July 8, 2007
Pagudpod, the Philippines: A Hidden Paradise in The North
Imagine traveling by land from 11 in the evening to 2 in the afternoon the following day, during the Holy Week at that, just to go to a beach that friends and family swear to be as marvelous as Boracay; one of the most popular beaches and tourist destinations in the Philippines. Well, if traveling for hours on end will get me again to Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte so be it. Pagudpod's powdery, white sand and crystal clear blue waters can rival any beach in the world. Plus, it isn't that commercialized yet, so the beaches are very clean and even if the resorts are all booked, you wouldn't notice it.
As it was the Holy Week and we didn't have a reservation, we ended up staying at a house which we rented from a local near the beaches so we didn't have the view of the beach. We had to pay an entrance fee of 30 Philippine Pesos (about $0.80) to get into Saud beach resort. The beach was nothing short of dazzling. There was an assortment of locals and tourists swimming and soaking up all the heat the sun could offer. Thankfully, it wasn't like Boracay where you have to fight for sunbathing space since Boracy's sand is literally littered with sunbathers.
There were several beaches there that offered only sand space where you can bring your camping gear and set it up right on the beach; though that option is only perfect for those who don't have kids as it gets very hot during the nights and the bathrooms were relatively far from the camp site. If you do decide to bring kids, make sure to bring mosquito nets and mosquito repellents.
Our second day called for fresh water, so after a few hours on the beach, we headed to Kabigan falls, a 15 to 20 minute drive from where we were staying. An affordable fee of 15 Philippine Pesos (about $0.40) per head will get you in. We had to trek for 30 minutes through not-so-steep steps and some streams on the way to the falls which made it even more exciting. The falls itself was nothing short of majestic as it falls 120 feet into a natural basin where you can swim or just relax on the surrounding boulders.
On our third day, we decided to visit the famous Blue Lagoon or Maira-Ira beach where surfers hangout. Oddly enough, we didn't see any surfers and we didn't see anyone who rented out surf boards - maybe it's not surfing season. Nevertheless, we rented an open cottage where we ate our food. There are no hotels surrounding this area so renting cottages is your only option.
The waves there were higher and more aggressive than the ones in Saud so we spent the whole day body surfing until our bodies ached. What sucks about this place though is that there are no bathrooms, so we asked to use a local's bathroom near the area and gave them a generous tip.
Sadly, all things must end at some point and we had to go home the following day. On the way home, we decided to stopover the neighboring town of Bangui, where you can see for yourself the magnificent wind mills that provides sufficient amount of the electricity in Ilocos Norte.
For those who haven't been to Pagudpod, I strongly suggest that you book reservations at least 2 months in advance, especially when you plan to go there during the Holy Week as there are only a few resorts. You can also opt to travel by air by catching a plane from Manila to Laoag and then catching a 75 km bus ride to Pagudpod.
Guest entry submitted by a Filipino reader who wanted to share his vacation experience.
Past entries somehow related to the Philippines.
Posted by James Trotta at July 8, 2007 7:44 PM | TrackBack
I was recently in Pagudpud in May. After arriving in Manila, I had to endure a 12 hour bus ride to Pagudpud. This can be a bit grueling and uncomfortable ride for some people. I would recommend taking an overnight ride to Pagudpud so you will arrive there in the morning. After arriving there, the view of the beach was stunning during on a bright sunny day. We settled in one of the local resorts in Saud beach even without any reservations. For $60 a night, we rented a room with a balcony facing the beach. During Holy week I would recommend making reservations a head of time and thats true for most tourist destinations in the Philippines. Depending what you're looking for in a vacation destination, I thought Saud beach was more laid back. The area isnt't as commercialized as of yet compared to other similar destinations. Saud beach isnt a really big area and most of the resorts are located on the southern end. We actually walked to the northern end of the beach one morning. The north end isnt developed yet and where some locals live. Having traveled to other beach destinations in the Philippines, Saud beach was about average even though the view can be stunning at times. Its a great place to relax and wind down. There isnt much of a night life there except for a quiet evening dinner at the beach listening to relaxing music. If your looking for a quiet relaxing place to visit Pagudpud is it. Make sure to take a day tour of some of the area to make the most of your stay there.
Posted by: Tom Cabusao at July 8, 2007 5:57 PM