Ilagan

Ilagan is the capital city of Isabela. It is one of the largest cities in the Philippines, but it has a small town feel, and has a vibrant tourism scene. It is along the main highway to Tuguegarao.

Understand

With a land area of about 117 ha (290 acres), Ilagan is the fourth largest city in the Philippines by land area. It is also the most populous city in Isabela, with a population of about 158,000 (2020).

The city basically has two central areas, Baligatan and the old city proper (poblacion). Baligatan is along the highway to Tuguegarao, and has the provincial government center, the main public market, and the park which houses the giant armchair. The old downtown is far northeast, nestled at the convergence of the Cagayan and Ilagan rivers.

Get in

By bus

There are many buses that ply the highway to Tuguegarao.

• Victory Liner (Terminal near the Coca-Cola plant). 4 buses and 2 return trips daily. Buses depart from Sampaloc, Manila at 2:30PM, 4PM, 6:30PM, and 7:45PM, and arrive at Ilagan at 12:57 midnight, 2:27AM, 4:57AM, and 6:12AM. Return trips depart at 4PM and 6:30PM. About ₱790, not including food stop at Solano. (updated Jul 2019)
• G.V. Florida Transport, Paguirigan Avenue, Poblacion. One departure daily from Sampaloc, Manila (updated Jul 2019)

For buses that do not terminate at Ilagan, the stopover is at Bonifacio Park, along the highway at barangay Baligatan.

By plane

The nearest airports are in Tuguegarao (TUG ^IATA) and Cauayan (CYZ ^IATA); both being served by Cebu Pacific with one flight daily. From either airport, you can transfer to a bus headed for Ilagan.

By car

Ilagan is 395 km (245 mi) from Manila, and 67 km (42 mi) from Tuguegarao. The main highway is Cagayan Valley Road (Route 1/AH26), which bypasses the city proper, but passes through the main commercial district at Baligatan.

Get around

Tricycles are available at most parts of the city.

See

• 1 Bonifacio Park, Maharlika Hwy, Baligatan, ☏ +63 917 441 2975. Open 24 hours. Houses a statue of Andres Bonifacio. It is also a common site for demonstrations held in Ilagan. Free. (updated Jul 2019)
• 2 Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Ilagan plant, Calamagui-Ilagan Road (Near the Victory Liner terminal). 8AM-5PM. There are guided tours where visitors can see the mechanized process of how Coca-Cola are produced. (updated Jul 2019)
• 3 Giant rocking chair (Butaka), Maharlika Hwy (in Bonifacio Park). Open 24 hours. This, the largest in the world, is constructed within 29 days with a cost of ₱175,000. Free. (updated Jul 2019)
• 4 Ilagan Japanese Tunnel, Brangay Santo Tomas. 8AM–7PM. 40 m (130 ft) tunnel, once used as a Japanese army headquarters. (updated Jul 2019)
• 5 Saint Ferdinand Parish Church, Santa Ana St, Poblacion (beside St. Ferdinand College), ☏ +63 78 624-2467. The oldest church in Isabela, it also houses the oldest bells in the province. (updated Jul 2019)
• 6 Queen Isabela Park, Pan-Philippine Highway. Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Sep 2023)
• 7 Isabela Provincial Capitol, Pan-Philippine Highway. 8AM–5PM. (updated Sep 2023)
• 8 Ilagan City Welcome Monument, Pan-Philippine Highway. Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

• 1 Ilagan Sanctuary (Fuyot Springs National Park). 819 ha (2,020 acres) national park. Activities include hiking, mountaineering, spelunking and birdwatching. (updated Jul 2019)
• 2 Ilagan Sports Complex, Paguirigan Memorial Park, Rizal Street. A large modern sports center opened 2015 to replace the older Paguirigan Memorial Sports Complex. It has badminton, basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, an 8-lane swimming pool, and an IAAF-certified track and field. (updated Oct 2019)

Festivals

• Aggaw na Ilagan. May 4. Celebrates the city's founding as a town. (updated Jul 2019)

Buy

• 1 Ilagan Public Market, Pan-Philippine Highway. 6AM-6PM. There are some carinderias outside. Meat section may smell like cigarette smoke due to many vendors openly smoking. (updated Jul 2019)
• 2 Northstar Mall (Xentro Mall-Ilagan City2), Cagayan Valley Rd, Alibagu. 9AM-8PM. Two-story mall with a cinema, a Savemore supermarket, a McDonald's, and a hotel (see #Sleep. While air-conditioned, it may feel hot though inside. (updated Jul 2019)
• 3 Central Market Ilagan (Xentro Mall-Ilagan City1), Rizal Street. 9AM–7PM. Shopping mall. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Robinsons Supermarket Ilagan, Ilagan-Delfin Albano-Mallig Road (in Talavera Square Mall). 8AM–8PM. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

• 1 Superior Restaurant, Rizal Street, Poblacion (below a three-story building). 7AM-8PM. One of the best Pansit Guisado in the City of Ilagan, Isabela. Superior Restaurant serves also delicious Pinoy recipes like Igado, Pork Adobo, Adobong Pusit, Lechon Kawali and more. (updated Jul 2019)
• 2 Tita Ludy's Garden Cafe, Calamagui-Isabela Road. 6AM-9PM. Food served in a garden atmosphere. (updated Jul 2019)
• 3 Street Tastes Ph, Paguirigan Street. Filipino restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Mike's Lechon, Pan-Philippine Highway. Filipino food eatery in a Nipa hut. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 Macie's Kitchen, Ilagan-Delfin Albano-Mallig Road, ☏ +63 967 775 1636. 7AM–8PM. Filipino restaurant. (updated Sep 2023)
• 6 Classic Burger, Pan-Philippine Highway. 8AM–8:30PM. American foods. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Dreamwave Hotel-Ilagan city, Pan-Philippine Highway (at Northstar Mall). A/C rooms, free parking, WiFi, laundry, breakfast and gym. From ₱1,600. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Ilagan City Hotel & Convention Center, B4 L18 Cityhomes Subdivision, Cagayan Valley Road, Alibagu, ☏ +63 78 262-0456. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. City-owned. AC rooms. Free laundry. No free meals. (updated Jul 2019)
• 3 Hotel Mills and Rain, Pan-Philippine Highway. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
• 4 Meaco Royal Hotel- ILagan City, Gangan Avenue. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)
• 5 The Blanket Hotel And Restaurant - Ilagan City, Taft corner Rizal Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Sep 2023)

Stay healthy

• 1 Governor Faustino M. Dy, Sr. Memorial Hospital (Isabela Medical Center), Osmeña St, Baligatan, ☏ +63 78 622 3172. 24 hours daily. (updated Jul 2019)

Connect

• 2 BM Surface Internet Cafe, Rizal Street, Poblacion. 8:30AM-10:30PM. (updated Jul 2019)

Go next

Routes through Ilagan

Tuguegarao ← Tumauini ←

N  S

→ Cauayan → Santiago City