Travel Guide to Bolinao, Pangasinan 2024 - Tips, Budget, and Places to Visit

Summer is finally here! And what better way to kick off this season than indulging in the sun, feeling that salted air, and doing a refreshing dive into the ocean waves of Bolinao, Pangasinan. This summer destination is 6-7 hours away from Manila with access to the amazing white beach of Patar, clean waterfalls, enchanted caves, and numerous beautiful scenic views. 

In this article, I will guide you on how to get to Bolinao, famous places to visit, and tips to maximize your budget. My goal is to help you travel worry-free and ready!

So, let's get right into it!

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How to get to Bolinao:

There are two ways to get to Bolinao, you may ride a private vehicle or commute via public bus. Both are convenient, but I recommend using a private car since the majority of the places to visit in Bolinao are located far apart. 

For commuters, you can ride a bus from Metro Manila to Bolinao (e.g. Five Star Bus, Victory Liner in Cubao) You can buy the ticket directly from the bus terminal or book it online here: https://12go.asia 

Once you get to Bolinao, you can ride a tricycle to your accommodation or preferred tour.

The current bus ticket price is around 700 - 800 PHP

The tricycle's fare from the bus terminal to your accommodation is 150 PHP

(Same route going back to Manila, just hire a tricycle to drop you off at the bus terminal. Bus tickets from Bolinao to Manila are not available online, you can directly ride the bus and buy from the bus conductor)

If you search Bolinao, Pangasinan in Google Maps, the estimated travel time is 5-6 hours. However, based on my experience, the travel took 6-7 hours with minimal bus stops and traffic conditions. 

As a pro tip, eat or carry ready-to-eat meals before you travel since the bus stops once or twice only with 5 minutes of waiting time, just enough for CR breaks and stretching. And if you're lucky, you might ride the bus with a ready-to-use comfort room.

Places to Stay:

There are multiple resorts and room accommodations that you can book online via Booking.com or Airbnb depending on how you want to enjoy your vacation. If you want easy access to the white beach, choose somewhere around the Patar area. Some resorts offer access to the beach as well, however, it is far from the famous Patar white sand beach. 

We stayed at Kurdapia Resort along Patar Road and a 30-minute drive to Patar Beach. It is a quiet place with a kitchen and beach access. You can contact the resort from their FB page here: Kurdapia Resort

Room price ranges from 1500-2000 PHP per night

Kitchen access (fridge, rice cooker, heater, gas stove, and utensils) 500 PHP for the whole stay

A gentle reminder to always manage your expectations with the resorts or accommodations you are booking. Most if not all, have their own advantages and disadvantages. That is why you should have a clear mindset about what you want on a vacation. This will save you from unnecessary disappointments. 

    View from Kurdapia Resort around 5pm

Where to eat in Bolinao

Like any other tourist destination in the Philippines, Bolinao has numerous places to relax and eat. However, it still depends on where your place is located. For example, there are only a few diners along Patar Road where my accommodation is located, but it is near the market and a local convenience store. Thus, it's more economical to cook since the place I stayed has access to the kitchen.

But if you are on a gastronomic adventure, one of the restaurants you must try in Bolinao is the famous Sungayan Grill. The place offers a variety of seafood and Filipino dishes. The restaurant is also known for its Floating restaurant cruising along Luzon's cleanest river, the Balingasay River. 

Group meal ranges from 1500 -  3000 PHP

Boat/Float dining is 1000 PHP for a 1-hour cruise along the Balingasay River

    Picture while cruising along the Balingasay River, dubbed as the cleanest river in Luzon

    Balingasay River

    The view from the float before cruising

Pro tip, this restaurant is busy around 11am-1pm and opens from 9am-7pm. I recommend visiting the restaurant around 10am to avoid waiting time. Orders are normally served 45 minutes after placing the order, which means you can take your lunch around 11am and culminate the cruise by 12pm. 

Places to Visit in Bolinao

Bolinao was gifted with amazing scenic views from rivers to oceans to caves. All of which you can visit in a day. You can use a private vehicle or hire a tricycle for a day tour.

Tricycle for day tour is 1000 PHP - Includes the Bolinao Falls, Enchanted and Wonderful Cave, Light House, Rock Formation Viewing Deck, and the famous Patar White Sand Beach.

You also need to pay for an Environmental Fee of 40 PHP -This is valid for 4 days.

Here is the list of the places you can explore once you get to Bolinao. I'll include some tips to maximize your day and budget.

The Bolinao Falls (1,2,3)

This is a one huge long river comprised of three major falls. Bolinao Falls 1,2, and 3. All have different entrance fees and locations. I recommend you explore at least one if you are on a tight budget and schedule. You can enjoy clip jumping and diving here. Entrance fee is 30 PHP and mandatory lifevest rental is 50 PHP

Enchanted Cave

This is a private resort with an entrance fee of 250 PHP. The Enchanted Cave's depth is estimated to be around 3 feet to 6 feet. You can also explore some scenic views here. 

Wonderful Cave

This is a smaller version of the Enchanted Cave. You can also swim in the cave's natural spring. Just a heads-up though, the cave is small and they only allow at least 30 minutes of swim during peak hours to give other tourists time to enjoy the cave. 

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

This is the second-highest lighthouse in the Philippines built in 1905. You can ask the driver to drop you here for a good picture-taking before heading to Patar White Sand Beach

Patar White Sand Beach

This is the white sand beach of Bolinao and one of the reasons why Bolinao has become a famous tourist destination for beach lovers. The beach is graced by magnificent white sand, clear blue water, and scenic views. It also offers a serene and relaxing atmosphere.

There is no entrance fee to the beach, but there are cottages available for rent for 1200 PHP for the whole day. The 200 PHP is refundable as long as you leave the cottage garbage-free. There are also public bathrooms available.

Other people are setting up tents and picnic mats along the beach, which is practical.

    Patar White Sand Beach

    The sand is not as fine as Boracay's, but it is beautiful.

I suggest a whole day stay at Patar Beach instead of a visit tour. You can always ask the tricycle driver to set up another date and ask for a drop-off and pick-up service instead. Going to Patar Beach via tricycle is 250 PHP from Kurdapia Resort

Rock Formation View 

This amazing rock formation has also becomes Bolinao's attraction. Formed by the incessant lapping of tidal waves against the shore throughout the centuries. The viewing place has an entrance fee of 75 PHP. However, you can visit the actual rock formation for free along the Patar Beach.

    Photo of the viewing place from the Rock Formation

I suggest exploring the actual Rock Formation aside from the viewing deck. The waves here is incessant and there is an amazing view of the ocean.

    Rock Formation Bolinao, Pangasinan

    

There you have it! Your quick guide to your Bolinao, Pangasinan escapade this 2024. I hope this blog helped you even in the smallest way. If you have questions about this travel, you can contact me on my Instagram account: fresguerra, and I will gladly answer your questions. I have also uploaded these amazing photos there! Bon Voyage!