We managed to enjoy our tight budget tour through fellow bloggers who were so generous to share their own piece of experience to everyone. And now, I am returning the favor to all who wanted to roam and try the same tour we had :)
We headed to Florida bus station in Manila hoping to catch their Sleeper Bus (take a glimpse of this "it" bus from this blog I found online) bound to Laoag, 10PM.
Since long weekend was about to start then, the area/bus station was full of passengers all waiting for their time of departure. Sleeper bus was already booked and the earliest bus we were able to catch is set to leave 11:15PM. Since it's only past 9PM then, we went for a munch and small chat.
We left Manila around 11:45. :) [Friday night, Aug 17]
Sleeper Bus fare to Laoag - around P800
Deluxe Bus fare to Batac (Ilocos Norte) - not more than P600 (P540)
You might be wondering why we got off at Batac instead of going straight to Laoag. Batac is a town in Ilocos Norte, closest to Vigan. Why miss a single haven when you are already in Ilocos? :)
From Batac, we rode a tricycle and asked to take us to Cafe Uno, the ever famous diner within Vigan Heritage Village. Tricycle fare usual costs P10 to P15 each. [Saturday whole day, Aug 18]
Tricycle Fare from Batac to Vigan (Cafe Uno) - P10/each
Read my Vigan blog here. :) We ordered Ilocos' famous local Bagnet, Bulalo and Garlic Rice for our brunch. We shelled around P150/each for this. After doing so, we roamed around the place. :)
We decided to rent a kalesa just to experience the ride, rate is P150/hour. Kutseros will also serve as your tour guide. :) Another option is to go visit places via tryke or if the weather is fair enough, you may traverse the place by foot.
Kalesa ride - P100/each (2hours tour)
List of Places you may want to check out in Vigan:
Bantay Tower
Calle Crisologo
Syquia Mansion
Plaza Salcedo
Gomez Museum
Pagburnayan Jar
Hidden Garden
Baluarte ni Chavit
Old Bell Tower
Other expenses we had in Vigan:
Tshirt in Pagburnayan Jar: P100-P150
Empanada from Hidden Garden: P40
Donation in Bell Tower: P20
We decided not to dwell much in Vigan so we can catch Marcos' Museum & Maoseleum (in Batac) and Paoay Church before dusk. Sad thing was, it rained that afternoon. The tricycle driver we hired in Batac was the worst of all the drivers we met in Ilocos. :( He charged us P100 for a short Marcos' Mansion tour (because the museum closed earlier due to heavy rains, we only saw the maoseleum) and bus station drop off. Going to Paoay from Batac is a short jeepney ride and I believe in won't cost you more than P20. You may want to visit Malacanang of the North, too. From the articles I've read, mini buses and jeepney in Paoay may take you there. Prepare atleast P50/each. :)
Tryke from Baluarte to Bus Station (going to Laoag): P20/each
Bus fare to Batac: P98
Tryke from Batac drop off to Marcos' Museum (we rode the same tryke going to Bus station bound for Laoag): P100
Bus fare from Batac to Laoag: P60
We reached Laoag around 5PM, heavy downpour and ankle deep floods along the street. :(
We rode a tricycle to Tiffany Hotel (P11/each) and we paid P1200 (P400/ea) for a room with 2 single beds. Their rates are quite affordable but you can find other hotels around Laoag with cheaper rates compared to what they offer. :)
We hit Jollibee for dinner since it's a stone's throw away from our hotel (P150 meal and you're full) and walked to the central plaza just before midnight to get some snacks (P40/empanada). Man, you gotta try those empanadas because they're way waaaaaaaay better than those we had in Hidden Garden in Vigan.
I contacted LEAD Movement (Sand boarding pioneer in Ilocos) a week before our tour and their rates are fair enough for a one of a kind thrilling experience. :) They charge P2500 (for a group consisting of max. 4 members) for 4x4 ride Sand Dunes tour and Sand Boarding lessons/board rentals. See my blog here. Contact details are there, too. :) [Sunday whole day, Aug 19]
Other expenses we had:
Jollibee breakfast: P150
Tryke ride from Hotel to and from Laoag Floral Garden (to visit Iyel's Grandparents' tomb): P20/each
We checked out 12PM and head to St. William's but there's no afternoon mass. We had lunch in McDo (everything can be reached by foot from hotel) and spent around P200. From there, we rode tricycle to bus station bound to Pagudpud (P11/each).
Ride going to Pagudpud took us almost 2 hours and I think that the fare is too cheap for the distance we travelled. They only charged us P60. We were dropped off at the town proper and rode a tricycle to Apo Idon (we made reservations a month before our scheduled tour and paid half 2 weeks prior arrival). I strongly recommend this hotel because their staff are the warmest in the planet :) :P
You may want to read our whole Apo Idon experience here. :)
Rates are quite pricey but you may want to make arrangements with them. Just to be sure, prepare P1500/each for a standard room. :) We spent around P300/each for our dinner while breakfast is already included in our room fees. Kuya Arden, the tricycle driver who took us to Apo Idon was the same guy who toured us the following day. If you have plans of touring Pagudpud, I can give you his number. :) If you can block one whole day solely for Pagudpud tour then you'll be able to see the whole place, they are offering 2 different tours:
North bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Kaibigan Waterfalls
2. Patapat Viaduct
3. Agua Grande
4. Paraiso ni Anton
5. Timmangtang Rock
6. Bantay Abot Cave
7. Blue Lagoon
8. Dos Hermanos Islands
South bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Bangui Windmills
2. Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation
3. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
We left Apo Idon 12 noon and grab a quick lunch (P150) and proceed with our tour. We took the South tour because Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Bangui Windmills are among the reasons why I wanted to be in Ilocos. And I must say that YOU SHOULD see them, too. Piece of heaven on Earth. :) Beauty beyond adjectives can utter, beauty more than colors can paint. Yes, I fell inlove. <3
Since we are 3 in the group, we shelled out P240 each (we added P40 each as a tip because kuya arden was so nice) for the wonderful tour. He walked us through the chaotic path going Kapurpurawan, he accompanied us through the windmills, patiently waited while we shopped for pasalubongs, kuya Arden is such a good man. :) [Monday whole day, Aug 20]
Other expenses:
Souvenirs - depends on how much you wanted to spend :P
Drinks along the way
4PM and we're ready to bid Burgos (Cape Bojeador is no longer part of Pagudpud) our goodbyes. Kuya Arden took us to the highway and again waited for us 'til we were able to ride a bus goin back to Laoag. Consumed some 30 minutes waiting because all the buses were loaded and knowing how far Laoag is from Burgos, we chose to wait rather than stand and suffer soon after. :)
Bus fare from Burgos to Laoag - P40
From the bus terminal station, we rode a tryke (P11) going to Florida Bus Terminal (but again, Sleeper Bus was fully booked) and secured/paid (P650) reservations for our 8PM travel to Cubao. We walked to Jollibee (same branch :P) ate our dinner (P150) and headed to marketplace to buy some pasalubongs (tryke/P11each). Just before 7PM we're back in Florida (tryke/P11each)and waited for our bus. :)
Other expenses:
Pasalubong in one of our stop overs.
I brought 8K and came home with over 1K in my pocket. :)
I'm home by Tuesday, 5AM. :)
*Find this blog helpful? Recommend and share this to your friends too. You may leave me a message for any question you have. :)
We headed to Florida bus station in Manila hoping to catch their Sleeper Bus (take a glimpse of this "it" bus from this blog I found online) bound to Laoag, 10PM.
Since long weekend was about to start then, the area/bus station was full of passengers all waiting for their time of departure. Sleeper bus was already booked and the earliest bus we were able to catch is set to leave 11:15PM. Since it's only past 9PM then, we went for a munch and small chat.
We left Manila around 11:45. :) [Friday night, Aug 17]
Sleeper Bus fare to Laoag - around P800
Deluxe Bus fare to Batac (Ilocos Norte) - not more than P600 (P540)
You might be wondering why we got off at Batac instead of going straight to Laoag. Batac is a town in Ilocos Norte, closest to Vigan. Why miss a single haven when you are already in Ilocos? :)
From Batac, we rode a tricycle and asked to take us to Cafe Uno, the ever famous diner within Vigan Heritage Village. Tricycle fare usual costs P10 to P15 each. [Saturday whole day, Aug 18]
Tricycle Fare from Batac to Vigan (Cafe Uno) - P10/each
Read my Vigan blog here. :) We ordered Ilocos' famous local Bagnet, Bulalo and Garlic Rice for our brunch. We shelled around P150/each for this. After doing so, we roamed around the place. :)
We decided to rent a kalesa just to experience the ride, rate is P150/hour. Kutseros will also serve as your tour guide. :) Another option is to go visit places via tryke or if the weather is fair enough, you may traverse the place by foot.
Kalesa ride - P100/each (2hours tour)
List of Places you may want to check out in Vigan:
Bantay Tower
Calle Crisologo
Syquia Mansion
Plaza Salcedo
Gomez Museum
Pagburnayan Jar
Hidden Garden
Baluarte ni Chavit
Old Bell Tower
Other expenses we had in Vigan:
Tshirt in Pagburnayan Jar: P100-P150
Empanada from Hidden Garden: P40
Donation in Bell Tower: P20
We decided not to dwell much in Vigan so we can catch Marcos' Museum & Maoseleum (in Batac) and Paoay Church before dusk. Sad thing was, it rained that afternoon. The tricycle driver we hired in Batac was the worst of all the drivers we met in Ilocos. :( He charged us P100 for a short Marcos' Mansion tour (because the museum closed earlier due to heavy rains, we only saw the maoseleum) and bus station drop off. Going to Paoay from Batac is a short jeepney ride and I believe in won't cost you more than P20. You may want to visit Malacanang of the North, too. From the articles I've read, mini buses and jeepney in Paoay may take you there. Prepare atleast P50/each. :)
Tryke from Baluarte to Bus Station (going to Laoag): P20/each
Bus fare to Batac: P98
Tryke from Batac drop off to Marcos' Museum (we rode the same tryke going to Bus station bound for Laoag): P100
Bus fare from Batac to Laoag: P60
We reached Laoag around 5PM, heavy downpour and ankle deep floods along the street. :(
We rode a tricycle to Tiffany Hotel (P11/each) and we paid P1200 (P400/ea) for a room with 2 single beds. Their rates are quite affordable but you can find other hotels around Laoag with cheaper rates compared to what they offer. :)
We hit Jollibee for dinner since it's a stone's throw away from our hotel (P150 meal and you're full) and walked to the central plaza just before midnight to get some snacks (P40/empanada). Man, you gotta try those empanadas because they're way waaaaaaaay better than those we had in Hidden Garden in Vigan.
I contacted LEAD Movement (Sand boarding pioneer in Ilocos) a week before our tour and their rates are fair enough for a one of a kind thrilling experience. :) They charge P2500 (for a group consisting of max. 4 members) for 4x4 ride Sand Dunes tour and Sand Boarding lessons/board rentals. See my blog here. Contact details are there, too. :) [Sunday whole day, Aug 19]
Other expenses we had:
Jollibee breakfast: P150
Tryke ride from Hotel to and from Laoag Floral Garden (to visit Iyel's Grandparents' tomb): P20/each
We checked out 12PM and head to St. William's but there's no afternoon mass. We had lunch in McDo (everything can be reached by foot from hotel) and spent around P200. From there, we rode tricycle to bus station bound to Pagudpud (P11/each).
Ride going to Pagudpud took us almost 2 hours and I think that the fare is too cheap for the distance we travelled. They only charged us P60. We were dropped off at the town proper and rode a tricycle to Apo Idon (we made reservations a month before our scheduled tour and paid half 2 weeks prior arrival). I strongly recommend this hotel because their staff are the warmest in the planet :) :P
You may want to read our whole Apo Idon experience here. :)
Rates are quite pricey but you may want to make arrangements with them. Just to be sure, prepare P1500/each for a standard room. :) We spent around P300/each for our dinner while breakfast is already included in our room fees. Kuya Arden, the tricycle driver who took us to Apo Idon was the same guy who toured us the following day. If you have plans of touring Pagudpud, I can give you his number. :) If you can block one whole day solely for Pagudpud tour then you'll be able to see the whole place, they are offering 2 different tours:
North bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Kaibigan Waterfalls
2. Patapat Viaduct
3. Agua Grande
4. Paraiso ni Anton
5. Timmangtang Rock
6. Bantay Abot Cave
7. Blue Lagoon
8. Dos Hermanos Islands
South bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Bangui Windmills
2. Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation
3. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
We left Apo Idon 12 noon and grab a quick lunch (P150) and proceed with our tour. We took the South tour because Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Bangui Windmills are among the reasons why I wanted to be in Ilocos. And I must say that YOU SHOULD see them, too. Piece of heaven on Earth. :) Beauty beyond adjectives can utter, beauty more than colors can paint. Yes, I fell inlove. <3
Since we are 3 in the group, we shelled out P240 each (we added P40 each as a tip because kuya arden was so nice) for the wonderful tour. He walked us through the chaotic path going Kapurpurawan, he accompanied us through the windmills, patiently waited while we shopped for pasalubongs, kuya Arden is such a good man. :) [Monday whole day, Aug 20]
Other expenses:
Souvenirs - depends on how much you wanted to spend :P
Drinks along the way
4PM and we're ready to bid Burgos (Cape Bojeador is no longer part of Pagudpud) our goodbyes. Kuya Arden took us to the highway and again waited for us 'til we were able to ride a bus goin back to Laoag. Consumed some 30 minutes waiting because all the buses were loaded and knowing how far Laoag is from Burgos, we chose to wait rather than stand and suffer soon after. :)
Bus fare from Burgos to Laoag - P40
From the bus terminal station, we rode a tryke (P11) going to Florida Bus Terminal (but again, Sleeper Bus was fully booked) and secured/paid (P650) reservations for our 8PM travel to Cubao. We walked to Jollibee (same branch :P) ate our dinner (P150) and headed to marketplace to buy some pasalubongs (tryke/P11each). Just before 7PM we're back in Florida (tryke/P11each)and waited for our bus. :)
Other expenses:
Pasalubong in one of our stop overs.
I brought 8K and came home with over 1K in my pocket. :)
I'm home by Tuesday, 5AM. :)
*Find this blog helpful? Recommend and share this to your friends too. You may leave me a message for any question you have. :)
