baluarte safari gallery photos

Your Guide to Hiking in the Philippines

Baluarte Zoo

Baluarte Zoo is a 120-hectare zoological park owned by Filipino businessman Luis Chavit Singson. Baluarte came from the Spanish word which means a fortification or bastion. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Vigan City and it is just twelve minutes away from the historical Calle Crisologo. Baluarte Zoo houses different kinds of native and imported animals such as ostrich, zebra, snake, Bengal tiger, lion, leopards, peacock, civet cat, cloud rat, camel, antelope, giraffe, and many more. It aims to preserve imperiled species and wildlife in and out of the Philippines. Also, it intended for the Ilocano to see the exotic animals without going abroad. The main attraction at the Baluarte Zoo is the Safari Gallery which exhibits Chavit Singson’s memorabilia as a hunter during his time in the African continent and other parts of the world.

In accordance with its history, in the past decades, Baluarte was a rest house for the well-known politician and businessman Chavit Singson. As the years passed by, Chavit Singson considered opening a zoo in Baluarte as his hunting trophy collection from his hunting diversion grew significantly. For this reason, Chavit Singson planned and developed the Baluarte Zoo as an interactive wildlife sanctuary that would serve to uplift his supporter and safeguard endangered species. In the year 2021, Baluarte Zoo closed to the public because of the worldwide pandemic. Even so, after a few years of rehabilitation, Baluarte Zoo is now open to all tourists coming from different parts of the world. So if you’re an animal lover and you want to see numerous animals that are rare in our country then visit Baluarte Zoo as soon as you can.

Name: Baluarte Zoo Location: Quirino Boulevard, Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines Features: animal sanctuary and Safari Gallery

My trip to Baluarte Zoo

It was 10:46 am on a very hot day when we arrived at the parking area of the Baluarte Zoo. After our driver successfully park our van we started to walk towards the entrance gate of Baluarte Zoo. Upon paying the necessary entrance fee of 100 pesos, we start to walk around. At first, I noticed that there are small stores inside the Baluarte Zoo that sell authentic souvenirs such as t-shirts, keychains, hats, and mugs.

As we continue to move forward, I instantly discern that some animals like deer and camels are just candidly roaming around the spacious fenced area. For this reason, we take pictures of them, and a few seconds later we strike a group pose at the Baluarte signage with the background of a lofty dinosaur figure to our right side. Then as we continue to explore the surrounding, we spotted ostrich and different types of colorful birds which are very entertaining. Without a doubt, kids, friends, and families here are having a good time in Baluarte as the ambiance here is really nice and the place is clean and well-maintained.

As we reach the top of the hill, we noticed that many of the tourists there gather in one place. For this reason, we head towards that place and we found out that there’s a great and meaningful white lion that can be seen at a shorter distance and tourists can even put their hands on the skin of the white lion.

Then we noticed that there was a certain amount of money needed to take pictures of the big white lion. So each member of the group decided to contribute 45 pesos to lessen the expense. Because there are many tourists lined up for the picture taking at that time, we wait for fifteen minutes to have an up-close picture of the big white lion. As soon as we have our turn, we all have smiling faces as we are so delighted to see and touch the animal that we don’t often see regularly. As a result, we will never forget this kind of moment. Without a doubt, Baluarte Zoo is an interactive wildlife sanctuary. From my perspective, the main attractions inside the Baluarte Zoo are the tigers and white lions.

After the picture taking with the big cat, we headed to Safari Gallery to see Chavit Singson’s showrooms and collection depicting the preserved remains of animals he hunted in different parts of the world. Even though I don’t consent to the killing of different animals, it is an interesting sight to see the items, paintings, and prized collections portraying the slaying of the different kinds of animals hunted by Chavit Singson. As a matter of fact, we take group pictures in the middle of the Safari Gallery to have a remembrance of this fantastic gallery.

After that, we start going down the Baluarte Zoo and we spotted the high-rise golden tower mansion of Chavit Singson. On the ground, we noticed the fascinating turtle and other reptiles eating their favorite food. Then for one last time, our group have a group picture with the Baluarte signage before we leave the zoo. After exploring Baluarte Zoo, we buy a mouthwatering strawberry taho just outside the entrance gate.

Reminders and Tips:

• Baluarte Zoo is open daily from Monday to Sunday from 8 am in the morning up to 6 pm.
• The entrance fee or admission fee at Baluarte Zoo is 100 pesos per person.

• Bringing food, drinks, and pets is strictly prohibited inside the Safari Gallery.
• If you want to have an up-close encounter photo with a white lion then you must have extra money with you and you should bring your own camera or cellphone. The solo picture with the white lion taken by the guide is 150 pesos. On the other hand, for two persons the picture cost 250 pesos, and for three to seven persons the pictures cost 300 pesos.
• If you want to avail their shuttle services then you have two options to choose from. Package A costs 150 pesos per person and it will take visitors to three stations (feeding area, reptiles area, and Safari Gallery). On the other hand, Package B cost 300 pesos per person and it will take visitors to Safari Adventure where they will have close encounters with giraffes, tigers, lions, and antelopes. Note: children, senior citizens, and PWD (Persons with Disabilities) have a discount on their shuttle services.

How to Go to Baluarte Zoo

• From the Partas bus terminal in Cubao Quezon City, ride an air-conditioned bus bound for Ilocos Sur and tell the bus conductor to alight you at Vigan City. 
• Then from Vigan City, ride a tricycle going to Baluarte Zoo. 

By private car

• From Calle Crisologo, head south and make a left turn at Rivero Street. Then turn right toward Quirino Avenue. Drive straight until you reach the arc of Barangay Salindeg on your right side. 
• Then enter Barangay Salindeg and make a right turn and you will see a welcome sign to Baluarte Zoo.

There you have it, animal lovers. Take a good look at God’s wonders and they’ll take your breath away. From top to bottom, I hope that this blog has been notable to you and to your family. God bless us all and have a nice day to you.

jervisergino

Hi. I’m Jervis, a nature lover. This blog is dedicated to helping people know more about the best hiking and tourist destinations in the Philippines.

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Baluarte Vigan – Fortress of Vigan

WHAT TO PACK FOR VIGAN

• Stylish  face mask
• Water container/tumbler  to rehydrate
• Sunscreen  for skin protection
• Goggles  for swimming or snorkeling
• Stylish  Swimsuit
• Travel  backpack  /  luggage
• Reusable  vacuum storage packs
• Selfie stick
• Waterproof phone case
• Camping tent

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Have fun, Juan! (@morefunwithjuan)

THINGS TO DO IN BALUARTE

• Appreciate the view
• Interact with the animals
• Selfies with the animals
• Feeding them
• Talk with the parrot

ENTRANCE FEE

How to get to baluarte.

Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo

Where to stay in vigan.

• Hotel Luna - Check Rates & Availability
• Ciudad Fernandina Hotel  -  Check Rates & Availability
• Regency Hotel de Vigan  -  Check Rates & Availability
• Paradores de Vigan  -  Check Rates & Availability
• Hotel Mercante  -  Check Rates & Availability
• Hotel Veneto de Vigan  -  Check Rates & Availability
• West Loch Park Hotel Vigan  -  Check Rates & Availability

ALSO IN ILOCOS

• TOP 10 Must-See Sights in Ilocos Norte (Best Tourist Spots!)
• The Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag City
• Bangui Wind Turbines, the First Wind Farm in the Philippines
• Malacañang of the North and the Marcoses
• Patapat Viaduct - Connecting Ilocos and Cagayan Valley
• 4x4 Adventure at Paoay Sand Dunes
• Saint Augustine Church AKA Paoay Church
• La Virgen Milagrosa Chapel of Badoc
• Blue Lagoon, The Boracay of the North
• Kapurpurawan Rock Formation of Burgos
• Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of Burgos
• Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac
• 10 Ilocano Food That Will Make You Crave For

WHERE TO GO IN ILOCOS?

Other zoos and theme park to visit.

• Manila Zoo - Manila City
• Pasig Rainforest Park - Pasig City
• Paradizoo - Mendez, Cavite
• Zoobic Safari - Subic, Zambales
• Manila Ocean Park - Manila City

VIGAN CITY: What to see at Baluarte Zoo (Entrance Fee + Things To Do)

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THE 81 PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Agusan Del Norte
• Agusan Del Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Compostela Valley
• Davao Del Norte
• Davao Del Sur
• Davao Occidental
• Davao Oriental
• Dinagat Islands
• Eastern Samar
• Ilocos Norte
• Lanao Del Norte
• Lanao Del Sur
• Maguindanao
• Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Oriental
• Mountain Province
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Northern Samar
• Nueva Ecija
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• South Cotabato
• Southern Leyte
• Sultan Kudarat
• Surigao Del Norte
• Surigao Del Sur
• Zamboanga Del Norte
• Zamboanga Del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

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This chronicles my travels in the Cordilleras, Ilocandia and beyond.

Baluarte: A Zoo and Museum in Vigan City

Vigan City in Ilocos Norte is a place for tourists who loves nature and history. Around 15 minutes away from the Spanish-like town, a zoo, taxidermy museum, and safari hotel can be easily accessed. Baluarte Zoo and Museum offers a different view of the city.

• Business hours
• Inside Baluarte’s Zoo and Museum
• How to get to Baluarte
• Helpful local phrases
• Other notable nearby places

Disclaimer: The content of this article is based on personal experience as well as references to the date of publication. Changes may occur on contact details, transportation, fees, etc. With this, please do comment at the end of the article any updates as well as corrections on the content, anything amiss, or any information that you think is crucial to the readers. Thank you!

Address: Quirino Boulevard, Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Coordinates: 17.5513° N, 120.3772° E

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Business Hours

• 0700AM-0600PM
• Entrance Fee: Free admission
• Guided tour: Php50.00 (optional)

Baluarte Zoo and Museum

This mini-zoo cum-taxiderm museum is owned by the local politician Chavit Singson. The complex lies in hectares of land that stretches from the rolling plain towards the hills, where the former governor’s multi-storey house sits with a grand view of Vigan and the South China Sea [1].

Baluarte Zoo

In my one-day Vigan City tour, I made it in Baluarte during dusk. That made me have limited time to enjoy the zoo. Notwithstanding, I was able to see what the zoo has to offer but in a hurried way as I was trying to take it all in while there is enough natural light.

The zoo offers animals native in our country as well as imported ones, among others. A butterfly farm as well as horse riding track is situated within the complex. Along the paths, roads, and cages, tourists can have a glimpse of lions, Bengal tigers, camels, monkeys, peacocks, civet cats, iguanas, pythons and other reptiles, birds, and animals.

Included in the native animals in Chavit’s collection is a Philippine cloud rat endemic in the Codillera [2]. On the other hand he also has non-endemic animals in his mini-zoo. “I waited for almost five years and finally, they have arrived,” he said, noting that he needed to rent a whole cargo plane to accommodate 27 giraffes and about 900 antelopes as added attractions to his 120-hectare zoo [3].

Baluarte Museum (Safari Gallery)

The 120-hectare expanse of Singson’s lot also houses a taxidermy museum. This is located on the top of the hill overlooking the zoo and parts of Vigan City. Preserved animals hunted by Singson in foreign countries are on display.

All in all, the Baluarte Zoo and Museum is a free-entrance complex near the Vigan City center. It offers a mini-zoo, a safari hotel, as well as a taxidermy museum. It is a highly recommended place to visit in Ilocos Norte, if you are not against captive animal as well as taxidermy.

How to Get There

By land. Take any bus heading to Vigan City or Laoag City.

• Manila buses bound to Vigan City are Partas , Dominion Bus , Aniceto Bus , Viron Transit , Florida Bus Line , Fariñas Trans , Maria De Leon Bus Lines , RCJ Bus Lines and F. Franco Transit. Anywhere from Vigan City, hail a tricycle or kalesa [two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] and tell the driver to drop you at the Baluarte.
• From Baguio City , you can take a Partas bus near SM City Baguio or the ordinary mini-buses in Bayanihan. Anywhere from Vigan City, hail a tricycle or kalesa [two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] and tell the driver to drop you at the Baluarte.
• GMW Liner and Florida Liner have buses plying a vice versa Abra and Tuguegarao with a stop in Vigan City route. Anywhere from Vigan City, hail a tricycle or kalesa [two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] and tell the driver to drop you at the Baluarte.

By air. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines flies from Manila to Laoag International Airport. Take any bus bound to Vigan City. Anywhere from Vigan City, hail a tricycle or kalesa [two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] and tell the driver to drop you at the Baluarte.

Helpful Local Phrases

• Good morning: Naimbag a bigat ; Good afternoon: Naimbag a malem ; Good day: Naimbag nga aldaw ; Good evening: Naimbag a rabii
• How are you?: Kumusta
• Thank you: Agyamanak
• What is your name?: Ania ti nagan mo?
• I don’t understand: Diak maawatan
• How do I get to…?: Kasantnu ak a makapan sadiay…?
• One: maysa , two: duwa , three: tallo , four: uppat , five: lima , six: ennem , seven: pito , eight: walo , nine: siyam , ten: sangapulo
• How much is this?: Sagmamano daytoy?
• Help!: Arayat!
• Sorry: Pakawanennak

Other Notable Nearby Places

• The Hidden Garden
• Pagburbayan
• Crisologo Museum
• Syquia Mansion
• Bantay Watchtower
• Calle Crisologo

[1] Vigan.ph. n.d.  Baluarte Vigan — The Fortress Of Vigan | Vigan.Ph . [online] Available at: < https://www.vigan.ph/attractions/baluarte-vigan-fortress-of-vigan.html&gt ; [Accessed 20 April 2020].

[2] Espinosa-Aritao, G., 2018.  Chavit Singson: Keeper Of The Sanctuary . [online] ABS-CBN News. Available at: < https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/11/16/18/chavit-singson&gt ; [Accessed 20 April 2020].

[3] Adriano, L., 2019.  Vigan Zoo Visitors To Soon See New Animals From S. Africa . [online] Pna.gov.ph. Available at: < https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064985&gt ; [Accessed 20 April 2020].

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Open po ba ito during the Christmas season 2021? Dec 29 po.

Not sure about this because of the pandemic

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Your Friendly Budgetarian traveler!

Exploring Ilocos : Baluarte Ni Chavit

After exploring the Crisologo Museum in Vigan ( Check : Crisologo Museum ), we dropped by at Vigan Public Market to buy some souvenirs and pasalubong. We decided to have our lunch in Hidden Garden : Lilong and Lilang Restaurant . The place was really great and everything looks festive but the crowd was equally overwhelming too. We were advised to wait for almost 2 hours just to get our turn. Of course, none of us are willing to wait for that long so we just came up with the idea t change our itinerary for a bit.

Some animals you will encounter along the way includes zebras, kangaroos, wild deer, peacocks, camel and more!

Things You Should Know Before Visiting the Baluarte ni Chavit ►There is no entrance fee to Baluarte ►They also offer Free Rides for their donkeys ►Animal Encounter Photo Rates for Snake, Raptor, Parrots and Pony is worth Php70 (good for 2 Persons) ►Camel Ride is worth Php100 / Person ►Kalesa and Horseback Ride is Php70/person (Horseback is only for 3-10 year old kids only) ►Sealion Feeding is worth Php100 (per bucket) ►There is also a Chapel within the Baluarte ►For Tour Guide Services, there are two packages being offered: the 1,000Php (good for 7 pax) and Php 1500 (good for 12 pax) ►Both are inclusive for Park Guide and Souvenir Photo. ►The Shuttle will drive thru Avian Hi-way, Kangaroo, Taiwan Deer, Wallaby Alley and Tiger’s Ridge and it will also drop off to Zebra’s Stop, Safari Gallery, Chavit’s House, Zoovenir Shop, Animal Show, Butterfly Garden and Baluarte Mascot. ►It is going to be extremely Hot so bring a sun protection and wear something light. ►The African Elephant in Safari Gallery cost Chavit $200,000 for the hunt and $50,000 for it to be preserved. ►The facility was designed and developed by Singson himself. ►Singson intended the gallery for people of Ilocos so they could see exotic animals without going to Manila or outside the country

How to get to Vigan ►There are many bus lines from Manila that caters daily trips to Laoag which passes by Vigan. The trips usually made through North Luzon Expressway and Manila North Road passing through the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union

WHERE TO STAY IN VIGAN ►Since we are a huge group, we realized that it is more practical for us to get a transient house in Vigan. We stayed in Carlainton Transient House which offers a very spacious set of rooms (good enough to accommodate us all). They have an Honest Store here which is really a new experience for me. Anyway, there’s an overwhelming amount of lodges, transient houses and hotels in Vigan. If you are looking for a luxurious hotel experience, you might consider hotels like Ciudad Fernandina ( Check Details Here ) or the Hotel Salcedo De Vigan ( Check Here ). For Solo Backpackers or Couples who are in budget, you can try  Balai Mestizo  which is just one kilometer away from Calle Crisologo. Check the  list of affordable Ilocos Sur Hotels here!   (I personally prefer TravelBook Ph because of their “Pay At Hotel” service which doesn’t require any credit cards when booking).

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Information about Baluarte Ilocos

The Baluarte is one of the must-visit places in Vigan. It is owned by Ilocos’ former governor and prominent political figure, Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson. The 80 or more hectare recreational tourist attraction gained popularity for having a mini zoo, safari gallery, chapel, and resort that can easily suit what a tourist needs.

Guests can also find Chavit’s private retreat inside Baluarte, a huge gold-coated mansion around the corner that has an excellent view of Vigan and the West Philippine Sea.

Some activities that visitors can enjoy are Water Walking Ball, Track Horse Riding and a Skeet Shooting Range where they can enjoy their stay and maximize the experiences they had from visiting Baluarte. Taking photos is one of a must as the places that are worth remembering.

How to get there

It is easy to get to Baluarte whether you’re joining a guided tour, riding a jeepney, or walking from Calle Crisologo. First, head south from Calle Crisologo and turn left at Rivero Lane, then turn right at Quirino Road. Go straight ahead until you arrive at the right arc of Barangay Salindec. Turn right at Barangay Salindec. You can see a small greeting sign at the Baluarte Zoo.

Best time to visit

Baluarte welcomes its visitors daily and is open from 8 AM to 10 PM. 

Is there an entrance fee to Baluarte?

Is baluarte child-friendly, what can you see and do inside baluarte, what are some other things to do aside from checking out the animals, are there restaurants/local shops in baluarte, attractions nearby.

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You can go around the place by walking or you can take the shuttle.

There are also caged animals to make sure the guests are safe.

They have live animal shows too, a petting zoo, a butterfly garden, and my favorite — the animal encounters.

The tiger is the most popular attraction here. I went near it and touched it! Amazing. We also had a group photo with it.

But it’s not just the tiger you can touch. They also have the birds, snakes, seals and others.

You can also visit this golden tower which is the rest house of Chavit Singson, the owner of Baluarte. There’s a room here where boxing champ Manny Pacquiao supposedly stayed during his past visits. The roof deck provides a relaxing panoramic view of the place.

There’s also the Safari Gallery where you can find Chavit’s conquests. The animals he hunted are stuffed here and preserved for people to see.

And if you get hungry, don’t worry. The Cafeteria provides guests the taste of Ilocano at affordable rates. Click here to read more about the Cafeteria and its menu.

BALUARTE ZOO Address: Brgy. Salindeg, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Contact Number: (077) 722-7186

DAY ZOO Free Entrance Operating Hours: 8am (Opening TIme), 4:30pm (Last Entry), 5pm (Closing Time)

Animal Shows: 10am, 2pm, and 4pm

SHUTTLE Tour Guide Services Private Shuttle: Php600 for 6 persons / Php1,000 for 12 persons Shuttle Itinerary: Drive-Thru Avian Hi-way, Kangaroo, Taiwan Deer, Wallaby Alley, Tiger’s Ridge Drop-Off Zebra Stop, Safari Gallery, Chavit’s House R.A., Zoovenir Shop, Animal Show, Butterfly Garden, Baluarte Mascot Shuttle Service to Safari Gallery: Php50 per person, round trip

Fun Rides (Aquaball, Camel, Horseback, Calesa, Filmfest): Php200

“ Sala Ti Darang ” The Art of Fire Dancing Weekends 7pm and 8:30pm

NIGHT ZOO : Fridays – Sundays and Holidays 6pm-9pm Rates: Discovery Trail: Adult/Php50, Children/Php20, Senior Citizen/Php40 Tram on Tour: Adult/Php100, Children/Php40, Senior Citizen/Php80

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS Tiger Photo for 4 Persons with Printout: Php250 Walking with the Tiger, 1 piece A4 printout and 3 pieces 5R printout: Php500 Camel Riding Php100, Camel Photo Php50 Outback Encounters (Kangaroo) Php100 Seals Encounter: Php200/person (kiss from the seal), Php300 for three persons group picture

Help keep this website free. Please share the article, like my Appetizing Adventure Facebook Page , and add me as @carloflorenzo on Instagram and Twitter. Read my online profile: www.CarloLorenzo.com . Thank you.

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B.L.A.S.T. – Live Life to the Fullest ……… Don't Stay Put

Baluarte zoo (vigan city, ilocos sur).

Baluarte Zoo

It was our last day in Ilocos Sur and, as we still had a whole day for sightseeing prior to our evening departure for Manila, we decided to visit Baluarte Zoo, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson’s home in Vigan City and one of the top tourist destinations in Ilocos Sur.  Along the highway in Napo, Magsingal, we took a bus or the 13-km./25-min. ride to Vigan City proper.

Zoo entrance

From the city proper, we all boarded two tricycles for the 10-min. ride to Baluarte. As it was Holy Week, there was a traffic queue as we neared the entrance so we alighted, paid our fare, and walked the rest of the way.  Prior to entering, we had lunch at an eatery just outside the zoo. Entrance to the zoo was free.

The approximately 80-hectare Baluarte Zoo, where Chavit’s numerous pets can be found, sits on a hill that provides an awesome panoramic view of Vigan City. This interactive free-roaming animal sanctuary is home to albino and spotted deer; miniature horses; impalas; one-humped camels; goats; zebras; ostriches; monkeys; llamas and buffalo plus a slew of bird species, from the common African love birds, ducks, swans, midget chickens and parrots to the more exotic hornbills.

Spotted Deer

For caged animals, they have some reptiles like snakes, iguanas, monitor lizards, pythons, crocodiles and then there’s Bengal tigers and birds such as eagles, owls and peacocks.  Baluarte also features live daily animal shows (three times a day, 10 AM, 2 PM an 4 PM) and tell times when audiences are introduced to the animals.

Free roaming ostriches

There’s also a petting zoo, a butterfly garden inside the garden where one can observe and have a more serene interaction with thousands of butterflies, some endemic to the Philippines; a track or horse riding; a skeet shooting range and a chapel, among others.

Singson’s gold-clad resthouse

The gold-clad building (called by locals as the “Golden Building”), topped with a burning bush sculpture up its roof, is Chavit’s personal multi-storey rest house which has a grand view of Vigan and the West Philippine Sea.

Singson’s “Yellow Submarine”

Within the grounds, we had a glimpse of Chavit’s personal and functional one-man mini-submarine with its iconic yellow color (one can easily hazard a guess on what its name is), said to have been used by Chavit to track treasures during his free time. Kids will definitely enjoy the Jurassic Park background because of those life-size concrete dinosaurs. There was also a safari tour, using a long-seater golf cart, with a minimal fee of Php20 per person.

Life-size concrete dinosaurs

To interact and get a close encounter with the animals you can, for a price, also ride some ostriches, horses and ponies and can touch or carry an anaconda (PhP20) and iguana (PhP20). For a closer encounter with parrots and hornbills, visitors may choose to openly approach and feed them with bananas and seeds in a more open area. Each animal has there own designated attendant. The place also has souvenir shops (T-shirts, key chains, ref magnets, etc.) and food outlet.

Souvenir shop

The climax of our visit to the place is the Safari Gallery perched on top of the hill.  It houses a collection of deer heads (and other few animals) hanging on the wall; the collection of stuffed animals such as a lion, Bengal tiger, wildebeasts, bison, bear, buffalo, gazelles, elephant, sheep, and so many more killed in his safari adventures (paintings and photos of Chavit beside the dead animal are also posted).

Safari Gallery

Some are just skins of these wild animals. While I do not like the idea of killing these animals, it still looks awesome looking at them preserved and mounted. It is also well maintained with properly labeled items.

Stuffed animals at the Safari Gallery

Melissa and Albert also tried out the Water Walking Ball (PhP50/pax/15 mins.), a large inflatable sphere that allows a person inside it to walk across the surface of a pool of water. Before leaving, Almira and Jandy tried out the tiburin ride, a rickshaw driven by a miniature horse. It allowed them a close-up view of the free roaming animals.

Water Walking Ball

From Friday to Sunday, 6 – 9 PM (last entry 8:30 PM) there is a Night Zoo. Admission: (Discovery Trail): PhP50 for adults, PhP20 for children and PhP40 for senior citizens and persons with disability.  Tram on Tour:  PhP100 for adults, PhP40 for children and PhP80 for senior citizens and persons with disability. On weekends, from 7 – 8:30 PM, there’s  a Sala ti Darang (The Art of Fire Dancing) show.

Almira and Jandy’s tiburin ride

Baluarte Zoo : Brgy. Salindeg, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.  Tel: (077) 722-7186. Open daily, 8 AM – 5 PM (last entry 4:30 PM).

5 thoughts on “ Baluarte Zoo (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur) ”

I want to experience those things when I got there…see you soon baluarte…

It’s really more fun in the Philippines…

I’m sure my kids would love to go here. I do wanna try the Water Walking Ball with them, we’ll surely enjoy this lol. Anyway, I am interviewing top pinoy travel bloggers and I found you. Are you open for an interview? Kindly let me know if you’re interested, email is [email protected] . Thank you 🙂

Sure. My email is [email protected] .

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Baluarte, Ilocos Sur – More Than Just a Zoo

There is something more to Vigan than just the Hispanic towns with cobblestone streets. Did you know that Baluarte is also in Vigan? Baluarte, which is dubbed as the Fortress of Vigan perhaps because it is located in the hilly part of Ilocos Sur, is owned by Chavit Singson. Baluarte is definitely a place for animal lovers!

Singson himself has an undying passion for wildlife. In fact, the zoo features lions, tigers, monkeys, camels, civet cats, deers, birds (endemic and exotic), peacocks, horses, pythons, and iguanas. Guests, especially the kids, are allowed to get closer to the caged animals like the monkeys and deers. Feeding the animals, particularly the hornbills and parrots, is also allowed. However, pet foods must be bought. Kids may even ride the bigger animals like the camels.

Aside from the petting zoo, Baluarte offers live animal shows where guests can learn not just about the animals themselves, but also animal care. Animal shows occur every 2 hours.

There are a butterfly garden and picnic areas that are also provided free of charge. You can see up to a thousand of different species of butterflies.

How to get there

The zoo is specifically located iIn Brgy. Salindeg, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

By land, you can ride a bus bound for Vigan City. Bus operators going to Vigan include Philippine Rabbit Bus, Partas Transportation Company, and Dominion Bus Corporation. It takes 9 hours to go to Vigan.

By air, you can fly to Ilocos, specifically in Laoag International Airport via Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines. The flight takes only 70 minutes. From the airport, you still need to take an 80-kilometer transport to Vigan City.

Baluarte is only 15 minutes of drive away from Vigan City.

Other things to see and do

While the animals roam free in various areas including the walkways except the lions and tigers, of course, there are more to Baluarte than just the animals.

You can also go picture-taking near Singson’s personal rest house. This golden-clad building – aptly called the Golden Building – is snap-perfect with lush greeneries surrounding it and up its roof. The multi-storey rest house also features a landscaped garden equipped with nature pools.

You can go inside the building for a fee, the only structure in the park where payment is required. The rooftop also serves as the viewing deck, and the view from it is very different – you can even see South China Sea. If not from the rooftop, you may try viewing the panoramic view of Vigan at the lighthouse.

If you are lucky enough, you can have your lunch with the former Governor while inside the building. He is very accommodating when you approached and asked for a selfie with him.

At the grounds of Baluarte, you will see Singson’s yellow mini-submarine. Guests are also allowed to touch and take pictures of the submarine. It may look like one of Singson’s gigantic toys, but it is actually a functional submarine that the honcho uses when treasure-hunting by himself.

Within the zoo is a skeet shooting range.

Consider visiting the pink chapel, too.

Entrance fee

Free (Opens Mondays thru Sundays from 7 am to 6 pm)

Aside from the free entrance fee, the rides are also provided for free. Not only that, the entire place has a free Wi-Fi, so you can instantly upload your snaps.

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Baluarte Zoo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

I’ve seen Chavit Singson many times, on TV, while playing with his pet, a tiger.

You know Chavit Singson? The former Governor of Ilocos Sur who has rose to fame during former President Erap Estrada’s time. Controversial times. But I am not here to talk about his past and even politics. I am just checking if you really know him. Hahaha! Going back to the tiger. The videos were shot from his privately owned zoo in Vigan called Baluarte.

This is just a 10 minute travel from the city center of Vigan. Some travelers said that you can actually walk from the city going to Baluarte. As for us, since we rented a van for our Ilocos trip, Baluarte was the first spot to explore when we arrived in Vigan.

By the time we entered the zoo, I instantly noticed that some animals are just freely roaming around the huge facility like deers and camels. Baluarte is themed as an interactive wildlife sanctuary.

At the center of Baluarte is a huge replica of dinosaurs with the name of the property on it. It’s a good spot for photo ops.

We then explored some spots in Baluarte. Some of my friends interacted and even talked with Parrots. Hahaha! This type of bird can be so funny at times, mimicking  whatever you say.

Just a couple of years ago, another interesting spot in Baluarte was opened to public, this is the Safari Gallery. It’s a building inside Baluarte where visitors can witness mounted and preserved animals. Singson is a hunter and this is where he shares to people his prized collections. Though, I don’t agree with killing these animals but if you happen to visit Baluarte, it might be interesting for you to take a look of these items at Safari Gallery.

One good thing about Baluarte is it’s all free. No entrance fee. Visitors can even have some picnic lunch there. All in all, Baluarte is a good place for kids to see and even interact with animals. They will definitely learn something new about animals in the Philippines and even some parts of the world.

Some of the animals in Baluarte are Camels, deers, monkeys, different types of birds and even tiger (caged of course). There are also some different types of snakes and pythons.

We had a good time in Baluarte. It’s not every day that you see camels you know hahaha! I hope when I go back to the north, I can bring my niece, nephew and future kids there. Kids will surely enjoy the attractions in Baluarte. And I hope that this remains free for all. It’s good that despite of hullaballoos that Chavit experienced in his political career in the past, he is still a businessman and he has Baluarte as his way of giving back to the people of Ilocos Sur.

READ THE BLOG POST: 15 Best Ilocos Sur Tourist Spots

How to get to Baluarte?

It’s easy for those who want to travel via DIY. Bus companies like Dominion and Partas have trips going to Vigan, Ilocos Sur. It’s actually going to Laoag, but your drop off point is Vigan. From town proper, ride a tricycle going to Baluarte. You may also check out and choose a packaged tour or group travel, there are a lot of this service offered. Just check google or social media.

More Facts About Baluarte Open every day from 7AM to 6PM. Privately owned but free for all. No entrance fee Free picnic Areas There is also a Gallery in the property. Address: Brgy. Salindeg, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Contact Number: (077) 722-7186

Baluarte, Vigan Map

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BALUARTE: A Wildlife Sanctuary at the Heart of Ilocos Sur

Remembering Old Times at Calle Crisologo

I love to travel and I love animals, and that love lead me to a place where I can enjoy both. It is a very rewarding experience for me when I visited Chavit Singson’s Fortress… BALUARTE.

Baluarte just a ten-minute drive from Vigan City proper. Baluarte is a wildlife sanctuary dedicated to facilitating education,  protection, and conservation  of endangered species and other wildlife animals.

  Unlike other zoos here in the Philippines where all animals were secluded in a cage and tourist can only view them, at Baluarte animals can freely roam around(well, except for the tigers, it is understandable that they are in a cage hehehe 🙂 ) where tourist and visitors can interact, touch, feed these animals and enjoy the safari experience.

 Here are some of the animals that I encountered inside the Baluarte.

Baluarte also has a very educational daily Animal Show where they showcase different animals from the wildlife.

During the animal show, they allow audiences to participate.

If you don’t want to walk  around Baluarte since its a big place, you can ride a pony ride to tour around   for a certain fee.

Another attraction at Baluarte is Butterfly Garden , where you can appreciate green and colorful scenery and of course the different breeds of butterfly.

Garbage segregation is also well implemented inside Baluarte, so be careful throwing your trash because the animals roaming around might eat it and get sick or die. Throw it to designated trash bins or put it in your pocket.

 If you need souvenir items for pasalubong it is available inside Baluarte for a very reasonable and affordable prices.

Outside Baluarte, there’s wide array of souvenir items also available for tourists. I am really amazed on the prices of their souvenir items, they are VERY AFFORDABLE , for example a white souvenir shirt which usually cost 200 and above at other tourist destination, but in Vigan they only sell it 100-150 pesos in all designs, prices only varies for the colored shirt.

So if you are going to Ilocos Sur, you might want to drop by and visit Baluarte.

GOOD NEWS for tourist… Admission Fee to Baluarte  IS ABSOLUTELY FREE ! . Again, there’s NO ENTRANCE FEE!!! 

Open from 6am to 6pm

It is a must visit. I recommend it.

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