Hidden Garden of Vigan - Ilocos Sur

Located in 008 Katipunan Street, Vigan City in the province of Ilocos Sur, the Hidden Garden of Vigan is a place where nature, history, and food meet. It is also a place of love. You'd find out why as you continue reading.

Hidden Garden of Vigan

Hidden Garden of Vigan Details

The Hidden Garden of Vigan, despite the name, is not really hidden. It is found in the heart of Vigan City and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. It probably got its name from the large backyard garden that is hidden from those who are walking in Katipunan Street in front of it. 
Hidden Garden of Vigan - Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Hidden Garden of Vigan - Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

The renovated entrance as of 2017

Some souvenirs sold near the entrance

Check out if your photo is included here

I do hope I won't dig any holes here

The plant collection of Hidden Garden of Vigan

Different kinds of herbs (The colonel would surely be jealous)

Bonsai Collection

 Hidden Garden of Vigan or simply Hidden Garden started out as a personal garden of retired engineer Francis Flores whose surname perfectly suits his passion for plants (Flores is Spanish for flowers). Eventually, with the garden becoming popular, he opened it to the public in 1991 and since then it has been part of the tourist destinations of Vigan City. 

Massage anyone?

Don't sit here... it's dangerous (the plant might secrete poisonous sap)

Miley got her inspiration for twerking when she visited Hidden Garden

 Now going back to the "It is a place of love" line, Hidden Garden encourages visitors to love nature. There are numerous ornamental plants that are for sale here, perfect for those who are planning to start their own gardens. 

Check out the photos of some of the plants for sale:




Here are the places to donate:

A lot of families will be surely benefiting from your donations

The coins thrown in the pond would also go to charity

The same goes to the coins in this wishing well

Aside from loving nature, the place also encourages its visitors to love one another. Examples of these are the "donation corners" located near the entrance and at the shrine. The money donated here goes out to communities that are supported by Hidden Garden. There is also an area in the garden called Lover's Corner where couples can take souvenir photos and publicly show off their sweetness. 

The Lover's Corner almost a decade ago

The present Lover's Corner

Hidden Garden 2017

 Hidden Garden is also a place for food lovers. It has a restaurant inside its vicinity that offers Ilokano dishes, something worth trying out. Check out the photos of the menu and some of the food we ordered below:
Hidden Garden is also a perfect place to eat for lovers

Ready to eat. 

Even the tables and chairs are nature-inspired

The warek warek and igado are worth ordering

Don't miss out on the bagnet too

here's the poqui poqui

and the warek warek

Bagnet Sisig

Bagnet

I got to visit the Hidden Garden of Vigan twice already. The first one was way back in 2011 and the last was in 2017. The place had a lot of improvement since then. Just a bit of a side note, this place was one of the first places my then-girlfriend and I visited on our first year as a couple. It is fun to think that I revisited it again more than half a decade later but this time, my then GF is now my wife, not to mention we have a daughter now). How time really flies...
Team Nicerio visits Hidden Garden of Vigan

Hidden Garden Admission Fee:

There are no admission fees to visit the Hidden Garden of Vigan. If you want to help their cause, you can leave a donation.

Hidden Garden of Vigan Opening hours:

Hidden Garden of Vigan is open from 6AM to 6PM every day.

Why visit Hidden Garden of Vigan?

Now that the Hidden Garden of Vigan is "not that hidden" anymore, it's now a must-visit if you're looking for a place to eat authentic Ilocano food. It's also a place to visit if you collect plants and you want to bring one home. 

Getting to the Hidden Garden of Vigan:


From Cubao, ride a bus going to Vigan City. Once there, transfer to a tricycle which will bring you directly to Hidden Garden. If you want a bit of drama, you can ride a kalesa instead. 

 Ratings:
Crowd
Cleanliness
Overall rating
Location: Katipunan St, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Comments

  1. MarjorieFebruary 3, 2018 at 11:53 PM

    It looks a bit different now from the time that I visited it in 2013 but it's still as beautiful. I remember there's a wishing well there and I made a wish, didn't come true haha... I call it as a not-so-hidden garden, it was part of our itinerary in our Ilocos trip. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Ilocos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 8, 2018 at 7:53 AM

      Hahaha maybe it will come true after a few more years. hahaha. Yup it is actually a not-so-hidden garden but definitely a must visit destination in Vigan.

      Delete
  2. CarlaFebruary 4, 2018 at 2:24 AM

    This place is really nice and it is good that the owner made the access possible for all. Specially the food items seem so tasty.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sumit waliaFebruary 4, 2018 at 10:30 AM

    the place definitely looks interesting and i am think about the efforts put in by Mr Francis without whom this would not have been possible at all ... the pics are a pleasure to see and am sure you would have related to the place in your second visit even more than the first one

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownFebruary 5, 2018 at 2:51 PM

    Never been to Ilocos but I heard a lot of good things about the place. It is good to discover new places like this. Maybe when I have the chance to visit Ilocos, I might consider this place! Thank you for sharing. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioFebruary 8, 2018 at 7:54 AM

      You should visit this place Roneth. =) You would surely enjoy it.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousMay 23, 2023 at 1:40 PM

    Now that you shared this. It's not HIDDEN anymore. Hahaha.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 18, 2023 at 7:45 AM

    Beautiful place.

    ReplyDelete

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