Dear foreign readers, do you know that there is a beach in the Philippines that, in April 2021, was included in the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World by Travel+Leisure? No, it is not Boracay, nor any Palawan, Visayan, or Mindanao beach. It is up north in the Philippines, proving that world-class Philippine beaches are all over our country!
Want to know what the Philippine beach is, and the rest of the beaches in the list? Allow Tita S to tell you.
1.Saud Beach is located in Barangay1 Saud, in the municipality2 of Pagudpud3, the province4 of Ilocos Norte5, Ilocos6 region7, in the island of Luzon8, Philippines.
Saud Beach, “The Crown Jewel of Pagudpud” – Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/page/197186436974903/search/?q=saud%20beach
2. It was listed among the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World9 by Travel+Leisure, a New York-based travel magazine, in its post dated April 12, 2021.
The magazine described the beach this way: “If you’re searching for Southeast Asian beach bliss, super-mellow Saud Beach on the island of Luzon8 is a sure thing. Its white sand pitches gradually into the clear-as-glass water, like a real-world example of a zero-entry swimming pool. Swim in the peaceful waves, lunch under a thatch-roof cabana under the palms, or hire an outrigger for excursions on the water.”10
Watch this 3:38 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyoN69qPK8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyoN69qPK8
3. Imagine, it is the only beach in the Philippines to make it to the 2021 list, along with the famous beaches in Brazil, Hawaii, Greece, Seychelles, and Italy, among others!
Photo source: http://www.pagudpud-ilocos.com/saud-beach.html
It is also one of the 3 Southeast Asian beaches included in the list, with the other two being Bai Dam Trau in the Con Dao Islands of Vietnam, and Railay West, in Krabi, Thailand.
Bai Dam Trau, Vietnam – Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/condaodiscover/photos/
Railay West, Thailand – Photo source: kailerna, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 13 January 2012, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railay_Beach#/media/File:Railay_Beach_5.jpg
On second thought, why not! Pagudpud3 is dubbed as the “Paradise of the North” because of its pristine coastline and Saud Beach as the “Boracay of the North” because of its powdery white sand which is similar to Boracay11.
However, unlike Boracay, Saud beach has tranquil waters and quiet and underdeveloped surroundings. It is not as crowded and is very peaceful, perfect for those who want to relax, swim, surf, snorkel or scuba-dive, without too many tourists and establishments.12
See footnote 9 for the 25 beaches included in the prestigious list.
4. About half of Saud beach is private so you can book a beach resort for a beachfront treat. The other half of the beach is public/municipal, you just have to pay a minimal amount for your beach-stay, and you can stay in a homestay or lodging property in town, or even in Laoag (2 hours from Pagudpud). For more information, you can contact the Pagudpud Municipal Tourism Office at the Municipal Hall, at telephone number 0920-228-6569.
5. Interested to visit Saud beach when it will be again safe to do so? Now, here is how to get there:
* The fastest way is to ride a plane from Manila to Laoag, using Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, among others. It would cost about PHP7,500 to almost PHP10,000.
* If you have the time and are on a budget, go by land. Those from Metro Manila can ride a bus like Farinas, Florida, Maria de Leon, Partas, or Victory Liner, costing about PHP700 to almost PHP1,000, depending on the type of bus, with 9 hours travel time to Laoag. There are bus companies that offer air-conditioned sleeper buses with comfortable reclining seats and built-in toilets.
From Laoag, ride a bus, jeep or van to Pagudpud, for less than 2 hours, for a road distance of 73 km. It would cost around PHP75-100 for a bus, For a group, you will be more comfortable to negotiate for a rented van.
* If you want to drive your own vehicle, it would take around 10-12 hours from Metro Manila to Pagudpud, depending on traffic and stopovers.
The information was obtained from the following sources: Anne Olivia Bauso, https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world; Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136740; https://www.pwc.com/ph/en/gems/pagudpud.html; https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/03/08/boracay-of-the-north-saud-beach/; and https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/783668/pagudpud-s-saud-beach-among-the-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world-us-travel-magazine/story/?fbclid=IwAR1L_NwREuhxPhT_jqarf316jdi-xuXecPQ2zcckrRo_9pphB_Rxr6qhNdE.
Tita S wishes to visit this place when it is again safe for seniors to do so. However, for those living in the Ilocos6 region7 or Luzon8, why not visit this beach when all is safe?
Filipinos, be proud of our Philippine beaches, considered one of the most beautiful in the world! Foreigners, why not include Saud Beach in your Philippine travel bucket list?
You can find several beach resorts or homestays in Saud/Pagudpud, depending on your budget. Be adventurous and try the local dishes and delicacies.
If you have the time and interest, why not visit other attractions in:
*the municipality of Pagudpud – You can visit Bantay Abot Cave, Blue Lagoon, Caparispisan Wind Farm, Dos Hermanos Islands, Hannah’s Zipline, Kabigan Falls, Maira-ira Beach, Paraiso Ni Anton, Patapat Viaduct, and Secret Green Hills.
*the rest of the province of Ilocos Norte – Bangui Wind Farm; Cape Bojeador Lighthouse; Fort Ilocandia Hotel, Resort and Casino; Kapurpurawan Rock Formation; La Paz Sand Dunes; Malacañang of the North; and Paoay Church.
You can also opt to simply join a package tour from Manila to Pagudpud/Ilocos Norte, usually set for 4 days.
This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about different destinations.
The photo of this beach used in the cover picture collage was obtained from https://www.facebook.com/page/197186436974903/search/?q=saud%20beach
Heads up: Before planning to travel, always get updates regarding local government status, rules, restrictions and safety measures of the destination/s you want to visit, taking into consideration your personal health conditions, and level expectations.
Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear from you regarding Saud Beach. If you were able to visit it, would you please tell Tita S about it, and share your photos too?
See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Traveler – Now You Know, Short and Simple, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!
Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.
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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, those not familiar with Filipino terms and other terms used in this post, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:
1A barangay in the Philippines is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The word barangay originated from the term balangay, a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesian people who migrated to the Philippines. A number of barangays grouped together is called a district. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”13
2A municipality is a small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province4, subdivided into barangays1, and is locally called bayan. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. There are almost 1,500 municipalities in the Philippines. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”14
3Pagudpud is the municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte5, in the Ilocos6 region7, located at the northwestern tip of the island of Luzon8, in the Philippines. It is known for its beaches and resorts and the 27 wind turbines in Caparispisan, among others. It was founded on July 5, 1954 and has 16 barangays1. It has a total area of 194.9 km2 (75.25 sq mi). Visit its website: www.pagudpud.gov.ph. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Pagudpud.”15
4A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region7. There are 81 provinces (called lalawigan) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. Remember, a province in the Philippines is divided into cities and towns (called municipalities2), which in turn, are divided into barangays1, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”16
See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?
5Ilocos Norte is a province4 in the northern tip of the Ilocos6 region7, in the northwestern part of the island of Luzon8. It covers a total area of 3,467.89 km2 (1,338.96 sq mi). It is bordered by the Luzon Strait to the north, the West Philippine Sea to the west, Ilocos Sur to the southwest, Cagayan to the northeast, Apayao to the east, and Abra to the southeast. It was founded in 1818 and its capital is Laoag City. It consists of 21 municipalities2 and 2 component cities17 (Batac and Laoag). The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Ilocos Norte.”18
6The Ilocos Region, or Region 1, is an administrative region of the Philippines which occupies the northwestern section of the island of Luzon8. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the west, Cagayan Valley Region7 to the northeast and southeast, Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, and the Central Luzon Region to the south.
It has a total area of 13,012.6 km2 (5,024.19 sq mi). It comprises 4 provinces4 – Ilocos Norte5, Ilocos Sur, la Union and Pangasinan, and a total of 116 municipalities2. Its regional center is the city of San Fernando (in La Union). It has 1 independent city19 – Dagupan City, and 8 component cities17 – Alaminos, Batac, Candon, Laoag, San Carlos, San Fernando, Urdaneta and Vigan. Most residents speak Ilocano.
The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Ilocos Region.”20
7A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces4, composed of cities and municipalities2 (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays1, formerly called barrios, according to Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines” 21.
See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?
8Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. It is ranked the 15th largest island in the world by land area, at 109,964.9 sq.km. (42,457.7 sq mi). It is the northern portion, among the three primary island groups in the Philippine archipelago, with Visayas at the center, and Mindanao at the southern part. It is the economic and political center of the country, with Manila as the capital city, and Quezon City as the country’s most populous city. It has a population of 53 million, as of 2015, representing 52.5% of the country’s total population, and the fourth most populous island in the world. The name Luzon comes from the Tagalog word lusong, a large wooden mortar used to dehusk rice. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Luzon”22.
9Here are the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World, according to Travel+Leisure magazine, as of April 12, 2021, which I arranged alphabetically:
1. Anse Source D’Agent,
2. La Digue Island, Seychelles
3. Bai Dam Trau, Con Dao Islands, Vietnam
4. Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
5. Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia
6. Clearwater Beach, Florida
7. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
9. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
10. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
11. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy
12. Le Morne, Mauritius
13. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania
14. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
15. Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Balearic Islands
16. Praia de Marinha, The Algarve, Portugal
17. Praia de Santa Monica, Boa Vista, Cape Verde
18. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
19. Railay West, Krabi, Thailand
20. Saud Beach, Philippines
21. Scala dei Turchi, Sicily
22. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
23. Shark Creek Beach, Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands, The Bahamas
24. Sotavento Beach, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
25. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays Island, Australia
The information was obtained from https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world.
10Anne Olivia Bauso, https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-world
11Boracay is a small island at the northwestern tip of Panay Island, in the Western Visayas region23 of the Philippines. It is administered by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the provincial government of Aklan. It is known the world over for its fine white sand beaches, and was repeatedly chosen and awarded as one of the top destinations in the world for relaxation. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Boracay.”24
12https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/03/08/boracay-of-the-north-saud-beach/
13“Barangay,” accessed December 30, 2018, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay
14“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed January 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines
15“Pagudpud,” accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagudpud
16“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed May 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the-Philippines
17A component city (CC) is a type of city in the Philippines which does not meet the requirements of a highly urbanized city. It is under the jurisdiction of a province4. If such a city is located along the boundaries of 2 or more provinces, it shall be considered part of the province of which it used to be a municipality2. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”25
18“Ilocos Norte,” accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte
19An independent city in the Philippines has 3 major characteristics: its Sangguniang Panlungsod (the city’s legislative council composed of councilors, with the vice mayor as presiding officer) legislation is no longer subject to review by any province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (the provincial council/board; the provincial legislative branch); it stops sharing its tax revenue with any province; and, the President of the Philippines exercises direct supervising authority over the city government.
It can be classified as either:
* highly urbanized city – a city with a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority, and with the latest annual income of at least PHP50 million (USD1 million), as certified by the City Treasurer; or,
* independent component city – a city which is independent from the province4 in which it is geographically located, and residents cannot vote for provincial officials; there are only 5 – Cotabato, Dagupan, Naga (Camarines Sur), Ormoc and Santiago.
The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “List of cities in the Philippines.”25
20“Ilocos Region,” accessed February 11, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Region
21“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed July 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines
22“Luzon,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzon
23The Western Visayas region, or Region VI, is a Philippine region7 located in the island group of Visayas (the central part of the country), with Iloilo City as its regional center. It has 8 local government units26 (LGUs): Aklan, Antique, Bacolod, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental. It has two international, and six domestic, airports.
This regions is known, among others, for:
* the world famous beach – Boracay11; other beaches and islands; scuba-diving
* January festivals – Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo (3rd Sunday) and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City (4th Sunday)
* * the Antique Rice Terraces of the Panay-Bukidnon people, discovered in 2014;
* old heritage houses and churches (e.g., the Miagao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site); and,
* Guimaras mangoes, seafood, and local delicacies;
The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Western Visayas”.27
24“Boracay,” accessed January 29, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay
25“List of cities in the Philippines,” accessed April 2, 2018,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_the_Philippines
26A local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines is divided into 3 levels: provinces4 and independent cities19; component cities17 and municipalities2; and, barangays1, according to Wikipedia page “Local government in the Philippines”.28
27“Western Visayas,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Visayas
28“Local government in the Philippines,” accessed April 2, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_government_in_the_Philippines
Tita S Travels 
