About the Port
Salomague serves as the port of call for the Ilocos region, a stretch of Luzon's coastline shaped by Spanish colonial history and a distinct regional culture. Travelers use it primarily as the gateway to Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its preserved ancestral houses, brick-paved lanes, and blend of Asian and European architectural influences dating to the Spanish era. The surrounding countryside offers views of rice fields, church towers, and the South China Sea.
The old town of Vigan lies roughly an hour's drive from the pier, making a guided transfer the practical way to reach its historic core on foot once arrived. Along the way, the region's culinary traditions come into view, including empanadas and bagnet, alongside glimpses of colonial-era churches and watchtowers. The port itself is modest, with the main appeal found inland, rewarding those willing to venture beyond the coastline.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Ilocos .
Wander Calle Crisologo
Vigan's cobblestone heart is lined with 18th-century ancestral homes, antique shops, and horse-drawn kalesas; plan for about an hour on foot after the roughly hour-long transfer from the pier.
Tour a Kiln-Fired Pottery Workshop
Visit a traditional jar-making site like Pagburnayan, where artisans still shape burnay pottery using centuries-old foot-powered wheels and dragon kilns.
Sample Vigan Empanada and Bagnet
Stop at a local eatery for these Ilocano specialties—crispy orange-hued empanadas and deep-fried pork bagnet—best enjoyed fresh in the old quarter before the return drive to Salomague.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Ilocos
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 18, 2028 | Oceania | Oceania Aurelia | 182 | $93,999 | |
| Dec 29, 2028 | Oceania | Oceania Riviera | 24 | $7,799 | |
| Jan 10, 2029 | Oceania | Oceania Riviera | 12 | $4,099 |