Ilocos Region: Travel back in time

Details

Category: Destination

Published on Sunday, 22 January 2012 02:11

Ilocos Norte • Ilocos Sur • La Union • Pangasinan

Regional profile

The Ilocos Region is located northwest of Luzon. It is composed of four provinces - Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

How to get there and go around

The provinces in the Ilocos Region can be accessed by road using the national highways and expressways. Travelers can ride air-conditioned buses from Metro Manila. Bus companies like Maria de Leon, Partas, Philippine Rabbit, and Viron are popular choices. The Ilocos Region is also accessible by air via the Laoag Airport in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and San Fernando Airport in San Fernando City, La Union. Major domestic airlines that operate in the region are Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

Once in the provinces, there is a variety of transportation options travelers can choose from, depending on their destination. Mini-buses, tricycles, jeepneys, and rented vans are the usual modes of transportation for tourists.

Where to stay

Hotels, inns, and homestays are available in major urban and tourist centers of the Ilocos region. To learn more, provincial websites (see next page for links) have a list of accommodations for travelers.

What to eat

Ilocano cuisine is widely known for its use of local vegetables and pork, but coastal areas also offer a variety of seafood delicacies. Must-try food in the Ilocos Region are the Vigan Longganisa (Vigan-style smoked pork sausages) from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; the Ilocano Bagnet (twice-cooked crispy pork belly) from the Ilocos provinces; inihaw na bangus (grilled milkfish stuffed with tomatoes and spices) from Pangasinan; and the ubiquitous pakbet (local vegetables sautéed in fish/shrimp paste). These dishes, along with other delicacies, are usually available in local restaurants.

What to buy

Popular items to bring home from the Ilocos region are usually food products such as tupig (grilled rice cakes) and daing na bangus (marinated deboned milkfish) from Pangasinan, Vigan Longganisa, and basi (sugar cane wine). Moreover, local crafts such as the abel Iloko (Ilocos-style loom weaving) and burnay jars (black clay jars) are available in Ilocos Sur.

What to see and do

Surfing in La Union

La Union is touted to be the Surfing Capital of the North. The clear beaches of La Union are ideal for water sports such as snorkeling, water skiing, and surfing. Travelers can try Bauang Beach, City Beach, and San Juan Beach for surfing.

Island hopping in Pangasinan

Pangasinan is home to the Hundred Islands, a government national park in Alaminos City composed of 123 islands and islets. The diverse natural resources of Hundred Islands provide a wide range of activities for the traveler, including island hopping, kayaking, parasailing, spelunking, snorkeling, among others.

Experience Colonial Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Vigan City in Ilocos Sur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still hosts Spanish-era houses in its streets. Travelers would want to visit Crisologo Street and travel back in time to the Spanish colonial period as they walk along a line of Spanish houses on a stone-paved lane. Old homes, such as the Syquia Mansion, have been turned into museums, allowing tourists to experience thecolonial lifestyle. Vigan provides a rich cultural experience for the traveler. Visitors can dine al-fresco on stone paved sidewalks in front of restaurants like Cafe Leona. One could also eat the scrumptious Vigan empanada, a meat and vegetable pie, at hawker stands near the city plaza.

Visit World Heritage Sites: Ilocos Churches

The Ilocos Region boasts of two UNESCO world heritage site churches. For a perfect example of the uniquely Filipino “earthquake baroque” architecture, travelers should visit the San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. On the other hand, tourists should visit the Nuestra Señora dela Asunción in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, a brick church is built like a fortress on a hill.

To learn more about the Philippines’ other world heritage sites visit the UNESCO page on the Philippines here.

Relevant Contacts and Online Resources

Department of Tourism Region I

G/F Oasis Country Resort Hotel, Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union
Tel. No.: (+6372) 888-2098 • 888-2411 • 242-1656 • Fax No.: (072) 888-2098
Laoag Satellite Office
Rm. 207 2/F Ilocano Heroes Hall, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Tel. No.: (+6377) 771-1473 • 772-0467

LA UNION

La Union Tourism Office
Ground Floor Capitol Building
Aguila Road, San Fernando City
Tel. No.: (+6372) 888-2797
La Union Government Website
La Union Accommodations
Click here for details.

PANGASINAN

Pangasinan Tourism Office
First Floor Malong Building, Capitol Compound,
Lingayen, Pangasinan 2401
Tel. No. : (+6375) 542-8007
Fax No.: (+6375) 542-6853
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click here for the Pangasinan Tourism Office.
Pangasinan Accommodations and Restaurants
Click here for details.

ILOCOS NORTE

Ilocos Norte Tourism Office

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
URL: http://inorte.org
Ilocos Norte Accommodations
Click here for details.

ILOCOS SUR

Ilocos Sur Tourism Office

Vigan City
Tel. No. (+6377) 722-8520
Click here to go to the Ilocos Sur Tourism Office Official Site.
Ilocos Sur Accommodations
Click here for details.

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