Location: Ilocos Sur, Philippines

I’ve been to Ilocos already, but only to its popular places and cliche tourists’ destinations like Calle Crisologo at the heart and Paoay Church up north. This time as a post-birthday celebration, together with friends, we raided Ilocos Sur again for a day. We planned itineraries on our own, aiming to go to Ilocos destinations we never been to and do some beach and nature spot hopping. 

First Destination: Suso Beach, La Union

The welcome arch of Ilocos Sur when coming from La Union

Second Destination: Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur 

Sta. Maria Church or Our Lady of the Assumption is the parish church of Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur. The church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It has a unique structure with a diversified architectural design of bricks and mortar. It was built on top of a hill not only as a lookout and a citadel but as a religious center during the early administration of the region by both the friars and sodiers of Spain.

Third Destination: Pinsal Falls, Ilocos Sur

Pinsal Falls, the largest waterfalls in Ilocos Region, is a group of plunge and cascade waterfalls falling from a 300 ft wide irregular shaped river ledge the highest of which is a drop of about 85 ft. Upriver are several smaller waterfalls with their own natural pools.

Fourth Destination: Quirino Bridge, Ilocos Sur 

This bridge is widely praised for its fine architecture and engineering. It was once partly destroyed by a super typhoon, hence a different-looking third quarter portion.