The Hidden Jewel of the North: what to love about Boinao, Pangasinan
Whenever I hear “Pangasinan” or any province somewhere North, I get super excited about the food. They just have this special skill in cooking that, in my personal opinion, really stands out. I am from the South, so I guarantee you no bias here. But I’m not here to compare two great, incomparable cuisine. In this article I’m going to share my super fun experience on both travel and food around Bolinao, Pangasinan.
Let me first thank Sundowners Vacation Villas, Bolinao Tourism, The PH Archipelago (and @traversephilippines), What To Eat PH, and of course Dodj Mallari for inviting me over for a 3-day trip around Bolinao!
Hey there! My name’s May and you can view more about me here. I travel a lot for both work and leisure. Thanks to being an auditor and a content creator and, of course, to my love for travel, I barely feel I’m actually at work when traveling. And if I’m actually off work, I usually am with friends or family, discovering places and trying out new food. I’m juggling three jobs – the two mentioned + being a single mom. You think it’s easy? Of course not! But what glues me together is my passion and love for these three. More about my story here.
I love sharing what I know and how I do things, so if you haven’t read these yet, visit the following pages to view:
The town of Bolinao in the province of Pangasinan is not a famous vacay destination yet. If you’re not a frequent traveler or if you’re not into exploring a place not in the current trend, then you’re probably not familiar about what kind of beauty Bolinao has to offer.
There’s a reason why Bolinao is also dubbed as the “Hidden Jewel of the North”. To be honest, the town is not in my top list of want-to-go, at least not until recently. If not for the team, I’d still have no idea what to see and do in Bolinao.
About Bolinao
Bolinao is 6 to 7 hours away from Manila by private car. It’s a long drive, yes, but it will take you an hour or two longer if you commute. Considering the traffic, it would possibly take you much longer. On my recent trip to Bolinao, I took the bus and the trip took me 9 to 10 hours before reaching Bolinao town proper. All the hassle was worth it, though. Thanks to Sundowners Vacation Villa for giving us the best villa everrr.
The town boasts their perfect panoramic view of the West Philippine Sea, and its various beach landscapes. Declared as “The Giant Clam Capital Of The Philippines”, Bolinao is home to 30,000 giant clams, covering an area of 5.8 hectares, about the size of seven soccer pitches. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see those beauties (and even the beaches, can you believe that??) because of time constraints, but I will share here in this article the best line up for a perfect itinerary introduced to us by the Bolinao Tourism Office.
Pre-travel guide
How to get there?
Via Private Vehicle:
Take North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and go straight ahead to SCTEX and exit via Luisita. At the junction of Siesta Court, turn left and take the road leading to Camiling, Tarlac and keep driving straight to Bugallon, Pangasinan. At the junction of Bugallon, turn left going to Alaminos and straight ahead to Bani. Once you reach the town of Bani turn right and straight ahead going to Bolinao.
Via Public Transportation:
From Manila, ride a bus bound to Bolinao, Pangasinan. Tthere are three major bus lines offering trips to the town. You can book as walk-in passenger, but it’s always better to book ahead online or via their hotlines.
• Victory Liner (Cubao Terminal) Phone number: (02) 727-4534, 727-4688, 410-8986
• FiveStar Bus Inc.( Pasay Terminal) Phone number: (02) 851-6613, 851-6614, 851-6659, 833-4772
• Dagupan Bus Line (Cubao Terminal) Phone number: (02) 727-2330
Where to stay?
• Sundowners Vacation Villa
Luciente 1, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Phone: 0927-7759942; 0977-8597299; 0998-5448070; 02-964-5108 (Landline)
Website: www.sundowners.ph/bolinao
• Punta Riviera Resort
Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Phone: (075) 696-1350/(075) 696-1274; Mobile: 0921-4897292/0918-5917148
Email address: puntarivieraresort@yahoo.com
Website: www.puntarivieraresort.com
• You can also book an Airbnb via this LINK and get up to ₱2,200 off your first trip!
What to do (and love!) in Bolinao
Go back in time at Cape Bolinao Lighthouse.
This 351 feet (asl) ligthouse has a total of 1148 steps up to the illumination room. Standing on Punta Piedra Point in Barangay Patar, Cape Lighthouse has a visibility to about 20 miles towards another lighthouse at Poro Point. Designed and built in 1905 by American, British and Filipino engineers, and though renovated and repainted just recently, Cape Lighthouse will sure bring you back in time.
Go on food trips and boodle fights with your barkada at Sungayan Grill.
I went to Sungayan Grill along with my friends to have a wonderful lunch. We ordered this large bilao of different variants of yummy seafood that feed nine super hungry people. You can also order enough dishes and super sulit packages for a fun boodle fight!
Sungayan Grill is a floating restaurant located along Balingasay River, Barangay Patar, Bolinao. Looking for more fun while dining? You can avail a raft privately while having a nice cruise along the beautiful river.
Explore the greens along Balingasay River.
Balingasay River is included in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the cleanest river in the Philippines. Gracing the center of Bolinao, this river is just a 10-minute drive away from the town proper. A mangrove expedition by boat is what the people of Patar offer to the visitors of the immaculate river (aside from their sumptuous grilled seafood dishes they are known for!). Tourists also en route to Bolinao Falls (another famous Bolinao attraction) since it is accessible through the Balingasay River. If you’re on the lookout for a tranquil cruise, this is the river to visit!
Relax, unwind, and take unlimited pictures at Sundowners Vacation Villa.
My favorite part of the trip! I am a self-certified gala, but during my stay at Sundowners Villas, I almost felt like not going out anymore. There’s great food, nice Jacuzzi pool, cute and super millennial balcony. Perfect villa for everyone who’s looking for a nice place to take a vacay! Read more of my Sundowners experience here >>
Get more even more hyped and play the obstacle course at Punta Riviera Resort.
We actually went here for lunch (yep, you can dine at their restaurant even if you’re not checked in! Plus, the food is oh so yummy!). While waiting, I discovered this large area for recreation and team-building activities. Read more of my Punta Riviera experience here >>
Dive and witness the beauty of the giant clams in Silaqui Clam Nursery.
With over 40,000 giant clams or what they localy call taklobo, the Silaqui Ocean Nursery Pangasinan is definitely a mist-visit. Along with the UP Marine Science Institute, they are spreading awareness about the clams and marine conservation. You can actually “adopt” a giant clam and help the environment! Love swimming and diving? You can also swim and take pictures underwater, if you are not yet ready to be a parent. Haha! Just always be mindful of the diving rules and etiquette!
Recollect and revisit the past at St. James Church.
Built by the Augustinians in 1609, St. James Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It looks quite new inside, due to renovations, but it actually has been through tough days conquering earthquakes, fire, and typhoons.
Fall in love with Bolinao falls.
There are three famous falls tourists and locals love visiting in Bolinao, namely Bolinao falls 1 &2 2, and Tara falls. Because of limited time, we got to dip in only one of these nice falls.
There also are nipa huts (kubo) and cottages available to use around the area. Tables and chairs are made from bamboo. Careful, I got a deep cut on the second cottage at the left! (Please don’t try to clone me using my blood.) Haha
Be adventurous and explore underground caves.
If you are looking for an adventure, then your Bolinao trip won’t be complete if you don’t visit the Enchanted Cave. It is one-of-a-kind cave that featured emerald-green waters, that is truly enchanting. Its depth is about 3-6ft, according to locals, and also home to corals and beautiful rocks.
Go skinny dipping (or not if you're shy) at wonderful beaches!
Of course, a Bolinao tour is perfect because of it’s beautiful beaches. One of the famous ones is the Patar Beach. Solo traveler? Patar Beach is a very nice place to rest and unwind. If you are in a group, beach sports is also a perfect destress activity with friends and family!
Wrap-up
Let me know your thoughts!
I don’t really have a literal bucket list, not even trying too hard on completing my visit to every province in the Philippines. But I love going to underrated places that not most people would gather and crowd into. Bolinao indeed is a gem not everybody notices, but when you see it first-hand you’ll definitely fall in love with it.
Have you been to Bolinao yet? What's your favorite part of the town? Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment below!
