Touring Ilocos Without a Car Part 3: Pagudpud
This is Part 3 of Touring Ilocos Without a Car series.
As I mentioned in my previous post, there are 2 gorgeous beaches in Pagudpud, Saud and Blue Lagoon or what is known by the locals as “Maira-ira”. Both offers nice, soft, white sand and surfing waves (at the right time of the year). The two beaches are about 20 minutes apart from each other so choosing where to stay will be based on what beach you prefer.
SAUD OR BLUE LAGOON?
You can compare Saud Beach to Puerto Galera wherein the resorts are all lined up for you to choose from. Since there are plenty of resorts along Saud Beach, expect many people and activities around. Also, there are many places to eat in Saud. If you like crowds when you go to a beach, choose Saud.
Saud Beach, not crowded on December
If you want privacy, then Blue Lagoon is for you. It is practically off the beaten path. There are three major resorts in Blue Lagoon. Hannah’s, Punta Azul and the farthest to the beach, Kapuluan Vista Resort. You can also rent nipa huts at the parking area. From Kapuluan, it’s about 7-10 minutes walk going there.
Blue Lagoon on a calm, sunny day. Waves are larger in December.
If you’re planning to go during the Holy Week, book as early as December. Blue Lagoon gets a lot of tourists during Holy Week so it might get crowded. But not as crowded as Saud though.
We decided to check-in at Kapuluan Vista Resort because it’s nearer Blue Lagoon at that time. Not to mention that it’s cheaper than the nice resorts at Saud.
KAPULUAN VISTA RESORT
Welcome to Kapuluan Vista Resort
Mike and his wife Alma owns the beautiful place. It is situated far from the shore so you don’t have to worry about storm surges unlike in Saud. The beach in front of the resort is not swimmable but very surfable with the nice reef breaks. They offer surf lessons and surfboard rentals by the way.
Mike, the owner of the resort, told us that the best time to visit them is around July – September when the weather is not too hot, the water not to cold and the breeze is just right.
Our room is simple but with a zen-inspired theme, we even have a bonsai on our bathroom. With the wind blowing and the waves crashing, sometimes you don’t wanna leave your bed. The food is very great that some people go there just to eat. It’s a bit pricey though for the budget-conscious but their package already includes free breakfast.
PAGUDPUD TOUR
The following day, we decided to take the Pagudpud tour after lunch.
Ask the locals or the resort employees to get you a tricycle to tour you around Pagudpud. It will cost you around Php 500-600 for a whole day tour. Here are the places that you can visit:
- Blue Lagoon / Saud (depends on where you are staying)
- Patapat Bridge and Viaduct
- Agua Grande
- Paraiso ni Anton
- Kabigan Falls
Manuel was our tricycle driver / tour guide / photographer. He charged us Php 500 for the tour which did not include the Kabigan Falls because aside from a 30-minute hike to the falls, the ground is a bit slippery.
It took us less than 3 hours to do the entire tour since we only planned to see the sights and take pictures. But I think for the Php 500 we paid, we could stay for a while at the beach if we decided to swim. Better ask the driver first before you commit.
The winding Patapat Bridge
Patapat Viaduct
Agua Grande Mini Hydro Power Plant
Paraiso ni Anton, there’s also a grotto here but that’s it
Afterwards, we spent the rest of the day sleeping, eating, chatting with Mike and her wife, telling sweet nothings to each other and preparing for our trip back to Laoag the following day.
CAPE BOJEADOR LIGHTHOUSE and BANGUI WINDMILLS
What about the Lighthouse and Windmills? We did not visit those two since it’s hard without a car. They are located in between Laoag and Pagudpud.
Bangui Windmills and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
There are some tricycles you could rent to get there (for P600 for both places) but it’s a very long and cramped ride. 1 hour to Bangui and another hour to the Lighthouse.
If you decide to take a bus going to the Bangui Windmills, ask to be dropped at Bangui and take a trike from there. For the Lighthouse, ask the bus conductor to drop you off Burgos and take a trike from there.
Mike told us that they offer a van transport from the airport to their resort for Php3000. They can stop at the lighthouse and windmills on the way.
I’ll write about Laoag on the next part.
If you have any questions/suggestions/corrections, please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!
You might also be interested in:
- Touring Ilocos Without a Car Part 2: Going to Pagudpud
- Punta Azul, for a “homey” stay in Pagudpud
- Touring Ilocos Without a Car Part 1: From Manila to Laoag
- Got back from Pagudpud
Filed under: Travel
Hi Calvin!
i would like to commend ur wonderful blog!very informative =) My husband and i are planning to go to Pagudpud this Sept & im doing all the planning so its kinda hard. Pls see below my planned itinerary and if you may kindly check if this will be possible & if we can visit all the interesting spots w/o rushing ourselves. We’l be taking the bus by thurs nyt so we’ll b there by early friday.
Fri: am -arrival at Pagudpud/ Lunch
12nn -Pgudpud tour
6pm bck to hotel
Sat: 8am leave Pagudpud then head to Laoag
nn -Lunch at Laoag (prolli stay at BDB too =))/ Laoag tour
7pm -back to BDB
Sun: 7am leave Laoag then head to Vigan
9am -1pm Vigan tour
1pm back to BDB
Our flight back to MNL is Sun 7:35pm. Also, can you suggest stores or places where we can shop for goodies and pasalubong which are affordable? Hoping for your prompt response. Thanks!
hi serena,
Pagudpud tour seems ok although you might ran out of daylight. but it’s sufficient to cover, blue lagoon, kabigan falls (provided you don’t stay too long there) and even the windmills. taking a tricycle to cover those might take longer than taking a car.
For laoag tour, it will depend on the places you want covered. those in the city can be seen when you’re on your way to lunch. you can cover paoay church and lake as well as malacanang of north in the afternoon. you may even have time to go to sand dunes.
Vigan can be covered in that time. I suggest you buy your souvenirs there in Vigan. There’s plenty in Calle Crisologo. Chavit’s Zoo is overrated, you might want to visit the pottery instead.
It seems like ok naman yung schedule niyo. hope everything will go as planned.
thanks a lot! i saw ur bohol blog too..will dfinitely confer with u as well on our future travel.. =) best regards..
calvin: sure! thank you for the comment. really appreciate it.
Hi Calvin!
i was wondering how much accommodation would cost at Kapuluan Vista Resort?
Are there a lot of resorts in Saud beach?
How do i get back to laoag city?
I think php 3,000 is too much, isn’t the bus available?
nas
the bus is available from pagudpud back to laoag but there’s a certain time of day when buses would be scarce but i forgot what time. best time i think would be mornings. ask the locals to be sure.
We paid around 2500 i think at Kapuluan Vista Resort during off peak season and that’s for two and was a couple of years ago. better contact them for current rates.
As for resorts in Saud, there are plenty there side by side unlike in blue lagoon.
hi calvin,
well your itenerarry is nice and great, but i just would like to add up some of the spot which you did’nt mention on the tour, like going to santa monica parish church, which there are some memorabillias like the old municipality located on the side of the church which you can go inside, for you to see some of the interesting room inside such as the tourture chamber, and beheading area and not to mention the pozo grande which our katipuneros and kabalieros used to get their water, and until today is still exist, moreover, at the sothern part of the church you can also exoerience one amazing thing that if you going to whisper on one side of the foundation you will hear it on the other foundation, never to mention also the reception area which has been rushly built when irene marcos wedding at the northen side of the municipality, well what i am saying is having a tour in ilocos region by a tricycle is not that worth, without a car which you can hire, for a day, thats why we as one of the acreadited tourguide driver, is offering some of our services for you to learned more, as well to embrace all the treasure that region has to offer.so i hope you will recomend us to your hub thanx