The most direct land route to Pagudpud is a distance of 570 kilometers if you take the NLEX-SCTEX- National Highway Route which will traverse the provinces of Pangasinan-La Union-Ilocos Sur-Ilocos Norte.



There are definitely some interesting stops along this South to North route and we recommend the following: 



In Pampanga - Refreshments (bottled iced buco pandan and cantaloupe juices at Nathanael’s plus their pastries & kakanin and brunch at Bretto’s which is near SCTEX)



La Union - Surfing season starts end of Oct; thriving scene at San Juan. As a scenic side trip, visit the Thunderbird Resort on the cliffs of Poro Point, site of the former USAF Wallace Air Station).



Ilocos Sur - Soon as you enter the province there's the Sta Maria Church, a UNESCO heritage site.  



Once you reach the north's cultural capital of Vigan, your first stop should be  Calle Crisologo for shopping/ pottery/ weaving/  ancestral homes/ Café Leona for Ilocano cuisine. to satisfy your hunger pangs  check out Bonifacio Street (Uno Grille, Café Uno’s black forest cake deserves mention). Must-tries include the orange colored Vigan empanadas stuffed with the garlicky local longanisa, togue and malasado egg and their veggie-centric main courses such as pinakbet, dinengdeng and the poqui-poqui.



Ilocos Norte - Please note that after you leabr Laoag City, credit and debit cards are not honored by majority of establishments). make sure you have adequate cash handy. A unique destination are the Paoay Sand Dunes (sunsets are a must); Lake Paoay, Malacanang of the North and posh Fort Ilocandia.



Laoag City has the Sinking Belfry which is truly in a sad state. Beside the provincial capitol are the themed boutique shops housed in the restored La Tabacalera (the Johnny Moon café and Imelda Marcos chic in fashion stuff). 



Feeling the "Marcos pa rin!" vibe? Then Batac with the Marcos Mausoleum could be your thing. Whether if it's the former strongman's remains inside the airconditioned glass display is up to you.



The coastal town of Burgos will not lack for travel delights: Kapurpurawan Rock (trekking footwear is a must) and the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse are easily accessible from the main highway. The Bangui windmills should be visited just before sunset/ sunrise.



Finally in Pagudpud, the two-lane road brings you to Blue Lagoon- site of Luzon’s finest white sand beach. Nearby  Saud Beach is noted for it’s surfing scene and deserted Pansian Beach for solitude. There are several trails leading to waterfalls, most notable being the Kaibigan Falls.



Feeling adventurous? Try the mountain town of Adams – to reach this town at the edge of the Cordilleras, you will need a 4x4 vehicle or willing to trek uphill on foot at a distance of 14 km from the highway. The town is as off-the-grid as can be without hiring porters- there are at least 10 hanging bridges and 18 waterfalls. If your each this far better try water tubing on the Bulu River and their Bugnay Wine.



To top off your trip take a leisurely drive along the Patapat Viaduct for the local version of the French Riviera experience,the coastal highway that links Ilocos to Cagayan and beyond.