Tag: ilocos

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La Paz Sand Dunes

Believe it or not, there are actually sand dunes in the country and they’re in Ilocos. I didn’t know about them until fairly recently. I really should go out more. Activities include sightseeing, 4×4 rides, ATV rides, and sand boarding. We all rode the 4×4 and even Jeanne enjoyed the slow climbs, banks, and fast descents. She didn’t enjoy the sand boarding as much though as she (and I) ate some sand on our first (and her only) run. I gave it a few more gos and stopped as soon as I successfully made a standing run. We then went to La Preciosa at Laoag for dinner. Jack treated us to another round of yummy Ilocano food and one of the best carrot cakes ever. Thanks, Jack!

Ilocos Sand Boarding Adventures – Glenn and Donna Guerrero at  0908-885-3669 / 0910-947-4129 / 0915-456-1133 / [email protected]

 

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Pagudpud

While we were at Laoag, we made a trip to nearby (not really) tourist spots:

  1. Patapat Viaduct – a long winding coastal bridge in Pagudpud
  2. Maira-ira Beach – also known as Blue Lagoon. It’s not exactly a lagoon but rather a cove. But it does have blue water and white sand. I think it is better than Saud beach but recent development is taking its toll. There’s a zipline over the water! It was also cold and windy when we got there so we ended up just eating at Hannah’s Beach Resort
  3. Windmills at Bangui – these are windmills stretching along the coast and generating electricity for the area. We stopped over at Kang Kang Windmill Cafe which has a good view of the windmills as well as refreshments. While maneuvering for a good photo angle, my car got stuck in the soft sand (yesh). Fortunately, the guys at the cafe we’re familiar with the problem and quickly extricated the car.

We we’re actually planning to visit a few other sites:

  1. Kapurpurawan Rock formation at Burgos
  2. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse also at Burgos
  3. Pasuqin Church
  4. Bacarra Church
  5. Sinking Bell Tower at Laoag

But we were running out of daylight for our 4×4 ride and sandboarding at La Paz. And that we didn’t want to miss!

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Fort Ilocandia

Our next destination on the family on a year-ender road trip was Laoag where we stayed at Fort Ilocandia. The hotel is really good. It has several wings with many rooms for any budget (as long as it’s not small). The hotel offers a wide array of facilities:

  1. Golf and country club
  2. Driving range
  3. Casino
  4. Several restaurants
  5. Beach for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and jet skiing.
  6. Rides such as horses, carriages, ATVs, 4×4 jeeps, and even hot air balloons
  7. Sporting activities such as shooting, archery, tennis, and basketball.
  8. Swimming pool
  9. Gym

It’s practically a theme park (where the theme is being rich and famous, I guess) and you could spend all your time (and money) there. But seriously, although Fort Ilocandia is a bit on the expensive side, you do get what you pay for.

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Paoay

On our way to Laoag, we passed by Paoay which has a few tourist spots of its own. The ones we visited were:

  1. Herencia Cafe – where we met an acquaintance of my dad, none other than Gov. Imee Marcos. Oh and yes we also tried their igado and bulanglang for lunch
  2. Paoay Church
  3. Malacanang ti Amianan – Ilocano for Malacanang of the North

Interesting rest stop to say the least.

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Vigan

Went with the family on a year-ender road trip. Our first stop was Vigan where we stayed at Gordion Hotel. The hotel is pretty good and is right beside the Spanish-era themed Calle Crisologo, the town’s main attraction.

There are many places to go and visit in Vigan such as:

  1. The aforementioned Calle Crisologo
  2. Bantayan Church and Bell Tower
  3. Loom Weaving
  4. Pagburnayan (Pottery)
  5. Burgos Museum – residence of Fr. Burgos one of the GomBurZa (Gomez, Burgos, Zamora) priests executed by the Spanish
  6. Syquia Mansion – residence of former President Elpidio Quirino
  7. Baluarte – residence of Gov. Chavit Singson. Also has a zoo.
  8. Cafe Leona – serves Ilocos delicacies
  9. Light and sound fountain display

The best way to go around town, and definitely not to be missed, is via the calesas or horse-drawn carriages which charge a mandated hourly rate (P150 per calesa per hour).

I’ve been to Vigan before but from what I saw, other than the light and sound fountain display at the town plaza, not much has changed. And that is good. Vigan has remained the same rustic and charming albeit crowded town.