One Ilocos Norte

Ilocos and Its Forever Crowning Glory – Local Tourist Destinations

The Saud Beach in the afternoon

This is probably one of the hardest features on my blog that I’ll be writing because it’s in my own hometown. It actually deserves an advertisement, for free, from me and from any other Ilokano (local person from Ilocos region in the Philippines) writers, I believe.

It’s not going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging because it’s where I came from and that I should establish a very good impression to everyone who’ll read this. I won’t try as hard though, I’ll make the photos as a proof instead (wink).

Burgos Lighthouse

Many of you might have heard about Ilocos a hundred times from your peers or read around twenty blogs about how refreshing it is to be in a place that is home to beaches and Spanish historical places with of course, the famous Ferdinand Marcos who lead the Philippines for two decades.

 I’ll focus instead at the place I’ve been constantly visiting with my family since I was six or seven years old – Saud, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Of course, I won’t bore you with a single place, other than Pagudpud’s Saud Beach, there’s a lot of treasures you could see for yourself on your way to the island life.
The Hidden Treasure and The Mini Batanes of the North (both located in Caunayan, Pagudpud).

There are also places like Paoay (famous for the Paoay Sand Dunes and Paoay Church), The Rock sand that formed like a boat (Kapurpurawan Beach), The Wishing Tree, where you can drop any amount of money at its fortress, Burgos Light House, Bangui Wind Mills, Patapat Bridge (a very long bridge), an abandoned mansion lying above the sea and at the end of the bridge, and Paraiso ni Anton (a very fresh water coming from the mountains).

Instead of the usual beach outing, we went to the Patapat Viaduct, the Vista Grande Resort where naturally fresh and cold water run. There’s vey big rocks all around the place that if you don’t old to them, you’ll be swept by the strong flow of the water.

It was quite an adventure that I had here. And it was home at the same time. I was with my family and cousins. This was a two day trip over the weekend and I was able to do these things:

Day 1
At 10:00am, we took the road to Saud. You can stop over at the town of Pasuquin where the famous ‘biscocho’ (a type of bread) is located. This is the only store that sells freshly baked ‘biscochos’.

Just before the Burgos Light House, we stopped over at the famous ‘Balete Tree’ in town which people believed as a wishing tree. Then we were on the way up to the light house. It was all our first time to go there. Entrance fee is only Php20.00 and someone will offer you a photo op where they are good at doing panoramas! At the front of the house, it looked like you were standing in a big ship. And beside the light house (originally called Cape Bojeador) was already the open view of the sea. It perhaps served as a place for people of Burgos to see any activities or people coming to and from the light house.

Afterwhich, we headed to the sanctuary. Plainly, this is a place of sharp rocks and clear waters. We held a short picnic session and headed directly to Bangui. At the top of the hill, there’s a place where tourists could buy delicacies and have a view of the many windmills surrounding Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. This is for free! It’s picture perfect!

And then we were for Saud already. You might want to shop first at their main town before heading to the beach place to save a little time and money.

It was nostalgia, seeing the place together with my parents again after 14 years maybe. I remember that big shell which was a sign that we were already near the place. Tarpaulins all around directing you to the beach.

We finally arrived at our relatives’ place, it was my uncle’s widow and her daughter with her cute grandson in the house. It was already 3:00pm, usually it will just take you two hours to go there if without stop overs.

When you ride a public transportation by the way, from the city of Laoag where the airport is near as well (30-45 mins ride), you can ride at the Pagudpud terminal or GMW bus liner. Just tell the driver to drop you off at the town of Pagudpud.

Then there’ll be a line of tricycle ready to take you to your destination. There are a lot of hotels at the beach and they are cheap, you won’t regret coming here. You may want to check or book online if you’e planning ahead (which I suggest for you to know where the most tranquil or convenient place is).

There was no rest, though it was cloudy, we headed to the main beach. They offer water activities in some resorts like trying water sailing with a professional teacher. I was just too afraid to be taken by the big waves, so I di not try. LOL.

It was the best time of the day to visit the little Batanes of the North. It was a one hour tricycle drive for Php200.00-Php300.00 back and forth. Haggle, haggle, haggle!
At night, you may want to camp instead of staying at your home for Php150.00-Php200.00. There’s a place for you to grill and do hotdog party except for doing a bonfire. This is a white-sand beach, okay.

Day 2
In the morning, catch the sunrise at the beach and indulge yourself in a good breakfast. There’s a lot of fishermen who sell freshly fetched fishes at around 6:00am in the main beach.

Since we were a big group, we decided to go to the Patapat bridge all the way to Paraiso ni Anton. That trip could take you two hours each way and depending if you’re going to stay for the Vista Grande for a dip.
We were done at around 3:00pm and for the two remaining hours, the others used for a drink and beach waves. That burned me.


We were at Laoag city by 7:00pm, exactly a two hour ride this time as I needed to go back to Manila.
If you’re looking forward as well to go to Hannah’s beach resort, you will pass by the place when you’re on your way to the Patapat Viaduct.


If you want to try the Paoay Sand Dunes, it’s going to be a different route and this includes a 4X4 desert-like ride for Php2500.00 for a group of at most 5-7 people.

For Ilocano cuisines, like longganisa and empanada, they are all over the town.
In Ilocos Sur, what I could recomend is in Viga, Ilcoos Sur. They already have a food park that could satisfy all your cravings!
There’s museums and Calle Crisologo. Feel the old vibe!

Other than those mentioned above, there’s just a lot of places you can check out here in our town. Well, of course the Sinking Bell Tower is still sinking. While it’s still there, take a photo. They say it sinks about 3 inches every years. It’s a quite long journey for the tower still.

Thank you for dropping by! Check my IG @chasingmeagan. And facebook at Meagan Mangoma. Message or comment down what you think.

Mabuhay, Ilocos!