La Union
Last updated
Last updated
Hi there! 👋 I’m and welcome to another where I write DIY and budget-friendly guides for group and solo travelers on how to visit all 82 provinces of the Philippines!
For today’s guide, let’s virtually explore La Union.
La Union is a popular beach getaway near Metro Manila that's famous for surfing, one of the most beautiful sunsets, and a vibrant nightlife for cool kids like me. 😆
Day 1: 🚌 5-hour bus ride to La Union 🥄 Lunch: Tagpuan 🏖️ San Juan Beach 🥄 Dinner: Arcy's Diner Day 2: ☕ Breakfast: El Union Coffee 💦 Tangadan Falls 🗼 Baluarte Watch Tower 🛖 Bahay na Bato + Pebble Beach 🗿 Bato de Luna 🌳 Almeida Man-Made Forest 🥄 Dinner: La Gringa 🍺 Flotsam & Jetsam Day 3: ☕ Breakfast: Masa 🏄 Surf at San Juan Beach 🥄 Lunch: Kabsat 🏖️ Urbiztondo Beach 🥄 Dinner: Fatwave Surf Resort 🍺 Tavern by the Sea Day 4: ☕ Breakfast: The Coffee Library 🥄 Lunch: Clean Beach 🥄 Seabuds 🚌 5-hour bus ride to Metro Manila More food trips I've tried: 🥄 Mad Monkeys 🥄 Elyu Inasal 🥄 Silong 🥄 El Chapos 🥄 El Navi 🥄 Kabrito's Grill and Restaurant
Allow me to share what I've learned and the itinerary I've built if I were to visit again in the future.
🚌 Ride the Partas bus from either Pasay or Cubao
Just search "Partas Pasay" or "Partas Cubao" via Grab
📍 The popular drop-off is at 711 in San Juan (the tourist area of La Union) so you don't have to pay for a tricycle.
It will cost you around P200 for a tricycle from the terminal to San Juan.
🔁 However, on the way back, it might be hard to get a decent seat if you wait at 711 especially if you're traveling as a group.
I suggest going to the terminal.
Just search for "Partas La Union"
🚌 5-hour bus ride from Metro Manila to 711 in San Juan 🥄 Lunch Here are some options: 1. Tagpuan - popular budget food in La Union. I recommend their lechon kawali rice bowl. 2. Mad Monkeys - they serve solid burgers. 3. Elyu Inasal - chicken inasal + unli rice. Mang Inasal is shaking! 😆 4. Silong - budget sizzlers. I tried their sisig and calamansi juice. - All of them are just in front of 711 San Juan and also beside each other. - I tried all of them on different days - My recommendation is to try Tagpuan first. 🏖️ San Juan Beach Swim and sunset viewing
🥄 Dinner at Arcy's Diner - They are located at the beachfront. - I met one of the owners and he recommended their burger steak with rice and milkshake. I loved both! - They serve alcoholic drinks also.
Don't party yet. 😆 Just chill for the day tour tomorrow so you can start early and with energy. 💪
For the guide, I recommend Marlon (+639071188812). He offered me the best price because he does everything. He's a tricycle and habal driver, guide, lifeguard on the falls, and a good photographer. All in one. You don't need to hire separately. 😆 Unfortunately, you need to ride the habal going up Tangadan Falls coz some roads are almost vertical. It feels like you're on a rollercoaster ride. It was fun nonetheless. 😂
If Marlon is not available, you can also contact these guides: - Ricky 1: +639053433229 - Ricky 2: +639501107560 - Alex: +639305521424
I met them while roaming around La Union as my tricycle drivers as they take turns in taking passengers at 711.
(Tip: Ask for a lot of offers and compare them first before deciding. Ask about the hidden fees like entrance fees.)
Ask your guide to fetch you at El Union Coffee.
☕ Breakfast at El Union Coffee
- One of the best and most popular coffee shops in La Union. - I recommend you try their grilled cheese. - The place is aesthetic too. My photos don't do justice so here's one from the internet. 😆
📍 Tangadan Falls
📍 Baluarte Watch Tower
You can eat lunch here
I recommend you hire the very talented local kids in this area to take your photos. They use panorama to capture the entire watch tower. So cool! I learned something new from them.
You can pay them any amount but don't forget to be generous. 😆
I love the bell shadow lucky shot in the first photo and the watch tower hole in the second photo below.
📍 Bahay na Bato + Pebble Beach 📍 Bato de Luna - These 2 are just beside each other. - It was my first time seeing a beach made of 100% pebbles. 😱 - The sound of stones clacking on every step was so relaxing and a unique experience for me. 🚶 - Bahay na Bato (House of Stone) displays great artwork made of mostly stones 🖼️ - Lastly, I bet you like the last photo 😉
📍 Almeida Man-Made Forest
ENJOY THE NIGHTLIFE!
🥄 Dinner Choose between these 2 Mexican places near Flotsam and Jetsam: 1. La Gringa - delicious Mexican place. I saw the famous actress, Mylene Dizon, here. 2. El Chapos - one of the best tacos I’ve tried! Try their El Clasico so you’ll get to try 1 of each meat. 🍺 Flotsam & Jetsam - La Union trip won’t be complete without dining and/or partying here. - Don't forget to take photos with the iconic lanterns. - Just make sure to go really early on a Friday and Saturday. The line can go as far as 3 streets and they have a limit. Your effort will end up being useless if you don't make the cut. 😆
🥄 Dinner at Fatwave Surf Resort A great competitor to Flotsam and Jetsam and is not too crowded. 🍺 Drinks at Tavern by the Sea They have really good acoustic bands playing here.
☕ Breakfast 🥄 Lunch You need to eat coz it's a 5-hour bus ride to go home. Here are some options: 1. Clean Beach - work-friendly, good environment, and beachfront coffee shop 2. Masa - try their Shakshouka and Special Latte 3. Seabuds - try their delicious smoothie bowls if you're on a diet 4. The Coffee Library - work-friendly and good environment. They serve Pinoy breakfast. 5. El Navi - work-friendly, good environment, near the beach. They serve Pinoy breakfast.
Say goodbye to La Union. 👋 Just reverse the "How to Get There" to go home.
I saw famous celebrities: Mylene Dizon and Awra, and famous Youtubers DarShe Goes To! 😍
That's it! I just spent the remaining 3 days eating on the alternative recommendations above, working on my venture, and mostly drinking at Flotsam and Jetsam. 😆
Thanks for reaching this far!
🔗 Please share this with your friends who want to visit La Union
Travel Dates: November 27 to December 04, 2022
This was a continuation of our road trip. Since you'll pass by La Union if you're traveling from Metro Manila to Ilocos, I decided to continue the journey for 7 days with close to no plan and just discovered La Union on the fly.
You can to reserve seats on your preferred schedules as La Union is a popular destination. Buses get filled fast especially if you're traveling on a weekend.
You can also
I won't recommend the hotel I booked. 😆 Since this was an impulsive trip and I only booked the room while we were in , most of the nice places were fully booked or too pricey.
Just search for "San Juan La Union" in or and you'll get a lot of recommendations with reviews from these apps.
☕ Breakfast: Masa 🏖️ San Juan Beach (Swim or Surf) 🥄 Lunch at Kabsat You can stay here until the afternoon, chill with drinks, swim at the beachfront, and enjoy the sunset view.
(Just scroll through the slides)
👋 Say hi on Instagram if you have any questions about the trip.
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