ILOCOS NORTE TOURIST SPOT

Pagudpud Beach

The town of Pagudpud has so much incredible beaches, perfect for any travelers who
want to experience a much needed relaxation after a day of touring.

One of the most famous is the Blue Lagoon located at the Miara-ira point at the tip of
Pagudpud. It’s clear waters and fine sand will give you the much needed “vitamin
sea”especially during summer. Before going to Blue Lagoon, our group experienced
some problems and all, but we forgot our worries for a while when we were already at
the beach. I would love to come back to Pagudpud one of these days.
Bangui Wind Mill

One of the most popular and iconic tourist spots in Ilocos Norte. You always see these
windmills on TV or magazine, but though you already have an idea of how these
turbines look like, you will still be in awe the moment you’re face to face with it. It’s
huge, and feels like you’re in front of a robot with a colossal sound as it makes turns.

These were completed in 2008 with 20 turbines generating 40% of electricity for the
entire province. It’s environment friendly too.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Kapurpurawan comes from the Ilocano word puraw which means white. I bet you
already know why. It’s so white, it’s unbelievable! a unique creation of nature.

It’s located in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It’s still a quite a long walk from the parking lot
to the rock formation itself. You also have the option to do some horseback riding, but
we preferred to walk! After enduring the scorching heat of the sun, we’ve finally
arrived at the rock formation, and well, what can I say? It’s beautiful.
ILOCOS NORTE FOODS

Batac Empanadas – Striking Orange Empanadas

After falling in love with empanadas in Argentina, we could not wait to discover
the traditional empanadas of Batac City. Batac is the oldest town in the Province
of Ilocos Norte and was founded in 1587 by the Augustinians.
The city is famous for the Batac Empanadas which are considered some of the
best in the country. There is even an Empanada festival that takes place every
year on the 23rd of June.
One of the most striking characteristics of the Batac empanada is its bright
orange color. The empanadas are deep fried and stuffed with green papaya,
chopped up longganisa sausages and hard boiled eggs. The orange colored
dough is made of rice flour and the color comes from the use of annatto seeds.
Ilocos Norte – The Dragon Fruit Capital of the Philippines
Along the roads in Ilocos, we were struck by multiple stands selling dragon
fruits, all over the place. The dragon fruit known as “saniata” to locals, is
produced by Ilocanos all year round.
Dragon Fruits are a beautiful fruit and packed with several health benefits. The
fiber in dragon fruit helps with digestion. The fruit also helps regulate blood
sugar spikes and lowers bad cholesterol. Dragon fruits are also full of
antioxidants which help clear the body of cancer causing free radicals. And, the
fruits are rich in Vitamin B1, B2 and C, which help repair tissues and keeping
the skin healthy.
Ilocos Norte, hosts a Dragon Fruit Festival every July. If you are in the area at
this time, don’t miss exploring the fresh fruits as well as other dragon fruit
products like ice cream, jam, wine, vinegar, tea, cookies, pastries, soaps and
more.
Okoy – Best Shrimp Fritters
These delicious treats are crispy shrimp fritters cooked in their shell in a
glutinous rice batter and shaped into a round form. These fritters are
garnished with fresh shallots and a mix of garlic and chili peppers.
ILOCOS NORTE ANIMALS
Gabu, Laoag City

There is a place in Laoag called Gabu where many fishponds are found. Some of the unusual
migratory birds sighted there were Gadwall, Spot-billed Duck, Caspian Tern, Plaintive Cuckoo,
Great Cormorant, Yellow Bunting, Green Sandpiper, Slaty-backed Gull, Black-necked Grebe,
Black-tailed Gull, Red-footed Booby, Green Sandpiper, Mandarin Duck, Red-throated Pipit, and
Siberian Ruby Throat, among others. It is a place where one can easily find the endemic
Philippine Ducks classified Vulnerable by IUCN, the resident Brahminy Kites, and migratory
and resident Grey Herons and various Egrets. The Brahminy Kites are popularly known as
"Siwawer" in Vintar. The photos below are those of immature or juvenile (young) Brahminy
Kites or Siwawers.
The White-throated Kingfisher, Eastern Grass Owl and the Java Sparrow can also be seen
in Lagui.
The Java Sparrow was introduced to the Philippines many many years ago, and has since then
thrived in the country. When I was a kid, I remembered having these birds as pets. These are the
most colourful birds that are sold in the market place and in the churches, together with the
munias and the chicks which were made colourful only by some dyes or dyobos. There is no
need for the Java Sparrows to be dyed, their natural colours makes them stand out from among
those traded. Their beauty and colours, however, made them one of the most commonly caught
and traded bird pets worldwide. In Indonesia, this bird has been declared by IUCN as vulnerable.
Birdlife says it is a native endemic of the islands of Java, Bali, and probably Madura, Indonesia,
although it has been widely introduced, with feral populations now established in many parts of
the world. It was formerly widespread and abundant in its native range, but numbers have
crashed disastrously. It can now be difficult to find, particularly on Java. The rapid and on-going
population decline of this species is inferred on the basis of trapping pressure for the
international cage-bird trade.