Vigan is acknowledged by UNESCO as the best example of a Spanish colonial planned city in Asia, dating back to 1572. In 2014 the city was named as one of the world’s New7Wonders Cities, which increased its popularity immensely.
It’s a very popular destination for the local crowd, and usually taken as a standalone tour. However, due to Vigan’s distance from other popular destinations, we encourage foreign tourists to make it a part of a more extensive travel package across Northern Luzon. Let our experts help you with incorporating Vigan into your vacation to the Philippines.
The country is known for having its rich biodiversity as its main tourist attraction. Its beaches, heritage towns and monuments, mountains, rainforests, islands and diving spots are among the country's most popular tourist destinations.
Thailand is more expensive than the Philippines for a variety of reasons, even though both countries offer similar experiences: beautiful beaches, tropical rain forests filled with wildlife, and big cities full of culture and atmosphere.
A week in the Philippines can cost you about $363 (per person), while a week in Thailand may cost you around $479. These differences become even more noticable if you plan to spend a longer time in the country. 10 days, two weeks, or even one month of travel to the Philippines or Thailand can realy add to your travel budget.
A simple but tasty and hearty meal at a busy local restaurant costs around $3 on average. A three-course dinner at a mid-range neighborhood restaurant costs about $16 for two people, not including alcoholic beverages. A pint of Filipino bottle of beer is about $1, while a 12-ounce import costs $1.96.
The weather can be unpredictable in the country, as some typhoons occur outside of the typhoon season. But, generally speaking, avoid visiting the Philippines during its typical rainy season — from July until October.
Fresh or frozen unprocessed foods – including fresh fruits, frozen meat, fresh fish – even in quantities for personal use, may NOT be brought into or sent to the Philippines without the prior clearance from the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines.
Typhoons can hit the Philippines any time of year, with the months of June to September being most active, with August being the most active individual month and May the least active. Typhoons move east to west across the country, heading north as they go.