Kapuluan Vista

We came here past 4pm already of April 16, 2011. They immediately gave us our welcome drinks, coupon for complimentary breakfast and our room key.

We stayed at dormitory already since other type of rooms are fully booked. Though it has no aircon, its was fine with us, as long as we are both secured. For a cheap price of Php 650.00, the room's not bad actually.

The resort was perfect for us because it's not crowded. Since it's just a small resort, it's very private and relaxing too. Total rooms they have are only 10, one pool and a restaurant.

Most of its visitors are foreigners from different countries. We also noticed that most of them are into surfing. Though we know nothing about surfing, but we enjoyed watching them riding the perfect crest of waves.

resort @ night

Funny story:
Since we only stayed at the dormitory room, we need to get outside to be able to get to common bathroom.
The morning of our stay here in that resort, Tracy went outside to brush her teeth and do her other morning chores. She entered the bathroom happily and singing. The place was supposedly for ladies only. To her surprise when she opened the cubicle, a black American was seating on his throne. She run outside and went back to her bed. Haha.

Contact them:
Phone : 63 (920) 952-2528 or 63 (920) 928-5273
Email : kapuluan_vista_resort@yahoo.com
Website : Kapuluan Vista Resort
Address: Sitio Baniaran, Barangay Balaoi
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Philippines 2919

DAY 3 Ilocandia Tour

We woke up early and headed straight to Kapuluan Vista's restaurant to have breakfast. We had toasted bread and Vigan longanisa. It was already past 9:00 am when we checked out and left the resort.

We asked the receptionist to get us tricycle that will bring us to highway. After few minutes the tricycle arrived. At the highway, we were able to board a bus toward Baguio. We told the bus conductor to drop us in Batac ( see city's official website Batac City ). Women beside us initiated conversation, she gave us tips on where else to go. She also reminded the conductor to drop us when we got near Batac crossing. Then we took another tricycle to Paoay Church.

Paoay Church
We were mesmerize by its huge buttresses made up of large coral stone. Its walls are also made up of same materials with 1.67 m. No wonder it was able to survive numerous typhoons and earth quakes.

paoay church facade

Then we took tricycle again back to Batac crossing. We rode another bus to Vigan. We passed by Bantay church before we entered Vigan boarder line.

Bantay Church
It is also known as St. Augustine Parish Church. It's lone bell tower located on top of a hill, I wonder why it's quite far from the church.

lonely bell tower

Another tricycle ride brought us to Vigan town proper. To our hunger, we ate at the first food chain we saw, Mcdonalds. Amazing how this international fastfood chain was able to adapt local architecture.

After eating, we were able to see the following:

St. Paul's Cathedral

Plaza Salcedo

quirino's monument

Plaza Burgos

Calle Crisologo
Some calls this place as Mestizo District, I thought that the ancestral houses was built by the Spanish. I found out I was wrong, it was Chinese who built these houses. They used mixed of Spanish, Chinese and Asian style of architecture.
As of today, structures are no longer habitable so local made it as a tourist destination and where visitors can buy their souvenirs

kalesa

something you can take home

me!

While looking for the bus station, an old lady was standing next a door. She was shouting that everyone are invited to get inside and see the place. We were struck by her and went inside, we realize it was the Crisologo Museum.

Crisologo Museum
Crisologos are very well known politicians not just in Vigan but in Ilocos. The museum was used to be residence of former Congressman Floro Crisologo and his family. He was the man behind the Social Security System, thanks to him.

dining room

name

Expenses:
From Kapuluan Vista Resort to Highway - Php 60.00
Highway to Batac crossing                      - Php 75.00 / pax
Batac to Paoay Church                           - Php 80.00 (too much!)
Paoay Chuch back to Batac Crossing     -  Php 60.00
Batac Crossing to Bantay Church           - Php xx.xx (sorry I forgot)
Bantay church donation                          - Php 20.00
Bantay church to Vigan                          - Php 30.00
Crisologo Museum donation                   - Php 20.00
Vigan to Cubao                                      - Php 520.00

Day 2 Ilocandia Tour

DAY 2 Ilocadia Tour

After taking 10 1/2 bus ride from Cubao ( Partas Bus Liner), we arrived at Laoag at 6:30 am of April 16, 2011. We asked a tricycle driver to take us where we can board mini buses to Pagudpud. He dropped us in a terminal that looks like a automobile workshop, weird! We waited until 8am before the mini bus left.

We told the conductor to drop us by in Burgos, the last town of Ilocos Norte. When we already saw the Cape Bajeador Lighthouse, we begged to the conductor to look for a tricycle that will take us on said location. On step of the hill where the lighthouse is, the bus driver stop and ask a tricycle driver if he can take us to the historical structure. Good God, yes he can. He is Kuya Rodel, a tricycle driver, tour guide and a porter (he always offer to bring our baggages, nice!). Here is his number, +639208075935. He can take you to must see places in the area.

Cape Bajeador Lighthouse

Also known as Burgos Lighthouse. According to the care take, as of today, it is the oldest functioning lighthouse in the Philippines. It also have the highest vantage point compared to other lighthouses. Click here if you wanted to learn more about Cape Bajeador Lighthouse.

Cape Bojeador a.k.a. Burgos lighthouse

Kapurpurawan Rocks

Few minutes farther than Lighthouse and still in town of Burgos, you will find the Kapurpurawan rock formation. As per Kuya Rodel, during typhoons and rainy season, nobody can get there because its too dangerous. Thank God, the sun is high when we came.

White rock formation

Along the way to Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Bangui Windmills

Do you know that the windmill supplies 40% of power in entire Ilocos Norte? Cool! These huge electric fan look-a-likes are fascinating. There are souvenir shops along the beach, so we bought something that we could bring home, windmill miniature refrigeration magnet. Bangui Windmill Info.

We asked Kuya Rodel to take us in any restaurant/ fast food nearby, we were already starving to death. He took us to Polaris, Saud Beach. Which sounds good because we were craving for any grilled sea food that time. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, it is not listed on their menu. Too bad, wish that they will realize it is necessary for a beach restaurant to have those kinds of food.

Polaris Beach House
Me-Ann Santos (reservation) – 0919.307.8803
Steve Santos (reservation) – 0920.239.6138
Polaris Landline (guest inquiry) 077-676.0198

email: smspolarisbeach@yahoo.com.ph

After our quick lunch, we started our Ilocos Sur afternoon tour:

Kabigan Falls

There we met Kuya Ernesto Jr., our tour guide. We walked 30 minutes before we got to the falls itself. There are few banana que and buko juice vendors along the way, so we stop for 5 minutes to refresh.

According to Kuya Ernesto, the falls is actually 85 ft high and basin is just 4ft deep. Anyone can take a deep into the clear water, but has to be extra careful of sharp rocks.

Clearwaters of Kabigan Falls

Patapat Viaduct

Kuya Rodel told us that the original road that connects Laoag and Cagayan Valley was not Patapat Viaduct. The old road laid at middle of the mountain. Prior to former President Marcos' end of regime, he made sure that the the Ilocanos will conveniently travel from Ilocos to Cagayan Valley.

Patapat Viaduct

Paraiso ni Anton

Not much to see but fresh flowing water. Some believe that the water can miraculously heal. So, they take sip and fetch water to take home.

Then, we already asked Kuya Rodel to take us to Kupuluan Vista Resort, where we made our reservation. The said resort is located inside the Blue lagoon or Maira-ira Beach. Please see our resort review here, Kapuluan Vista Resort

Expenses:
Bus from Cubao to Laoag Terminal                   - Php    773 / pax
Tricyle from Laoag terminal to mini bus terminal - Php     50
Laoag to Burgos                                               - Php     50 / pax
Manong Rodel tricycle tour                               - Php 1200
Saud Beach entrance                                        - Php     20 / pax
Kuya Ernesto's guide fee                                   - Php   100
Kabigan Fall entrance fee                                  - Php     10 / pax
Blue Lagoon entrance                                       - Php      10 / pax
Kapuluan Accommodation                                  - Php     650 / pax

Ilocandia, Back to the Past (Itinerary)

DAY 01:

20:00H - ETD Partas Bus Liner
  
               PARTAS BUS LINER
               816 Aurora Boulevard corner P. Bernardo St., Cubao 1109 Quezon City
               Telephone Number: (02) 727-8278 (PARTAS8)

DAY 02: Here are link to detailed Day 2 Tour

06:30H - ETA Laoag
06:45H - Hailed tricyle to Mini Bus Terminal
08:00H - ETD to Burgos, Ilocos Norte
09:30H - Started AM Tour (Bojeador Lighthouse, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Bangui Windmill)

Cape Bojeador, also known as Burgos Light House

Bangui Windmill

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

11:30H - Lunch at Polaris Resort

             Here's a link to there website:   Polaris, Pagudpud



Patapat Viaduct



Kabigan Waterfalls

Blue Lagoon

 13:00H - Start of PM tour ( Kabigan Falls, Patapat Viaduct, Paraiso ni Anton and Blue Lagoon)

 16:30H - Check in at Kapuluan Vista Resort and Rest. Here's a link to our review to Kapuluan Vista Resort

Kapuluan Vista Resort

              
               Kapuluan Vista Resort
               Sitio Baniaran, Barangay Balaoi
               Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
               Philippines 2919
               63 (920) 952-2528 or 63 (920) 928-5273
               Kapuluan Vista Resort

19:00H - Dinner
20:00H - Swimming
21:00H - Sleep

DAY 3: Here's a link to detailed Day 3 Tour

06:30H - Woke up and wash up
07:00H - Breakfast
08:30H - Check out
08:45H - Tricycle back to highway
09:00H - To bus to Batac crossing
10:30H - Tricyle to Paoay to see Paoay Church
11:15H - Tricycle back to Batac crossing
11:30H - Bus to Bantay to chech Bantay Bell tower

Bantay Bell Tower

01:00H - Tricycle to Vigan Town proper
02:00H - Lunch at Mcdonalds Vigan

03:00H - Roamed around Calle Crisologo



Calle Crisologo

04:30H - Entered Crisologo Museum



Dining Room of Crisologo Ancestral House



05:00H - ETD Vigan

DAY 4:

02:30H - ETA Cubao