Visiting ILOCOS, PHILIPPINES by Cruise?

ILOCOS (SALOMAGUE) PORT

Salomague Port is a beautiful port and a famous natural attraction situated near the town of Cabugao in Ilocos Sur, the northernmost part of the Philippines. The port and the same name harbor are located near the resort called Monte Costa, but still the area is usually not so crowded and packed with tourists. The port offers great views to the ocean and the surrounding nature. There has been port facilities in the area for centuries and historically the port has been used as a small commercial spot especially for vehicles of fishermen. There is a large pier in the modern days Salomague Port where the boats can land and where people can walk a bit. Alongside commercial, it is also possible to see passenger ships landing to the port.

HIDDEN GARDEN

Located outside Vigan City proper, Hidden Garden is a popular tourist destination. It was a personal venture of its owner, Francis Flores, a retired engineer, before it opened to the public in 1991.

HIDDEN GARDEN map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — HIDDEN GARDEN MAP

PLAZA SALCEDO

Tourists can enjoy the beautiful Dancing Fountain, which usually comes alive at night with synchronized water movements and colorful lights. They can also appreciate the surrounding Spanish colonial structures, including the Vigan Cathedral, and engage with local vendors selling Ilocano goods and souvenirs.

Plaza Salcedo is located in the heart of Vigan City, bounded by Burgos Street to the north and V. de los Reyes Street to the east. It is adjacent to the Vigan Cathedral, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle.

The Dancing Fountain typically operates in the evening, with shows starting around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. It is advisable to check locally for the exact times as they may change depending on the season or special events.

PLAZA SALCEDO map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — PLAZA SALCEDO MAP

MINDORO BEACH

(Please note that Mindoro Beach may not be open to the public during your visit. Make sure to double-check before your trip.)

Mindoro Beach has powdery black sand that makes it unique from other beaches in the Philippines. The beach directly faces no less than the West Philippine Sea. The currents can be strong so it is best to wade in the beach’s clear blue waters and admire the scenery without going into the deeper parts of the water.

Because of its location, it features magnificent sunset views The beach is being developed to offer better accessibility to tourists. You can join Vigan tours to get there easily and know the friendly and accommodating locals living here.

MINDORO BEACH map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — MINDORO BEACH MAP

VIGAN CATHEDRAL

Vigan Cathedral is an easily-seen landmark just fronting Plaza Salcedo. The church is also called the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, as the church is dedicated to converting the famous saint to Christianity.

One of the oldest churches in Vigan, the cathedral is an impressive model of Baroque architecture. It was commissioned by Juan de Salcedo in 1574. But it was refurbished at the turn of the 18th century. The residence of martyr Father Jose Burgos is just a stone’s throw from there.

The bell tower is located just across the street at Plaza Burgos, which is why you’ll typically see visitors taking souvenir shots in this important landmark.

This characteristic is also a strong clue to the Baroque design of the church. During that era, church construction separated the bell tower from the main building to help it withstand natural calamities like earthquakes. Today, the ancient church is more earthquake-proof, as locals have added reinforcements to the structure while keeping its beauty and grandeur.

VIGAN CATHEDRAL map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — VIGAN CATHEDRAL MAP

BANTAY CHURCH BELL TOWER

Located within the compound of Saint Augustine Parish Church, the belfry overlooks the Bantay district in northeastern Vigan.

It undoubtedly gives one of the best views of Vigan, but be ready to climb a winding staircase to reach the top of the structure. Here, you’ll find the bell tower that the locals used to check for approaching invaders during the Spanish period and then World War II. The bell and all of its enormous size sit firmly right in the center of the tower.

Upon your descent from the tower, you’ll want to do the traditional snapshot, wherein you stand at the foot of the hill so that it looks like your palm is holding the tower. Couples can also join their hands to create a heart shape with the belfry appearing to be enclosed in it.

You can also spend a minute reflecting or meditating from the church's gardens, which the locals call Chapel by the Ruins.

BANTAY CHURCH BELL TOWER map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — BANTAY CHURCH BELL TOWER MAP

CALLE CRISOLOGO

Calle Crisologo is the first thing that comes to mind whenever Vigan City is mentioned because it’s the area’s most popular and visited tourist attraction. The street is considered the mestizo district and has the iconic look of old Spanish towns made of cobblestone grounds and pavements with ancestral houses on both sides of the street.

The street is also lined with shops selling bespoke kalesa wheels, native food products, hand-woven clothes and blankets, and other similar handcrafted goodies.

Calle Crisologo takes you back to a time of horse-drawn carriages, so grab the chance to take a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) ride. It’s a virtual panoramic tour, which saves you from tons of walking and lets you enjoy the sights in style.

The ride is a standard one-hour tour around the city center. It traverses Calle Crisologo with side trips on the Heritage Village, Vigan Cathedral, and lastly, Plaza Burgos. Calle Burgos rides also vary. You may want to haggle with your horseman and figure out what would fit your budget and which stops you’d like to have.

By nighttime, crowds gather at Calle Crisologo to eat, drink, listen to music, and share stories about their Vigan tour.

CALLE CRISOLOGO map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — CALLE CRISOLOGO MAP

BALUARTE ZOO

Baluarte means “encampment.” It can also be a loose term for a zoo, which is the exact fitting description for this private property that belongs to a prominent government leader in the Ilocandia province.

Hours open: Mon to Sun: 8:00AM to 5:00PM, last entry: 4:00PM. Entrance fee: PHP 75.00Baluarte Zoo is a 100-hectare zoological park that houses all sorts of animals. It has livestock, such as sheep, , ducks, chickens, and ponies. There is also an aviary with exotic and local birds, including ostriches.

You will also encounter wild animals from snakes and crocodiles to lions and tigers. You can have a good look at the animals in Baluarte Zoo by watching the daily shows. For picture-taking, the larger-than-life replicas of dinosaurs are a safer option than standing next to live animals, especially the wild ones.

Admission is free, and it’s best to visit in the morning to catch the animals being fed and roaming the open grounds with their trainer.

BALUARTE ZOO map with blue line route in blue, green and white background — BALUARTE ZOO MAP

ARCE MANSION

SYQUIA MANSION, a well-preserved ancestral home, showcasing elegant architecture — SYQUIA MANSION

Here, you can have a unique cosplay-like experience, as the staff help you into elaborate costumes of your choice. Each of these costumes represent how people of different social classes showed themselves in public during the Spanish era. They also serve dinner dressed in fancy suits from the period. The museum offers lodging accommodations if you wish to extend your visit by staying for a

Fee(s): Guests are charged P150 for the costumes; P1,500 per person for the costume, photo

SYQUIA MANSION

The Syquia Mansion is named after the wife of President Elpidio Quirino and is where the couple resided. The stone mansion is a typical ancestral house with generous ceiling level, old wood flooring on the second level, antique furniture, authentic Chinaware, and majestic family portraits.The ground floor has a vintage carriage as its centerpiece, which depicts the mode of transportation used by upper-class families like the Syquias.