From Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte
If you are looking for a beach getaway, Ilocos is the place to go. Although the beaches get crowded during peak season, Blue Lagoon and Saud Beach are still noteworthy destinations for beach lovers heading to Pagupud. Blue Lagoon has fine white sand, and turquoise waters. Walking further north would take you to a secluded part of the beach where you see two large rock formations and a stunning view of the cove.
The highlight of the trip for me was the sand dunes 4x4 ride and sand boarding. The exhilarating 4x4 ride shook me to the core as the other participants and I tried to hold onto the rails of the truck as it rode through the sand dunes. I couldn't take pictures because if I did, I would probably fall of the truck.
When we got to the sand boarding area, I immediately went up to the starting point and measured how long the slope was. On my first attempt, I decided to sand board sitting down to get a feel. There was a long line of people but the experience was worth it.
On my second attempt, I tried standing up like a surfer riding the sand. I saw several people wipe out, either falling on their backs or hitting the sand face first (ouch). I tried to maintain balance but I eventually fell on my back after a few seconds riding the sand standing up. Despite the wipe out, I enjoyed the experience very much.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is a sight to behold with its unique shape and white color. Despite the large crowds posing with the rock, I still enjoyed it. Visitors were not allowed to approach the rock, but some of the nearby formations were quite impressive as well.
The iconic Bangui windmills provides power to the region. Our group waited till sunset to get a magnificent view of the windmills and its beautiful silhouette amidst a background of orange, yellow, and red.
If you want to get a glimpse of the region's Spanish colonial past, head on to Vigan's Calle Crisologo, a UNESCO Heritage Town. This bustling town is teeming with tourists snapping photos of Spanish era houses and the cobblestone streets. Calesas make their distinct clop-clop-clop sounds as visitors flock to the souvenir shops and restaurants getting Ilocos delicacies such as longanisa and the mouthwatering bagnet.
A trip to this region would be incomplete, if you do not eat its deliciously unhealthy food such as bagnet, empanada, dinakdakan, and pinakbet (pizza!).
With Ms. Benny from Barefoot Travels
Ilocos is a vibrant region that has a diverse landscape, culture, and food. There are plenty of things to do, even if you have to share it with hundreds of people during peak season.Barefoot Travel brought me and other travelers to Ilocos comfortably and adjusted the itinerary accordingly to avoid the huge crowds that came with traveling over labor day weekend.
Barefoot Travels
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*DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post but thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
