BOLINAO TRAVEL GUIDE 2023: DIY Itinerary, How to Get There, Travel Tips and More

Your Complete Travel Guide to Bolinao, Pangasinan

If you are not a frequent traveler or not from the northern parts of the Philippines, you might not have heard about the town of Bolinao in Pangasinan. Actually, it is not a popular holiday destination yet. For this reason, it is nicknamed ‘The Hidden Jewel of the North. If you are looking forward to exploring this hidden jewel of the North Philippines, this Bolinao Travel Guide will help you plan your trip to this northern paradise.

This 2023 Bolinao Budget Travel Guide aims to give you the most helpful budget travel tips, DIY tips, recommended hotels, things to do and see, sample itineraries, the best places to eat, and more.

You will definitely love the untouched and serene beauty of Bolinao. Well, you might be totally lost when planning your visit to this place, like how to get started, how to get there, where to stay, tourist spots, and other things to do. There is nothing to worry about. Here is a complete do-it-yourself Bolinao Travel Guide for you.

Where is Bolinao?

Bolinao is a third-class municipality located in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. Bolinao is one of the best beach destinations in Luzon that can be reached by land travel. This is where you can find Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, which provides a panoramic view of the West Philippine Sea.

How to reach Bolinao?

You can get to Bolinao via Bus or by your own vehicle. Here are some essential guidelines for you that will help you get there.

By Bus

Generally, three main bus service providers organize trips to Bolinao, Pangasinan. They offer both day and night services. You can make your bookings on an AC or non AC bus. It’s all up to you. You can just go directly or call these Bus operators listed below:

• Victory Liner (Cubao Terminal) Phone number: (02) 727-4534, 727-4688, 410-8986
• FiveStar Bus Inc.( Pasay Terminal) Phone number: (02) 851-6613, 851-6614, 851-6659, 833-4772
• Dagupan Bus Line (Cubao Terminal) Phone number: (02) 727-2330

Travel time to Bolinao

It takes 5 to 6 hours to reach this town. If you are traveling by Bus, stopovers would be at Dau, Tarlac, and Alaminos. Make sure to carry some food along with you. You might contact the bus service providers to get trip plans, ticket booking, and other important details. Upon reaching Bolinao town proper, you must take a tricycle to reach your hotel or resort.

By Private Car

It is one of the best and most convenient ways to reach Bolinao. If you have your own car, you won’t worry about time. You can tour around freely. You can take the Subic, Clark, and Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) route to view the scenic beauty of the landscapes of Bolinao.

Related Post: How to get to Patar White Beach in Bolinao Pangasinan

Getting Around Bolinao

Bringing your car to Bolinao is a great advantage so you can move quickly around the town and some tourist spots. If you visit the place by Bus, tourist spots around Bolinao are accessible by renting a tricycle.

Tricycle Fare: Php150 (USD$3.00) one way

Where to stay in Bolinao?

When you plan a visit to Bolinao, make sure to go for an overnight stay. Otherwise, you will be unable to explore every aspect of this place. You will find some really good accommodations here, like resorts, penthouses, hotels, and cottages. A tip for people with a small budget is that you can opt for room cottages at the serene Patar White Beach.

Birdland Beach Club

(Check Rates and Availability)
Read our -> Birdland Beach Club Hotel Review
Location: Long Beach Street, Barangay Arnedo, Bolinao, 2406 Pangasinan
Telephone: 0917 791 9643

On the rugged coral coast of Bgy, Arnedo, Birdland Beach Club was the sanctuary we needed to relax and revitalize from our bustling city lives. Yet upon landing there, it became apparent that this eco-modern boutique resort was not just for people like us but also for the birds nesting in the countless birdhouses planted around it.

Check out other Recommended Places to Stay in Bolinao here:

• Ilog Malino Beach Resort
• Casa Almarenzo Bed and Breakfast Resort Bolinao – (check rates and availability) 313 Sitio Cabange, Brgy. Estanza, Telephone 09228588450
• El Pescador –  San Andres St., Poblacion, Telephone (075) 5542559
• Puerto Del Sol Beach Resort and Hotel Club – (Check Rates and Availability) Ilog Malino, Phone Number (075) 6960530
• Punta Riviera Del Mar Resort – (check rates and availability) Ilog Malino Contact Info (075) 6961350 / (075) 6961274
• Villa Soledad Beach Resort – (check rates and availability) – You may contact this Bolinao Resort at 736-2239 / 09228074538 / 09151287785 / 09209092768
• Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort and Hotel – Patar White Beach, Telephone (0920) 3818888 / (0921) 5592732 / (0910) 7836648

Related Post: List of Hotels and Resorts in Bolinao Pangasinan

Where to Eat in Bolinao

Some of the resorts have their own restaurants where you can order food. There are also “Paluto” restaurants in Patar White Beach where you can bring raw food and have them cooked your way. If you want more decent restaurants, you can find them in the Bolinao town center.

Places to visit in Bolinao

Here are some of the most popular tourist spots in Bolinao:

• UP Marine Science Institute – Considered one of Southeast Asia’s leading scientific research institutions. Researchers at the institute’s laboratory are responsible for cultivating coral-producing giant clams (taklobo). Some cultivated giant clams are transplanted to Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos Pangasinan.
• St. James the Fortress Parish Church – Saint James the Great Parish Church is a Spanish colonial church located at Brgy. Germinal in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines. The church was made out of black coral stones. The church underwent a series of natural and man-made calamities, such as the 1788 earthquake, the 1819 fire incident, and Typhoon Emong in 2009.
• Patar Rock Beach is an excellent place to appreciate the rocky beach and has fresh coconut juice. Huts are available for rent, and the whole set-up looks like a small rustic village by the beach.
• Patar White Beach – The most popular attraction in the town of Bolinao. It is mainly crowded, and this beach is famous for its creamy white, crystal clear water, and breathtaking view of the West Philippine Sea.
• Enchanted Cave – It is a one-of-a-kind cave with an emerald green and a fresh pool of water within its womb. Its depth is estimated to be around 3 ft to 6 ft. It also houses a trail of hundreds of corals that look like rocks.
• Balingasay River Cruise – A private riverboat cruise that offers lunch and a tour of Luzon’s cleanest river.
• Tara Falls – Prepare to swim in these mini-waterfalls in Bolinao
• Bolinao Falls is bigger than Tara Falls, and you can easily reach this area through a well-maintained trail and a 5-10 minute hike.
• Bolinao National Museum – The museum displays archeological, ethnographic, and natural history objects from Pangasinan. Prehistoric artifacts include fossils, Stone-Age tools, pottery, and iron tools. Items from a 14th-15th-century burial site are also on display.
• The Americans built Cape Bolinao Lighthouse in 1903 on 351 feet (107 m) high promontory at the western part of Cape Bolinao. The lighthouse still sends signals to vessels passing by the area.

Make sure to visit each of them; otherwise, your Bolinao adventure will remain incomplete.

Pasalubong Shopping in Bolinao

If you love to try local delicacies, buy “Binungey” for Pasalubong. Binungey is a rice cake delicacy made by steaming a bamboo segment filled with coconut milk and sticky rice.

For Pasalubong Shopping, souvenir shops are available in the Patar White Beach area. Some hotels and resorts also sell a variety of souvenirs like T-shirts, Keychains, and many more.

Bolinao Travel Tips

• Book your accommodation in advance during summer (list of hotels and resorts in Bolinao Pangasinan)
• Bring water bottles
• Make sure to bring your own road trip snacks; buying snacks at most bus stopovers is more expensive.
• Bring extra Snacks (some resorts are far from groceries and convenience stores)
• Bring Sunblock
• Bring a Dry Bag for your belongings
• Create an itinerary to maximize your time
• Travel with a group of friends to save more money

Bolinao Travel Budget and Expenses

• Victory Liner, Inc. and Five Star, Inc. offer bus trips from Manila to either Bolinao or Alaminos (P374 non-aircon, P469 aircon)
• Tricycle Fare to your resort (P150) / Person
• Enchanted Cave Entrance Fee (P150) / Person
• Rock Formation Entrance Fee (P70) / Person
• Patar Beach Cottage Rental (P200) / Person
• Bolinao Falls Entrance Fee (P50) / Person
• Food (P100) Average cost per meal

*Bolinao Travel Budget and Expenses may change without prior notice

Bolinao Tourism Office Contact Info

Bolinao Pangasinan Tourism Information Office
Tel. No. : (075) 554 – 4284
Email: [email protected]

We will update this Bolinao Travel Guide for 2020, should there be any corrections or info that needs to be updated/included, please do let us know:)

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