5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Paseo de Santiago in Iligan City

The COVID-19 pandemic left the wanderlust in us starving for meaningful and worthwhile vacation. However, we all by know the repercussions the pandemic may bring unto us if we refrain from following the protocols set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and our national government.

But just in case you’re looking for a place to visit when travel restrictions in the Philippines will continuously ease, you may want to put in your bucket list one of the well-known places in Iligan City – the Paseo de Santiago.

Most commonly known as the place with the enormous “ILIGAN CITY” signage, Paseo de Santiago is a privately-owned and developed place commended as a perfect get-together area for families and friends who want to bond, unwind and feel the fresh air of Iligan City.

Name after its barangay – Santiago, the place which is just a few meters away from Talipapa, is a beloved destination for both local and international tourists for many reasons: its serenity, live music from quality bands, and cut-rate rooms for overnight stay that have been praised for its cleanliness.

Here are the five (5) reasons why you should not missed visiting the Paseo de Santiago:

Location – The Paseo de Santiago is a sea-front area with open seating theme that allows you to bond with your friends and loved ones while looking at the sunset. It also has spacious parking area, so it wouldn’t be a problem if you’re coming in groups.

Ambience – With its comfortable atmosphere, you can indulge yourself with the cool breeze of the air while listening to old Visayan songs. That’s why there’s no doubt that the place is popular from young adults to the elderly.

Food – Visitors may buy food from various stalls or they can also bring their own food (with corkage fee).

Cost-effective – An amount of PHP 10.00 is collected per person as an entrance fee during weekdays and an amount of PHP 20.00 per person on weekends.

Iconic sign and other activities – Probably one of the main reasons why a lot of tourists are attracted to the place is because of its signage “ILIGAN CITY” which is a first for the city.

What makes it more attracting is it’s overlooking to the sea – definitely an instagrammable area for most people. It even entices more people during the holiday seasons due to its festivity (e.g. during Christmas it’ll be filled with Christmas colors and decorations while during Valentines’ Day, the area will be filled with hearts and pink).

There is also a playground for kids, bicycles that you may rent, and even a horse-drawn carriage, also known as kalesa, that you may ride for free.

When is the best time to visit?

It’s ideal to visit during the late afternoon to witness the sunset.

How to get to Paseo de Santiago?

The place is easy to reach because public utility vehicles are available around the area. From Iligan City, take a jeep with Santiago as part of its route then ask the driver to drop you off at Talipapa or Santiago Market. From there, the entrance to Paseo should just be meters away. For convenience, you may also take a taxi or cab.