La Unión Travel Guide
Known as the “Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines”, the province of La Union is a spot still relatively unvisited by foreign tourists. It is the Manileños who fill the beaches of San Juan, La Union every weekend, escaping the big city. Although the sand isn’t white and powdery and the water isn’t turquoise and clear, La Union is a fantastic destination if you want to experience something different, go surfing, and have a variety of cool restaurants and bars. Read our La Union, Philippines Guide, and discover everything you need to enjoy it.
Comparisons are never fair and La Union is not Siargao, but, if you are exploring the north of the Philippines or living in Manila and want a getaway, it is a great alternative to satisfy your craving for the sea. Urbiztondo Beach, in San Juan, is where the action is concentrated and years ago it transformed into a hipster enclave full of cool cafes and trendy restaurants to satisfy the capital’s palates. Even so, don’t get stuck there because in La Union you have a ton of beaches, waterfalls, and places of interest. Look no further, in this La Union Guide you will find them all.
THINGS TO DO IN LA UNION
We already hinted at it, surfing is the main attraction of La Union and what popularized this province of the Ilocos region almost 3 decades ago. Even so, there are more interesting activities:
- Surfing: Urbiztondo and Monaliza Point are the two most well-known spots. If you have never practiced, you can hire an instructor and rent a board for just 400 pesos an hour.
- Waterfalls: Tangadan Falls are the most well-known, but you have others like Bulay Anito or Bulalakaw, where you will surely be alone.
- Beaches: Urbiztondo Beach is the busiest, but you just have to walk a little to have San Juan Beach to yourself. Not only that, you can explore many others: Pebble Beach, Darigayos, Acapulco…
- Sunsets: its location, in western Luzon, ensures you can watch the sun drop into the sea every day.
- Trendy bars and restaurants: La Union is one of the most popular getaways for young Filipinos, so business owners have really stepped up their game.
With a couple of days, you have enough to squeeze the most out of La Union. However, if you like slow travel or your goal is to surf, adding a few extra days doesn’t hurt.
This La Union, Philippines guide is just an appetizer. Discover much more in:
HOW TO GET TO LA UNION
La Union does not have an airport, the closest ones are Manila, Clark, and Laoag. Therefore, you will have to catch one of the many buses heading to San Fernando. Although road conditions in this area of Luzon have improved considerably, traffic in the Philippine capital is still terrible, so count on about 6 hours to get to La Union. Once there, you don’t have to worry, as you have plenty of jeepneys and tricycles connecting the main municipalities. If you need to know more, we tell you everything in:
WHERE TO STAY IN LA UNION
Our advice is to focus on the Urbiztondo and San Juan area when looking for accommodation in La Union. This is where the best surf spots are concentrated, as well as the largest selection of accommodation and restaurants. Discover recommended accommodations in:
TIPS FOR VISITING THE UNION
- HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND IN LA UNION? At least 2, but, as you have seen in this La Union Guide, you could spend several more enjoying its tranquility.
- WHEN TO GO TO LA UNION? If you come to surf, from November to March is the North Swell season and the waves are better.
- MONEY IN LA UNION: you have a BDO ATM in Urbiztondo.
- WHERE TO EAT IN LA UNION: in both Urbiztondo and San Juan you have several cheap carenderias, but, in general, food in this area is a wee bit expensive. San Fernando is where you can find more local food. In Where to eat in La Union we tell you much more, but our favorite places are Clean Beach Coffee, Papa Bear, Olas Banditos, and Tagpuan.
- GETTING AROUND LA UNION: it is very simple, you have lots of jeepneys and tricycles that connect San Fernando, Urbiztondo, San Juan, and many other interesting municipalities.
- HEALTH: If you plan to surf, you should know that most insurance policies do not cover this type of activity in the Philippines. In this article, we tell you which is the best travel insurance for the Philippines with surfing coverage and we give you a 5% discount on its price.