Travel Blog: ISIS DEV and Friends ILOCOS Trip!!! Laoag-Vigan-Pagudpug Tour!

Hey There! Welcome back to my blog! :)

Today I want to share with you our Loag-Vigan-Pagudpud Trip. It was super fun!. I will share with you the highlights of our trip.

Note: This will be a very long blog with lots of picture (pictures are taken by my friends and Jay(bf), will link their profile at the end of this blog)

We traveled via air, from Manila to Laoag, and from there, we rented a van (http://van4ilocos.page2site.com/) to take us around Ilocos. The van cost 10,500 for 3 days (3500/day), It was already a good deal since we were 16. The van we rented was 18 sitters, it fitted us ok. I can't say that the experience we had with the driver was ok, most of the time he is insisting to take us to a museum, which was not what we wanted. if you have a lot of time, then it's fine, but for us who don't, we had issues and had to argue, but in the end we were able to go where we want. My only advise is to give the driver your agenda and stick to it.

Now for our Itinerary (or what it should have been), Will also insert what we did that was not planned (haha! this gave us all bv.. lolz)

Here is a video of our whole trip, this sums up the entire 3.5 days trip in a 7 min video.

video captured and edited by Jay

Full details of the Trip below

Day 1: Laoag to Vigan

7:00 PM Departure from Manila to Laoag

8:00 PM Arrival at the Laoag International Airport. We rode a tricycle to Dapayan food court (where we met with the first froup who arrived). Tricycle cost: PHP 50/passenger. This is were we ate our dinner, the food was good and was cheap.
After this, we went to bus terminal (via tricycle, cost: PHP 15/passenger), to check-in at our hotel in Vigan.

11:00 PM Arrival at Vigan and weeew! the view was AH-MA-ZING! pictures below of Calle Crisologo.

Since we arrived almost midnight, there were no longer open stores. we shopped the next day.

By the way, we stayed at Henady Inn.

Day 2 : Vigan to Pagudpud

The van rental picked us up at around 8AM, and we went back to Calle Crisologo to shop for stuffs and food (Chichacorn, Chichapop, Banna Blend Rice Coffee, bags, Vigan shirts, etc..).

photo captured by Charles

 Bantay Church Bell Tower (not in the original plan)

photo captured by Charles

Pottery (not in the original plan)

photo captured by Charles

Then we went to a lot of museums (which bored out some of the people in our group, since this wasn't included in the plan as well) some of them, we skipped out.

• Marcos Museum (if you want to see Marcos laying in a glass coffin, you may go here)
• Juan Luna Museum (go here only if you want to see the replicas of Juan Luna's work and the old furniture he used during his time)

Then, Paoay Church, It was a great view. This one, you should definitely visit.

Next stop, and the most exciting part of the trip, Sand dunes! If you want actual trip and fun, go here directly.. we rode the most exhilarating ride, the ATV (fits 5-6 people), it like a roller coaster with no safety belt and in standing position, as I describe it.. hahaha! the ride cost 500 pesos per person.

photo captured by MC

Then Sand boarding! excoiting! you'll see more in the videos above... and since the sun was already setting, this was our last stop... then straight to pagudpud.

photo captured by Jerico

Day 3 : Pagudpug to Laoag

We stayed at Casa Consuelo for the night at Pagudpud. rented out 3 rooms for 16 people.

Our plan here? beach of course... we are all looking forward to swim in the wide sea.. but unfortunately, due to strong wind (we weren't able to have a proper swim), we were just jumping around as the waves hit our body, but still we had lots and lots of fun at the beach... they also have zip-line, it cost 800 pesos (sitting down) and 900 pesos (for superman).

Visited the Pagudpud Kabigan Waterfalls (not in the plan)

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, what a wonderful sight.. (we didn't have time to explore)

and of course.. the Bangui Windmills.. the wind was super strong but the view is superb! you don't want to miss this stop.

Half of the group went home this day, only 8 remained to continue with the tour the next day.

Day 3 : Pagudpug to Laoag (Again)

We checked-in at PannzianResort. We had to travel from Laoag to Pagudpud again, the night before, since we went with our friend to Laoag. We decided at first to ride a bus, fare is 143 to Pannzian, but since it was Friday and we only got the standing ticket (travel would be for 2 hrs). we decided to rent a van for 2600.

The hotel we checked-in has a very beautiful sight, great food and the staff was super friendly. although they don't have WiFi, TV, signal was very poor and they have service charge, We still had fun in this place. but if you can't live a day without internet then don't go here. but if you are someone who enjoys nature more, you'll definitely love it here.

We check out at 2PM, then went on and continue with our journey. We are now on our way (again) to Laoag for our departure to Manila.

Visited Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

then went on to see how they make their salt (interesting)

and.. last stop, the dignified Domeless Bell tower in Bacarra

Ilocos has a lot offer, they have great food (their bagnet, longaniza and chichacorn was the best!), great scenery and people are very welcoming, specially to tourist, even local tourist like us. I really hope they continue to preserve the place and we continue to support our local tourist spot.

Here is a story of how kind people in Ilocos are:

 Jay, in a very unfortunate event, left his camera bag, containing his fuji x20 camera, flash and 2 remotes, at the bacarra bell tower. We tried to go back to hopefully retrieved his bag, but unfortunately we weren't able to, so he left his contact number to the person in-charge at the church (feeling very sad when we left). The next day, we received a text from someone who was able to found his bag. that person was working for the Mayor of Baccara, Sir Randy Padre. He then transferred us to the Mayor of Bacarra Ilocos himself,  Mayor Nico, who talked with Jay and ask some questions to verify the items and then shipped the bag via LBC. Jay offered to pay the shipping fee but Mayor Nico declined the offer and said he'll take care of it (item will arrive on Wednesday).

aaahh. we were super happy with the news. and we want to give thanks to the good people of Ilocos. specially to Sir Randy and Mayor Nico of Bacarra Ilocos! Mabuhay po kayo! :)

I hope you had fun reading my super long post! and I encourage you to go and visit the places mentioned above. let's support our local tourism. It really is more fun in the Philippines! :)



<3 Gie