Ilocos Adventure

When you start your Ilocos adventure, you are most likely to start in Laoag. It’s the capital of Ilocos Norte and the hub of everything Ilocano. Popular sights such as Pagudpud, Paoay and Vigan are around an hour’s journey away.

Ilocos offers a number of popular attractions for locals, tourists, and foreigners alike. Because of its nice beaches facing the South China Sea, tourist arrivals surge during the summer seasons, usually between March to April.

Ilocos & Northern Luzon Tourist Destinations

Pagudpud

Pagudpud is a town on the northern coast of Luzon Island, in the Philippines. Pagudpud’s coastlines are amazing — with white sand beaches lined with coconut trees and crystal-blue shores. Cottages are available for 250 pesos. Resorts line the long stretch of Saud Beach, on the wide sweep of Bangui Bay.

Laoag Sinking Bell Tower

St. William’s Cathedral in Laoag, Ilocos Norte is famous for its sinking bell tower. Made mostly of bricks joined together by molasses and leaves from a local plant named sablot, the bell tower is so heavy that it has earned its “sinking” reputation because it has been consistently sinking into the ground. A person with an average height has to bend first just to pass the entrance.

Bangui Wind Farm

Bangui wind farm is the first power generating windmill farm in Southeast Asia. Twenty wind turbines, each 70 meters tall, are equipped with three 41-meter blades, and rise along a 9-kilometer beach in Bangui. They produce sustainable energy that provides 40% of Ilocos Norte’s electricity.

Santa Monica Church

Commonly known as the Sarrat Church, the Santa Monica Parish Church is a Roman Catholic church that was constructed in the Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Santa Monica Church has huge buttressed walls, a 3-level bridge made entirely of brick and a stairway that connects the church to the convent. Built in 1779, it is the largest church in northern Luzon.

Paoay Church

The Church of St. Augustine, more popularly known as Paoay Church, is a picture-perfect Baroque church in the municipality of Paoay. The green grass, the ancient gray church, and the blue sky make for a perfect shot. In 1993, Paoay Church was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Malacañan of the North

Once the official residence of the Marcos family whenever they were in Ilocos Norte, this sprawling Spanish-designed house is now a museum showcasing Marcos memorabilia. From the curving staircase to the painstakingly carved furniture, everything looks grand, fitting for a palace of the then-First Family.

After soaking in the culture and heritage inside the museum, go outside and breathe in the fresh breeze blowing across Paoay Lake.

Patapat Viaduct

On your way to and back from Pagudpud, you will be passing by this long, winding bridge which is the fourth longest bridge in the Philippines. The Patapat Viaduct is elevated 31 meters above sea level.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Commonly known known as Burgos Lighthouse, the Cape Bojeador lighthouse is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Burgos Lighthouse is built of brick, was erected during the Spanish colonial period in 1890. The octagon-shaped lighthouse stands 20 meters high and looks over the panoramic Cape Bojeador.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

One of the must-see attractions when visiting Ilocos Norte is the Kapurpurawan rock formation.. About an from Laoag City, Kapurpurawan is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Its creamy white limestone formations have been sculpted by oceanic and weather forces. Kapurpurawan comes from an Ilocano word “puraw” which means white.

Anuplig Falls

Anuplig Falls is about 12 meters high with two basins which are really ideal for swimming. You can climb the top of the falls through the rock formation on the side. The falls is also a much-photographed subject, setting a natural view of the tranquil environment. The falls is located at the municipality of Adams, Ilocos Norte province.

There are other waterfalls and other scenic landscapes in Adams namely: Mareprep Falls, Maligligay Falls, Inuwayan Falls, Anat Falls, Abbas Falls, Kanayupan Falls, Aki Falls, Cabacan Falls, Adams’ Hanging Bridge – the longest hanging bridge in Ilocos Norte, and the crystal waters of Bolo River.

Robinsons Place Ilocos

The first ever shopping mall in Ilocos Norte. Located in the town of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

How to go to Ilocos

The most convenient way to visit Ilocos Norte is by a 1-hour Manila-Laoag flight via Philippine Airlines.

Several bus companies serve the Manila-Laoag route such as Fariñas Trans, Partas Trans, Florida, Maria de Leon, and RCJ bus lines. These air-conditioned public buses will make your 8-10 hour travel a relaxing journey.