colonial architecture still standing.
We went to Vigan early in the morning, which allowed us to enjoy and take photos because tourists aren't as plentiful in the morning. We couldn't return during the night because we were so far away from Vigan. This was so sad since we badly want to see the place during the night, but it's totally fine because my overall experience in Vigan was excellent.
Bantay Bell Tower (10:00am-12:00pm)
Bantay Tower was originally built as a watch tower against the enemies in the 1590s.
We wanted to go inside the tower, but we couldn't because it could collapse at any time. So we just stayed outside and took some pictures.
Baluarte Zoo (12:00pm-1:00pm)
I had never been to a zoo before, so I was overjoyed to see various types of wild animals for the first time in my life. If you bring your kids, they will have as much fun as I did. Furthermore, even though the zoo is large, the tour was easy because they have golf carts that take you to different areas.
Paoay Church (1:00pm-3:00)
Paoay Church is located in Ilocos Norte. It has been standing for 313 years and is made of coral stones and bricks. Isn't it amazing?
We sat outside the church for about an hour and ate empanada with bagnet. This type of empanada is a popular Ilocos delicacy that you should try. It contains bagnet, green papaya, mung beans, shredded carrots, and an egg.
Sand Dunes (3:00pm-5:00pm)
The Sand Dunes is a well-known and personal favorite attraction in Ilocos. It is in Paoay, facing the Pacific Ocean.
We passed through a series of ridges on this 4x4 ride, and the scenery was stunning.
Our drive was also a little insane so we had a great time and excitement!
After our 4x4 ride, we went to Sandboarding.
He was raring to go on his epic sandboarding adventure. But read on to find out what happened to him next. LOL!
I was just having a chill sandboarding ride. I didn't try standing because I was not ready on getting sand all over my face!
DAY 2
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse (8:00am-9:00am)
Being able to walk through this cultural heritage structure to help sailors navigate their ships at night is incredible.
You can take a tricycle or simply walk to the light house and enjoy the scenery. We chose to walk because we want to enjoy the moment and the scenery.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation (9:00am-10:00am)
The rock formations in this area are stunning.
We were awestruck seeing those big rocks! I'm out of words!
Take note that in this location,
•You'll have to walk for about 10-15 minutes from the parking lot to get to the actual spot.
•There are a few small stalls selling food and beverages.
•There is no shade to rest in and it will be extremely hot on sunny days or during the summer, so bring your sunblock and umbrellas, but if you forget to bring one, there are locals renting umbrellas for 5.00 to 10.00 php.
Bangui Windmills (10:00am-11:00am)
Bangui Windmills are considered an iconic symbol of Ilocos.
Another location that I'd only seen in textbooks before, so seeing them up close was mindblowing. Furthermore, these windmills are enormous in person; I assumed they were normal sizes.
Patapat Viaduct (11:00am-1:00pm)
This viaduct is a 1.3 km coastal bridge located in the northernmost tip of Luzon.
We arrived in this area around noon, so it was a little frustrating that we couldn't go far from where we had taken this photo because it was so hot that our bodies were resisting staying outside for long.
By the way, the time indicated above includes travel time because we were only here for about 20 minutes.
Bantay Abot Cave (1:00pm-2:00pm)
Bantay Abot Cave translates to "sea mountain with a hole," so it's not really a cave.
Warning! The area is slippery and rocky, you must exercise extreme caution when approaching the actual hole.
Blue Lagoon (2:00pm-5:00pm)
The beach is always one of our favorite places to unwind and relax, so it was nice to end our day 2 trip on this beach.
I can also say that this is one of my favorite beaches in the Philippines because of its scenery.
Malacañang of the North (12:00pm-1:00pm)
Presidential Museum in Paoay. It was the home of Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines' longest-serving president.
Quirino Bridge (4:00pm-4:30pm)
We stopped at the Quirino Bridge on the way to Manila.
The bridge is named after the Philippines' sixth president, and it is regarded as an iconic symbol of Ilocos Sur.
This location also marked the end of our tour in Ilocos.
CONCLUSION
It's still surreal to me that I was able to visit Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte because I'm from Mindanao and going to Ilocos Region is simply impossible.
Indeed, Ilocos Norte and Sur are must-see destinations. It was truly a blessing to be able to travel there and see and enjoy the beautiful culture, nature, structures, people, and many other things during our three-day, two-night tour.
I hope to return to Ilocos soon;
and I hope to see these beautiful faces again.
OTHER NOTES
Budget
This is just the estimate of how much I spent to give you an idea.
/head
Round-Trip Plane Ticket 2,000
Tour Fee 3,399
Pasalubong 1,000
Food 3,000
Miscellaneous 2,000
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📍Location on Google Map
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
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