Silversea Luxury Cruises À VIGAN SALOMAGUE PORT

Visit the historical places of Badoc Town during this excursion to Ilocos Norte.

Badoc Town, Juan Luna Shrine & St. John the Baptist Parish Church

Depart from the pier for approximately 30-minute drive to Badoc Town, a coastal municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte. In 1571, when the Spanish conquistadors had Manila more or less under their control, they began looking for new sites to conquer. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves (looc) where the locals lived in harmony. As a result, they named the region Ylocos and its people Ylocanos.

Badoc is most known for being the birthplace of a world renowned artist, great painter and sculture - Juan Luna. It is here that an Ancestral house of the Luna brothers was reconstructed into a two storey shrine which houses mostly reproductions of his previous artworks. Built in the typical middle class fashion, the house was burned down in 1861 and was rebuilt using clay bricks and molave wood. Antique lovers will definitely find joy stepping into this abode with the abundance of antique displays around, including a 120-year old 4-posted bed that Juan Luna himself used.

St. John the Baptist Parish Church also known as Badoc Church was constructed in 1591. At present, the church houses the miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated under the title Virgin of Miracles, the 400-year old imagery of the Virgin Mary found in a floating box by some fishermen back in the 17th century and believed to be a miracle for many pilgrims of the town. The celebrated Philippine painter Juan Luna was baptized in Badoc Church on 27 October 1857.

After your visits, drive back to the Pier and return onboard.

Explore the National Cultural Treasures of the Heritage of Northern Philippines during your full-day excursion with local lunch.

Batac City, Museum and Mausoleum

Depart from the pier for approximately 60-minute drive to Batac City. Batac City is known as the Home of Great Leaders. Most popular would be Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, 10th President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. Others were Gregorio Aglipay, the first Filipino Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church and Artemio Ricarte, a Filipino General during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War considered as the "Father of the Philippine Army." Here, visit the Museum and Mausoleum dedicated to the Former President Ferdinand Marcos in Batac. It is where the glass-entombed, preserved corpse of the former President is found and also holds the memorabilla of the late President all from his service career.

Laoag City Walking Tour, Aurora Park, Tobacco Market, Sinking Bell Tower, St.Williams Cathedral

Afterwards, drive for approximately 30 minutes to Laoag City. Start the walking tour right in the middle of Laoag city, at the Aurora park, which is home to the Tobacco Marker, the fountain and the Laoag sign, along with great views of the Capitol building. From this nice little park, walk just another two blocks and visit the Sinking Bell Tower. The bell tower is one of the landmarks of Spanish colony in the Philippines. The tower has earned its "sinking" reputation because it is so heavy and it was built on sandy foundations that it has been consistently sinking into the ground. The legend says that when the bell tower was newly built, a person on horseback could enter the tower, but nowadays a person with normal height has to bend first just to pass through the entrance.

Paoay Church & Filipino Lunch at La Preciosa

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant La Preciosa proceeding another couple of blocks further to visit the Saint Augustine Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church, a Roman Catholic church. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The adaptive reuse of baroque style against earthquake is developed since many destructive earthquakes destroyed earlier churches in the country. The walls are made of large coral stones on the lower part and bricks at the upper levels. The mortar used in the church includes sand and lime with sugarcane juice boiled with mango leaves, leather and rice straw.

Your tour concludes with approximately 60 minutes back to the pier.

Vigan, the Saint Augustine Parish Church, National Museum Ilocos Sur Complex

Drive from Salomague Port going south to Vigan City. For your first stop, visit to the Saint Augustine Parish Church, commonly known as Bantay Church, the seat of the patroness of Ilocandia the Lady of Charity. Next, a short drive will take you to glance at National Museum Ilocos Sur Complex which houses the memorabilia of the late Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines and other original furnishings and displays.

Pagburnayan, Hidden Garden and Lunch

After a museum tour, head to the Pagburnayan, a place where earthen jars are made. The industry that has grown from the making of burnay dates back to pre-colonial times when immigrants from China came to settle in Vigan City. Your next stop will be at the Hidden Garden. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at Lilong and Lilang Restaurant.

Walking Tour of UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan

Escorted by a guide, explore the heart of the city, known for its interesting mix of architectural styles. Highlights include the Vigan Cathedral - canonically known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. It serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan in 1999 and traditional stone houses along Calle Crisologo, a well-preserved cobblestoned street that's lined with ancestral houses dating back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century.

After the guided walk re-board your mini-bus and commence drive for approximately 60-minute journey back to the port.

Explore the National Cultural Treasures of the Heritage of Northern Philippines during your half-day excursion with free time.

Laoag City Walking Tour, Aurora Park, Tobacco Market, Sinking Bell Tower, St.Williams Cathedral

Depart from pier onboard the mini-bus for approximately 80-minute drive north to Laoag City. Officially, the City of Laoag is the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub and the location of the Ilocos Region's busiest commercial airport.

Your walking tour begins at the Sinking Bell Tower - which sinks into the ground at a rate of an inch a year - then proceed to Laoag Cathedral, canonically known as Saint William's Cathedral which is approximately 80 meters away from the sinking tower. The current church was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel.

Continue the walk towards Aurora park. The plaza was called Plaza de Alfonso XII after the King of Spain. In the same plaza, there is a multi-tiered obelisk erected in 1881, dedicated to the Spanish King Alfonso XII for terminating the Tobacco Monopoly. Today, the Obelisk still stands and had defied deterioration through the passing of the time. The plaza is now called Aurora Park, on the center is where the Statue of Maiden Pamulinawen is strategically placed on top of the fountain. View more historical constructions of the city center where you can see the Ilocos Norte Capitol, Marcos Hall of Justice, Laoag City Hall, Gilbert Bridge. Listen to a local historian as he explains further the history of the city.

Free Time

Enjoy some free time to explore the area around for some local shop and historical buildings before heading back to the port. At the conclusion of the tour, re-board the mini bus for the scenic, approximately 60-minute drive back to the port.

Leaving the pier in your mini -bus enjoy the scenery during the approximately 80 -minute journey to Laoag City. Start the walking tour right in the middle of Laoag city, the Aurora Park, which is home to the Tobacco Market, the fountain and the Laoag sign, along with great views of the Capitol building. From this nice little park, continue the walk just another two blocks, and visit the Sinking Bell Tower. Another two blocks away is the Laoag Church.

Re-board and take, a short drive to Malacañang of the North. It was the residence of the family of Ferdinand Marcos when he was the President of the Philippines. It is a 2-story mansion - now a museum - overlooking the Paoay Lake, and consists of seven rooms, with each room having a theme of historical events from the Marcos era: Study, Agriculture, Diplomacy, OFW (overseas Filipino workers), Culture, Nation Building and Family.

After the museum drive to a local restaurant and enjoy a traditional - Filipino/Ilocano Cuisine - lunch.

Re-board your vehicle and travel for a short visit at The Saint Augustine Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building.

At the conclusion of the tour, re-board the mini-bus for the approximately 60-minute drive to the port and your awaiting ship.

Depart the pier for the approximately 80-minute scenic journey to the Paoay sand dunes. Upon arrival transfer to the 4x4 vehicles. Spend the next - little over - one hour with the experience a thrilling off-road joyride across the sand dunes over viewpoints with sweeping vistas of the river valley and along the desolate coastline.

Afterwards, re-board your vehicle and transfer to a local restaurant for a Filipino/Ilocano lunch.

Continue on with the drive to the nearby Saint Augustine Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

Return to your mini-bus for the approximately 60-minute journey back to the port.

Explore Vigan at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Vigan at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Vigan at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Vigano at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore the heritage province of Ilocos Sur during your half day excursion to Vigan. Hailed by UNESCO as one of the finest intact Spanish colonial towns in Asia, Vigan City was a busy Chinese trading port even before Juan de Salcedo laid out the familiar grid pattern. Vigan was also voted one of the "New Seven Wonders Cities," chosen from hundreds of millions of votes following three historic global campaigns in 2015.

Vigan, Plaza Salcedo & St.Paul Metropolitan Cathedral

Depart from the pier for approximately one hour drive. Upon arrival start your walking exploration of Vigan's historical city centre. Visit Plaza Salcedo, elevated elliptical plaza highlighting the Salcedo Monument known to be the oldest in the North and visit also St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. The massive structure was built in 1799 by the Augustinians in the distinctive Ilocano baroque architecture. The three tiered façade betrays some Chinese influence such as carvings of dogs placed near the religious figures or statues. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan in 1999.

Calle Crisologo & Free Time

Your walking exploration concludes in Calle Crisologo. The area is replete with ancestral houses with ancient tile roofs massive hardwood floorings, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles. Take advantage of some free time before travelling back to pier for approximately one hour drive.