Bolinao, Pangasinan

When one mentions "north" in the Philippines, Ilocos, Baguio, La Union, and Alaminos often to mind. Bolinao isn't as popular than its neighbor, Hundred Islands since it is farther away. Since my parents and I have visited the more popular northern destinations, we decided to explore Bolinao for a change.

Bolinao is actually in the northwestern part of the Philippines, and is around a 4-5 hour drive from Manila. 

Things to do in Bolinao:

Bolinao Falls 1 & 2

Our first stop was 'Bolinao Falls 1' (yes, the number's included in the name)

How to get there:

You can easily input 'Bolinao Falls 1' on Waze and Google Maps

There is a meager amount of PHP 20 (around USD .40) for the entrance fee. There is also a paved stairway going to the falls. Going down is an easy 5 minutes

 Bolinao Falls 1

View from the stairway

The water is amazingly a beautiful shade of a green. The falls aren't that majestic but it is still beautiful. You can swim or sit on a bamboo raft to kill some time.

Not far way from Bolinao Falls 1, is erm...Bolinao Falls 2. You need to climb up the stairwell again and follow the signage along the way, which is only a few minutes away if you're walking.

Another entrance fee of PHP 20 will be asked of you by the door, which I think is a reasonable amount with what you'll see. Bolinao Falls 2 aren't as big as the first, but can accommodate bigger groups and families. Since there are shallow areas, this place is much more child-friendly.

St. James Church

Another notable place to see in Bolinao is St. James Church, which is located in the town. It was built in 1609 using corals, can you believe that? The facade looks really beautiful and the paintings inside were huge. It reminded me a bit of the Sistine Chapel.

Didn't expect to see this!

Enchanted Cave

A bit far off from the town, but very much worth visiting is the Enchanted Cave. Based on its name, little did we know that this tourist spot is actually a complex which comprises of gardens, pools, accommodations, and even a view deck.  Entrance fee is PHP 200 (around USD 4), which is on the expensive side considering that this is a provincial area. The fee may be a bit hefty, but it was worth it.

The complex is manned by staff that will help you find your way around. The enchanted cave itself is underground, and guests are required to wear a helmet and be accompanied by staff. Since there are no permanent light fixtures inside, you really need artificial light to see how truly enchanting the cave is. The water is naturally crystal blue green in color. Though the cave is way above sea level, it follows the same tide swells of the sea. Most of its water comes from spring water but gets mixed with salt water...how cool is that?

Also, when you walk around the complex, you'll notice that there are fossils of giant clams on the ground, as well as limestone. Just goes to show that everything in the vicinity used to be underwater.

Giant clam 

Adult pool

Patar Beach

A trip to Bolinao wouldn't be complete without a visit to the beach! The sand at Patar Beach is on the white side, but is a bit coarse. The best asset would be its cleanliness and peacefulness.

 Patar Beach

Where to stay:

Our family stayed at 3L Resort at Patar. Rooms start at PHP 2,000 (USD 40) which are already airconditioned. Toiletries and towels are not provided for, so make sure to bring everything. Blankets are also paper-thin so I suggest you bring your own. There is also no restaurant so bringing your own food is best. The resort is actually a good find, but do consider that they have a karaoke machine. Guests are only allowed to use it until 10 PM, but soundproofing is non-existent at all...so if you want some peace and quiet, I suggest looking somewhere else.

If you want to splurge, I suggest heading over to Puerto del Sol. Rates start at PHP 9,000 (USD 180) but the amenities are really something. You can book here.

Puerto del Sol