5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Ilocos

written on March 1st, 2016 by Kristiana Rule

Thinking of your next big trip? Northern Philippines  has special things to offer, particularly grand old Ilocos.

Here are 5 reasons why Ilocos should be on your travel bucket list:

1. Adventure

One thing you don’t normally expect from Ilocos— adrenaline-pumping adventure. Nope, Ilocos is not just a sleepy Spanish-era town, buddy.  Want proof? Go on a 4×4 adventure in Paoay’s famous sand dunes and literally have your breath taken away. It’s like a rollercoaster ride—on 800 hectares of sand with no seatbelts! When you’re done hanging on for dear life, channel your inner X-Games hero and sandboard from the top of the dunes. The spectacular view and FPJ’s Ang Panday statue are an obvious bonus.

 

2. Natural Wonders

When God created Ilocos, He was obviously bragging. Being at the northernmost tip of the archipelago means that it has wonderful beaches and rock formations. Head out to see the famed Kapurpurawan Rock formation. The beautiful white rocks look delicate against the raging waves, set in the backdrop of lush mountains and the famed windmills. Visit and marvel at the long stretch of beach and numerous rock formations and caves. There is also the underrated Kabigan falls, a beautiful surprise in the middle of the woods. It’s a bit of a trek through some farms and forest, but the natural beauty is worth every slippery step.

3. Man-made feats

Ilocos is also home to incredible works of architecture and engineering. Case in point: the Bangui windmills. 230 feet high and surprisingly graceful, these structures help supply the electricity up north. Against the hills, these windmills almost look like they came out of an alien movie. The Patapat Viaduct is also a photogenic work of modern engineering. It snakes down the northern coastline of the province and is a perfect place to take that on-the-middle-of-the-road selfie.

 

4. Food, food, food

Don’t get us started with the food. Ilocos was made for eating. With their awesome bagnet— their version of the lechon kawali, we wonder how their population keeps their blood pressure low at all. Then there is the Ilocano empanada, which, unlike all other empanadas, is made of a curious orange-colored soft-shell taco filled with awesome, veggies, and sunny-side up eggs. Best served with special Ilocano vinegar. Ugh, divine. Then, there’s the array of quirky-sounding food: pinakbet, bigaa, dinuyduy, dinakdakan. You’ll want to taste them all. And of course, there is the colonial-era inspired McDonald’s if you’re feeling rebellious.

5. Rich History

We wanted to save this one for last, because it feels like a spoiler alert. See, history is what makes Ilocos what it is: a time machine. When in Ilocos, one gets the feeling that time temporarily stopped. You can see it in their numerous centuries-old churches, bell towers and lighthouses. The Paoay Church is one such beauty. In Batac town, you can even find the preserved body of former president Ferdinand Marcos (somewhat eerie but still something to see). Ilocos is also the birthplace of national heroes like Juan Luna and Gabriela Silang. It’s a history book waiting to come to life.

There are more awesome things to do in Ilocos, but we’d leave them for you to discover. Go out there and see it for yourself!