DiscoverSan Isidro
Discover the natural beauty, culture and heritage of San Isidro.
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit San Isidro
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into San Isidro
- In one of the invitations, the municipality of San Isidro, located in the central-eastern corner of the Abra Province, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, welcomes tourists to enjoy holidays to San‛Isidro, Abra as a mild getaway out of the city.
- It is enclosed in rolling hills and broad plains that embrace the Abra River and this is a rugged and inviting landscape.
- The economy of the town is mostly founded on the farming of rice and corn, which is why visitors are provided with the first hand observation of the rhythm of the Philippine farming.
- The people speak the Ilocano language that holds the history of their people and their day to day storeys and their traditions are also strong rooted in agricultural labour.
- The weather is tropical and the dry season is clear thus sight seeing and outdoor activities are easy and pleasant.
- In case you are planning to book your flight, I would suggest you use the services of world pinoy flights to book yourself the direct and easy flight to this rural gem.
- Capital (of the province): Bangued
- International airport: None in San Isidro
- Nearest commonly used airports:
- Loakan Airport (Baguio City, Benguet) – domestic flights (~4–5 hours by land)
- Laoag International Airport (Ilocos Norte) – domestic flights (~6–7 hours by land)
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila) – primary international gateway (~8–10 hours by land)
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right-hand side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official / local languages: Ilocano, Abra Kankanaey, Filipino, English
- Major religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Reason 02
Highlights
- The huge rice paddies and cornfields of San Pedro make the patchwork of green and gold that varies with seasons.
- Ilocano culture manifests itself in the town through its structures, celebrations and friendliness of people.
- close to Olo which is the possible ecotourism destination has clean mountain springs, limestone formations, and pine forests where adventurous visitors can explore.
- The countryside environment provides a pleasant escape out of the commotion of city centres, and is perfect in the relaxation of people.
- The food market is laden with fresh products and is a demonstration of the abundance that the land is freely giving.
- The mere process of strolling down the narrow streets in this town is like going back to a less fast-paced world.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- The most favourable period to travel to San Isidro, Abra, during the dry season (December-May) is the time when the atmosphere is clear, and the fields are at harvest time.
- Throughout this season, the tourists are able to take the back-roads very easily and cheque on the rice paddies either in full flower or on the verge of harvest.
- June to October are the rainy seasons that have made some mountain roads hard to drive through and yet offer a beautiful green cover.
- In the dry season, it is possible to spend longer hours in the day and have more relaxed evening walks within the town.
- April and May is also the period of the patron saint festival in the town, which enhances cultural value to your visit.
- Winter is warmer but continues to give the area the tropical impression and allows more time to contemplate good walks.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Agricultural Fields
- Take the winding farm roads and see the huge fields of rice and corn extend to the horizon, the living tapestry of agriculture.
- See farmers, either at work, planting seedlings in the early spring, or picking at the fall change.
- Take the photos with the stalks of gold at harvest time, and demonstrate the abundance of the village.
- Get to know the old ways of irrigation that ensure that the fields remain fertile each and every year.
- Walk on the dust of the earth with your boots, a lesson of diligence and perseverance.
- Have a break at a road outfit and sample freshly picked produce directly off the fields.
Olo Area (Inquire Locally)
- Find the crystal-clear mountain springs which supply the streams around, a good place to take a cooling bath.
- Be amazed with the ancient limestone features that are as a result of natural sculptures of rising out of the earth.
- Stroll through thick pine woodland that is cool and sweet pine resin.
- Take a guided tour of the locality with a local guide who will tell you the storeys of the land and Wildlife.
- Record the effects of light on the limestone caves particularly in early morning or late afternoon.
- Do not forget to carry a pair of good hiking shoes and also a drinking bottle because the all-trail might be rough.
San Isidro Town Proper
- Go to the municipal hall where the very centre of local government is located with its modest colonial buildings around.
- Walk across the centre square where people meet and have markets every day.
- See the way the people coexist with nature, and their houses are constructed near fields and rivers.
- Interview some of the shopkeepers and find out about the town rhythm.
- Pay attention to the way the town is designed and how it is used in a practical and respectful way towards the surrounding landscape.
- Patchwork of playing kids on the paddy fields, a window to the local life.
Local Parish Church
- Reach the most important Catholic church that represents the faith and community standing proudly amid the fields.
- You should see the design which combines simplicity and spiritual glorification.
- Go to church and listen to a Mass or just sit and quietly sit on the lawn of the church to experience the piousness of the village.
- Snap the pictures of the stained-glass windows in the church that are in the bright summer sunlight.
- visit the history of the church using the relics and the murals in the church which represent the biblical storeys.
- Interrelate with parishioners who are usually very welcoming and ready to serve a cup of coffee.
Reason 05
Discover More
Local Market (Public Market)
- Walk through the busy market and visit the stalls in the morning when fresh rice, corn and tropical fruits are on sale.
- Have a taste of the local snacks like pinakbet and bagnet that are cooked by the vendors outside the stalls.
- See how locals continue to conduct trade by exchanging goods in a bartering style which has remained part of their culture.
- Purchase new products in their original state; it is healthier and helps the locals.
- Interview the vendors to understand the season of the individual crops and their modes of growth.
- Get animated scenes of haggling, a rich scene of native trade for holidays to San Isidro.
Community Interactions
- Spend time with farmers in the area and listen to their storeys about every harvest.
- Find out the date of planting and the ceremonies that are associated with the agricultural cycle.
- Observe a traditional irrigation or rice-paddy upkeep.
- Dine at a family at their home and have a meal with the real hospitality.
- Learn a basic local handicraft, e.g. weaving or pottery, taught by master artisans.
- Bask in the good humour of the community and their strong spirit is reminded.
Rolling Hills Viewpoints
- Edition or hike to a hilltop on provincial roads to have a view of panoramic views of the valleys.
- Wait to appreciate the scene of mountains and hills in the distance as viewed through the waving countryside.
- Take a picture of the setting sun on the cornfields, a gorgeous picture.
- Hear the distant cry of the birds which live in the open country.
- Sit on a stone bench and experience the breath that has the smell of fresh earth.
- Exchange the experience with other travellers, and have a shared memory of the location.
Ilocano/Abrenian Cuisine
- Sample dinardaraan, a savoury pig offal stew, a local taste.
- Sample one of the regional dishes such as pinakbet, hearty vegetable dish spiced with fish sauce.
- Have some bagnet, which is crispy and thick pork belly found in the local area that will fill any stomach.
- Serve your meals with freshly boiled rice which was grown locally and has a gruff taste.
- Interrogate chefs on the ancient cooking methods, which make every dish rich.
- Capture the smell and flavour as a sensory souvenir of your cooking experience on holidays to San Isidro.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- The most important language is the Ilocano that links people to the history and identity of centuries.
- The lives of the community are based on planting, taking care, and picking up the harvests, which define their everyday life.
- There are yearly festivals and rituals which celebrate the harvest, which worships ancestors and brings blessings upon them in the future.
- There are special occasions when traditional clothes are used, e.g. men wear the so-called barong, women wear the so-called tapes.
- Folk songs and dances are still performed in community gatherings and oral storytelling is maintained.
- Crafts, such as weaving and pottery are not forgotten, a sign of reverence to the old ways of the ancestors.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- “Bagnet” will be a deep-fried pork belly dish that will compete with any street-food standby throughout the Philippines.
- Pinakbet is a dish that represents Filipino affection to vegetables as it is a medley of vegetables cooked in fish sauce.
- Dinardaraan, a distinctive bloody stew, defines the genuine flavour of Abu Dhabi cuisine.
- Food prepared using domestic rice offers a sense of location since the rice is cultivated in fields that are in the town.
- Sweets like kutsinta or puto are usually prepared using locally available ingredients.
- These dishes are best served with a local beverage such as the tuba (coconut palm sap).
Fun
- Venture into ecotourism by visiting the springs and limestone caves at Olo which offer the natural playground to the adventurous souls.
- Enjoy the crunch of farmers and their daily activities, the slow life of the villages.
- Take picturesque rides that traverses a wonderful field that gives you spectacular scenes at every point for holidays to San Isidro.
- Attend local festivals, experiencing the music, dancing and community spirit.
- Document the splendour of the mountains and the valleys using photography and keep memories over the years.
- Savour the basic pleasures of seeing a sunrise on a rice field a moment that never leaves the mind not at peace.
Fashion
- It is necessary to have light and breathable clothes to be in the tropical weather and heat.
- Prepare heavy hiking shoes to Olo area, so that one can have a good footing in the uneven paths and slippery rocks.
- You can go with comfortable sandals or canvas shoes best worn on a day of walking around town and the fields.
- Carry a big hat or a cap to protect yourself against the sun when you venture out into the open areas.
- Choose neutral colour that blends with the nature.
- A day pack consisting of a bottle of water, sunscreen, and a rain poncho is enough to get you equipped to deal with any weather.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- Limestone formations of Olo have rough cliffs and hidden caves that provide exciting spelunking.
- The agricultural fertile plains have brought a variety of crops that bring texture and colour in the scenery.
- The Abra River Valley which runs through near the municipality offers a natural channel through which wildlife can pass through.
- Endemic species perch along the banks of the river and in the pine forests which can be spotted by the birdwatchers.
- The rainy months floods of the land cause temporary wetlands benefiting a variety of different ecosystems.
- The hiking on the riverbank provides a close observation to the river flowing and the vegetation around it.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- There is the San Isidro town fiesta on May, which is the day dedicated to the patron saint of farmers with music, dancing and feasts.
- This festival is characterised by the colourful parades of dancing in the streets, and showing local harvest for holidays to San Isidro.
- The unity of the town is strengthened through community meetings that are held on planting and harvesting days.
- There are special prayers and blessings in the parish church to bring prosperity to the new year.
- Fireworks are the final event in the festival that illuminates the night sky and it is the end of a celebration.
- Tourists have an opportunity to participate in the celebrations, to feel the hospitality and solidarity of the native inhabitants.