This blog post will tell you all the Ilocos Sur tourist spots and things to do in Ilocos Sur. But we will write about Vigan, beaches in Ilocos Sur, caves and even falls in Ilocos Sur.
Read here our travel guide where to stay in Vigan
SIM CARD AT MANILA AIRPORT
I wouldn’t recommend you to buy a sim card at Manila airport. If you wish comfort you can buy eSim online and if you aren’t in a hurry just go around phone shops in the city and compare prices to buy the cheapest sim card in Manila. Read here Philippines sim card for tourist and best Philippines eSim
WHERE TO STAY IN THE PHILIPPINES
You can get accommodation starting from 800-1000 PHP (less than $20 USD) for a room in a guesthouse. Can you imagine if you are two of you traveling in the Philippines, it will be $10 USD each.
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BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review
You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included
DAILY BUDGET TO VISIT ILOCOS SUR
For budget or DIY travelers budget travel in Ilocos Sur is now very possible. Including accommodation, food, transportation and some entrance fees on the side, you can go around Ilocos Sur for a day for 1500 PHP or even less!
With 1500 PHP can be a good budget with food, transportation and accommodation plus entrance fees. You can go for local food for 50-70 PHP in local carinderias and around 150 PHP in local restaurants in Ilocos Sur where you will find Filipino and Western food.
For accommodation in Ilocos Sur a budget room would cost minimum 1000 PHP ($20 USD) and you can go up to 5000 PHP. There are Airbnb options starting from $15-25.
WHERE TO STAY IN VIGAN? CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING.
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ILOCOS SUR TOURIST SPOTS AND THINGS TO DO IN ILOCOS SUR
The most popular place to visit in Ilocos Sur is Vigan. But there are also nice beaches in Ilocos Sur, caves and falls. We will write about all of them from historical sites to the best places to visit in the nature in Ilocos Sur.
HISTORICAL SITES IN ILOCOS SUR
1. EXPLORE PLAZA SALCEDO
The first in the list of Ilocos Sur tourist spots is Plaza Salcedo in Vigan. The Main Plaza is Vigan is the first thing that we saw. It’s really beautiful for waking around. Next to Vigan Plaza you will find a few places to eat street food and restaurants around.
2. SAINT PAUL CATHEDRAL
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul is also known as Vigan Cathedral. St Paul Cathedral is Roman Catholic and it’s located closed to Crisologo Street and Plaza Burgos.
3. PLAZA SALCEDO FOUNTAIN SHOW
Dancing Fountain Show at Plaza Salcedo at 7 pm during weekdays and during the weekends there is a second show qt 8 30 pm. It;s so beautiful and is one of the Ilocos Sur tourist spots that you can’t skip.
4. VISIT SYQUIA MANSION
The Syquia Mansion is a Majestic, 19th-century stone mansion that features grand, opulent rooms, period furnishings & art. The Syquia Mansion tour is free, but a donation may be given to the caretaker.
5. VISIT FATHER JOSE BURGOS’ HOUSE
Padre Burgos House or also called National Museum, is the ancestral house and birthplace of priest patriot Fr. Jose Burgos. It is one of the notable historic structures of Vigan, the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is a two-story structure located near the Provincial Capitol and close to St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral.
6. EXPLORE CRISOLOGO STREET
Calle Crisologo dominates the Mestizo district, with its cobblestone streets, malecón, horse-drawn carriages and rustic mansions, you will surely feel like you’ve been transferred to a different place, rather, to a different time!
Full of souvenirs and picturesque everywhere, you feel like walking around old towns in Spain. You can’t miss in the list of Ilocos Sur tourist spots. It’s also popular ride a calesa to move around these streets.
7. VISIT CRISOLOGO MUSEUM
This Museum is the house of the late former politician Floro S. Crisologo. It is now turned into a museum with memorabilia & furniture. The Crisologo Museum is found along De Los Reyes Street in Vigan.
8. VISIT BANTAY BELL TOWER
The Saint Augustine Parish Church, commonly known as Bantay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. The church was dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo. It is also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. Bantay Bell Tower is one of Vigan’s most iconic structure. Built in 1951, you can see the panoramic view of Vigan in this historical tower.
9. SANTA MARIA CHURCH
Santa Maria Church is located in Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur. The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Nuestra Señora de la Asunción). The church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.
10. EXPERIENCE PAGBURNAYAN
Pagburnayan Jar Making is also a well know of the things to do in Ilocos Sur wants to experience. It is located in Brgy. Pagburnayan in Vigan. Pagburnayan is a place where they used the old and authentic methods in pottery.
The root word “burnay” is an earthenware jar crafted by potter’s hands with the aid of a potter’s wheel. It uses fine sand (anay) as a tempering material and fired at a high temperature in a huge brick-and-clay ground kiln that make it is harder and more durable than other terra cotta.
11. ABEL WEAVING
The Abel is the traditional woven used in Vigan. The Abel cloth is strong and colorful. Abel is made from yarns of cotton or sagut from the North Luzon where they are growing of this plant.
12. TRY LOCAL FOOD
Try local food is one of our favorithe things to do in Ilocos Sur and everywhere that we visit ha! The Vigan empanada is much in keeping with the Vigan people’s love for vegetables in their cuisine. Empanadas with meat and vegetables you can find them everywhere. For 35 PHP as street food you can taste a good ones!
Also popular meals to try in Ilocos Sur are longganisa, sinanglao a beef soup and bagnet fried crispy pork.
NATURE ILOCOS SUR TOURIST SPOTS
13. VISIT BALUARTE CHAVIT SINGSON
Baluarte Chavit Singson or Baluarte Zoo is a zoological park in Vigan, Ilocos Sur Philippines that is owned by Chavit Singson. Baluarte is just ten minute drive from Vigan City. It features a number of live animals like ostrich, tigers, lions, ducks, camels, kangaroos, and deers among others that lives peacefully at the zoo.
There is also a butterfly garden and a gallery which showcases the owner’s collection from his trip to Safari. There is no entrance fee. Operating hours is 6AM to 6PM.
14. CRUISE MESTIZO RIVER
Mestizo River is a stream and is located in Province of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos, Philippines. Mestizo River has so much importance in history in Vigan. It was used to transport goods in the old times.
BEACHES IN ILOCOS SUR
15. MINDORO BEACH
This beach is located in Barangay Mindoro, located five kilometers east of the town center. The beach, which faces the West Philippine Sea, has dark but fine sands. It’s also one of the favorite places to go to by the the tourists because like most places on the Philippines in west coast, it offers a beautiful view of the sunset.
There are cottages where guests can chill and rest. One of the features that grabs the attention of the people visiting is the concrete breakwaters that looked like giant jackstones.
16. SULVEC BEACH NARVACAN
Sulvec Beach is located in Narvacan at Ilocos Sur. Sulvec Beach is one of the popular Ilocos Sur tourist spots apart from Vigan. It has rock formations with a grotto by the sea. There are a few cottages in the beach if you would love to spend the day. As you know guys sunset by the beach is always the best time to visit.
17. SABANGAN COVE
Sabangan Cove or Santiago Cove is located in Santiago at Ilocos Sur. It’s called the Boracay of Ilocos because of their white sand and blue water. It’s perfect place to spend the day swimming and snorkeling. You can even stay at Vitalis White Sands and Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant.
18. PUG-OS BEACH IN CABUGAO
Pug-Os Beach in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur just 30 minutes driving North Vigan. A great place for relaxing and swimming to spend the day or the weekend if you prefer. It can be the most popular in the list of Ilocos Sur beaches.
There are few places to stay we recommend you to check it out Cabugao Beach Resort.
19. MOUNT TIRAD
Mount Tirad is located in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. It’s the third highest mountain in Ilocos Sur with 1154 meters. It’s an easy hike that will take you around 30 minutes from Pilar town to get the amazing views.
CAVES IN ILOCOS SUR
20. YAMASHITA CAVE
Yamashita Cave is located in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Yamashita Cave named is because of General Yamashita was hidden in the cave during the World War II. To reach Yamashita Cave you will have to hile around 40 minutes from Cervantes.
21. KEN NGILAWEN BURIAL CAVE
Ken Ngilawen Burial Cave in Alilem, Ilocos Sur. Ken Ngilawen Burial Cave have two log coffins with a sculpture and inscriptions. To reach the burial cave from Apaya barangay you will have to hike a few minutes.
FALLS IN ILOCOS SUR
22. PIKKANG FALLS
Pikkang Falls is located in Barangay Malamin in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. You will have to hike 30-40 minutes crossing the river to get to Pikkang Falls. The place is beautiful and you will enjoy swimming.
23. SANGBAY NI RAGSAK FALLS AND DAWARA FALLS
Sangbay ni Ragsak Falls and Dawara Falls are located in Suyo, Ilocos Sur. Sangbay ni Ragsak Falls and Dawara Falls you can visit both at the same time. You will find only locals around and it will be amazing if you like hiking around the nature.
24. AW-ASEN FALLS
Aw-asen Falls is located in Santo Rosario in Sigay. It’s one of the most remote places in this list of Ilocos tourist spots. You will have to trek for more than an hour to reach Aw-asen falls. It will be totally worth it especially if you love adventure.
Hope you liked our Ilocos Sur tourist spots guide and all the things to do in Ilocos Sur. Let us know in the comments below if we are missing something.
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Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.