La Union is famous for the beach town of San Juan, the surfing capital on this side of North Luzon.
This province is a great place to travel for non-surfers and surfers alike. There is more to experience here apart from its famous surf. And, there are many interesting places worth visiting in nearby towns if you want to venture outside of San Juan.
You can experience a lot in La Union, even on a short trip!
Three days is enough to visit most sights and attractions on this list. If you only have two days, a weekend trip, for example, you can skip some items, but still be able to experience the highlights.
I loved how easy it was to travel in La Union. Getting there and around is convenient as most towns are conveniently located along the highway. Also, frequent buses pass by the highway to/from Manila, Vigan (Ilocos Sur), Laoag(Ilocos Norte) and Baguio. This is especially useful if you want to go by commuting on public transport.
Plan your trip with this list of the best tourist spots and things to do in La Union:
LA UNION TOURIST SPOTS
1. URBIZTONDO BEACH
The main beach for surfing. You will find shops for renting surfing boards if you want to learn how to surf. Around the area, you will find restaurants and places to stay in La Union depending on your budget and preferences.
TANGADAN FALLS
If you are coming from San Juan Beach or San Fernando La Union, you have to ride a jeep to San Gabriel for around 20 PHP. Just mention to the jeepney driver that you are going to Tangadan Falls and he will drop you off in the tricycle terminal where you can get a tricycle for 50 PHP for two people.
The entrance fee for Tangadan Falls is 30 PHP. You can have a guide for 500-600 PHP (good enough for 6-7 people and you can always join a group to share expenses) and they will guide you around the trek for 50-60 minutes to get to Tangadan Falls.
GRAPE FARM
Yes, there are a number of grape farms in La Union. One of the most famous grape farms is in Bauang, La Union. It is called Lomboy Grape Farm, the one believed to be the first grape farm in the Philippines. Entrance Fee is PHP 100 and PHP 150 for grape picking. It is open from 7AM to 4PM from Monday to Saturday and 7AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday.
PEBBLE BEACH
In Luna, La Union, locals collect pebbles from the Pebble Beach. They sort out the pebbles and handpick the best ones so they can sell them to other countries. They believe that the beautiful pebbles in La Union won’t run out soon.
BALUARTE WATCHOVER
Baluarte Watchover is located in Pebble Beach in Luna, La Union. This is a mix of modern and old watchover, with the view to the calm sea. If you love taking photos, the door with padlocks is a great background!
THUNDERBIRD RESORT
You can visit Thunderbird Resort in La Union for spending the whole day. The entrance fee is 500 PHP (300 PHP consumables) for adults and 300 PHP (300 PHP consumables) for kids.
IMMUKI ISLAND
This beach has blue-green lagoons and natural pools. It’s just 30 minutes away from San Juan Beach. Immuki is a word derived from the name sea slugs, that can thrive only on dead corals.
BACNOTAN BEACHES
It’s just 10 kilometers North from San Juan Beach where you will find other beaches. Some of them are great for surfing. But if you aren’t a surfer, there are also beaches which are more relaxing where you can just swim, sunbathe or relax at the shore. It’s great to visit Bacnotan beaches at sunset time!
And alot more to explore!
WELCOME TO PANGASINAN, PHILIPPINES
Pangasinan is a beautiful province that is often described as the gateway to Northern Luzon. From stunning islands to great beaches, Pangasinan has a lot of different destinations to keep you busy. You will surely be left awestruck by the province's natural beauty. Here are 5 places you must visit in Pangasinan.
I bet your usual easy go-to areas up north of the metropolis are Zambales, Subic and Pampanga, to name a few. It is the most effortless spots to head over when you need a much needed vacay. But, are you up to explore other provinces of the Philippines like Pangasinan?
Pangasinan is a few hours further than the other common provinces. However, it is as abundant with remarkable wonders as well. It is located at the western side of Luzon which you can smoothly visit by an epic road trip!
Most of us prefer low-key destinations avoiding overrated beach hubs such as Batangas and Zambales. But where else can we go that is within’s reach?
Drop your worries away. If untouched oceanside is what you’re looking for, then this quiet province has all the stunning destinations you yearn for. Indulge your thirst for any spur-of-the-moment escapades in the far flung islands of Pangasinan. Let’s go!
Cabongaoan Beach
After that six-hour long exhausting drive, lazing around the pit stop of Cabo beach is the most pleasing reward yet. Knock yourself out catching some glowing rays all day long.
1. majestic sunset beach 2. Enchanted cave 3. 100 Island
For some people, Holy Week is a chance to spend time with their family. Unknown to many, there are spots in the country where you can spend precious time with your loved ones while observing Holy Week practices. Get that much needed time off at the beach while doing the Stations of the Cross. Take time to reflect at a secluded island in Burgos, Panagasinan. The island has empty shorlines perfect for lazing around while enjoying the breathtaking view of the seascapes.
How To Get Here
From Manila you may ride a bus heading to Alaminos or Lingayen From Alaminos, ride a public transportation to BurgosFrom Burgos, ride a tricycle or jeep to Cabongaoan Beach
Nearby Destinations
Rent a pump boat that will bring you to Colibra IslandWalk or rent another boat to experience the Death PoolHead over to Alaminos Pangasinan for the prominent Hundred Islands national parkGo waterfalls hopping at Bolinao Pangasinan
Visit the Lingayen Capitol Area
Surrounding the capitol are various government-owned buildings and establishments, including the Orduja Palace, which is the official household of the Governor. Although this is considered to be his residence, some parts of the palace have been made available for viewing to tourists and locals. You can visit the place any time of the week and no entrance fees are collected.
Visit the Pacific Salt Farm and see how salt is created up close
Occupying 500 hectares in Bolinao, Pacific Salt Farm is one of the biggest salt suppliers in the country. Opening its doors in 1956, the salt farm has been an institution in the province and has already provided jobs up to the 3rd generation of the residents in the area. They currently offer a tour of the farm, where you will be given the chance to go around its huge land and get a glimpse of the process and intricacies of harvesting salt.
Other places to visit:
1. Hundred Islands National Park
The Hundred Islands National Park is a big tourist destination in the province of Pangasinan. Located in the city of Alaminos, this natural wonder is made of around 120 islands, the number varying depending on the tide. The islands are said to be millions of years old. Of all the islands, only Governor Island, Quezon Island, and Children's Island have been developed for tourism.
2. Patar Beach
A lot of times, people escape to the province for a relaxing beach outing. Pangasinan is no exception. One of the go-to beaches is Patar Beach in Bolinao. It is roughly a 45-minute to an hour destination from the Bolinao town proper. What makes the beach special, besides the nice white sand and pristine waters, is the fact that during sunsets the sand turns into a lush gold color.
3. Enchanted Cave
Some people might say this place is overrated, but it's definitely something you should have on your itinerary if you are in the area. It is a wondrous cave that has bright clear waters filled with corals and ancient rocks. A trip to the cave can be both educational and fun. There is an entrance fee of 150 pesos, and depending on the number of people, you may only have a limited time to swim and take pictures, but when you do get the cave to yourself, it is a truly enchanting experience.
4. Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
The Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is a good place to pass by if you are heading to Patar Beach or are en-route to other places in the area. There isn’t much you can do here, so you can use it as a stopover rather than a destination on its own. You may not be able to actually climb the lighthouse, but the structure itself is stunning. From here, you can also get a panoramic view of the West Philippine Sea and the Lingayen Gulf.
5. Bolinao Falls Bolinao has two waterfalls, Bolinao Falls 1 and 2. Most tourists head to Bolinao Falls 2, while Bolinao Falls 1 is underrated and less filled with people. Both falls are picturesque, and they are great places to go to for a nice refreshing dip. Bolinao Falls 1 has more rocks and moss, so just remember to be cautious. Some parts of the water may suddenly go deep without warning.
Discover Pangasinan-Its Authentic Ilocano Dish
Ilocanos are notorious for being stingy (in a good sense), but they are never close-fisted when it comes to their meal ingredients. Thanks to Chef Waya Araos-Wijanco of Gourmet Gypsy, she made sure that we get to experience each delicacy with much gusto by touring us around her beloved hometown.
We started off the day by paying a visit to the Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag. For devout Catholics, a trip to Pangasinan is never really complete without lighting a candle at this famous Marian shrine. Almost always packed with believers and devotees, the Manaoag Shrine has long been known for its stories of answered prayers and miraculous occurrences. We were just lucky enough to have gone on a weekday, making it easier for us to breeze through the religious compound without a sweat.
After an hour or so of prayer, we were quite hungry already as we had our first and only stop over at NLEX two to three hours prior to arriving at Manaoag. Luckily, we were welcomed by quite a sight of two popular Ilocano favorites known as tupig and patupat. Seeing that first sight of a banana leaf-wrapped delicacy, we couldn’t feel but be more thankful that we have officially started our Pangasinan food tour.
I don’t know how to begin to describe kaleskes but let me start by saying I had three rounds of rice (or was it four?), I can barely remember. All I know is that this little soup of pork innards swimming nicely in a savory broth was like a warm hug from my favorite person. It has the right amount of tartness that makes you crave for more.
Tempted as I was to raid their kitchen and look for the recipe, our time there has ran out and the group has started walking towards the car. And then, on we went to yet another food hunt – this time, for desserts.
Just when I thought we were done for the day, an even grander feast was prepared for us at the Masamirey Cove Resort in Sual where we were checked in for the night. An hour and 45 minutes away from Calasiao, Masamirey Cove Resort is a bit down the unbeaten path but the drive was worth it.
Chef Waya, the chef consultant of the resort, wowed us with her skills and her flair for all things unique. Having prepared for us a variety of dishes that best represent the Pangasinan region, Chef Waya boasts of her take on the pigar-pigar calling it her “pinaka-mayabang na pigar-pigar”. What’s different on her take? She uses premium cut wagyu beef cooked a la pigar-pigarstyle with heaps of cabbages and onions. What a unique way to elevate a classic dish!
1. Pigar-pigar 2. Gising-gising 3. Pineapple-buko-pandan
The best of Pangasinan in one menu
Great Taste offers a menu that highlights Pangasinan’s best. Aside from pigar-pigar, which is their specialty, they also offer bangus dishes such as bangus sisig, sinigang na bangus, and shanghai na bangus. They've also innovated their own menu by offering other dishes like buffalo wings, chicken teriyaki, and garlic carabao with mushroom.
Watch out for their promos every quarter of the year. This month, they have a 20% discount on their selected dishes valid until September 2018. Here’s a glimpse of their specialties you definitely shouldn’t miss when you go to Dagupan.
Pigar-pigar
Trust us when we say that this pigar-pigar definitely has a great taste. This local treat came from a Pangasinense word which means "turning over". Available in chicken, beef, and carabao meat varieties, this dish treats you to a variety of flavors. Enjoy the savory taste of its thinly sliced meat balanced out by the crunch of the onion and cabbage.
Pinakbet ng Pangasinense
For those who want a nutritious meal for lunch or dinner, get a taste of their pakbet with a Pangasinan twist. Originally an Ilocano dish, it is a mix of fresh vegetables and bangus that will make you feel as if you’re home.
Kaleskes
If you want to try something new, why not have a taste of their kaleskes? This exotic soup with tender carabao meat and innards is an authenticly Dagupan dish that would help you stay warm during the rainy season. It is also a popular pulutan among the locals and often partnered with beer.
Bangus sisig
They say that the taste of Dagupan’s bangus is unlike any other. What better way to enjoy sisig than with delicious Dagupan bangus?! You can eat every piece of this dish from the crunchy skin of the fish down to flaky flesh and you'll surely end up with a clean plate and a satisfied tummy.
Fifty-peso rice toppings
If you are on a tight budget but still want to try their delicious meals, try out their affordable rice bowls which include their pigar-pigar, mushroom steak, buffalo wings, chicken teriyaki, or pork sisig, all of which are served drinks for only PHP 50.
How to get there
From Cubao, you can ride a Victory Liner Bus that would take you Dagupan City. Both day and night trips are available. When you get off the bus terminal at Dagupan, you can ride a tricycle to take you to Great Taste Pigar-Pigar Restaurant near Nepo Mall.
Great Taste Pigar-Pigar is open everyday from 7:00 AM to 12:00 midnight. It is located at GT Bldg. Arellano Street, Barangay Pantal, Dagupan City.
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