The Ilocos coast north and south of Vigan rewards a day or two of exploration. The landscape is dry and dramatic by Philippine standards — tobacco fields, wind-bent trees, long empty beaches, and a succession of Spanish colonial churches that rank among the finest in Southeast Asia.
Paoay Church, about 70 kilometres north near Laoag, is the most architecturally extraordinary of the Ilocos churches: a massive Baroque structure with enormous lateral buttresses that look almost organic, like fins or wings growing from the walls. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right and worth making the journey for.
Pagudpud is the beach destination of Ilocos Norte, further north still — blue lagoons, white sand, and strong winds that have made it a kitesurfing spot. It is a full day from Vigan but manageable if you have a vehicle or are willing to bus.
Burgos Wind Farm on the northern coast is one of the largest wind farms in Southeast Asia and sits in a dramatic coastal headland position; it has become something of an attraction in itself.
Closer to Vigan, the Pagburnayan pottery village is a short tricycle ride from the heritage zone. Burnay pottery — heavy, salt-glazed jars and urns made from local clay and fired in traditional wood kilns — is one of the defining crafts of Ilocos. The potters still use a foot-powered kick wheel, and watching them work is free; buying a piece to carry home is the challenge.