Transportation in Vigan
Take a calesa ride from Plaza Burgos
The ancient Spanish settlement of Vigan is a pleasant return to colonial times when the sound of horses’ hooves clomping though towns was as ubiquitous as car horns today. Many visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site come on guided tours of the Cordilleras and so are dropped off directly at their city centre hotels before being whisked away again towards Banaue or Sagada.
While this is undoubtedly the easiest way of getting to Vigan, the city is not hard to reach independently with ample parking, regular bus services and an airport just a few kilometres away. The ancient ambience of the city is greatly enhanced by the decision to ban motorised vehicles from certain streets, although this can be slightly inconvenient if you are faced with lugging bags to a hotel in the restricted zone.
Getting around Vigan
Navigating Vigan is simplicity itself with the small, flat town set out on a grid system and perfect for wandering aimlessly while soaking up the period ambience.
Calesa horse-drawn carriages still clip-clop through the cobbled streets and only cost Php8-10 per journey within city limits (tricycles cost the same). But the best idea for some atmospheric sightseeing is to hire a calesa for Php150 per hour and let the knowledgeable driver take you to a few historic attractions around the town. Your horse and carriage will patiently wait while you browse the crumbling houses, museums and cathedral. Of course, if you’re really in the mood then whole day calesa tours can be arranged for roughly Php1,000. But the city is easy enough to wander around if you fancy stretching your legs.
Getting to Vigan by bus or car
Philippine Rabbit buses serve Vigan
Buses take up to ten hours to drive along the picturesque Ilocos Highway to Vigan from Manila, although express buses make the journey in only seven hours. Partas Bus Co., Viron Transit, Dominion Bus Lines and St. Joseph/Aniceto Transit have daily direct buses going to Vigan. Partas buses have a terminal by Vigan Public Market in Alcantara Street to the south of town, while Dominion buses drop off passengers at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Liberation Boulevard.
Additional companies including Philippine Rabbit Bus Line, Maria de Leon Farinas Transit and RCJ Transit also have regular buses passing by Vigan on the Manila-Laoag route. These stop just by the National Highway and require a short jeepney or tricycle ride to the centre, just make sure to tell the driver that you plan to go to Vigan. Hotel receptions and the Tourist Information Office (Leona Florentina House, Plaza Burgos, Tel: +63 (077) 732 8772, Open 08:00-17:00) can help with onward tickets.
Vigan Airport and flights
Interisland Airlines has flights to Mindoro Airport (which is also known as Vigan Airport) but services are fairly infrequent at time of writing. The alternative is flying to Laoag International Airport (90 minutes away) which has daily Philippine Airlines flights from Manila and Cebu Pacific flights from the capital three times a week.
