Local Philippines: Only In Ilocos Norte

By Author: Allan Leandro Merin
Total Articles: 48
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It is quite impossible to tame your traveling feet while in the Philippines given its wide array of tourist attractions. Whether you're headed to Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao, there are lots of irresistible travel destinations that will leave you in awe. While most international tourists prefer to kill their time in the white sand beaches of Boracay, a growing number of vacationers are discovering the beauty of Ilocos Norte.

Located some 488 kilometers north of Manila, Ilocos Norte is known to be a Marcos country. The province is the birthplace of late President Ferdinand Marcos, who was removed from office during the 1896 People Power revolution. Aside from producing a sullied leader, Ilocos Norte has made a name for being one of the premier tourist hot spots in the country.

Here is a preview of what to see in Ilocos Region based from notes taken from some Philippine travel guides.

Paoay Church
Paoay Church is one of the famous attractions in Ilocos Norte. Situated at the heart of Paoay, ...
... the church carries excellent features of Baroque architecture. Built in 1894, Paoay Church has 24 massive curved buttresses designed to withstand strong earthquakes. Its bell tower served as observation post by revolutionaries in their uprising against Spanish colonizers. The church has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saud Beach
One of the best ways to explore the beauty of Ilocos Norte is to spend a day or two in Pagudpud. This first-class municipality is home to Saud Beach, which topped the list of the best beaches in Asia in a ranking released by Australian newspaper Herald Sun in 2007. There are a number of resorts and hotels that offer affordable and luxurious accommodations near the area.

Bangui Windmills
The town of Bangui is the site of Southeast Asia's first wind farm. The Bangui Windmills, officially known as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, consist of 15 wind turbines arranged in single row and spaced some 326 meters apart from each other. The giant white fans, which are installed facing the shore, served as usual backgrounds for photographers.

Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
Batac offers an interesting yet bizarre, or sometimes creepy, attraction - the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum. Inside the building lies the preserved corpse of Ferdinand Marcos. They are enclosed in a glass crypt. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside this quiet and gloomy place. Tourists, nonetheless, can take pictures inside the museum wherein memorabilia of the late president are on display.

La Paz Sand Dunes
Another leading attraction in Ilocos Norte is the La Paz Sand Dunes, which is also known as the Desert of the North. This protected area, which covers an area of 85 square kilometers of sand and beach, is located on the outskirts of Laoag. It is accessible through commuter vehicles. The internationally acclaimed film Himala starring Nora Aunor was shot here.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.