Ilocos Norte is a predominantly rural region in the far northwest corner of Luzon, mainland Philippines. It has a reputation for its raw natural beauty, enigmatic culture, brutal weather and low population density. What it does not have a reputation for, being situated on the compact South China Sea, is powerful surfing waves. This book will shed some light on that and prove that's a mistake. I.N. is still lacking in the full required infrastructure to make a surfari to most of its surf spots a turnkey affair, but that's precisely why it's such an exciting time to hunt down waves there - it's still very much at the dawn of its surfing renown, and each new visitor shall take home their own slice of surfing history as they add to it merely by venturing to the province in its essentially frontier state.
Naturally, surfers have long been congregating in the Philippines where other waveriders already are, establishing the triumvirate of Siargao, Baler, and La Union as stalwarts in the national surfing scene. Invariably, though, additional wave-rich zones will come to light, and some may even shake up the established order of things. Welcome to Ilocos Norte.
As a surf map, this tome will stir the imagination and provide a plethora of solid clues on where to get started. As a travel guide, it offers suggestions on where to stay, what to see and eat, and gives some pretty epic tips that will greatly enhance your trip.
In the end, most surfers' hard-earned vacation cash will be better wagered on Indo or some other more reliable locale. But for those who look past the ruse of commercially packaged trips shared by countless others who pack into no-brainer tours, the idea of striking out someplace still largely devoid of surf culture may prove irresistible, just as it did for us many suns ago. In our opinion, the greater adventure still lies here, in the route less traveled.
PhantaSea Books proudly presents this rare guide to Ilocos Norte for surfers and non-surfers alike, where you'll get a detailed view of the best options available and will be taken so close to the surf action that you'll feel the sea spray upon your face. Then embark upon your own great adventure to this truly amazing province!
