My Pagudpud Adventure: Taking It Easy on the Fast Lane

My Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte trip was lagare to say the least, yet so full of new and exciting experiences for a desk-bound lawstude like me that I can't help but make a short checklist out of them...

Rode a tricycle that overtook a ten-wheeler truck? check.
Rode a tricycle running at full speed to tour a province? check.
Stood beneath a gigantic windmill? check.
Had my picture taken beneath a windmill? check.
Nagpapikchur sa gitna ng mahabang tulay?check.
Climbed my first lighthouse? check(this started my quest to climb as many lighthouses as possible).
Climbed a huge white rock formation near the sea? check.
Ate a suspicious-looking orange-colored, deep-fried empanada that turned out to be so addictively delicious? check.
Ate a yummy banana split while drinking an equally yummy pineapple margarita? check.
Watched the sunset on the beach? check.
Stayed at a nice affordable hotel by the beach, with a vista of the sea? check.

All these only in Pagudpud-- and all for just one day and for a minimal budget :)


From Vigan to Laoag

Following our Vigan tour (previous post), Lheila and I proceeded to Pagudpud by taking the bus from Vigan to Laoag and then taking another, not to mention, older and creakier bus to Pagudpud. We left Vigan early in the morning, checked out of Casa Teofila at around 7AM as Shiela rested; rented a tricycle for Php30 to the bus terminal where the aircon Partas bus leaves for Laoag; and ate our breakfast of cookies and mineral water while on board the bus, the trip lasting around one-and-a-half hours. Fare was around one hundred pesos (P100.00).

To those who would be coming from Manila, one could take a bus going directly to Laoag. There are a number of bus lines catering daily and nightly Manila-Laoag trips, such as Partas, Viron, Florida, Fariñas, Philippine Rabbit and Dominion Bus Lines. The trip normally takes around eleven hours and fare could be between 600 to 800 or so for ordinary aircon and deluxe trip. Good thing that the highway to Ilocos is in good condition. Tourists who want to avoid the long bus ride and have some extra cash to spare may opt to take the plane going to Laoag. This is recommended especially because airline promos of Manila to Laoag flight could go really low. Our return ticket to Manila, for example, was only Php 699. As I've said several times, it pays to book early for a cheaper flight :)Cebu Pacific flies three times a week to and from the Laoag International Airport and Philippine Airlines also caters regular flights.

After arriving in Laoag, we asked around for the station of buses going to Pagudpud, which was actually not so far away from where we got off. The mini-bus going to Pagudpud was really old-school, although it was still beyond my expectation that we'd blow a tire in the middle of the trip and be unceremoniously delayed. It was noon already when we arrived at Pagudpud.


Pagudpud At First Glance


The DIY-Tourists: Early AM in Pagudpud

From the first moment I stepped in Pagudpud, I have that pleasant feeling of being in a rustic coastal town. It's very peaceful and simple and that simplicity is part of its charms. There were no fancy restaurants around. We chanced upon this small carenderia near the plaza where we ate our lunch of pinakbet and longganisa for less than a hundred pesos. Lheila planned and prepared ahead so our hotel room at Polaris Beach Resort was already booked and the Resort, with its friendly and accommodating staff, also arranged a tricycle that will fetch us when we arrive. If you book at Polaris, you can also ask them to arrange the Pagudpud tour for you so that all you have to do upon arrival is to confirm and voila, enjoy! Polaris is just several minutes away from the plaza and in no time, we were there already. We checked in, rested for a while and then prepared for our afternoon tour.

Where We Stayed

I found Polaris Resort to be a really nice hotel-resort without the sky-high price. The place was clean and I can't believe that our room is just Php 1200 (Php400 for each of us). It has one double and one single bed, so the twins shared the double and I got the single bed. The aircon was not just aircon but super aircon--I nearly freezed, but only because I was too lazy to get up and adjust the temp, choosing instead to endure the cold draft hehe. The room itself was maaliwalas (fresh-looking) with its pastel-colored walls. The CR was clean and there is a balconaje outside where we have a nice view of the beach. There are other cheaper rooms (PHP 800) available good for two persons, as well as larger rooms where a family could squeeze in at a relatively cheap price (approx. PHP400 per head). There's a restaurant in the first floor, but I was not able to sample the cooking because I was so satisfied with the empanada we bought at the plaza later that night :)

Places We've Been to; Things We've Done

At around 1PM the tricycle that will take us on our Pagudpud tour arrived to fetch us. My bad, I don't have his number but as far as I know, hotels or inns have contacts with these tour providers so you can easily avail of their services. And there are quite a number of them! During our time, there were around four groups that took the trike trip, including us. I'd say that the ride is not for the faint-hearted, but I'd vouch that it is also quite safe. Fare or rent for the tricycle was Php 1000.00 and this covers the standard tour of Pagudpud's tourist spots (discussed below), but you can also make requests with no additional charges like what we've done when we decided to stop at Kapurpuruwan Vista Resort. Just use your charms with the manong driver, as needed :)

Cape Bojeador

The Cape Bojeador

Our first stop was Cape Bojeador located at Bojeador, Ilocos Norte. The Cape Bojeador lighthouse was a good start for our trip because it instantly got my heart pumping after a climb of more than a hundred steps. I have no choice but to endure the seemingly endless steps since my companion, Lheila, appears to have no struggle whatsoever in climbing the stairs. Nonetheless, I immediately forgot the torment of our tedious climb once I reached the top and got awed by the view. That Cape Bojeador experience started my quest to climb every lighthouse I come across with and hopefully, there will be a number of them...


The Winding Staircase


View On Top


Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation


Nature's Wonder: Kapurpurawah White Rock

Our next stop was Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation. The rock formation, I can say, is one of nature's marvels. Its striking whiteness, height and unique shape are the handwork of wind,tide and minerals. According to the tour guides, it's a site usually frequented by photographers and in fact just the previous week, a photography class from a Manila school had their session there. It also served as a venue for a beauty pageant, although I'm quite certain that high heels will definitely not do against the sharp corals on the way to the white rock. Just like in the lighthouse, the hike toward the upper part of the rock was tiring but the feeling after--with a view of the sea and the exhilaration of standing close to the crashing waves--was priceless.








Bangui Windmills


A Definite Must-See: Bangui Windmills

Next stop was the Bangui Windmills. The Bangui windmills is one location that any tourist visiting Ilocos Norte should never miss. These eco-friendly, energy-generating giants that supply Ilocos' electricity needs, are definitely a must-see not just because it's nice to have your picture taken with them as the backdrop but because, in my case, I rarely get to see real windmills :) I could not believe how large the windmills really are that I caught my breath the first time I saw them.




Patapat Viaduct


Where Mountain and Ocean Meet: The Patapat Viaduct

We stopped for a few minutes at the Patapat Viaduct. What is so special with this concrete highway anyway that it deserved to be in our itinerary? Well, first, it is the northernmost roadway in Ilocos Norte (and second northermost roadway in Luzon) comprised of a winding bridge constructed at the edge of a coastal mountain of the Cordillera Mountain Range. Second, it has an amazing view of the earth,sky and water--that plain and simple. And while enjoying the view of the ocean, Lhei and I ate her choco chips baon and of course, took pictures. Such moments of simple contentment are the most memorable for me. We can't stay very long though because we were literally parked in a winding bridge and it was late afternoon already, we hoped to catch the sunset at the Blue Lagoon.


Lhei, Taking a Pause at the Patapat Viaduct


Blue Lagoon


The Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is a hidden treasure. Locally known as Malingay cove, Blue Lagoon is called as such because of the dark blue color of its waters. It was late afternoon already when we got there and the water looked even bluer, with the sun casting an orange-y glow that always produces a nice effect on the water. The sand is also white, but with courser grains than that of other famous beaches. All the same, with its natural unexploited beauty, the Blue Lagoon is a relaxing spot to end the afternoon.

Kapuluan Vista Resort


The Author and Her Companion, Lheila, at the Entrance of the Resort

While in Blue Lagoon, Lhei told me that there is a resort nearby that really has a relaxing atmosphere, the Kapuluan Vista Resort. Check out the pictures of the resort on its web site and see its week-end getaway ambiance. In fact, when we got there, a group of what appears to be young professionals were happily enjoying themselves in the swimming pool. Lhei and I chose a small table near the pool not to watch the happy vacationers :) but to have a better view (for the pictures of course!). When the menu arrived, I decided to try one of their cocktail drinks, a pineapple margarita, which according to the waitress is an oft-ordered item. Lhei ordered the scrumptious banana split. We shared both the drinks and the icecream+banana treat, as well as the cost (P90 for the drinks and P120 for the sweet treat).

Afternoon Treats: Margarita and Banana Split

The Kapuluan Vista Resort served as our last stop and we headed back to the Pagudpud centro (in front of the plaza) to meet Sheila. Sheila, who was just from her Vigan tour, has just finished an empanada so Lhei and I also ordered ours. MMMMMmmm...I will never forget the taste of the Ilocos empanada--hot off the cooking pan,made with fresh veggie stuffing (ubod, togue, etc) and longganisa wrapped in an orange-colored dough, and generously drizzled with sukang Ilocos. Superb. One empanada was enough to make us feel stuffed so we skipped dinner, headed back to the hotel,washed up,shared stories and slowly dozed to sleep.

One day in Pagudpud is enough to enjoy its tourist spots.It was a long day for me, but even though my body was tired, my mind was happy :) It would have been nice to stay a little more longer in Pagudpud to enjoy Saud Beach, but we were bound to return to Laoag the following day for our flight back to Manila. Hence the next day, we were off to Laoag for the last leg of our trip before finally going back home.


Here are the addresses and contact numbers of some of the Laoag-bound buses:

Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines: Rizal Ave., Manila & EDSA, Q.C. Tel # 734-9838, 734-9836

Dominion Bus Line: New York St., Cubao, Q.C. Tel # 731-4180, 741-4146

Partas Bus Company: Aurora Blvd., Q.C. Tel. # 725-7303, 724-9820

Maria de Leon Transit: Dapitan cor. Gelinos Sts., Sampaloc, Manila Tel # 731-4907