Like a treasure chest full of hidden gems waiting to be unearthed and discovered, Santiago, one of Ilocos Sur’s 32 municipalities, reveals endless beauty waiting for the world to explore and enjoy. This quaint town a little south of historic Vigan beams with vast nature, rich culture, culinary indulgences, and more.
Sitting on over one kilometer stretch of Santiago Cove, home to pristine emerald waters set against lush mountains, is a picturesque property that instantly transports guests and visitors to the iconic caldera and chic Cycladic architecture of Santorini in Greece without needing to travel miles away and break banks.
Santiago Cove Hotel, as Instagrammable as one might expect, is not a typical destination but rather an experience that’s one for the books. Its cozy, familiar, and welcoming atmosphere make a mark, asking any visitor to return for more.
Guests can attest that this boutique hotel brims with a distinct charm that screams home away from home. The property boasts of 50 spacious accommodations, all beautifully styled to complement the surrounding nature. Its array of guestrooms, comprising Deluxe at 25 sq.m., Premium Deluxe at 28 sq.m., Junior Suite at 30 sq.m., and Family Suite at 36 sq.m., are designed in minimalist aesthetics, with accents of blue, to exude a different impression of comfort. Each room is well-equipped with what you would expect from an establishment in the city – a flat-screen TV, a dresser that doubles as a working area, air conditioning, and most importantly, a Wi-Fi strong enough to allow one to work from paradise should the need arises.
One may ask, why go with a Santorini-inspired theme when there’s a competitor nearby that carries the same overall look? Dianne Tongol-Miranda, Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant’s sales and marketing director, shares that the local government unit (LGU) wants “to set an image that we are the Santorini of the Philippines, not just the North.” According to her, the color white signifies the purity of the people of Santiago, while blue mirrors the clear waters of the cove.
She also points out, “It was a risk that we’re willing to take even from the start. And looking at it now, we’re confident that it turned out well.” True to this, Santiago Cove Hotel will soon launch its annex, a four-story building housing its 300-seater grand ballroom, a coffee shop, rooftop bar, and premiere suites overlooking the picturesque coast.
Flavors of Santiago
As a top-rated destination in the country, the Ilocos region is known for its exciting, flavorful dining offerings. And Santiago most definitely adds to that distinct epicurean adventure simply because dining here is a luxurious pleasure meant to be savored in every bite.
Santiago Cove Hotel takes pride in Tiny Wave. This pool restaurant serves Asian fare, including Korean and Japanese unlimited grilling. It is made more special by its abundant fresh seafood options such as locally sourced tuna, dorado, clams, mussels, shrimps, among many others.
A few steps away from the hotel is Rodrigo’s Roast + Resto and Bar, an all-day dining restaurant specializing in authentic Filipino-Ilocano dishes with a modern flair. The best part? It highlights the unique flavors of Santiago using only the freshest, sustainably sourced ingredients. The ambiance in Rodrigo’s is nothing short of refreshing, with a romantic seaside setting matched with live acoustic music. Among the restaurant’s specialties is the well-loved lechon roast.
“In Ilocos, no lechon is as flavorful without the cactus-like karimbuaya, creating its distinct, savory taste and aroma,” explains Chester Delos Reyes-Velas, property’s chef consultant, the brain behind the brilliant menu of the property’s two main dining outlets and home-made burger joint. Backed by his pieces of training and learnings from international hotel and restaurant chains, Velas’ plethora of culinary experiences also contributed to the diverse flavors that Santiago now offers.
Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant’s culinary indulgence extends to the many functions it caters to. From destination weddings to corporate and government activities, the property satiates even the pickiest palate with its home-style, homegrown gastronomic fetes.
Service with heart and warmth
Setting it apart from nearby beach properties offering the same iconic Greek landscape, the chic property elevates the hotel lifestyle with its well-loved Ilocano hospitality at budget-friendly price points.
“Creating bespoke experiences for our guests is the very backbone of our brand. Through training and refresher courses, our team members are equipped to extend the nurturing, comforting, and with a smile Ilocano spirit,” shares Miranda as she takes pride in her over than 50-man team with almost, if not all, locals in the area.
A proud Ilocano native herself, she adds, “we are ecstatic that we’re making an impact through the hotel’s initiatives to inspire the community. And we always remind our team to carry the warmth of pagmamalasakit or concern to all the guests and visitors, as well as the company, because this helps us stand out.”
Within and beyond
Several activities and attractions are marketed to guests of all sorts to augment the pleasures of exploring this paradise. Apart from the thrilling water activities such as banana boat, bandwagon, kayak, jet ski, and sunset cruise fit for adventure junkies, guests are invited to laze under the sun all day with the cove’s powdery white sand, perfect for basking and hanging around.
According to Miranda, a friend of her father-in-law, Josefino, encouraged the then-mayor to put up a hotel as they developed Santiago, adding that “they believe that Santiago is the future of Ilocos Sur. He has so much vision for beautifying the area because he wants this place to be internationally recognized as a tourist destination. We are confident that this place we call home has a lot to show; we have all sorts of experiences we want our guests to discover and cherish. There’s so much that Santiago can offer.”
With the Miranda clan servicing their community, her father-in-law and brother-in-law, Michael Miranda, leading them as Vice Mayor and Mayor, respectively, they want to bring Santiago to greater heights.
Unknown to many local and foreign visitors, Santiago boats off-beaten destinations that every traveler shouldn’t miss.
There is Mapisi Rock, also known as Biak Na Bato, a towering formation believed to have been sculpted by natural forces, perfectly nestled in Brgy. Ambucao, looming over the whole beach from afar.
A trip to the local weavers, including 83-year-old master weaver Aling Corazon, in Sabangan is not to skip. With a quick tour of her factory, one can witness how the locals painstakingly turn colorful native yarns into something intricately beautiful such as Abel, Ilocos province’s woven product that has already evolved into various products, including face masks, blankets, bed linens, table runners, and more. The textiles woven by the loom are more than just art for Aling Corazon and her peers. What started as a family tradition, panagabel or loom weaving, became her way of life when she started at the young age of 12. She also made sure to pass it on to the next generations.
Travelers can get a taste of Dan-Ar Lechon at Royale Blood Lechon AB+, a humble eatery offering malutong, malinamnam, masarap na lechon, subok na sa mahabang panahon (crispy, flavorful, delicious lechon that has been tested by the time).” According to owner Mary Jane, a trip to Santiago, Ilocos Sur, wouldn’t be as filling without tasting their irresistible version, comparable to that of Cebu’s.
Fancy a trip to the thriving blacksmith industry in the region? The stretch of Caburao is the place to be. Stores are lined up, with their quality blades, samurai, and other razor products on display, proves that pandayan is as strong as ever.
The natural idyllic setting of Santiago is an invitation to experience the wonders that this Ilocano municipality has to offer, with every visit a discovery of its unique, authentic beauty.
For inquiries and bookings, call Santiago Cove Hotel at (+63) 917-6542078 or email them at hsantiagocovehotel@gmail.com. For updates, follow them at @santiagocovehotel on Facebook and Instagram.
Santiago Cove Hotel is located in Sabangan Beach, Santiago, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.
