Ilocos Sur & West Philippine Sea December 2020
map
itinerary
highlights
gallery
Day 1 Itinerary
Places visited: TPLEX Pozzorubio Toll Plaza (Autosweep) - Bauang Bridge - Vitalis Villas
TPLEX Pozzorubio Toll Plaza (Autosweep)
This is our first time to use the TPLEX all the way to Rosario Exit. This reduces the trip from Manila to Ilocos Sur from 10 hours to 5-6 hours.
Bauang Bridge
Finally, a view of the sea! Google tells me that an estuary is the area where a river meets the sea or ocean, where fresh water from the river meets salt water from the sea. 😉
Vitalis Villas
So this is our home for 2 nights. I’ve been wanting to come here since the hubby and I went back to the Philippines. But then baby happened 🤰🏻then work 👩💻 then that virus 🦠. It was last November when I read that Ilocos Province opened its doors to tourists. I immediately booked directly to Vitallis Villas’ page.
Oh Prinsesa, someday we will bring you to Greece. Meanwhile, we will show you how magnificent our Philippines is.
Day 2 Itinerary
Places visited: Vitalis Villas - Santa - Bantay Church Bell Tower - Calle Crisologo - Pinakbet Farm - Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo - Calle Crisologo
Vitalis Villas
Santa
We took a Heritage Day Tour during the second day. It includes a private van and tour guide going to places such as Syquia Mansion, Calle Crisologo (via calesa), Baluarte Zoo, and others. I liked the tour inside Syquia Mansion but I forgot to take a photo of the massive portrait painting of Pres. Quirino’s daughter, Vicky Quirino. Since her father was a widower, she served as First Lady of the Philippines, becoming the youngest bearer of the title at the age of 16. The hubby liked the idea that he was not driving the whole time. The lil girl liked the giraffe and turtle in Baluarte zoo.
Bell Tower
Calle Crisologo
Pinakbet Farm
Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo
Calle Crisologo
Day 3 Itinerary
Places visited: Vitalis Villas - Vitalis White Sands
Vitalis Villas
Vitalis White Sands
Our view is the partner hotel of Vitalis which is Vitalis White Sands. It features a beach front and access to water activities. We went there during our last day via free shuttle. The lil girl was afraid to swim but she enjoyed making sand castles. 🏰 It is a realxing view from our hotel rooms but it is even more calming once you’re actually there, listening to the ocean waves 🌊 (finally after being locked up in the city for 9 months).