Santiago is a town in Ilocos Sur with extensive beaches and a Spanish-era watchtower.
Map of Santiago (Ilocos Sur)
Understand
[edit]Santiago was established by the Spanish sometime during the 18th century. It was named after Saint James the Apostle after he was credited with handing a military victory to the Spanish against a marauding Moro pirate fleet in what is now Santiago Cove.
Get in
[edit]Santiago is along Route 2 (Manila North Road). Buses also ply this highway. Near the southern boundary with Candon is a junction leading to Banayoyo and other upland towns of Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town, particularly as downtown Santiago is further inland from the coast.
See
[edit]- 1 Ambucao Beach, Ambucao. An extensive stretch of cream-colored sand running to Biak na Bato aka Mapisi Rock, a rock formation marking the boundary with the town of San Esteban.
- 2 Santiago Cove (Sabangan Cove), Sabangan. The town's main draw, a horseshoe-shaped bay surrounded by Sabangan Beach, stretch of white-sand beach and dubbed the “Boracay of the North”.
- 3 St. James the Greater Parish Church (Santiago Church), Manila North Road, Poblacion Norte. Santiago's main Roman Catholic church, built in a Baroque style by the Spanish during the late 18th century on a hilltop. It also functioned as a fortress against pirates and foreign invaders at the time.
- 4 Mapisi Rock, Ambucao. A rocky promontory with a walkway and viewdeck at the top.
- 5 Sabangan Watchtower (Baluarte), Sabangan Road, Sabangan. A stout, Spanish-era watchtower overlooking Santiago Cove meant to guard against pirates and foreign invaders from the South China Sea. The site was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 2015.
Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Vitalis Villas, Sabangan Road, Sabangan, ☏ +63 916 552 2794, [email protected]. A luxury accommodation overlooking Santiago Cove and architecturally inspired by the houses of Santorini Island in Greece.
- 2 Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant, Sabangan Road, Sabangan, toll-free: +63 917 115 4495. A resort overlooking Santiago Cove
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Santiago |
| Vigan ← San Esteban ← | N  S
|
→ Candon → San Fernando |