If you’re researching a thrilling 4×4 adventure at the Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, this is the one stop most itineraries underestimate. When people think of the Philippines, they picture tropical beaches and lush jungles, not a stretch of desert that looks like it belongs in the Sahara. The Paoay Sand Dunes, also known as La Paz Sand Dunes, stretch for miles and offer one of the most unexpected landscapes in the country.
Watch the 4×4 ride through the Paoay sand dunes, one of the most exciting stops from our Ilocos trip.
WHY THE PAOAY SAND DUNES 4X4 SHOULD BE ON YOUR ILOCOS PHILIPPINES BUCKET LIST
Most Ilocos itineraries lead with Vigan’s cobblestone streets or Pagudpud’s beaches, and rightfully so, but the sand dunes are the one experience in the region that genuinely surprises people. We really enjoyed it, and the drivers were a blast, cracking jokes and clearly having as much fun as we were. It’s unlike anything else in the Philippines, and honestly unlike anything we’d experienced before either.
You get the best of both worlds here, sand dunes with the ocean in view, which felt like such a contrast from Colorado’s own Great Sand Dunes, where you get mountains in the background instead of the sea. If you’re building out your Ilocos Philippines bucket list, this one earns a real block of time, not just a quick photo stop on the way to somewhere else.
WE DID THIS IN THE RAIN, AND IT WAS STILL ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE TRIP
We happened to visit on a rainy day, and the operators handed us raincoats anyway, complete with hoods and rain pants, which honestly did a solid job keeping us somewhat dry. Rain or shine, we got the full experience, and tearing across the dunes with sand and water flying everywhere was its own kind of exhilarating.
Luckily I’d brought a waterproof phone pouch, and it was so clutch. It kept my phone completely dry through the whole ride, and I genuinely don’t know how I would have gotten any photos or video otherwise. If your Ilocos trip lands during rainy season, don’t let a gray sky talk you out of this one, just come prepared.
THE 4X4 RIDE ITSELF
Picture roaring across golden dunes, wind and sand flying, the drivers expertly navigating steep drops that give you that roller coaster feeling as you plunge down each slope. The wide open terrain in every direction is what makes this feel like nothing else on a typical Philippine itinerary.
The drivers always gave us a heads up to hold on tight before the steeper drops, and they weren’t kidding. The rain only made it more dramatic, mud and spray kicking up with every plunge as we braced ourselves.
Book the Paoay Sand Dunes 4×4 Adventure
SANDBOARDING AND DESERT VIEWS IN ILOCOS NORTE
Sandboarding down the dunes was actually part of our original plan, but the rain had other ideas, so we skipped it this time. On a clear day, the golden hour before sunset paints the dunes in shades of amber and gold, easily one of the best photo opportunities in Ilocos Norte, and something we’re already looking forward to catching on a future trip back.
Photo: Emman A. Foronda via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Bring sunglasses and a bandana or scarf, since sand gets everywhere and the sun, when it’s out, is intense. Wear closed toe shoes, flip flops won’t cut it here.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Paoay Sand Dunes turned out to be one of the most unexpected highlights of our entire Ilocos trip, rain included. If you’re building an Ilocos Norte itinerary, this is worth carving out real time for, not just a quick photo stop. More on the rest of our Ilocos adventure, Vigan’s cobblestone streets, Laoag, and Pagudpud’s beaches, coming in a separate post soon.
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