North Luzon loop

[antonboq]

I am planning a trip with my GF on a North Luzon loop (NCR - Tarlac - Ilocos - Cagayan - Isabela - Nueva E/V - NCR). Any tips you guys could share?

Here's my planned itenerary:
Leave NCR 930pm, arrive vigan 430-6am for breakfast
Leave Vigan 730am, arrive pagudpud 1030am. Check in pagudpud
Leave pagudpud next day after lunch, head for Cagayan-Tugegarao
Unknown - Unknown
After two days, arrive at Anvaya, check in, enjoy the resort, leave for NCR next day.

--here's the tricky part. I have not ventured in this area of the Philippines (east coast) so I cannot really plan too much from here on. I am hoping for a car-friendly route because I dont want to bother my family and use one of our bigger vehicles.

Thanks!

[B2Bomber]

first off...

aaarg! been planning to do this for almost 2 years now but work sked doesn't allow me... hopefully by the end of this year or early next year.

anyway, tips (assuming you haven't done it yet)
NCR-Vigan... 2130H to 0430H the following day seems too tight. At best it would only get you up until Sudipen,LU or Tagudin,IS. 0600H would be more realistic. Watch out for major road works starting from Tagudin up to Vigan (i have no update for the last year and a half, past Vigan) specially in "Paraiso ni Juan" which is after Santa,IS... prior to the Quirino Bridge in Bantay, IS -- the eroded road has been there for ages. Last time I passed, still no adequate lighting or signages specially during visually challenging hours/weather.
Vigan-Pagudpud... your time frame ought to be good enough... depending on the day and time of the day though.
I can't help you much for the west side as last time I passed there, I was but a passenger, and that was like half a decade ago.
Roads are fairly "car-friendly"... actually you are better off with a small car if it's gonna be just you and your GF...

[antonboq]

Yup, used a Mazda 6 in this trip. Very comfortable and zippy. Got to Vigan at around 6am indeed but our departure was moved to 12mn. SCTEx helped a lot!

The Pagudpud to Tuguegarao section is fine with a few road works. Tugegarao to N. Ecija is pretty bad din because madaming road works -- but a regular sedan can still go through without much problems.

We passed Dalton pass at night. Even with HID headlamps, ang hirap pag umuulan! Hehehehe..

[B2Bomber]

yup. that's why we were always intending to do it during the summer season but with a more leisurely pace though... congrats on your luzon loop trip.

[Dave_D]

Been there done that too...

It really depends kasi what you plan to achieve...

Here's my images taken from my trip;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedel...7611976870908/

Highlights are the Callao Caves, Bantayan Island (Aparri), Iguig Cavalry as well as the usual Patapat Highway, Pagudpod and Bangui.

My route is reversed... I start NCR to Tugegarao then back to manila via Ilocos. The northernmost parts of luzon are the least spoiled in terms of natural resources and less people venture there.

[trekker]

An alternative way

Just did the North Luzon loop ..

My writeup is at http://yachtvalhalla.net/adventures/...hluzontour.htm

Except for sheltering from a tropical storm it was GREAT!

Terry

[nandyg1]

Been there done that too...

It really depends kasi what you plan to achieve...

Here's my images taken from my trip;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedel...7611976870908/

Highlights are the Callao Caves, Bantayan Island (Aparri), Iguig Cavalry as well as the usual Patapat Highway, Pagudpod and Bangui.

My route is reversed... I start NCR to Tugegarao then back to manila via Ilocos. The northernmost parts of luzon are the least spoiled in terms of natural resources and less people venture there.

sarap ng road trip!

i wish i could take pictures like you do - solid!