Bolinao is a town on the west coast of the Philippines known for its beautiful beaches, caves, waterfalls and coves. Located in the province of Pangasinan in Luzon, Bolinao doesn’t get nearly as much attention (and tourists) as the Philippines’ better-known beaches in Boracay, Cebu or Palawan. That being said Bolinao is a gem that boasts pristine sights while keeping the quiet simplicity of a small town.
If you’re considering a trip to the Philippines and you’re considering heading up north, read this quick guide to Bolinao.
How to get there
While you can definitely hire a car and drive to Bolinao, taking a bus is a convenient and economical alternative. It’s relatively easy to take a bus from Metro Manila to Bolinao. There are multiple bus lines that have regular trips to Bolinao. You can choose one of two main bus hubs: in Cubao Quezon City and Pasay City. The three main bus companies that head to Bolinao include Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus and Five Star Bus. See their contact details below:
Five Star Bus
2220 Aurora Blvd. Pasay City Philippines
Cubao Terminal
674 Edsa E. Rodriguez Quezon City
(02) 911-7359 (6 am to 10 pm)
0927-712-4349, 0943-7065083 (24/7)
Pasay Terminal
2220 Aurora Blvd. Tramo Pasay City
(02) 851-6614 (7 am to 4:30 pm)
02-853-4772 (4:30pm to 7:30 am)
Victory Liner
683 EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City
(02) 727-4688, (02) 410-8986, (02) 727-4534, 09985915054
Dagupan Bus Co.
New York Street Corner Edsa (Southbound), Cubao, Quezon City
Phone: (02) 727-2330
The bus fare costs Php 459-469 (about 11.25 CAD/ 8.50 USD) for an air-conditioned bus. And this trip from Metro Manila to Bolinao takes about 6 to 6.5 hours. Also, don’t worry they DO have scheduled stops of pee breaks and to grab snacks. Still worried about snacks? Vendors often hop onto the bus selling anything from bottle water to rice cakes, pork rinds, hotdog, sandwiches and spring rolls.
I read that regular buses with no air conditioning is also available, but I honestly have no experience in taking them.
Getting Around
Once you get off the bus, you will be mobbed welcomed by many tricycle drivers offering you a ride. Be assertive and don’t get suckered in. We managed to get a tricycle to take us to our accommodations for PHP 200 (about 5 CAD). However, it seems that there isn’t a standard price, although anywhere from PHP 200-250 from the bus terminal to the town is normal*. These rates may also go up during peak season.
*Do let me know if there is a regulated fare in Bolinao. I’ve scoured the web and haven’t found anything official.
Tricycles are the best way to get around Bolinao. Throughout our stay, we had the same tricycle driver take us around town and its main attractions. If you find a tricycle driver that you feel comfortable with, it might be a good idea to stick with them as you are more likely to be able to negotiate prices.
What to do
If you’re looking to get acquainted with Bolinao, the easiest and most convenient way to take a tricycle tour. The tricycle tours include sights and attractions including Bolinao Church, Patar White Sand Beach, Wonderful Cave, Bolinao Lighthouse, the Rock Formation, Enchanted Cave, and Bolinao Falls 1, 2 and 3.
Of all these attractions, we only selected a few to visit. We didn’t want to feel rushed going from one attraction to the next just to make the most our day tour. After all, there’s always next time, right?
Below are the attractions we visited.
Bolinao Falls
Bolinao has three waterfalls. Namely, Bolinao Falls 1, Bolinao Falls 2 and Bolinao Falls 3. I’m not kidding. But don’t let the generic names dissuade you from visiting though, because the waterfalls are a lot more interesting and fun than they sound. In fact, we probably spent most of our time soaking in the sun and swimming in Bolinao Falls 3 more than any other attraction. Entrance fee is Php 50 (1.25 CAD) per person while parking is Php 20 (0.50 CAD) per vehicle.
Patar White Sand Beach
Patar White Sand Beach is often fondly hailed by locals as the “Boracay of the North”. It is a public beach that stretches 10 kms along northwestern Pangasinan. Perhaps it was just the time of the year or the particular stretch of the beach we were at, but Patar Beach left me a bit overwhelmed with the crowd and seaweed (P.S I’m scared of seaweed). That being said, the amount of people at Patar Beach is what you’d expect at any public beach.
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
The second tallest lighthouse in the Philippines, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is just under 31 metres tall. The lighthouse which used to guide ships and boats has been standing for over a century on top of Punta Piedra Point. Unfortunately, you cannot climb to the top of the lighthouse, where I can only imagine you’d be able to see amazing views of the coast and the South China Sea. The lighthouse itself is worth a visit though.
Enchanted Cave
The Enchanted Cave is one of Bolinao’s three well-known caves, which include’s Wonderful Cave and Cindy’s Cave. It’s a great place to relax and take a refreshing dip to cool yourself in the afternoon. Aside from the underground pool, I also enjoyed walking around the resort where you’ll find a pool, gardens and cabanas. Entrance fee is Php 150.
Where to Stay
There are many accommodations available in Bolinao to suit all types of travel styles and budgets.
Ilog Malino Beach Resort
Our view from Ilog Malino Beach Resort
We stayed at Ilog Malino Beach Resort, a family-run beachfront resort. The staff were friendly and they served good food. We were also able to haggle the nightly rates down. What more could I ask for, really?
Contact:
- Address: Patar Rd, Bolinao, Pangasinan
- Phone: 09396073001
Search on Agoda or Airbnb
If you’re looking for accommodations, your best bet is to shop around on Agoda or Airbnb*. Those two are my go-to for last minute bookings. Also, if you haven’t tried AirBnB yet, consider signing up through my link. If you do, you’ll get a discount on your stay and I also get a small Airbnb credit for referring you. This will go towards my future AirBnB stays and in turn help keep this site growing. Win-win!
Exploring Bolinao and all it has to offer is an amazing way to escape the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Although you can take a tricycle tour and see this small beach town’s attractions within a day, I suggest staying at least 2 nights. This gives you enough time to enjoy more time under the sun!
If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, check out more guides and stories about the Philippines here.
