DAY TWO: Tara sa Laoag, Paoay and enjoy the SAND DUNES!

The highlight of the tour is the great experience from the 4x4 Ride in Sand Dunes, Paoay! Worth the Penny! Wanna go back. huhuhu

Astig!! Preparing. Inhale, Exhale.

It was not on my bucket nor in any of my travel and adventure list, but riding the 4x4 truck is so fascinating. Guys, prepare yourself for a 3x fun at Sand Dunes. 

Anyway, our second day was full. We started early in the morning and ended mid-late in the evening. It was a tiring day exploring half of the Norte. But thanks for the smooth travel provided by our travel agency iTravel Philippines.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Captured Plane Ticket. Sorry for not displaying our names.

Our first travel together.

Originally, we are from Cotabato City but our flight departed from Davao City. There are quite some flights that will get us to the Metro via Cotabato City (with Cebu Pac and PAL), however, most of the destinations promos would depart from Davao City, we manage to get our ticket worth 1332.00 back and forth via Ceb Pac to Metro Manila. Promo flights would usually depart on the midnight and early morning. Cotabato to Davao fare would cost 300-350 php, ask the driver to dropped you in Matina to take a cab/taxi direct to the airport (300php).

via Davao: take the flight directly to Manila with transfer flights to Ilocos via PAL.

via Manila: take the 10 PM bus bound for Laoag at Partas Cubao and arrived around 8 AM. Deluxe ticket is Php 965 and First Class is Php 797, and you can opt this and try the 45 minute flight or private vehicle to Laoag via PAL.

Tip: In Manila there are a lot of tour agency that would offer best packages at a cheapest cost, you can choose to go in to a private tour or joiners tour, for us we settled in a joiner tour.

Let's Start our Second Day!!

We wake up early to depart to Laoag, Ilocos Norte. We actually enjoy the 1-2hr travel going to Norte. Our guides started to take us and visit the Paoay Church or the Saint Augustine Church. "Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993."

St. Augustine Church in Paoay

Known as the “Earthquake Baroque” church in the Philippines, a prime example of Earthquake Baroque architecture, which is the Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. Destructive earthquakes are common and have destroyed earlier churches all throughout the country.

Stolen Shots fronting the Paoay Church.

Next stop is the well-known Marcos Museum. "The Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center is a museum situated in Batac, Ilocos Norte dedicated to former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos which also hosts the cenotaph of the former President. The museum shows memorabilia of the late president, from his stint in the armed forces down to his presidency. The large cenotaph which contains the glass-encased coffin in which the widely believed embalmed body of Marcos was on public display shortly after his remains were brought in Ilocos Norte from the United States in 1993."

Outside the Marcos Museum.

We were able to witness the said to be "preserved-body" of the late President. However, guest are not allowed to take any pictures inside the room. It was actually one of my most awaited tour. 

In Ilocos Norte, can be found the Malacañang of the North, (or Malacañang ti Amianan, as the locals refer to it), which is a rather grand mansion, in beautiful grounds, overlooking a lake. This was a birthday gift from first lady, Imelda Marcos, to her husband on the occasion of his 60th birthday. 

Office of the late President Marcos, Malacanang of the Norte

With its sprawling expanse, this imposing mansion is intricately designed and has a mix of Spanish and Ilocano architecture. The result is quite majestic, and one of its finest features is the magnificent view, with the house looking out over well tended gardens and the beautiful Paoay Lake.

A visit to the Malacañang of the North is a rare opportunity to take a look and experience the life and grandeur of one of the most influential families the Philippines has ever known.

Window shot. Malacanang of the North.

It was full with memorabilia of the Marcos family, from pictures to furniture. Built over a five-hectare land in Suba, Paoay, it overlooks the scenic blue waters of Paoay Lake. 

It has witnessed grand events hosted by the Marcoses during their regime; everything from simple family affairs to high society grand balls. The house is built in the traditional Bahay na Bato (Stone House) tradition; made of concrete on the ground floor and wood on the second. The grand Filipino-Spanish styled house is punctured by huge traditional capiz windows.

The Malacañang of the North houses nine bedrooms and true to its grand name has not one but two living rooms and dining rooms. Everything is finished and furnished in gleaming hardwoods. The ground floor are of marble, but the second floor are all finished with shiny parquets and wide-planked hardwoods. The furnishings with a few exceptions are all antiques.

Top of the second day activity is the next destination. The Sand Dunes 4x4 ride experience. You never really wanna miss this experience! 

Sand Boarding. 

The province of Ilocos is not only about the different historical sites and/or wonders of nature as it also offers extreme activities for adventure/thrill seekers. La Paz Sand Dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte is a known site where the extreme 4x4 ride and sand boarding are being held. Sand Dunes already gained popularity as one of the must visit place when in Ilocos Norte. It has been featured to different blog sites as well as on television and films.

This is me after the Sand Boarding.

Sand boarding is also held on the same place where the 4x4 ride is being conducted. It is the same slope that I am referring earlier you'll used in sand boarding. The driver who droves us in the 4x4 ride is also our instructor in this activity. They brought kinds of 2 boards. One is for the sitting position and the other one is for the standing position. Again, no protective gears for this activity so take extra careful guys!

It was one of the most memorable adventure of my life. I can't wait to go back and experience it again. So much fun!!

We really enjoyed the ride. After the fun experience, we headed straight to the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos Ilocos Norte

To be honest, all our energy were drained because of the 4x4 ride. So less shots were taken in the light house. It is a National Treasure heritage listed by the National Museum as one of the last Philippine Spanish Lighthouses.

The lighthouse is also one of the most accessible of all the Luzon lighthouses and probably the most visited by tourists.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Right after Cape Bojeador we went straight to Kapupurawan Rock Formation. The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos is located between two popular tourist destinations: the Cape Bojeador lighthouse and the Bangui windmills.

The Kapurpurawan rock formation is standing on the rocky coast of Burgos. Burgos is located on the northwestern tip of Ilocos Norte. The place is known for its creamy white and unique limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces.

Every tourist who goes to Ilocos Norte for vacation drop-off to Burgos town just to see the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. They learn to love the place because of its panoramic view that is one of the best things to photograph.

Too tired with the hiking in the Kapurpurawan, we struggled going back to the parking lot and manage to drink a lot of water and take a rest because of the tiring hike. hehehehe

Right then, we went to our last and final destination for the day, the Bangui Windmills. We left in the Rock Formation past 5pm and we are worried on what will be the scenery in the next destination would look like because it's getting dark. 

However, we enjoyed watching the sunset and stayed there to relax after a whole day jam-packed tour in Ilocos Norte.  

Sunset Shot. Bangui Windmills, Ilocos Norte

The windmills, officially referred to as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, were a project by the NorthWind Development Corporation as a practice renewable energy sources and to help reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The project is the first “Wind Farm” in the Philippines consisting of wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea and considered to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. The project sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) and provides 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte via Transco Laoag.

Will save other photos for our own keeping. I hope that you have a nice glimpse on our tour. 

That ends our trip. We were happy that we conquered Ilocos Norte and trusted our tour provider. We may be tired and exhausted but the great experience and adventure to the place is worth the travel.

Check out my 3D2N Ilocos travel here.

Do not forget to comment and suggest!!

Love,

Cotabateña Wanderer