Ilocos Getaway ("Marcos Country")

"Biyaheng Ilocos Norte"

Me, posing at the famous Paoay Church

Ilocos ba kamo? Well let's see if how much all of these things would cost.

This was my first ever out of town trip all by my self......ALL BY MY SELF. hindi pala meron pala akong kasama.

Before I left my hometown I had this 17 pages of information which helped me a lot during my trip. This is a must for all the young and first timer traveller like me.

You must have:

• Lists of Hotels
• Cost of Transportation
• Cost of Food
• How to get around info's
• Must Sees
• Sample Itinerary
• Addresses of your destination, in case you lost
• Maps of the whole Province
• Emergency Hotlines- the most important thing like the Police and your Relatives in case you don't remember their numbers.

Let's start with Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte has the most tourist spots in the Ilocos Region so you should get to Laoag first since most of the tourist spots are in Pagudpud,Bangui,Burgos,Laoag and Paoay

By the way Laoag is 2 hours away from Pagudpud

MUST SEES IN ILOCOS NORTE:

1. Pagudpud: 

• White Sand Beach 
• Hannah's Resort which has the longest zip line off coast (P.600) nga lang.With P.20 entrance fee. 

Hannah's Beach Resort

• Patapat Viaduct- A zigzag bridge beside the cliff, our driver told us that it was made by the Koreans since the old road was built on the mountains it was a killer and prawn accident road. He said (madami ng naaaksidente dyan nahuhulog pa nga yung iba e.) and you could see the nearby Babuyan Island in a very clear day. 

Patapat Viaduct

Bangui:

• Bangui Windmills- You would see the massive turbine structures rotating slowly while the winds are pushing you in a hot day. These mammoth fans generates 33,000 watts of electricity that's electrifying!

Bangui Windmills

3. Burgos:

• Cape Bojeador "Asia's oldest lighthouse" this light house is still in operation up to now. I tried to enter the top but only the navy personnel can get there. 

Cape Bojeador Light House

• Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

4. Baccarra:

• Baccara Church

5. Laoag- you could rent a Tricycle for 700 pesos for you to travel the tourists spots. But in our case we just walked the nearby places like Sinking Bell Tower and Ilocos Norte Capitol since we stayed in a distant hotel. Nilakad pa nga namin ang Gilbert Bridge.

Laoag City Arc

Since Ilocos is known for its crispy and mouth watering Bagnet you could buy it in Laoag Market on the second floor where all meat stalls display their Bagnets for 420pesos/kg.

• Ilocos Norte Capitol- Seat of Government

Ilocos Norte Capitol

• Sinking Bell Tower- Our driver told us that this tower really sinks at several meters each year. As shown in the picture there were concrete supports that prevents it from sinking. 

Sinking Bell Tower

• Museums- just ask them or research it in the net since we haven't to a single museum there. Due to lack of time (1 day lang kaya kami sa Laoag at Ilocos Norte)

6. Paoay: 

• Paoay Church- This church was made in the Spanish Era and it became one of the Ilocos Norte's icon. (As shown in their Billboard Ads "Paoay Kumakaway")
• Paoay Lake- where the bird watchers flock.

Paoay Lake

• Malacanang of the North- President Marcos's Residence

• Paoay Sand Dunes- My adrenalin bursted out when we had the 4X4 sand adventures, I've been confident for a while that I could just not ride the 4X4 since it's expensive. That's Impossible! I said (grabe ang lawak pala kung lalakarin ko pala to mamamatay ako para akong nasa Dubai or Saudi) Don't forget to bring your P. 1,500 because if you don't ride the 4X4's then you'll miss the climax of your Ilocos Getaway. This is a must you won't regret it promise!

GETTING AROUND THE PROVINCE:

I advise you to bring at least one company or more to share with the Van rentals. Getting to these places would be difficult. They are very far from each other some spots are far from the National Highways or might cost you a lot if you take Tricycles. Just take the Pagudpud package it will cost you about P.3,500/day. Your Ilocos Norte tour will take you about half a day or more. You could just walk the tourist spots in Laoag, halos magkakalapit lang sila. 

INNOVA- 7-8 seaters

STAREX- 9-10 seaters

City Tour: Php 2,500/ day including diesel

Pagudpud Tour: P3, 800.00/day including diesel

Vigan City Tour: P3, 800.00/day including diesel

Driver/Guide: P700.00/day

Cheap City Tour: 2-3 passengers only for P700 using tricycle

For reservation and other inquiries, call/text us at 09176453087 or 09297719036 or e-mail us at sand_dunespaoay@yahoo.com

Please contact Kuya Benjie, he's a good guy and he'll serve as your Tour Guide,Driver at pati Body Guard. He's the only one that you could trust during your trip.

Note: If you want to get the cheapest airline ticket then wait for the nerve breaking and heart pumping Piso fare that's 400 including the surcharges. If you got the regular promo fare then it would cost something like P.1,400-P.3,500

GETTING THERE BY AIR:

  

It's just a 45 minute airplane ride from Manila-Laoag

CEBU PACIFIC AIR- flies 1x daily Manila-Laoag 

www.cebupacificair.com 

PAL EXPRESS

www.flypalexpress.com

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

www.philippineairlines.com

Plane ticket costs from P.400-P. 3,000 (depending on the promo)

but I got mine for P. 1,400

GETTING THERE BY LAND:

If you are ready to burn your bums with an exhausting 12 hour bus ride then let's get it started.

FLORDIDA BUS TERMINAL CONTACT NUMBERS - PUBLISHED

FLORIDA BUS
(G.V. FLORIDA TRANSPORT, INCORPORATED)
Barangay West Kamias, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)3525393

FLORIDA BUS
(G.V. FLORIDA TRANSPORT, INCORPORATED)
Lacson Avenue Corner Earnshaw Street, Manila, Metro Manila
Florida Bus Co., Manila
– (02) 743-3809; 912-5354
Telephone No: (632) 781-5894

P. 1,000 for the Sleeper Bus which leaves late at night from its Manila Terminal. Masarap dyan tulog ka lang sa Manila pag gising mo Laoag na.

If you want to hop on to a Deluxe bus or you can't afford to ride that 1k moving bed this is for you bro.

PARTAS BUS INC.

Cubao Terminal: 725-1740, 725-1756, 410-1307, 727-8278 

Pasay Terminal: (02)851-4025, 852-8194

DESTINATION	BUS TYPE	FARES	-
VIGAN	STANDARD AIRCON	585-685	-
VIGAN	DELUXE W/ CR	700-800	-
LAOAG	STANDARD/FIRSTCLASS/SUPER DELUXE	797-900-965

The reason why I chose Partas is they're in the business for a long time saka safe naman hindi kaskasero ang driver. And they're known for these bum burning routes.