Pagudpud Beach
Pagudpud, the northermost coastal town in Ilocos Norte, lies majestically fronting the South China Sea and protected by beautiful green mountains. Pagudpud is most known for a two-kilometer white beach in Saud, one of the town's barangays. A row of coconut trees along Saud Beach adds a tropical theme to the already beautiful resort destination that is Pagudpud.
Several resorts are located at the Saud white beach, which attracts both foreign and local tourists. The fine, white cream sand in Saud beach can be compared to those of popular resort islands such as Boracay, Panglao, and Puerto Galera. The water, however, is not as calm as in Boracay and can be suddenly deep during high tide.
Another stretch of white sand, Mairaira Beach or the Blue Lagoon located several kilometers from the Saud Beach, also attracts tourists because of its calmer and blue water as well as it pure sand sea floor. This once secluded beach at Malingay Cove has a U shape that makes it a perfect getaway for travellers looking for a relaxing destination. A 2.5-kilometer dirt road in Sitio Malingay leads to the Blue Lagoon from the Pagudpud highway.
Other beatiful destinations near Pagudpud include the 1.3-kilometer Patapat viaduct which is actually a 32-meter high coastal bridge that provides an endless view of the South china Sea, Bantay Abot-abot natural sculpture, the Mabogabog Falls, the Bangui windmills in Bangui, and the Kapurpurawan rock formation as well as the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Burgos.
Pagudpud is located at the northern tip of Luzon, some 560 kilometers from Manila. By private vehicle, Pagudpud can be reached via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the national road, from Tarlac all the way to the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte to Laoag City. From Laoag City, it is 80 kilometers further north.
There are buses that ply directly from Manila to Pagudpud. Another option is to take buses bound for Laoag City, which is about 480 kilometers from Manila. Travel time is more than 10 hours by bus. Domestic airlines also have daily flights to Laoag City. From Laoag City, tourists can hire tricycles to bring them to Pagudpud, covering a distance of 80 kilometers.
