Posted by geemiz | Posted in Benguet, Byahe Pilipinas, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province | Posted on 15-07-2013
Tags: Backpacking, Land Trip, Travel
I never thought that this year would be a year of travel for me. This is the 3rd long journey I had and the second land trip here in my country, first was the Manila to Cebu Land Trip. Our route for this trip was Ilocos Norte – Ilocos Sur – Mt. Province (via Tagudin – Cervantes Road) – Ifugao Province to Benguet Province. Let me share to you how babe and I did it. A little note: While traveling babe and I is also working so we have time allotted for work and all expenses are good for 2 persons. Expenses are excluding of airfare but include souvenirs.
8 Day Northern Luzon DIY Itinerary and Complete Expenses
DAY 1
Danao City , Cebu to Manila to Laoag, Ilocos Norte
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 4:35-5:20am | Danao City– Mandaue City | 60 | jeep |
| 5:20-5:35am | Mandaue – Mactan Int. Airport | 140 | taxi |
| 5:45-6:15am | Breakfast | 200 | Restaurant inside Airport |
| 8:40-9:45am | Mactan Int. Airport – Manila NAIA | Via Cebu Pacific | |
| 9:50-10:20am | Lunch | 369 | Dimsum Airport |
| 12:15-1:35pm | Manila NAIA – Laoag Int. Airport | Via Cebu Pacific |
Laoag Ilocus Sur
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 2:00-2:15pm | Laoag Airport to Texicano Hotel -8.2km | free | Shuttle bus |
| 2:17pm | Check Inn Texicano Hotel ( 1 night) | 740 | room for 2 with aircon & bath |
| 2:42-7:00pm | Tour in Laoag | 700 | Trike tour |
| Malacañang of the North | 60 | ||
| Lunch/Dinner | 309 | Restaurant inside Malacañang of the North | |
| Marcos Mausoleum | free | ||
| Paoay Church | free | UNESCO Heritage site | |
| Buy Empanada Snacks & Coke | 100 | ||
| Paoay Sand Dunes | 2500 | 1 hour 4×4 ride and sand boarding | |
| Sinking Bell Tower | free | UNESCO Heritage site | |
| St. William Church | free | ||
| Laoag City Plaza | free | In front, is the Ilocos Norte Capitol and in the plaza is the Tobacco Monument. | |
| 7:10pm | Back in Texicano Hotel | ||
| TOTAL | 5,178 |
Reminder:
-Register in Laoag airport for the free shuttle that will bring you to your hotel in Laoag City or to the bus stations. If you wish to ride a trike it costs 150 and 60/person if you will ride the jeep.
-The 4×4 ride can be divided among 5 people.
Day 2
Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Bangui, Ilocos Norte toBurgos Ilocos Norte to Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 7:00-7:30am | Wake up, Bath and Prepare Things | ||
| 7:35-8:00am | Breakfast | 335 | Cloud 9 Restaurant in Texicano |
| 8:15am | Start of Day 2 Tour | ||
| Texicano to Pagudpud Bus Terminal | 22 | 3 minute Trike ride | |
| Laoag to Bangui (bus) – 60.9km | 100 | 1h and 45m ride. Windmills are located in Bangui | |
| Bangui Market to Windmills (trike) – 4.3km | 350 | 15 minute travel and this includes a ride to Kapurpurawan,Burgos. | |
| Souvenirs ( 2 shirts,2 ref magnets) | 400 | Buy at Ate Sylvia a Bisaya | |
| Bangui Windmills to Junction of Kapurpurawan rock formation | 15 minute trike ride | ||
| Junction of Kapurpurawan rock formation to the rock formation | 250 | Only 200 but we gave 50 tip. 5 minute trike ride (roundtrip) | |
| Kapurpurawan rock formation entrance | 30 | ||
| Buy buko juice,yakult and water | 90 | ||
| 3:22-4:45pm | Kapurpurawan, Burgos to Laoag City | 100 | Bus ride – 49.6km |
| 4:45-4:50pm | Bus terminal to Saramsam – 2km | 22 | To Eat late lunch |
| 4:50-5:35pm | Dinner at Saramsam | 515 | Located near Texicano |
| 5:35-5:40pm | Saramsam to Partas Bus Terminal | 22 | Trike – 3km |
| 6:00-7:45pm | Laoag City to Vigan City – 82.3km | 274 | Partas Aircon bus bound for Manila |
| 7:45pm | Check in at Henady Inn | 1500 | Aircon room for 2 w/ own bath *highly recommended hotel |
| Henady Inn to Calle Crisologo (trike) – 2.3km | 40 | 3 minute ride. Henady Inn is located in Bantay, a town next to Vigan City | |
| Buy ref magnets | 100 | 3 for 100 | |
| Dinner with blogger friend Edmar | 635 | Café Uno in Calle Crisologo | |
| Calle Crisologo to Henady Inn | 40 | ||
| TOTAL | 4,825 |
Day 3
Vigan Ilocos, Sur
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 6:00-12:30pm | Work and Bathe | ||
| Buy coffee in Hotel | 60 | ||
| 12:00-12:03 | Henady Inn to Jollibee | 30 | trike |
| Brunch | 270 | Jollibee | |
| Buy Ballpen | 80 | National Bookstore | |
| 1:30-6:30pm | Vigan City Kalesa Tour | 700 | 150/hour standard rate. |
| Plaza Salcedo | free | Gabriela Silang execution site | |
| Vigan Cathedral | free | ||
| Bantay Bell Tower (only donation) | 40 | UNESCO heritage site | |
| Ilocos Sur Capitol | You can just pass by | ||
| Fr Burgos Museum & Birthplace(GomBurZa) | close | Museum is close on Monday’s | |
| Sy-Quia Museum (Pres. Elpidio Quirino Residence) w/ entrance | 40 | Guided tour around the mansion | |
| Crisologo Museum (Cong. Floro Crisologo Ancestral House) (donation) | 40 | He authored the Social Security System Law | |
| Mira Hills (entrance) | 30 | Nice Park to learn a lot about Vigan City and Ilocos Sur | |
| Hidden Garden (donation) | 20 | ||
| Baluarte | free | Tigers,Deers,pony,snakes & butterflies | |
| End of Tour | Vigan City Heritage Village | ||
| souvenirs | 1,240 | 6 t-shirts | |
| Dinner at Tummy Talk | 300 | Food is good for 3 | |
| Dancing Fountain in Plaza Salcedo | free | Starts at 7:00pm | |
| Plaza Slacedo to Henady Inn | 40 | trike | |
| Coffe in Henady Inn | 60 | ||
| 8:30pm | Work then rest | ||
| TOTAL | 2,950 |
Reminder:
-Kalesa tour is highly recommended to have a great view of Vigan City.
-Another highly recommended attraction is the river cruise for you to appreciate more the history of Vigan.
DAY 4
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur to Tagudin, Ilocos Sur to Cervantes, Ilocos Sur to Abatan, Bauko, Mt. Province to Bontoc Mt. Province to Sagada Mt. Province
This is the Vigan to Sagada route via Tagudin – Cervantes raod.
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 3:45-4:15am | Wake up and prepare | ||
| 4:15-4:20am | Henady Inn to Partas Bus Terminal | 40 | 4km |
| 5:00-6:45am | Vigan to Bitalag Junction Tagudin | 300 | 89.9km |
| Breakfast | 125 | There are eateries nearby | |
| 7:00-9:45am | Wait time for the van to be full | ||
| 9:45-11:00am | Tagudin to Cervantes (van) – 58.5km | 300 | Full plus top load |
| 11:15-12:30 | Cervantes to Abatan,Bauko (trike) – 53.1km | 500 | We rented a trike because van leaves at 1pm pa. |
| 1:00-1:45pm | Abatan, Bauko to Bontoc (van) | 100 | Sir in front for a good view |
| 2:30-3:30pm | Bontoc to Sagada (jeep) – 18km | 90 | Sit in front for a good view |
| 3:30pm | Check in at Isabelo’s ( 2 nights) | 1000 | Good for 2 room w/ own bath |
| 4:00-4:30pm | Late Lunch | 380 | Strawberry Cafe |
| 4:30pm | Stroll around Sagada | ||
| St. Mary’s Episcopal Church | |||
| 6:00pm | Back to Isabelo’s to rest and work | Slept early because tired | |
| TOTAL | 2,835 |
Reminder:
-Van schedule: Cervantes to Tadian – 8 & 9am | Cervantes to Abatan, Bauko – 7 & 10am; 1 & 4pm |jeep – 5:30am – single trip
A (Vigan) – B (Tagudin) – C (Cervantes) – D (Abatan, Bauko) – E (Bontoc) – F (Sagada)
DAY 5
Sagada, Mt. Province
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 6:00-9:30am | Wake up/work/prepare | ||
| 9:30-9:33am | Walk to Bana’s Cafe | ||
| 9:33-10:15am | Breakfast at Bana’s Cafe | 490 | Tried Kopi Luwak – 200/cup world’s most expensive coffee |
| 10:15-10:18 | Walk to Lemon Pie House | ||
| Buy Lemon Pie | 120 | 30/slice | |
| Buy water | 30 | 2- 500ml water | |
| 10:45-11:05 | Sagada Proper to Bangaan Tourism Office – 5.5km | 217 | We meet 4 people to share the transport worth 650 roundtrip |
| 11:30-3:30 | Bomod-ok Falls Adventure | 167 | Also called Big Falls. Tour guide is necessary costing 500/guide |
| Bangaan to Fedilisan – 1.2km (fee) | 20 | Average 30 minute walk | |
| Fedilisan to Bomod-ok Falls – 1.1km | Average 30 minute walk | ||
| Biscuit and Candies | 11 | There is a sari-sari store in Fedilisan near the the Brgy. Hall | |
| Have fun and swim in the river | |||
| Bomod-ok Falls to Fedilisan – 1.1km | Average 30 minute walk | ||
| Fedilisan to Aguid – 1.3km | Average 30 minute walk | ||
| Aguid to Sagada Proper | |||
| Lunch | 285 | Shamrock Cafe | |
| 4:00-6:10pm | Sumaguing Cave Adventure | 850 | 500 guide + 350 transport |
| Drop view point of Hangging Coffins | |||
| Drop off Lumiang Cave to Lumiang Cave | 20 minute walk | ||
| Lumiang drop off to Sumaguing drop off | 5 minute ride | ||
| 4:45-6:10pm | Sumaguing spelunking | 180m descent | |
| 6:30pm | Back at Isabelo’s Inn | ||
| 8:30pm | Dinner at Masfere | 410 | I don’t recommend |
| 9:00pm | Buy souvenirs | 460 | 2 shirts & 2 ref magnets |
| TOTAL | 3,060 |
Reminder:
-Sagada to Bomod-ok Transport: 500 roundtrip ( Sagada to Bomod-ok and vice versa). 650 roundtrip (Sagada to Bomod-ok then Aguid to Sagada). 350 if one way Sagada to Bomod-ok.
-Do not hire a tour guide in Sagada for your Bomod-ok Trekking because it is mandatory that the tour guide must be from Bomod-ok.
-It is advisable to tour Sagada in a group of 4 or look for people to share in every activity because it is a bit pricey.
– Bomod-ok Falls is located north of downtown Sagada between the Igorot communities of Aguid, Pide, and Fidelisan.
-For the Sagada Caving Tour guide rate is 500 for 2 persons and transport is 350 roundtrip.
-Food servings in Sagada is many so good for 2 food can be consume for 3 people.
-Sagada Elevation is 1,450m
-Sagada Cave opening elevation is 1,320m and deepest descent elevation is 1,110m
Day 6
Sagada, Mt. Province to Bontoc, Mt. Province to Banaue, Ifugao Province
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 4:00-4:10am | Wake up and Preapre | ||
| Sagada Proper to Kiltepan View Point – 3.3km | 166 | Transport is 500 roundtrip and shared with 6 people | |
| Kiltepan View Point | Sunrise and sea of clouds view + rice terraces | ||
| Kiltepan to Sagada Proper – 3.3km | |||
| Work | |||
| 7:30-8:00am | Breakfast at Yogurt House | 415 | Try there vegetable fried rice |
| Buy water | 30 | ||
| 8:30-10:00am | Echo Valley and Hanging coffin trek | We went to the wrong direction so took a lot of time. | |
| Isabelo’s Inn to Echo Valley – 1.9km | 30 minute walk | ||
| Echo Valley | Rest and take photos | ||
| Echo Valley to Hangging coffin – 2km | 5 minute walk | ||
| Hangging coffin | Rest and take photos | ||
| Hanging coffin to Isabelo’s | 35 minute walk | ||
| 10:00-10:30 | Prepare Things | ||
| 11:00-12:00 | Sagada to Bontoc ( jeep) – 18km | 90 | |
| 1:15-3:00pm | Bontoc Terminal to Banaue (jeep) – 44.3km | 300 | Direct drop off at our inn |
| Check in at Banaue Home stay | 600 | Room 400 for 2 + 200 overstay for 4 hours | |
| 3:15-3:45pm | Late lunch in the Homestay | 340 | Choose a room overlooking at the rice terraces |
| 3:45pm | Stroll around Banaue Proper | ||
| 5:00pm | Work and rest | ||
| TOTAL | 1,941 |
Reminder:
-Kiltepan View point elevation is 1,580m and temperature at 4:30am is 18 degrees.
-Bontoc to Banaue has a breath taking view of Rice terraces.
Day 7
Banaue, Ifugao to Baguio City, Benguet
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 6:00-7:00am | Wake up, work prepare | ||
| 7:00-7:30am | Breakfast at Homestay | 340 | Try the Ifugao Breakfast |
| Water 2 500 ml | 30 | ||
| 7:30-4:00pm | Banaue – Hungduan Tour (trike) | 1200 | 1100 tour + 100 tip |
| Visit 5 Banaue rice terraces view decks | |||
| Hiwang Village – 43.2km | 50 | 25 minute ride | |
| Hiwang to Hungduan | |||
| Hungduan tourism office fee | 40 | ||
| Hiwang Village to Hapao, Hungduan | 2h & 15m – there are drop offs for rice terraces view | ||
| Hapao proper to Bogyah Hot Spring & Hapao River | 45 minute trek in the rice terraces | ||
| Enjoy the hot spring and cold river | Hot spring – 43 degress while river – 20 degrees | ||
| Bogyah Hot Spring to Hapao Proper | 35 minute trek | ||
| Lunch | 275 | Eatery in the proper | |
| Hapao to Banaue View deck 2 | 1h & 10m | ||
| Picture taking of Ifugao elders | 190 | Give some amount to 4 elders | |
| souvenirs | 350 | 1 shirt various carved figurine | |
| Early dinner at Banaue Restaurant | 360 | ||
| 6:06pm-3:00am | Banaue to Baguio – 206km | 830 | 30 minute break in Gabut, Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya |
| TOTAL | 3,665 |
Reminder:
-Hiwang Village is where you can see various Ifugao native houses.
-Road from Banaue to Hungduan is under construction as of July 14, 2013 and estimated to be finish on December 2013.
-You can also proceed to Hungduan proper where you can view the web like rice terraces
-Another tour option in Banaue is to go to Batad where the theater like rice terraces is located.
DAY 8
Baguio City to Manila
Time | Particulars | Cost | Note |
| 3:00-3:10am | Bus Terminal to Hotel (taxi) | 50 | |
| 3:10am | Check in at Upstairs Bed and Bath | 598 | This is a shared room |
| 3:30-7:00am | sleep | ||
| 7:00-7:30am | Wake up, bath and prepare things | ||
| 7:30-11:30am | Baguio City Tour | ||
| Upstairs Bed and Bath to Wright Park | 55 | taxi | |
| Wright Park and The Mansion | 100 | 100 is for the puto like delicacy | |
| Wright park to Mines View Park | 45 | taxi | |
| Picture taking with a German Shepherd | 50 | ||
| Mines View Park to Burnham Park | 15 | jeep | |
| Buy green mango | 20 | ||
| Burnham Park to SM Baguio | 45 | Taxi | |
| Go to SM Baguio view deck | |||
| Brunch at SM Food Court | 421 | ||
| SM Baguio to Upstairs Bed and Bed | 45 | taxi | |
| 11:40am-7:35pm | Baguio City to Pasay – 256km | 920 | Victory Liner aircon bus w/ wifi not working |
| Victory liner terminal to NAIA | 145 | taxi | |
| Dinner | 335 | Dimsum inside airport | |
| 10:35-11:40pm | Manila NAIA to Mactan Int. Airport | Via Cebu Pacific | |
| 11:45-12:30am | Mactan Int. Airport to Danao City | 500 | Yellow taxi |
| TOTAL | 3,344 | ||
| Grand Total | 27,798 | ||
| Total/Person | 13,899 |
The total expenses per person of 13,899 pesos can be squeezed to 10,000 php depending on your spending. The trip looks very tiring but the truth is it’s not, most especially if you are traveling with an amazing view of nature, learn the history and culture of our country and meet new friends. This is by far my most favorite travel and the 3 sleepless night of creating this 8 day Northern Luzon DIY itinerary is so worth it.
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ayyyyyytss! mkaibog jd ni.
woah! that was quite a long and non-stop travel..\m/ suya ko!hehe
Wow, this practically covers half of the country from Mandaue to the far ends of the north.
🙂
That’s a loooong travel. But I bet you had fun. And the Php13,899.00 is not that pricey at all to think you’ve traveled that far and saw different things from different places.
Wish I could do that someday.
I had so much fun 🙂 I encourage you to try it.
It really shows in your post that you are an Accountant. Every expense is accounted for. This will really help those who are saving for the same trips. Also, I hope you enjoyed Ilocos Norte. I miss my parent's hometown so much! Lastly, I would also love to reach Mountain Province via Cervantes. We had a chance to visit Sagada but we travelled through Halsema Highway.
Hehehe.. Yes everything should be accounted for to stick on the budget 🙂
The Cervantes highway has a very nice view, it feels like ascending to heaven, pataas ng pataas ang travel.
The travel humbles me, napa isip ko na wow ang liit ko sa mundo na ito.
I did enjoy Ilocos Norte, one of the best province I’ve been to. 🙂
Wow! that was indeed a very long trip! I wish I could also have a long vacation leave in order to visit many places in one travel like what you had. The most number of days I could leave from my work is 5 days at the most which already includes my day off.
That was such a looong travel, I might say. I can’t imagine myself having a vacation for straight 8 days because filing a long vacation leave seems to be so impossible. Hahaha.
Aside from that, I can’t also imagine spending 10,000 for 8 days. I’ll be so broke. Haha. But indeed, the fun and memories will ever be priceless. 🙂
It is indeed priceless 🙂
There are other ways to travel in a tight number of days 🙂
Huhuhu nainggit naman ako bigla sa itinerary na ito. I badly need a vacation and I’ve been lemming to go back to Ilocos and Baguio 😐
Pack na and travel 🙂
I miss to go backpacking as well this was like July pa.
ako na ang loser, i haven’t been to the north :/ i’ve always wanted to visit ilocos… baguio din 🙂 hay… 13k for an 8-day travel… god that’s what you call budget for money 🙂
Ilocos is on my top destination 🙂
wow, I feel bad now because I don’t really travel much. But it left me a bit inspiration that maybe I can go on an 8-day one next year. Heehee. 10k budget isn’t so bad if it’s for two though, now I just need to save up for that. Thanks for sharing your experience! Someday, I will go places too..haha hopefully!
oh em.. titingnan ko pa lang ang itinerary, napapagod na ako. >___< gusto ko ung walang kapagod2 na trip. hahaha.
Hehehe.. 🙂
Iba iba talaga ang gusto ng mga tao.
Ako gusto ko yung travel talaga na sakay dito sakay doon.
I’ve been in Ilocos last year! We also traveled by plane, because it’s time consuming since my oldest sister and her family came home from abroad. That place is so amazing! Specially Vigan at night! I want to go back for sure! 🙂
I wonder if the scheduled is really cramped up or is it okay to spend 1 night in each place? Are the transpo really comfortable during the trips?
Hi Mike
The schedule looks tight but base on our experience we have covered most places that we wanted to visit but it would be awesome to add few more days on the trip.
Thanks for visiting.
Gee 🙂