Ilocandia Tour via A & A Travel and Tours

We have planned this tour for so long... Like six months long... And it's a good thing that one of my dearest office mate, turned BFF, turned travel buddy, found this Travel Agency which offers one of the best Ilocandia Tour ever! A & A Travel and Tours can be easily found on google. Their travel itinerary lets you rest for the first and second day. Great for travelers from a long 10 hour travel. 

Via Fariñas Transit (9-10 hour trip) at a deluxe bus with restroom (Ps 750.00 per head), we arrived around 8:00am in Laoag Terminal. Sun was already up. And there was our driver/tour guide, Kuya Alwyn ('toh) waiting for us. He is easy to be with and really concerned about our enjoyment. We also believed that he has a great future in photography.

Silver Mercedes Van of AA Travel & Tours

Kuya Alwyn's back view.

DAY 1 started. After a healthy breakfast at a well known carinderia in the area, our first stop was at Cape Bojeador Burgos Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte. Establish during the Spanish Colonial era (Wikipedia) and until now, it is still active. The way up to the tower itself was closed to public. We did not see the control room. Only the stairs. Also saw the amazing view from the northwestern-most point in Luzon.

Smiles from Cape Bojeador :D

 While at the most North Western part of Luzon...

Next Stop at Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation, also in Burgos, IN. Please do not forget to put on sunblock, and bring a fan or a towel, because it's gonna be a sizzling hot walk! At that time, there was really a zero-wind-morning in the area. So hello sun and sweat!

Kapurpurwan is an Ilocano word which means White.

Hello Mr. Sun! Shinning bright today, ei?  - Toasted Travelers

Refreshments were also available on the way back in case someone gets thirsty. There were also pay restrooms for those who needs to go or to change their sweaty clothes (at Ps 5.00 each).

Next stop: Bangui Windmills! The first power generating windmill farm in Southeast Asia (Wikipedia). They were tall metal structures and you will really look up to them.

Bangui Wind Mill - Bangui Ilocos Norte

So excited to see this in person! Scenery was so great it almost made me full even with out having lunch yet.  It was not very windy that time and only one turbine was moving. The sand was hot and not very fine. Also observed that no one was swimming on this part of the beach. Maybe because of the smashing waves.

There are also small stalls selling key chains shaped like wind mills and other small things for pasalubong in the area. 6 pieces of windmill key chains for Ps 100.00. Cheaper to buy here than other places.

Ate Jean: Tawad naman ate, marami naman kami nakuha... Please.... =)

We had a very late lunch at Berg Blick. A small, cozy restaurant in Pagudpud which serves German and Filipino dishes. Waitresses wore Deutsche costumes to give us a feel of their motif. Servings were big enough for a group. Rice is per cup, which is good for people on a diet. Haha!

Ilocandia Express: Mixed Vegetables with chili and coconut milk  topped with bagnet

After eating, we were all dosing out of energy. Oh we really felt sleepy and tired. It's a good thing our hotel was not very far from the restaurant, just a 15 minute drive. 

We checked in at Polaris Beach Resort.They say it is located at the center of Saud Beach. 

Afternoon at Saud Beach...

Rooms are not that big, but its clean and air-conditioned with cabled television and own bathroom. The bed is comfortable with clean sheets and pillows. But towels were not available. Some rooms are good for a minimum of 3 persons. Other rooms are great for families or groups traveling on a budget. Three hours of rest and then we hit the beach before sun set.

Shorts, sandos, slippers and shawl are now ready for our DAY 2. Off to Kabigan Falls. There's a trek before you could reach the falls. A different tour guide accompanied us to the falls.  I was not able to track how long was the walk because my eyes got caught on the fields  and nature.  This is the most refreshing part. It was really cool. Water is cold and it sprinkles to us when the wind blows.

We also passed by Patapat Viaduct, which is said to be 102 feet above sea level and the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines. 

Best timing talaga! =)

Now let's go to the beach, each, let's go get away, as the song goes... Off to Blue Lagoon for lunch and beach time! If you will be like us who wanted to go swimming on the beach however not checked in around the area, you can pay for an unlimited use of rest room at Hannah's Beach Resort for Ps 50.00 only. Just show your receipt to the guard and you can use it unlimited. It is clean, and water supply is good. Only a few were using it when we were there.

Hi waves please don't push us away! haha!

Waves were really big and will really push and pull you on shore. Sand was very fine. We even scrubbed our feet with it under the clear blue sky. Scenes here were definitely exquisite.

On our way to Java Hotel, we passed by the place where Walang Hanggan (a telenovela on ABS-CBN) once taped an episode. We went up the hill and took some pictures. It was beautiful. The sun was not that hot anymore and the wind was stress relieving.

Pretty Girls on hills! 

Good morning Java!

 Java Hotel has a gasoline station in front,which was sort of odd. The hotel's theme is Balinese Moroccan. Has 50 air-conditioned guest rooms, a swimming pool, a gym, a bar on the side, a tennis court, children's playground, and a souvenir shop. Wi-fi has a strong signal, so it's FB all the time. Fresh towels are present! Yipee! Even if  stayed there for approximately 15 hours only, we missed it a lot. And we would want to go back to this place.

Time really flies when you are having fun. It's DAY 3 with out knowing it. Plenty of places scheduled to visit today. Kuya Alwyn even reminded us to be on time. Most of the places we visited were churches. Laoag Sinking Bell Tower, Sta. Monica Church and Paoay Church. All off their bell towers are separated from the church, and I was not able to ask why. 

Most of the tourist spots are closed on Mondays so it's better to visit during Tuesdays to Sundays. Because of a hectic schedule, we have decided to just drive thru Mc Donald's Vigan. It's structure, Spanish type. I was also excited to see this because of its unique built, although its not as cozy as Mc Donald's branches here in Manila. We also used coupons for discounts. Haha!

Kita-kits sa Mc Donald's Vigan! =)

We did not only visited landmarks, we also visited the animals in Baluarte ni Chavit. We saw white deers, tigers, butterflies, birds, ostriches and horses all in an eighty hectare terrain.

Nice pose Ms. Ostrich...

Oh deer!

Dinos in the background...

Last stop at Calle Crisologo in Vigan. A four block stretch of Spanish-style structures where its off limits to vehicles. Only calesas are allowed there. Its also a famous place where you could buy pasalubong. Tshirts sold there ranges from Ps 100.00 to Ps 400.00. Medium sized Chichacorn (3 packs) for Ps 100.00 only. Woven products, wood carvings, knitted products, basi wine and bagnet at Ps 380.00 per kilo. When it was already dark, it really felt like we were back to the Spanish era. Yellow lighted streets. Calesas going back and forth the cobblestoned street. Antiques everywhere. 

Pasalubong Galore!

After shopping... =)

Experience rating for this trip: 5 stars! Although it's very tiring, we have really enjoyed it. If we will have a chance to go back, we will go back there! Sulit na Sulit! 

Budget for Trip:

Php  3,200.00 - Hotel Accommodations and Tour via A & A Travel and 
                      Tours (3 Days 2 Nights with Breakfast)
Php  1,500.00 - Food Expenses (Lunches/Dinners - Approximate)
Php  1,000.00 - Pasalubong (Approximate)
Php  1,800.00 - Transportation Expenses (bus/plane promo sale)
Php 7,500.00 - Total Expenses