My Ilocos Norte/Sur Adventures – Day 3 (Historic Vigan)

My third day in Ilocos Region was a visit  to historic Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur and renowned for the Spanish imprint on its architecture that made it to World Heritage Sites.

I woke up at around 7:00 am,  have my free breakfast from Cailian Grill, Isabel Suites and check out at 8:30 am. By 8:55 am, we (Jason and my two DIY friends)  headed off to Partas bus terminal . Fare to Vigan City is  Php 130/ head. Travel time from Laoag City to Vigan City is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you are taking the bus from Lagasca St. It leaves at exactly 7:00 am. The bus from Lagasca is good for one round trip. It returns to Laoag City at 3 pm. But don’t worry because, you can get back to Laoag anytime via Partas Transit, Fariñas Transit, RCJ and Florida Bus which have Laoag bound bus every 30 minutes 24 hours a day.

We reached Vigan City bus terminal by 11:30 am. We took a motorized tricycle going to Cordillara Inn in the Heritage Village (Fare Php 20). This is were my two DIY friends will stay overnight. As for me, I’ll be returning to Laoag City to catch my flight back to Manila by 9:30 pm.

Cordillera Inn, Heritage Village, Vigan City

Reception area of Cordillera Inn, Vigan City

Heritage Village, Vigan

To tour Vigan City, it’s either you take a tricycle or ride a Calesa. Calesa usually charges Php 130 -150/hour while the motorized tricycle rates is ranging from Php 40 – 80/tricycle. In our case we took a Calesa tour instead.

Calesa

According to our Calesa Kutsero our half day tour destinations will be as follows:

1. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Bell Tower

We arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Bell Tower a.k.a Bantay Church Belltower by 12:05 pm.  This is located in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. It was already noon at that time and we could really feel the burns on our skin. But that did not stop us from exploring the two remarkable landmarks not just by taking photographs. We climbed the bell tower to the top. We left bell tower at 12:40 pm. There is no entrance fee, donation only.

St. Pauls Cathedral

Bell Tower

Inside Bell Tower

2. Pagburnayan Jar Making

After enjoying the views of Vigan City from the bell tower. By 12: 55 pm, we arrived to our next destination: Pagburnayan Jar Making. Here you will be able to witness how a jar was made by hands.  You can even try it out and experience the actual process of jar making.  You can also find many  souvenir shops in the area. Please note that there are no entrance fee, donation only.

Pagburnayan Jar Making

3. Hidden Garden

Our next stop was the Hidden Garden. Hidden Garden is a restaurant garden quite far from the city proper. They served breakfast and lunch in a nature type of setting with relaxing ambiance. We then decided to have lunch here since its already passed 2 pm. We ordered the famous bagnet, Vigan longanisa and Vigan empanada. You can also see all different kinds of plants but don’t expect much on seeing flowers here.  If you happen to visit this place, try checking there unique comfort rooms as well.

Hidden Garden

Hidden Garden

Bagnet

Vigan Longanisa

4. Baluarte ni Chavit

We stayed in Hidden Garden for almost 1 hour and 30 minutes. We  arrived at our next destination: Baluarte ni Chavit by 3:28 pm.  Baluarte ni Chavit is an 80 hectares of terrains, hills and mountain sides that serves as natural habitat for Gov. Chavit Singson’s personal collection of wild animals like ostriches, tigers, donkeys, camels, stags, colorful pheasants, parrots, macaws and a lot of others. You can also see  a life-size Alamosaurus Dinosaur statue (like in the Jurassic film).  It also features Butterfly Exhibit, Photo opt with the animals (Tiger or Snake) for Php 50 with souvenir picture while using your own camera, they charged Php 20/cam.

There’s no entrance fee to Baluarte. Right outside are souvenir stores.  If you’re in a budget, you may consider buying goods from Vigan’s Public Market. Prices of items outside Baluarte are way too high.

There is also  a terminal of motorized tricycles immediately outside the gate.

Baluarte ni Chavit

By 4 pm, we left Baluarte and proceeded with our Calesa tour to  Burgos Museum, Syquia Mansion, Crisologo Museum and back to Vigan Heritage VIllage.  

Heritage Village is  the only colonial town in the Philippines and for which Vigan is known. The gateway to Heritage Village is Calle Crisologo. From there one can see the colonial past of Vigan through the Spanish houses and buildings that lined up the whole stretch of Crisologo up to Plaza Burgos. Plaza Salcedo, Vigan Cathedral, and Plaza Burgos is just beside each other. There is nothing much to see with both plazas. We just took some pictures of the famous Vigan Cathedral (also known as St Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral) instead.

The Cathedral is an imposing creamy-white building built in the “earthquake baroque” style with thick buttresses to support it through earthquakes and typhoons. A separate belltower (or belfry) was built 15 meters away from the main building — so that if one structure was destroyed in an earthquake, then the other might still remain standing. The belltower is about 25 meters high and it is surmounted by a large bronze weathercock that is said to symbolize St Peter.

Sequia / Quirino Mansion

Vigan Heritage Village

Vigan Cathedral

Vigan Cathedral Bell Tower

Vigan Cathedral

Other places you may want to visit as well:

• Juan Luna Museum
• Vigan River Cruise

At around 4:35 pm, we had a quick snack at Cafe Leona. By 5:05 pm, Jason informed me that it’s time to go to Partas bus terminal and bid goodbye to my new found friends who will be staying for a night in Vigan. So, we took a tricycle for Php 20 going to Partas terminal. However, we were informed by operators that the next bus would come by 6:00 pm.  Jason then decided to go straight to the highway to catch the buses going to Laoag City. According to him this is the fastest way to Laoag. We paid Php 30 for the tricycle going to the highway and  waited for bus with “Laoag” sign.

At 5:20pm the Farinas bus arrived. Bus fare from Vigan to Laoag is Php 110. Php 20 cheaper than Partas Bus. We arrived in the Farinas Terminal in Laoag by 7:10pm. The terminal is located in the centro, a few blocks away from Isabel Suites. So we just took a tricycle to get to my hotel. We paid Php 22.

By 7:30 pm, I am on my way to the airport via motorized tricycle and paid Php 120. I arrived  and check in at the airport by 7:45 pm and paid the terminal fee of Php 40/head.

I would recommend that you buy your food in the Laoag City proper before going to Laoag airport. Food in the airport is way too expensive and there are only few food stalls in the Departure Area. You can also try the Blind Massuer Group’s Therapeutic Massage at the departure area  while waiting for your boarding time.

At last! This is the end of my post for my adventures to Ilocos region. Thanks to those who find time reading and waiting for my posts. My next post will be the list of accommodation/hotels you can find in Vigan.

May you have an enjoyable and memorable trip to Ilocos region. See you again on my next adventure! Tata!