Attractions

Paoay Church

Written by Patrick

Paoay Church, also referred to as Saint Augustine Church, is an icon not only in the municipality of Paoay where it is located but also in the whole Ilocos Region.

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OVERVIEW

Paoay Church After Restoration

Caption: Paoay Church After Restoration | Image Source

Constructed from 1694 to 1710, this imposing structure is of earthquake Baroque architecture.  It is reinforced with 24 huge buttresses to protect the church from destruction caused by earthquakes common in the Philippines being located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.  The lower part of the walls is made of coral stones while the upper part is of bricks.  The facade, on the other hand, is made of brick on the lower level and coral stones on the upper level.

The pagoda-like three-storey bell tower, which is also made of coral stones, stands separately on the right side of the church building.  The tower was used as an observational post by Filipinos during the Spanish era and World War II.

Major structural repairs, restoration, and conservation efforts have been done to several parts of the church in order to maintain its structural integrity.

The church was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine Government and as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Fast Facts

Attraction:
Paoay Church
Type of Attraction:
Address:
Marcos Ave., Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Website:
Phone:
+63 961 663 9874
Hours:
Anytime of the day
Closed:
None
Best Time to Visit:
Anytime
Food & Drink:
NO
FREE WiFi:
NO
Cost:
FREE
Payment Type:
(Not Applicable)
Fees:
Entrance to the church is free of charge.
Notes:
Observe proper health protocol to avoid the spread of Covid.

Wear comfortable footwear good for a lot of walking.

Wear comfortable and decent clothing as you will be visiting a church.

Avoid wandering around the church when there’s a mass going on.

Cost per Person:  $= $1-5  |  $$ = $6-10  |  $$$ = $11-15  |  $$$$ = $15+

MAP

This attraction is located on Luzon Island in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

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NEED TO KNOW

How to Get to Paoay Church?

From Manila by Bus

  1. From Cubao or Sampaloc, ride a bus to Laoag.  Buses plying this route include Partas Bus, Florida Bus, and Fariñas Transit.  Travel time is approximately 8 hours depending on the traffic conditions.
  2. From Laoag, ride a jeepney to Paoay.  Travel time is around 30 minutes.

From Manila by Plane

  1. Book a direct flight from Manila to Laoag.  Philippine Airlines has at least one trip everyday from Manila to Laoag.  Travel time is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
  2. From Laoag, ride a jeepney to Paoay.  Travel time is around 30 minutes.

The airport closest to Paoay Church

Laoag International Airport (IATA:LAO), the airport closest to Paoay Church, is located less than 20 kilometers away.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit this attraction to avoid crowds is early in the morning usually before 10:00 AM.

Closures

This attraction is always open

Fees

Fees require payment in cash.  Credit cards are not accepted at this attraction. 

Food & Drink

Food and drinks from outside the attraction are not allowed at this attraction.

Alcohol

Consuming alcohol is not allowed at this attraction.

Pets

Pets are not allowed at this attraction.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed at this attraction.

Trash

Please dispose of your trash properly or take it with you.  Don’t Trash the Philippines!  

The Philippines are beautiful islands … let’s all ensure they remain this way. 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotels and resorts near Paoay Church:

TIPS & HACKS

The following are recommended items for this experience: 

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Photos

The following are some photos of this attraction.

Videos

The following is a video of this attraction.

NEARBY

The following are other points of interest nearby:

  • Pangil Coral Rock Formation
  • Culili Point Sand Dunes 
  • Paoay Sand Dunes
  • Paoay Lake National Park
  • Ferdinand E. Marcos Presidential Center

Don’t Forget …

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Have you ever visited this attraction?

About the Author

Patrick

Patrick is an entrepreneur, digital nomad, explorer, and photographer. Patrick is always in search of fun and adventure. He is well travelled throughout the world, and although location independent, his home base is Phoenix, Arizona in the USA. Patrick loves island lifestyle which is no wonder why he is so interested in spending time in the Philippines with it’s over 7,000 islands. Patrick created this site to share his knowledge of and experiences in the Philippines with Filipinos as well as other foreigners.

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