Ilocos Norte Ultimate Travel Guide

Ilocos Norte Overview

Ilocos Norte is one of the northernmost provinces in contiguous Luzon and it is where the northernmost city is found – the Sunshine City of Laoag. Ilocos Norte is the 6th province in my personal quest for #Project82PH.The GPS Coordinates of Ilocos Norte are 18.1647° N, 120.7116° E. Not known to many but Ilocos Norte is the “Garlic Capital of the Philippines.”

This province is also the birthplace of the former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., hailing from the municipality of Sarrat. The two-time bronze Olympic Medalist, Teofilo Yldefonso, is also an Ilocano, hailing from the municipality of Piddig. The capital City of Laoag is a thriving metro with an active nightlife, where sprawls of food stalls selling empanadas are a mainstay, especially in the City Center.

Read also: Ilocos Norte: Must-See Spots in Ilocandia 

Best time to go to Ilocos Norte

There are two major seasons in the Philippines, the Dry and Wet seasons. In Ilocos Norte, the Dry Season is typically from November to May. The Wet Season is from June to October. If you want to go windsurfing or surfing, visit Ilocos Norte from July to September where the waves are quite huge. The temperature range in Ilocos Norte is from 21°C to 34°C (69°F to 93°F).

How to get to Ilocos Norte

Being the northernmost province in mainland Luzon, Ilocos Norte can be easily accessed with a number of options:

By Land

Ilocos Norte can be easily reached by land. (1) From Manila, the travel time is approximately 8 to 10 hours (with 2 to 3 stopovers). (2) From Baguio, travel time can be from 7 to 8 hours. (3) From Luna Junction (Abulug, Cagayan), travel time is approximately 4 to 5 hours. (4) From Tuguegarao City, travel time can be from 6 to 7 hours. Bus companies such as GV Florida, Partas, Maria De Leon, Fariñas Trans come to and from Laoag City.

By Air

The province fortunately has one airport with daily flights to and from Manila. The Laoag International Airport (IATA: LAO) is also the northernmost airport in mainland Luzon. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines service the route.

By Water

There are no active commercial ports in Ilocos Norte. The Currimao Port is used primarily for shipping goods and other materials.

Things to know about when visiting Ilocos Norte

Land Area	3,467.89 km² (1,338.96 mi²) *slightly smaller than the US State of Rhode Island
Languages / Dialects spoken	Ilocano, Tagalog, English
Cellular Signal	Globe: Fair to Good Smart: Good to Best Dito: Poor to Fair (in some areas)
Socket Standard, voltage (V), frequency (Hz)	Type A: two flat parallel pins Type B: two flat parallel pins with 1 grounding pin Type C: 2 round pins Voltage: 220 volts Frequency: 60 Hz
Modes of Payment	Cash is still king in Ilocos Norte. Some establishments accept online transfers (GCash or Maya). Other establishments also accept wire transfers (Credit or Debit Cards.)
Currency used	Philippine Peso (PH₱)

Basic Ilocano Sentences / Phrase you might need to know

– Hi / Hello = Hi / Hello!

– Goodbye = Agpakada akon

– Thank you = Agyamanak / Salamat

– You’re Welcome = Awan anyaman

– Excuse Me = Dumalanak man (when passing through)

– How Much = Mano / Sagmano

– Good morning = Naimbag nga bigat

– Good afternoon = Naimbag nga malem

– Good evening = Naimbag nga rabii

– How are you? = Kumusta kan?

– Where is ___? = Ayan na ti ___?

– Delicious = Naimas

Famous food and delicacy in Ilocos Norte

Dishes

– Bagnet – this deep-fried pork belly is a favorite staple in Ilocano households. Typically served with the signature Sukang Iloko, Bagnet is enjoyed crispy hot (and lots of rice!)

– Pinakbet – this is, in my opinion, the most popular dish in all of Ilocandia. In almost every celebration, occasion, or just another simple day, the popular vegetable stew a.k.a. Pinakbet is an easy serve. Cooked with the freshest bagoong (fermented fish paste) or just the right amount of patis (fish sauce), “pakbet” is a go-to dish for Ilocanos.

– Longganisa – this meat sausage popular particularly in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur has a distinct taste among other variants found in the Philippines. The Ilocano Longganisa is garlicky, savory, fatty, and tangy (as derived from the sukang iloco).

– Poqui-Poqui – its funny and ear-catching name is in contrast to its appearance and taste. The poqui-poqui is a roasted eggplant, combined with scrambled egg, onions, and tomatoes and gives an appetizer vibe in every meal. It is usually paired with grilled fish and other Ilocano dishes.

– Dinakdakan – akin to and often compared to Pampanga’s sisig, Ilocanos’ Dinakdakan is also a popular Ilocano dish. Made from various pork’s inner organs and pig mask, this creamy dish is also a personal favorite (along with dinuguan!)

Delicacies

– Empanada – Ilocos is not Ilocos if you have not tried eating their orange-colored empanada. This favorite Ilocano delicacy can be mixed with mung bean sprouts, Ilocos longganisa, and egg. You can see food carts selling it in every corner!

– Chichacorn – is a famous Ilocano snack that is deep fried corn nuts. Chichacorn is commonly flavored with garlic, which is also abundant in Ilocos Norte.

– Tupig – this sweet ground glutinous rice is a staple snack in Ilocos Norte. Tupig is usually grilled and wrapped in banana leaves, often topped with coconut strips.

– Dudol – a traditional rice cake often served during the Lenten season. Dudol is made from sticky rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar, closely similar to the Maranao’s Dudol, also popularly found in Lanao Del Sur.

Exploring in and out of Ilocos Norte

Exploring around Ilocos Norte is quite easy. For each town, there are a lot of tricycles (short trips) and jeepneys (long trips) within. For longer and inter-provincial trips, vans and buses are more ideal and faster. Minimum fare for jeepneys is around ₱ 13-15, ₱ 15-20 minimum for tricycles, and around ₱ 30-50 minimum for bus or van.

The traffic conditions are light and easy in town centers but once approaching Gilbert Bridge entering Laoag City, traffic can be heavy (especially during rush hours). Traffic within the city center of Laoag is quite an organized chaos due to the city’s tight roads and blocks. The weather in the province is mainly dry and humid. Road conditions are generally paved with few land roads. Several bypass roads are also being built to decongest the city traffic.

*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

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