La Union Travel Guide
Hi there! 👋 I'm Benj and welcome to another Philippines Travel Guide where I share DIY and budget-friendly guides on how to travel to all 82 provinces of the Philippines!
In this guide, we will be exploring La Union in the province of La Union!
If you have any questions about this trip, feel free to follow and message me on Facebook. 😍
Summary
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
🛖 Check-in to Accommodation
🏖️ San Juan Beach
😋 Dinner: Arcy Diner
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Day 2:
☕ Breakfast at El Union Coffee
💦 Tangadan Falls
🗼 Baluarte Watch Tower
🛖 Bahay na Bato + Pebble Beach
🗿 Bato de Luna
🌳 Almeida Man-Made Forest
🥄 Dinner at La Gringa
🍺 Flotsam & Jetsam
Day 3:
☕ Breakfast at Masa
🏄 Surf at San Juan Beach
🥄 Lunch at Kabsat
🏖️ Urbiztondo Beach
🥄 Dinner at 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
This was a continuation of our Ilocos road trip.
Since you'll pass by La Union if you're traveling from Metro Manila to Ilocos and vice versa, I decided to continue the journey for 7 days with close to no plan and just discovered La Union on the fly.
Allow me to share what I've learned and the itinerary I've built if I were to visit again in the future.
All contacts and expenses breakdown are available at the end of this travel guide.
How To Get There?
Bus To La Union
🚌 Ride a Partas bus from either Pasay or Cubao.
🚕 Just search for "Partas Pasay" or "Partas Cubao" on the Grab or MoveIt app.
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🎟️ Book your seats in advance as La Union is a popular tourist destination. Buses fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
🚏 The popular drop-off point is at 7-Eleven in San Juan (the tourist area of La Union) so you won't have to pay the ₱200 tricycle fare from the San Fernando terminal.
Back to Metro Manila
- 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 San Fernando terminal.
- The fare is also P200 for 1 to 4 passengers
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Where To Stay?
I won't recommend the hotel I booked. 😆 Since this was an impulsive trip and I only booked the room while we were in Ilocos, most of the nice places were fully booked or too pricey especially for long term stay.
Here are some options I visited for their cafes/restaurants and recommendations from other travelers I follow:
🛖 Shorebreak Hostel (Good for groups)
Day 1
🚌 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.
🛖 Check-in to Accommodation
🏖️ San Juan Beach
Swim, chill by the beach, and watch the legendary sunset of La Union.
Hangout with the beach dogs
😋 Arcy Diner
🌊 They are located at the beachfront of San Juan Beach
🍚 Sample Order: Burger Steak Rice (269) + Classic Milkshake (P189)
🍺 They serve alcoholic drinks also.
❌ Based from their Instagram page. They are officially closed. Consider Elyu Inasal or Mad Monkeys for dinner.
Don't party yet. 😆 Just chill for the day tour tomorrow so you can start early and with energy. 💪
Day 2
☕ Breakfast at El Union Coffee
- One of the best and most popular coffee shops in La Union.
- I recommend you try their grilled cheese and coffee of course.
- The place is aesthetic too. My photos didn't do justice so here are photos from their Instagram page. 😆
For the guide, I highly recommend Marlon (+639071188812). He offered me the best price because he does everything.
He's a tricycle and habal driver (needed going to the jump off), guide, lifeguard on the falls, and a good photographer. All in one. You don't need to hire separately. 😆
I paid P2,250 for the destinations above
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.)
Thanks for reaching this far!
👋
Say hi on Facebook if you have any questions about the guide
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Travel date: November 27 to December 04, 2022