Ilocos Sur: How to get to Vigan City: Bus Fare, Commute, Directions, Tours

This is for those of you who are looking for information on how to get to Vigan City – one of the most beautiful places in Ilocos. Vigan is a UNESCO world heritage site, and has also been voted as one of the New7Wonders cities of the world.

Vigan is really rich in culture and full of attractions. I recommend spending at least 2 nights there, so you have enough time to try everything. You can also check these Vigan vacation packages for some nice deals and promos.


How to get to Vigan:

there are a few different ways to get to Vigan from Manila, but the easiest is of course taking a flight to Laoag. Once there, you'll need to endure 2 more hours on a bus, so total travel time should be around 3 hours assuming there are no delays.

If you want to do it backpacker style though, you can definitely catch a bus going from Manila directly to Vigan, or take a connecting line in Baguio.

Commuting from Manila to Vigan directly:

1. The following companies operate the Manila-Vigan line: Partas, Dominion Lines, Maria De Leon, RCJ Bus Lines, Fariñas and Viron.

2. Buses leave from Cubao, Pasay and Manila City (Sampaloc). You should arrive there early to make sure there are tickets left. Both aircon and regular buses are available.

3. Prices range from 600 to 800 depending on bus choice and departure hour.

4. Partas have the best buses, and they also offer a night trip. The night trip takes only 8 hours instead of 10, and it's easier since you can quite comfortably sleep on the way there.


5. You can check Partas bus schedule and book tickets here.


Bus from Baguio to Vigan :

You can follow this post as it's just the reverse way and should still be relevant and up to date.

Generally speaking, there are buses all day long – both aircon and regular. It'll take around 6 hours to get to Baguio from Manila, then another 3-5 hours going to Vigan from there. Exact travel time really depends on your departure time, since traffic can be quite rough in both Manila and Ilocos.

Bus rates are between 350 and 400, depends on your exact choice.
The Bus terminal in Vigan is near the Public Market – just a short tricycle ride from anywhere in the heritage city and Calle Crisologo.

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Vigan

Another Ilocos delicacy, besides Candon Kalamay, peddled on the streets of Vigan is the tinubong, so called as it derives its name from the container, a bamboo tube with an opening at one end and a node at the other, which locals (Ilocano) call tubong, thus the name tinubong. The tinubong comes stuffed inside bamboo poles of about an inch or two in diameter and about a foot in length.

Tinubong beside Candon Kalamay offered by hawkers outside Baluarte

Tinubong is a sticky, sweet delicacy made from glutinous flour, sugar, coconut milk, small strips of buko (young coconut flesh) and sometimes cheese and margarine inserted into the bamboo tube then roasted over charcoal embers (traditionally) or in ovens (in commercial quantities).

tinubong with the sweet stuff exposed when you split the bamboo tube.

You can buy tinubong sold by peddlers, near the Baluarte, city plazas, and other Vigan pasalubong shops in the old heritage city for about PhP20.00 per tube depends on size and your haggling skills.

Related Posts:
Royal Bibingka
Candon Kalamay
Vigan Longganisa
Hidden Garden

Labels: Delicacies, Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Vigan

Just to post about Tutubi's 20 minute visit to Chavit Singson's Baluarte in Vigan (actually part of Caoayan town of Ilocos Sur) before heading the long drive home.

Baluarte is becoming famous stopover for tourists visiting Vigan where people can see and interact with animals on display at the Chavit Singson's mansion cum mini-zoo, with animal interaction scheduled everyday with several wild animals (better left in the wild, Tutubi thinks) . Animals kept at the mini-zoo include pygmy horses, white deers, camels, tigers, various birds, ostriches, and snakes.

Chavit Singson's Balwarte in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur

a dromedary (arabian camel with a single hump) shot around high noon

a pair of white deers resting in the noon shade

After taking a few pictures, Tutubi sped off to Sta. Cruz town then went home.

---

Baluarte Show Schedules

Animal encounters
everyday 11am, 12nn, 4pm
Potbelly Painting: daily at 10am and 2pm

baluarte entrance fee/admission price: none, nada, gratis, free
parking: ample parking spaces, no parking fee
photography: no restrictions, no permits required to shoot

How to get to Baluarte, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur:
From Vigan city proper, just hire a tricycle to take you there, travel time is about 10 minutes. Consider asking tricycle driver to wait for you or pick you up at an appointed time

If you have your own car, just drive down inwards on Quirino Avenue (the street of Petron gas station on the highway) until you see the Caoayan welcome arch where you turn right (on the fork). Drive until you see the Baluarte artwork then choose the right fork (if you missed it and chose left, you'll end up at the Hidden Garden of Vigan)

Coordinates: N17 33 02.1 E120 22 39.1 (useful if you have GPS navigator).
Open Street Map here (trivia: much of Vigan's map, as of posting time, was added by Tutubi with data gathered by his GPS going around Vigan)

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Vigan, Zoos

It's part of Filipino culture when there's a trip to buy something for friends and family back home, called pasalubong. In Vigan, Ilocos Sur, there are numerous options for wanderers to buy and bring back home. Of course, you can't bring Vigan Empanada and sinanglao to Manila but there's Candon Kalamay along the way, the tinubong and there's Royal Bibingka made famous by Tongson's, the Home of Original Royal Bibingka

Tutubi saw Tongson's Royal Bibingka on Calle Crisologo but he opted to try the newer Marsha's Delicacies along the national highway in Bantay town,

the counter of marsha's delicacies

How does vigan royal bibingka taste like? it's not like your usual bibingka made from rice fluor (galapong) and it's consitency is nowhere near it. It's sticky, more like cassava pudding (budin) but no cassava.

Now, even if Tongson's Royal Bibingka is the original, some people claim Marsha's version is better, even others claim the relatively new The Sisters Royal Bibingka, located less than a kilometer from Marsha's, is the best.

Vigan Royal Bibingka, Marsha's version. a dozen of these comes in a box for PhP140.00

Be Tutubi's guest, which is the best Royal Bibingka of Vigan of them all: Tongson's Royal Bibingka, Marsha's Delicacies or The Sisters Royal Bibingka?

Tutubi's real question is why are they called royal bibingka? what's the history behind the sweet things? what's the secret ingredient of the secret royal bibingka recipe? is it because it goes well with...well...royal tru orange? :P

---

Royal Bibingka Prices: PhP80.00 small box; PhP 140.00 large box

Marsha's Delicacies
Address: Nat'l Highway, Brgy. Cabalanggan Bantay, Ilocos Sur
Telephone Number: +63.77.722.8119
GPS coordinates: N17 35 17.0 E120 25 08.5

Labels: Delicacies, Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Pasalubong, Vigan

Want to know how to get to Baguio from Vigan and back by public transportation? Tutubi's companion made the recent trip to baguio via Vigan and here's the information on this route.

Vigan to Baguio Bus fare: about PhP250.00
travel time: around 3 hours (at night) would probably be 5 or 6 hours during the day knowing the traffic on the Ilocos Sur to Bauan, La Union
bus route by Fariñas Transit and Partas Transport

(manila to baguio travel time is about 6 to 7 hours on normal days)

Bus terminals in Vigan are near the Vigan Public Market, a tricycle ride away from anywhere in the heritage city of Vigan.

Note: this post will be updated with the contact numbers and trip schedules (first and last trips) of Partas and Fariñas when Tutubi gets hold of his Vigan Tourism brochure he got from a "sleeping on the job" tourism officer...literally sleeping when Tutubi inquired at their office near Calle Crisologo

Labels: Baguio City, Vigan

Tutubi seldom visits a place more than once unless he has to just to use the time to search for something new. He visited Vigan twice, just to check in at two hotels on two different occasions. The first at Green R Hotel and the second at Cordillera Inn on Calle Crisologo.

During his second visit, he got interested in a "secret" garden restaurant outside the city proper, called Hidden Garden in barangay Bulala. Right after checking in at Cordillera Inn, he thought of a light meal of Vigan Empanada not at the Empanadahan which is just a short walk away, but at the Hidden Garden restaurants.

Photos of Hidden Garden Restaurant in Vigan, Ilocos Sur (taken using Tutubi's borrowed iPhone 4 at around 5:30pm so it's getting dark already)



the native grotto inside Hidden Garden, what greets you after the front office going to the restaurant


garden with topiaries, plants and flowers and gardening implements, for sale, byt the way


The dining area with overhanging millionaires vine, near the Lover's Corner







After the Empanada Corner is a pathway to the Secret Garden, Tutubi was greeted by a swarm of mosquitoes here, all but natural for gardens, so be prepared with your mosquito repellants


Hidden Garden's native halo-halo (that Tutubi finds not so good yet not bad at all, gelatin, sweetened banana, sago, cheese, pinipig (rice crispies), wafer stick, ice cream and coconut milk)

So how did Tutubi rate/review Hidden Garden?

Location: far but within reach of the crowd, probably crowded on weekends

Ambiance: relaxing and natural with the garden setting. there's a romantic place with overhanging millionaires' vine near the Lover's corner...for couples :P

Downside: swarm of mosquitoes greeted Tutubi when he tried to enter the garden with trees, only natural for a place, but Tutubi wasn't prepared so he stepped back. Besides, it's already getting dark so taking pictures is almost no use.

Price: empanada, the same at Vigan Empanadahan. others, quite reasonable considering it's location and romantic ambiance.

Customer Service: service was ok with no other people around. Tutubi tried to inquire about hoe to get there by sending a text message to their published contact number (on their official website with several telephone numbers). All he got was a "hu u?" reply and no real asnwer to his question. Hidden garden resutaurant owner should train his/her staff on how to courteously reply to inquiries and provide the requested answer.

others: there are plants and garden items on display and for sale. there's also a souvenir shop and a celebrity corner where pictures of famous visitors to the place are on display.

Overall: it deserves a second look, particularly since Tutubi went there for a only short time and ordered just two items on the menu. Tutubi would love to try out Ilocos Specialties and delicacies next time.

Hidden Garden Menu prices featuring Vigan Specialties:



Vigan Bagnet: PhP150.00
Vigan Longganiza: P150.00 (6 pcs)
Sinanglao: PhP130.00
Warek-warek: PhP130.00
Poqui-poqui (or poki-poki): PhP90.00
Dinengdeng PhP130.00
Igado PhP120.00
Pakbet with Bagnet: PhP100.00

Steam rice: P15.00
Garlic rice: PhP25.00
Filipino breakfast: PhP90.00 (longsilog, bangsilog, tapsilog)
Vigan Empanada: PhP45.00
Native Halo-halo: PhP75.00
Fresh fruit shakes at PhP80.00 - PhP100.00

Notes:

How to get to Hidden Garden:

just ride a tricycle (or calesa if you're a usual tourist) to take you to the secret garden in barangay Bulala, at a corner of the road going to Mindoro Airport (the domestic airport in Vigan) and the service road going to Baluarte zoo of Gov. Chavit Singson in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. If you have a car, drive by Rizal Avenue, turn right when you see the cemetery that looks like a park, left at the end then ask around :P
(if you have a GPS, coordinates are: N17 33 36.3 E120 21 53.7 (Try OpenStreetMap, it's there on the map added by Tutubi))

Vigan Empanada (an alternative to Vigan Empanadahan at Vigan City center)
Vigan Sinanglao (an alternative to the authentic ambiance of sinanglao breakfast at Vigan Plaza Salcedo.

All photos taken with iPhone 4 (Tutubi loves the new iPhone 4 camera, muchh improved from the old iPhone 3G/3GS).

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Restaurants, Vigan, Vigan Restaurants

After a tiring day and a quick dinner at Vigan's Empanadahan, Tutubi woke up in search of places to eat breakfast at Vigan's famous plaza where you'll be offered sinanglao (soup of pork innards) but he's actually looking for something unique to Vigan: the famous Vigan Longganiza.

Longsilog: a Filipino breakfast, portmanteau of Longganisa, Sinangag (or sinaing) and itlog (egg), Vigan style. It's served with sukang Iloko for the unique, distinctive flavor of the local sausage.



Tutubi's planning a return trip to Ilocos Sur in a few days but not sure if he's going to visit Vigan again for this one...

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Vigan

Vigan, capital city of Ilocos Sur, unknown to many, is an island detached from the main island of Luzon by three rivers: Abra River, the Mestizo River and the Govantes River. It's an old trading post in pre-colonial sites that dates as far back as China's Sung Dynasty where Chinese junks rule the sea lanes before the arrival of Spanish galleons.

The city is the most preserved example of a Spanish colonial town in Asia, with its cobblestone streets and a unique architecture showcasing fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning. This has earned listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Calle Crisologo, Vigan's main street with nostalgic cobblestone
key to preservation of the place is a strict building code that even modern restaurants need to adhere to



Places of Interest in Vigan, Ilocos Sur:

here's a list of places to see in Vigan:

St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral (Vigan Cathedral)- an earthquake baroque style church built in 1574
Syquia Mansion Museum the the ancestral home / museum of a former president of the Philippines Elpidio Quirino (entrace fee: P10)
Padre Burgos Museum
Nueva Segovia Museum
Pottery Making (Burnay) Pagburnayan where traditional Vigan jars, called burnay, are made.
Baluarte home and mini-zoo of Chavit Singson (a tricycle ride away from Vigan city center. no entrance fee)

Vigan Delicacies and Pasalubong:
Vigan empanada, vigan royal bibingka, tinubong, sinanglao, vigan longganiza


How to get to Vigan, Ilocos Sur:

Commute by Bus to Vigan is easy via Philippine Rabbit Bus Line, Dominion Bus Corp., Partas Trans. Co.

Baguio to Vigan by bus travel time is around 3 hours

Driving Directions to Vigan, Ilocos Sur:

follow this route: NLEX, SCTEX, then follow highway up to Vigan, it's just a straight drive

Updated: April 2013

Labels: Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, UNESCO, Vigan