La Union Travel Guide

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 10 days with close to no plan and just discovered La Union on the fly.

Here are some options:

1. Tagpuan - popular budget food in La Union. Try their bagnet rice bowl for P160.

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.

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:

🛖 El Navi Surftown (This is beside El Union Coffee)

🛖 Fatwave Surf Resort

🛖 The Little Surfmaid Resort

🛖 Isla Bonita Resort

🛖 Shorebreak Hostel (Good for groups)

Swim, chill by the beach, and watch the legendary sunset of La Union.

Hangout with the beach dogs

What I ordered:

- Seabuds: Smoothie bowl for P350

- Kabsat: Beef salpicao (P410) and plain rice (P45)

🌊 Kabsat is beach front. You can stay here, chill with drinks, swim, surf, and enjoy the sunset view.

- One of the best and most popular coffee shops in La Union.

- I recommend you try their grilled cheese (P180) and cold brew latte (P160) of course.

- My photos didn't do justice so here are photos from their Instagram page.

He's a tricycle and habal driver (needed going to reach the jump off of Tangadan Falls), guide, lifeguard on the falls, and a good photographer.

All in one. You don't need to hire separately. 😆

I paid P2,250 for all of the destinations covered today.

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.)

- The habal ride here is like a roller coaster. Be ready for it! 😆

- There also a minor hike going to the falls.

📽️ Experience Tangadan Falls in 10 Seconds Here

- 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 just discovered this technique from them.

- You can pay them any amount but don't forget to be generous.

- I love the bell shadow lucky shot in the middle photo and the watch tower hole in the left photo above.

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.

Aside from the houses that are made of stones, Bahay na Bato also features beautiful artworks made of mostly stones.

The entrance fee is only P50.

This is located just beside Pebble Beach and Bahay Na Bato. The entrance fee is also P50.

I bet you like the photo on the right. 😉

Full disclosure: I can no longer find my photos here. As an alternative, here are photos of Bilar Man-Made Forest in Bohol which is very similar to Almeida Man-Made Forest.

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.

- 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. 😆

- Also, don't be as wasted as this guy. 😆

☀️ Start the day with an exercise

😆 Hope you're not hangover from last night.

🎟️ P600 - Surf Lesson with Instructor

📽️ Video: Surfing in 20 Seconds

Here are some options:

I've tried all of them on different days. Highly recommended.

Give yourself some time to chill, appreciate the relaxing sound of the waves, enjoy watching the surfers, and wait for the sunset.

Fatwave Surf Resort (order their pork belly signature dish for P349) and Tavern By The Sea are great competitors to Flotsam and Jetsam and is not too crowded.

Cafe Latte for P140 and Ohana Burger (P200)

Daing na Bangus for P180

Please refer to the Bus Details above.