Budget Travel Guide: Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. (Source: whc.unesco.org)

Calle Crisologo

TRIVIA

• 15 years after the inscription in the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites and monuments in December 1999, Vigan City has been declared as the New 7 Wonders Cities in the World on December 8, 2014. (Source: vigancity.gov.ph)

Taken at COFFE BREAK located at Calle Crisologo. Mug priced at PHP140 with free coffee refill.

Article Created: April 2, 2015

GETTING THERE:
- You may ride a bus en route Laoag and get off at Vigan City. Fare is PHP665.

Tip:
It is best to travel at night because:
- The roads are not congested with vehicles, specially when the bus is passing through EDSA and national highways. You avoid the heavy traffic and slower vehicles like tricycles and passenger vehicles alike.
- You wont get bored during travel as your body clock is set to sleeping mode.
* Disadvantage is that you won't be able to enjoy the sceneries

TRAVEL TIME:
6 hrs when leaving Cubao at 10pm
8 hrs when leaving Vigan at 9am

ACCOMMODATION
You may book a hotel NOT located within the vicinity of Calle Crisologo for cheaper rates.

The blogger checked in at GREEN R HOTEL for PHP750 from 2PM to 12NN the next day, good for 2 pax and additional 100 for extra person. Click HERE for the review of the hotel. 

GETTING AROUND
The classic way of exploring a place is of course, having a map. You may get a copy at the Vigan Tourism office which is located near St. Paul Cathedral. You may also download maps so you can plan ahead and make a list of what to visit. It is also important that you read about the tourist spots.

The usual modes of transportation in getting around Vigan city are tricycles, kalesa tour or a private group tour. Following are the tricycle rates if you plan to DIY your trip.

• PHP10 per person - if you are coming from within the TOWN of Vigan and you will go to a tourist spot which is also located within the TOWN, the fare is always PHP10 per person. Or if the trike is in queue, the rate is PHP30 per trip. 
• PHP60 per trip - this applies if you are coming from the town of Vigan going outside the town of Vigan but still within Vigan. (or vice versa)
• PHP60 per trip - Vigan Town to Bantay, Ilocos Sur (where Bantay Bell Tower is located)
• PHP50 per trip - Cristy's Weaving to Baluarte

Tips:

- Though you aware of these rates, you have to always ask the driver first how much will he be charging for the trip. If he charges you with higher amount, you may haggle or politely say no. There are lots of trikes around. 

- Almost all the trike drivers will be offering you a tour. If you plan to "DIY" your Vigan Trip, the tour may not be necessary so do not feel pressured and again, politely say no, even if they insist.

Early morning scene at Calle Crisologo: locals joyfully talking with each other | closed antique shop | early bird tourist

TOURIST SPOTS WITHIN VIGAN TOWN
- Plaza Salcedo, St. Paul Cathedral, Calle Crisologo
- Plaza Burgos, Burgos Museum
- Pagburyan Pottery (no fee but accepts donation)
- Crisologo Museum (no fee but accepts donation)
- Syquia Mansion (with entrace fee)

Intricately carved wooden "baul" at Syquia Mansion

TOURIST SPOTS OUTSIDE VIGAN TOWN
- Cristy's Weaving (no entrance fee)
- Rowilda's Weaving
- Baluarte (no entrance fee)
- Mindoro Beach (no fee or any environmental fee)
- Bantay Bell Tower (Bantay, Ilocos Sur)

*please refer to any downloadable Vigan map for complete list of tourist spots and location

Cristy's Weaving | Pagburyan Pottery | Baluarte | Calle Crisologo by Day and By Night | Bantay Bell Tower

Suggested Tour:
- Vigan town to Weaving, PHP60 per trip
- Weaving to Baluarte, PHP50 per trip
- Vigan Town to Mindoro Beach, PHP60 per trip.
You may ask the driver to wait for you. But if for example, you want to stay longer at the beach, you may ask for the driver's phone no.and just text him. Same rate but with additional PHP20 since it is a "special" trip.

UNESCO Marker near Plaza Burgos

EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL ILOCOS DISHES
- You may refer to your map for the list of restaurants in Vigan. Reading about restaurants' reviews which can be found online may be of help in choosing where to dine.

Tips:
- For a taste of Vigan dishes, Cafe Leona is offering a Complete Set Meal per person which includes 1 rice, 1 serving of Pinakbet, 2 pcs Vigan longganisa, bagnet and daing na bangus served with ilocos suka and fish bagoong with chopped tomatoes and onions for PHP290
- Other common Ilokano dishes can be experienced at the local carinderias. There are numerous carinderias within and near the vicinity of public market, bus stations..etc. Kilawin, puki puki, pinakbet and other known Ilokano dishes are served on a daily basis. Other than cutting off a big part on your food budget, you also get to taste their own version of Filipino food such as Sinigang, pancit, igado..etc, which are all prepared and cooked by the Ilocanos themselves. If you are used to Tagalog dishes, eating at carinderias may be a good way to introducing yourself to Ilokano dishes.

GETTING TO KNOW THE LOCAL BETTER
- When you chose taking trikes for your DIY tour, you will interact with trike drivers a lot of time.
- Mindoro Beach does not only give you a good view of the sunset, you also get a chance to watch and be with the local. Families, group of friends,..etc flock at the beach before and during sunset. There are locals swimming at the sea despite its strong waves.

Locals enjoying the beach with the view of the sunset at Mindoro Beach

- Eating at carinderias, roaming around and inside the market are some of the things you can do which will give you a lot of interaction with the locals. 

BUYING YOUR "PASALUBONG"
1. Public Market is also a good place to go for affordable yet equally tasteful pasalubongs like the ones you can buy at tourist spots, such as:
- Local Ilocos Suka for PHP50 for a Liter
- Ilocos Wine: Basi
- Cornick, chichacorn, chicapops for PHP50 and below
- Different kinds of dried fish
- Authentic Vigan longganisa for cheaper price (PHP100-120)
- Bagnet, also, in a cheaper price (PHP300-350) compare to the ones you can buy at tourist spots (PHP400)
- Shirts
- Shoulder Bag that costs PHP130 only, in which a similar bag costs PHP180-250 at the shops in Calle Crisologo

As seen from the market, miki making from scratch. PHOTOS: L-R, 1st row: flour as the main ingredients | flattening of the flour; 2nd row: cutting off the flattened flour into strips | drying of the strips in the open air and sunlight

2. Weaved Products such as bags, towels, table runners, coin purse..etc are cheaper at the makers of Abel Weaving as they are also the supplier of the ones you see at the shops of Calle Crisologo.

DISCLAIMER:
- Tips written are based on blogger's experience
- The blogger went to Vigan on the weekend before Holy Week 2015