11-Day Heritage, Windmills, Underground River & Islands Tour to Puerto Princesa, Baguio & Ilocos

After leaving Manila, you will fly to Laoag International Airport. Your guide will then drive you from the airport to Laoag City, where you will find St. Williams Cathedral. This church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. It also stands close to the 150-foot-tall Sinking Bell Tower, which mysteriously sinks an inch every year.

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You will then make your way to Museo Ilocos Norte. This museum houses a large number of artifacts that represent the life and culture of the people of the Ilocos Norte. After exploring the museum, you will proceed to Aurora Park, where you will find a multi-tiered obelisk erected in 1881.

You will then travel from Laoag to Paoay to see the Malacanang of the North. This building was once the residence of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his family. When you explore the house, you will come across his office, as well as some of his presidential memorabilia.

Following your visit to the Malacanang of the North, you will travel to Paoay Church. This Roman Catholic church, built in 1710, became well-known for its distinctive architecture. The trip will end with a visit to the Marcos Museum, dedicated to the former President's political activities. Aside from some of Marcos' memorabilia, the museum also features his cenotaph.

Your guide will transport you from your hotel in Laoag to the town of Burgos on the third day. The tour will begin with a visit to the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, constructed during the Spanish Colonial period. The lighthouse itself is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill that overlooks the scenic Cape Bojeador.

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You will also drop by the well-known Bangui Windmills of Ilocos Norte. These twenty-six wind turbines, each 70 meters tall, form a continuous line along Bangui Bay's 9-km shoreline. From there, you will stop by the Patapat Viaduct, a coastal bridge that links the Ilocos Region to the neighboring province of Cagayan Valley.

After seeing the bridge, your guide will drive you south to Agua Grande. Enjoy the unspoiled landscape of this picnic park before heading to the nearby Paraiso ni Anton. This grotto is famous among locals for its miraculous waters.

Afterward, you will head to the picturesque Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations. You will then wrap your tour at the Pasuquin Salt Stand, where locals sell freshly produced sea salt during the off-season.

If you have the time to spare, feel free to take a 4x4 trip across the La Paz Sand Dunes. Enjoy the bumpy road through the 85-square-kilometer desert before returning to your Laoag hotel.

For Day 4, your guide will take you south to Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the National Museum Ilocos Sur Complex here and learn more about the history and heritage of the region. From there, you will make your way to the Bantay Church and Bell Tower, a Neo-Gothic church with pseudo-Romanesque materials and features.

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You will then go to the Syquia Mansion Museum. This museum honors Elpidio Quirino, a Vigan native who served as the Philippines' sixth president. After visiting the presidential museum, you will head next to the Pagburnayan Jar Factory. The locals working at the factory will explain how to make exquisitely handcrafted pots. You can also try your hand at making pottery while here.

A ten-minute walk from Pagburnayan is the Crisologo Museum. This ancestral home, which belonged to former Ilocos Sur Representative Floro Crisologo, is now a museum displaying the family's memorabilia.

From there, continue your tour to Calle Crisologo to see the centuries-old Spanish houses that line the street. You will also head to the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as the Vigan Cathedral. To conclude your journey, you will travel to Baluarte for a safari experience and check into your accommodation along Calle Crisologo.

After checking out of your hotel in Vigan, you will travel to Sagada in the Cordillera Mountains. This rural town is famous for its beautiful mountain valleys, long stretches of rice fields, and sea of clouds. Your first stop here will be Sugong Cave, one of the rustic town's 60 caves. Located a few kilometers past Sagada's cemetery, Sugong Cave is well-known for the coffins that locals hang from the limestone cliffs.

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You will then pass through Echo Valley on your way back to town. Packed with lush greenery and surrounded by limestone cliffs, this densely forested woodland area is an ideal spot for a quick break. Prepare your spelunking gear next as you head to Sumaguing Cave, Sagada's biggest cavern.

Millions of ancient stalactites and stalagmites, as well as rare geological forms, can be found in this cave. There are also natural ice lakes within the tunnel. To cap off your tour, you will make your way to Bontoc Tribal Museum. This museum, established by a Belgian nun, aims to conserve the history and traditions of the Cordillera region. While inside, you can find indigenous artifacts and old photos on display. Afterward, you will head to your hotel in Sagada.

After departing Sagada, your guide will bring you south to the town of Banaue, renowned for its breathtaking rice terraces. One of the most frequently visited sites here is the amphitheater-style rice terraces in the village of Batad. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the pride of the Luzon highlands.

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Pose with the terraces as your backdrop before continuing to the Batad Banaue Viewpoint. This observation deck is only a half-hour walk from the main road and is the perfect place to go for a better view of the terraces. You can, however, skip the viewpoint and instead go trekking to Tappiya Waterfall.

Meanwhile, if you are not up for a hike, you can go to Banga-an Village as your alternate destination. This tiny and charming farming village is located below the Batad junction and is home to several native Ifugao houses. While here, you can also learn about the locals' way of life and their rice terrace farming technique.

Your trip will conclude with a visit to the Banaue Museum, which houses an impressive collection of ancestral objects from ancient Igorot tribes. Aside from the objects, there is a portion of the museum devoted to the capture of Japanese Imperial Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

After checking out of your Banaue hotel, you will board a van to Baguio and stop in the town of Kiangan. Here, you will visit the Ifugao Museum, a two-story ethnic museum that houses valuable Ifugao artifacts like clothes and musical instruments. While in town, you will also head to the General Yamashita Surrender Site.

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From there, you will travel to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio to see how Filipino cadets train. You will also head to The Mansion in the city's eastern outskirts. Known as the official summer residence of the Philippine President, this building is widely regarded as one of the most photographed locations in the city.

Following your visit to The Mansion, your guide will take you to Camp John Hay. This entertainment complex was once used as a rest and leisure facility for US military personnel before being converted into a mixed-use development. You will then proceed to Mines View Park and Wright Park to enjoy Baguio's scenic scenery.

Another park on your itinerary is Centennial Park, located just about a kilometer away from Wright Park. This pine-filled area previously served as a zoo, but today, it is a common venue for tribal festivals and ceremonies. You'll stop by the Good Shepherd Convent for some delicacy shopping before returning to your downtown hotel.

From your Baguio hotel, you will make your way to Tarlac for a day hike up Mt. Pinatubo. This active volcano, found more than 170 kilometers from the City of Pines, is infamous for its destructive eruption in 1991. After destroying over 8,000 homes and causing damages of over ten billion pesos, this eruption was dubbed the 20th century's second-largest terrestrial eruption.

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Your guide will bring you to the Sta. Juliana Tourism Center after you arrive in Tarlac and take you on a 4x4 ride to the mountain base. You will pass through the bumpy and dusty moon-like land of Crow Valley. After about an hour of driving, you will disembark at the mountain's base and begin the trek.

The trail to Mt. Pinatubo is a moderately trafficked 3.4-mile point-to-point walk. It typically takes hikers about an hour and 1.5 hours to reach the summit. Along the way, you will also spot some lava sand formations from the 1991 eruption.

The turquoise waters of the crater lake will be the first thing you see once you reach the trail's end. You'll have plenty of time to savor your lunch while admiring the tranquil scenery here. Take plenty of souvenir photos before starting your descent and returning to your Manila hotel.

After checking out of your Manila hotel, you'll travel from Cebu to Puerto Princesa Airport to begin your Palawan adventure. You will then make your way to Honda Bay, where you will board a boat and start your full-day island-hopping adventure.

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From the coast, you will first stop at Starfish Island. Because of its rich aquatic life and abundance of starfish, this crescent-shaped island is one of the best places for snorkeling in Palawan. There are also no jellyfish in this area, making it ideal for swimming.

Afterward, you will sail from Starfish Island to Cowrie Island. Cowrie is the largest and most developed island in Honda Bay. It comes complete with cabanas, pubs, restaurants, and facilities for jet-skiing, snorkeling, and banana boat riding. Aside from that, volleyball and frisbees are available here, as well.

Luli Island will be the last destination on your island-hopping journey. Luli is well-known for its white sandbars that vanish at high tide, but it also has an excellent snorkeling location. Enjoy the quiet seascape surrounding the island as you laze on its powdery sand. Before the sun sets, your boat will return you to the mainland so that you can rest at your Sabang hotel.

On the morning of Day 10, your guide will transport you from your Sabang hotel to Sabang Wharf. When you arrive at the beach, you will hop aboard a boat and travel to the world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation, so expect to see abundant flora and fauna. Apart from this, the river cruise also showcases the interesting stalactites and stalagmites formations inside the underground cave.

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After your cruise, you will return to the mainland for a city tour of Puerto Princesa, beginning with Baker's Hill. This bakery also functions as a theme park and showcases the artistic skills of the bakers of Palawan. You can purchase a variety of baked goodies here before going to Plaza Cuartel. During WWII, this park was used as a military base but had since been converted into a recreational spot.

You will then travel to the wildlife research center of Crocodile Farm. Aside from housing crocodiles, the facility also keeps numerous crocodile fossils, skeletons, and bone structures. From there, you will stop by Mitra's Ranch to see Puerto Princesa's panoramic view before wrapping up the trip at the city's promenade, the Puerto Princesa Baywalk.

You will now head back to Manila. After leaving your hotel in Sabang, your guide will drive you to the Puerto Princesa Airport, where you will board a plane bound for Ninoy Aquino International Airport. You will arrive in Manila in less than two hours.