CURIOUSJORJ

I officially started my Summer 2014 last March together with my colleagues. For our first adventure, we decided to visit Bolinao, Pangasinan and see what it has to offer.

How to get there:

We took a bus ride from Five Star Pasay Terminal at around 01:00 AM going to Bolinao, Pangasinan. It’s advisable if you arrive at the terminal at least an hour before your expected time of departure to secure your desired seat/s location. The 6-hour ride with 2 stops for CR Break could be a little exhausting if you decided not to sleep during the trip. Nonetheless, I think the travel time was enough to get us going for the adventures that await us in our destination.

At around 07:30 AM, we reached the Bus Terminal in Bolinao, Pangasinan. From there, we took a tricycle ride going to our resort, Puerto Del Sol.

Puerto Del Sol is a bit pricey as compared to other resorts in Bolinao. But we were lucky to have an overnight stay in a discounted promo rate with full breakfast of our choice and 1-hr kayaking activity. The accommodation and facilities were commensurate to its price.

The whole stretch of white sand shoreline was very peaceful since the waves coming from the South China Sea were blocked by the natural breakwater that’s around 200-meters away from the shore. So, no need to worry for those who cannot swim.

Since we were too early for check-in time of 02:00 PM, we decided to have side trips to maximize our stay. Instead of hiring a van, which was more costly, we hired 2 tricycles to accompany us around Bolinao.

For our first destination, we went to Bolinao Falls. Getting there could be a bit bumpy since not all the roads are developed. So expect a rough and dusty road condition.

The 45-minute tricycle ride was all worth it when we arrived. The cold clear waters were very soothing.

We rented a “balsa” or bamboo raft for P 50 and a cottage for P 100.

We had our lunch in Sungayan Grill, Balingasay River after a tiring trip from Bolinao Falls. This floating restaurant reminds me of Bohol’s version in Loboc River. The food was great and very affordable.

After having our lunch, we headed to St. James Parish to pray and thank God for all the countless blessings He bestowed upon us.

From St. James Parish, it was a 20-minute ride going to Enchanted Cave with an entrance fee of P150 per head. There was a quick tour of the place while we walk towards the cave. We learned that the place was once part of the ocean as seen in its coral and limestone formation.

You must be careful while entering the cave as it may get a bit slippery. Although I was expecting the cave to be much bigger, I thought it was still worth a try considering it’s not a usual experience to swim in an indoor natural pool. The place could get a little crowded so it’s advisable to go there earlier.

After having a quick dip at the Enchanted Cave, we went straight to Cape Bolinao Lighthouse for picture sessions and to check the overlooking view of Bolinao. We were approached by “Kuya” the Selecta Ice Cream Vendor to assist us in taking our pictures. His shots were amazing and he seems to master the right angle for the picture. Of course as a tip, we bought his ice cream. Good marketing strategy huh!

For our last destination, the Patar Beach. This area of Bolinao is open to all visitors who are on a tight budget. There are cottages for rent or you may put up a tent at a cheaper price as compared to other resorts in the area. There are also souvenir shops and CR/shower rooms located outside the beach area.

The beige color of the sand and not too strong waves are good combination for a perfect family/barkada outing.

After all the nature tripping activities, we returned to Puerto Del Sol to check-in and rest for an hour just before sunset. We did some kayaking and of course, picture taking for a perfect sunset cover photo.

We tried their swimming pool and relax in their Jacuzzi after the very exhausting activities we had.

The food served for our dinner were great and the ambiance were very relaxing.

We spent the rest of the night chatting while having some drinks.

The following day, we decided to just take pictures and relax by the beach after breakfast.

Overall, we all had a great time traveling Bolinao, Pangasinan. It might be a tiring itinerary but the experience was overwhelming.  I encourage you to try it yourself. Explore Philippines!

You may e-mail me for more information on the total expenses incurred in this trip.