Pagudpud

Twelve hours north of Manila is a known beach lover’s haven. With its lengthy powdery sand, blue clear water, and a variety natural wonders, Pagudpud is a must-visit destination in the Philippines.

Getting There

We took the RCJ bus near Lacson cor España Sts in Manila. Our bus left at 8:30 Thursday night. We were at the Poblacion, Pagudpud by past 7am. A tricycle took us to our resort.

The trip is long so it is advised to travel at night especially when you are just commuting. The travel is filled with views of the rural areas. The bus ride itself is a good retreat away from the urban road. I personally feast on the sight of mountains, rivers, rice and tobacco fields.

The Accommodation

Having browsed the net for the right resort, we decided to check-in at the Polaris Resort. It’s one of the least expensive and it is recommended for its warm hospitality. True enough. We did enjoy the warm welcome and the sense of humor of ate Mean, the owner of the resort. It is also beside the Saud beach resort which has one good beachfront. On a bright sunny day, you can view the Bangui windmill from the shore. Visitors are required to pay an entrance fee before they are allowed to stroll freely on the Saud beach.

We checked-in a room good for four but we were charged for only three. A good deal! All the rooms have their own toilet and aircon. They have a restaurant on the lobby but the price is typical of metro restaurants. There’s nothing special about the food though. I heard they can cook the food you bought for a fee. We didn’t get to visit the wet market (which usually opens on Saturday mornings) so we weren’t able to buy our own food. We just have to rely on whatever the food places have to offer.

The Sites

The beautiful beaches are the major attraction of the town but there is more to Pagudpud than the beaches. We contracted Leo, the tricycle driver to tour us around the place. You need at least half a day to visit the various spots although I would recommend a whole day to fully enjoy them.

Aside from the Saud beachfront, another famous beach is the Blue Lagoon (Maira-ira Beach). It simply is picturesque. The waves in the Blue Lagoon are larger and non-swimmers can’t go too far from the shore. The water easily gets deep. I heard there’s only one nearby resort so tourist should either go to their next destination wearing wet clothes or know how to change using a sarong. We had our lunch on that beach construction worker style!

Mang Leo then brought us to another scenic view, one that caught my eye on our way to the Blue Lagoon. Bantay-abot is a cliff overlooking a rocky shore. It looks like a gigantic rock with a hole. It’s just a photo op spot so better get those cameras ready when you pass by.

Ate Mean told us that some tricycle drivers skip some destination like a certain bridge. We specifically told Mang Leo not to miss that spot. The Patapat Viaduct is a coastal bridge that snakes on the side of the hills and offers a scenic view of the South China Sea. It’s the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines.

Somewhere along the bridge is a spill-over of the Mabogabog Falls. The falls have been dammed to power a nearby hydro-electric power plant. We just can resist donning our swimwear and take some pictures even if we were visible from everyone passing by the highway. The water was chilling and the pressure of the raging water on the flesh is like having a massage.

The next stop, to me, was the most boring one, the Paraiso ni San Anton. I don’t really get the name. All you have there are springs, a paved steps leading to a grotto, a canopy of foliage and some fruit vendors. It was one of our shortest stop. See for yourself why at least.

The best part (for me aside from the beach of course) of our tour is the trek to Kabigan falls. Others call it Kaibigan Falls. To go there you need a 30 min easy trek. Aside from a few steep steps near the falls, the only challenge could have been keeping your balance while crossing shallow rivers. The rocks could get slippery. It’s quite a long walk but the sight and sound of rivers gushing, fresh air and green foliage is completely pleasurable. The powerful water from Kabigan falls shares a lively feel of nature, a good highlight of the trip.

We didn’t stay that long in all the destinations because we don’t want to miss a photo op with the sunset. I think beach outings aren’t complete without sentimental sunset photos. The relaxing view of the sun about to rest was a good way to cap off our day of adventure around Pagudpud. The next day was for enjoying the beachfront before heading of to Vigan.