Ilocos Sur Adventure: Vigan City

Our adventure today takes us about 400 kilometers northwest of Kilometer 0 in Manila. Vigan City, the capital of Ilocos Sur, was recently converted into a component city last January 21, 2001. Aside from that, Vigan was also listed as one of the World Heritage Sites in the Philippines by UNESCO.

Vigan City

Vigan City details

So what's unique with Vigan City? Imagine yourself living during the Spanish Colonial days when the kalesa (horse-drawn carriages) rules the cobblestone streets and century-old houses, not buildings, conquered the landscape. Vigan City offers you the same colonial-era backdrop minus the people walking around with DSLRs and GoPros.

Team Nicerio visits Vigan City

Vigan City details

Vigan City was earlier known as "Ciudad Fernandina" during the Spanish Era. However, the origin of the city's name is said to come from different sources. Some say it came from the Chinese word "Bee Gan" or beautiful shore. While others say that it came from the Ilocano word "Kabiga-an" pertaining to "biga", a plant that once grew along the bank of its rivers.

I would've loved to try the horse-drawn carriage.

Check out this super old house. I hope they restore it.

Having outlived the other Spanish colonial cities of Cebu and Manila, Vigan City today remains one of the oldest and most visited cities in the Philippines.

Where to? Calle Hen. Luna or Calle Crisologo?

My wife and I first visited Vigan during one of our long weekend holidays last 2012. I highly suggest that you leave Manila at around 8-10 P.M. so that you will arrive in Vigan City early the next day. However, if sleeping on a bus is torture for you, I suggest you take an early flight to Laoag and commute to Vigan City. 

Getting to Vigan City by land:

Kuya Bong 

Vigan is a seven to ten hours drive from Manila depending on traffic conditions. There are several bus lines that have regular trips to Laoag City which passes through Vigan City.

Getting to Vigan City by air:

Most airline companies fly daily from Manila to Laoag International Airport. From there, it would only take around an hour and a half drive to reach Vigan City.

Once you arrive in Vigan, there are plenty of tricycles that would ask you to tour you. Since we haven't availed ourselves of a tour guide, we chose the most decent-looking trike driver of all. (basic instincts!) We luckily met Kuya Bong (pictured right). He's a respectful, honest, and jolly driver and guide. You can contact him with these numbers 09158045116, I highly suggest you ask for him at the terminal outside the Vigan arc. If you feel like really want to experience how things were during the Spanish time (and you have the budget to do so), I suggest you rent a calesa to tour you around the city. Calesa fees would range from P100 an hour to P1000 whole day tour. Use your haggling skills before deciding to hire anyone.

Before beginning the tour you must go back to basics. Always keep in mind item #2 in my previous blog The Adventurer's List. Never ever go about asking things like "Kuya saan ba magandang pumunta?"  People like this are always in danger of being duped. In case you don't have a list of places to go to kindly check out the list of places below.

Why visit Vigan City?

Vigan City is one of the most historical cities in the Philippines. Although it's quite far from Metro Manila, it is still possible to do a quick day trip from Manila and back but it surely would be tiring. A day in Vigan City would be worth it as there are plenty of places that you can visit, food to try, and souvenirs to buy here. However, keep in mind that, this city gets crowded during holidays and weekends.

Places to visit in Vigan City:

Hidden Garden

Pagburnayan

Father Jose Burgos Museum

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral / Vigan Cathedral

Baluarte

Calle Crisologo

Plaza Salcedo

Plaza Burgos

Vigan Empanadahan

Cafe Leona

Other places you may visit:

• Fil-Spanic Friendship Park and Buridek Museum (entrance fee: P15 adult; P10 student)
• Simbaan ng Bassit
• Archbishop's Palace
• Syquia Mansion
• Crisologo Museum
• Mira Hills
• Leona Florentino House
• Mindoro Beach 

UPDATED 2021

Vigan Day tour itinerary:

9:00PM Boarding time at Maria De Leon bus terminal in Dapitan

9:30PM Departure time 

bus fare= P750-1000  pax deluxe bus; P600-700 pax standard

6:30AM ETA in Vigan -Start tour

whole day tricycle rent P500 

7:00 - 9:30AM Baluarte tour + breakfast*

9:30 - 10:30AM Pagburnaryan tour

11:00 -12:30 PM Hidden Garden tour + lunch

lunch budget P500 - P600 

1:00 - 1:30 PM Calle Crisologo + souvenir shopping*

2:00 - 2:30 PM Plaza Salcedo and Vigan Cathedral 

2:50 - 3:00 PM Burgos Museum

entrance fee P20 

3:00 - 3:30PM snack time 

try Vigan's famous empanada P100 budget

4:00 - 5:00PM Your options are:

                           1. Visit Bantay Church outside Vigan City 

Bantay Church and bell tower

        

                            2. Head home

bus fare= P750-1000  pax /deluxe bus; P600-700 pax standard

                            3. Stay overnight

If you choose to stay overnight here's a website to help you choose hotels in and around Vigan. http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/wstay.asp

*optional

Vigan City Day Trip itinerary Budget breakdown:

Estimated Budget: P2500

Bus fare Manila-Vigan: P750 - 1000 (depending on bus type)

Vigan Trike and Guide: P500 /P150 per hour
Hidden Garden lunch: P500

Burgos Museum entrance fee: P20

Snacks (empanada and drinks): P100

Bus fare Vigan-Manila: P750 - 1000

Total expenses: P2500 - P3000

Ratings:

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall ratings