Bolinao Pangasinan was a sweet surprise. The sleepy, quiet
town in North Luzon is not the most popular of tourist destinations in the
Philippines but it offers a captivating beauty just the same. One who’s fond of
nature and peaceful mornings would find that this place, a few hours drive away
from Manila, is a nice weekend getaway.
I’ve seen many white beaches and pristine waters in the
Philippines but I was blown away by how majestic and beautiful the view was
the Rock View Formation Beach. It was like a dramatic movie location where the waves and sunset meet to take your breath away. The sand is golden brown and
the rocks looked magnetic. It’s a picture perfect beauty and now probably
one of my favorite beaches in the country.
Though it doesn’t look too safe for
swimming because of the crashing waves, the place offers a serene location for
reading, relaxing, and taking good quality photos. I was seriously floured by the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks while the wind blew my worries away.
My friends and I stayed at Casa Almarenzo Beach Resort, a quaint beach front resort with less than 20 rooms, and a pool view that's not to miss during sunrise. The staff are really nice and helpful during our tour, and our stay was made even better because they helped us buy fresh produce and cooked it for us for dinner. Despite our short stay, I've really enjoyed lounging at the resort after a full-day of activities.
The town offers plenty of activities for outdoorsy travelers, and the best thing about Pangasinan: you don't have to break bank to experience the best it can offer.
1. Take a refreshing dip in the blue waters of Bolinao Falls. You can take a tricycle or a hired van to get you to the falls, and walk a quick descend to the river for a nice day of swimming.
2. Enjoy fresh seafood at Sungayan Grill Floating Restaurant.
3. Spend an afternoon at the Enchanted Cave and River to beat the heat. Funny cause we slept for about an hour under the trees (the titas were tired by 3pm).
4. Take an afternoon walk up to Patar Lighthouse for a souvenir photo and head straight to Patar beach. Although Patar beach is a long stretch of creamy, fine sand, I'm not a fan of crowded beaches with too many stores and and unkempt dining areas. I'd rather stay and sunbathe in peace at the Rock View Formation. But it won't hurt if you visit Patar at least once.
5. If you're interested to see the town proper, might as well visit St. James Parish and shop some pasalubong in the market.
Compared to other small towns here, Bolinao is packed with places to go to and things to try and see. If you have more than 48 hours to spare, might as well head south to Alaminos and go on an island-hopping trip in the famed Hundred Islands Pangasina.
I didn't have any expectations about Pangasinan but it ended as one of my most pleasant trips recently. Our day was full, our bellies even more so, and even with really few photos to choose from, it was worth it to spend 7 hours in the bus (one way!).
How to get to Pangasinan: If you don't have a private car, don't fret. Just head to Victory Liner Pasay and take their 11pm bus to reach Pangasinan by sunrise. Arrange for a pickup or hire a tricycle to take you to your resort.
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