Northern Exposure | 7 Essential Stops In Ilocos

With more than 7,000 islands to choose from, the Philippines never runs out of surprises for tourists. Most escape to the southern shores of Visayas and Mindanao, but there is much to be explored at the tip of Luzon. Here, Culture Trip explores the natural and man-made gems tucked away in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

Bangui Windfarm

Once plagued by periodic power outages, the province of Ilocos Norte now enjoys reliable power thanks to the Bangui Windfarm in Burgos City. The twenty windmills produce electricity from wind energy without emitting greenhouse gases. Each has a 70-meter stem and a blade with a diameter of 82 meters. It takes about a dozen adults linked together to hug the stem. Currently, they supply 40% of the electricity in the province and projects are underway to increase their capacity.

Blue Lagoon Beach, Pagudpud

The Sand Dunes of Ilocos Norte

Did you know that the Philippines has expansive sand dunes? In fact, Ilocos Norte has 52 square miles of them. At the Paoay Sand Dunes in Laoag City, hills can reach up to a height of 30 meters. Tourists can cruise down the soft slopes with sandboards. Better yet, they can rent a four-wheel drive, crank it up to full throttle and navigate the uneven sand. The feeling is akin to riding a roller coaster!

Kapurpurawan Rocks

The Kapurpurawan Rocks in Burgos, Ilocos Norte is a vast departure from the undulating sands of Laoag. Their rugged surfaces were produced over millions of years as winds and waves from the South China Sea deposited sediments on the shore and later sculpted the resulting rock. ‘Kapurpurawan’ comes from the Ilocano word puraw (white). The name describes the standout brightness of the limestone rocks, especially in broad daylight. It is best to visit just before sunrise and admire the rocks in the shifting morning light.

Kaangrian Falls

Further inland in Burgos is Kaangrian Falls. The multilayered falls is hidden in a lush forest and can only be reached by trekking for one and a half hours from the city centre. It gets its name from the Ilocano word naangri (stinky), owing to the smell of bat droppings from nearby bat caves. But with the exquisite view and soothing sounds of the cascading waters, the smell simply recedes to the background.

Vigan City

Vigan City in Ilocos Sur is hailed by UNESCO as the best preserved Spanish town in Asia. The city is replete with 16th century stone mansions, and is laid out in a Spanish grid style with bustling plazas at the centre. Interestingly, the Spanish-era homes reveal Filipino and Chinese influences as well. For example, they are well-ventilated like traditional Filipino nipa huts and have steep, tiled roofs like Chinese homes. This is because before the Spanish arrived, the city was already a vibrant trading post between China and the Philippines. The best way to explore the city is on a calesa (horse-drawn carriage), with the driver providing running commentary on the city’s history.

Churches

The provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte each host a UNESCO World Heritage church. These are the Santa Maria Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, and the San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Like the colonial mansions of Vigan, these churches are a mix of West and East. They follow the appearance of European Baroque churches, but their materials and design have been tweaked to withstand the local, earthquake-prone conditions. They were made using stone and baked bricks, and fortified on the sides by thick buttresses. The churches are best viewed at sunset when the warm glow softens their intimidating façades.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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