Things to do in La Union? That’s exactly what we asked ourselves when we found this little spot on the archipelago’s map. La Unión wasn’t the goal in many of our first trips around the Philippines. However, when we saw more and more intrepid travelers heading to this corner north of Manila, we decided to go explore it.
Known by young Manileños as LU or Elyu, La Unión became trendy a few years ago when a highway was built that made the trip from the capital easier. Although the traffic leaving Manila is still hellish (especially on weekends), it’s a very common place for a family or friends’ weekend getaway.
Besides “natural” reasons (beaches, waterfalls, and great surf), La Unión has a good vibe—a boho or hipster air that might draw you in.
If all this sounds good, keep reading and discover with us what to see and things to do in La Unión.
Where is La Unión
La Unión is a province located on the island of Luzon, north of Manila. More specifically, it belongs to the Ilocos region. Its capital is San Fernando, 269 kilometers northwest of Manila.
Although there are accommodations in San Fernando and nearby barangays (neighborhoods) with beaches, the most touristic area of La Unión is San Juan. Since this is where the best surf breaks are, you’ll find more hotels and restaurants here.
We’re going to focus on the municipality of San Juan, La Unión. Known as the “Surfing capital in the north of the Philippines,” the trendiest barangay in San Juan is Urbiztondo. It has a lovely beach (Urbiztondo Beach) and waves perfect for learning to surf.
It’s about 6 kilometers from San Fernando to Urbiztondo and barely 8 to San Juan. Therefore, it’s very easy to move between them by jeepney or tricycle.
Why go to La Unión and how many days to spend
You’ve probably guessed it already, but the most compelling reason to come here is to surf. As you’ll read below, in season La Unión has perfect waves for surfing in the Philippines, whether you’ve never grabbed a board or you’re an experienced surfer. If you’re in the first group, like us, don’t worry—there are plenty of instructors to teach you at a very good price.
In reality, the things to do in La Unión aren’t that many, but we spent 10 days there. Yes, we found a little house with a kitchen just a few steps from the beach… The internet worked well and there are lots of cool places to eat, so we settled in and had a great time.
While we don’t consider La Unión’s to be the best beaches in the Philippines, they’re great for strolling and relaxing. It’s a perfect place if you want to step away from the most touristic spots. Do try to go Monday through Thursday, since Manileños take their getaways on weekends and it gets crowded.
As for how many days to spend in La Unión, we’re honestly a bit undecided. With a couple of days you’ll have plenty of time to take a couple of surf lessons, relax on the beach, visit a couple of waterfalls, and enjoy the nightlife in Elyu. However, if you’re coming exclusively to surf, you’ll probably want to stay a few more days.
When to visit La Unión
This will depend a lot on the purpose of your visit. As we explain in Best time to travel to the Philippines, the months to enjoy the beach and good weather run from December to May. If you want total peace, it’s better to go in summer (March to May).
However, the high season in La Unión runs from November to March, when the waves are perfect for surfing. This is known as the North Swell season and waves usually reach 2 or 3 meters. Another good time is from July to October, when the South Swell is in full swing.
You can check current surf conditions here.
Since it’s a typical weekend spot for Manileños, we recommend visiting La Unión Monday through Thursday. You’ll have a better chance to relax and get better accommodation prices. On weekends you’ll find more of a party vibe.
Things to do in La Unión
Yes, the main reason to come here is the surf, but keep reading—there are several things to do in La Unión.
1. Surfing is the most important thing to do in La Unión
If you’ve come in season, you have no excuse. Surfing is a must-do in La Unión.
If it’s not your first time and you can go on your own, the best-known spots are The Beach Break (Urbiztondo Beach, more for beginners) and Monaliza Point (for advanced surfers because it breaks on reef, especially in the North Swell season).
These are also the most crowded, so if you want something quieter, check how the waves are at Bacnotan, Darigayos, Toboc and Jesus Point in Carilla. Don’t worry if you haven’t brought a board—you can rent one in Urbiztondo for 200 pesos per hour, 500 pesos for half a day, or 800 pesos for a full day.
If you want to give it a try, La Unión is a great place for beginners. At Urbiztondo Beach there are usually gentle waves for much of the year, so there’s not much risk. A one-hour lesson with an instructor costs 400 Philippine pesos and includes board rental. You don’t need to book in advance—just head to the beach and you’ll see rental stands with instructors waiting.
2. Enjoy Urbiztondo Beach and San Juan Beach
Don’t worry—if you didn’t come to surf or it’s not the season, La Unión won’t leave you short of beaches to unwind.
Urbiztondo Beach
While it’s true that La Unión’s beaches don’t have white sand and calm turquoise waters, they’re great for relaxing. Urbiztondo is the best-known because this is where many hotels, restaurants, and—most importantly—the board stalls and surf instructors are concentrated.
The beach isn’t very large and has a crescent shape. In the southern area—looking out to sea, on your left—there’s a very picturesque rocky zone that gives you a nice perspective of the whole beach. Fun fact: if you keep walking, you’ll see a huge airplane inside a house’s garden. We were stunned, but it’s set up for celebrations like weddings.
Urbiztondo Beach has a swimming-restricted area so surfers can enter the water safely. Even so, you’ll still have plenty of space for a dip.
San Juan Beach
We decided to stay in the town of San Juan itself, so we had lots of time to enjoy its huge beach. In fact, everything that continues north of Urbiztondo is considered San Juan, so you’ve got loads of space to walk.
If crowds aren’t your thing, we suggest that from Urbiztondo you walk north (facing the sea, to your right) until you reach the Flotsam & Jetsam Hostel area. This is the widest swath of sand, so it’s much more spacious and you won’t feel cramped. It’s common to see Filipino families enjoying the sea.
If you walk toward San Juan, you can also see the (heavily reconstructed) remains of a Spanish-era watchtower.
3. Enjoy the beaches south of Urbiztondo: Carlatan, Acapulco, Taberna, and Bauang Beach
Urbiztondo is the most famous and the one that receives the most tourists, especially on weekends. So if you want something more relaxed, you can opt for other beaches south of San Juan.
Acapulco Beach is one of the largest and best known. With golden sand and calmer waters, it’s usually packed on weekends. If you want to save and you’ve got a tent, you can camp.
Quieter options are Taberna Beach and Bauang Beach (also known as Baccuit Sur Beach, since it’s in Baccuit barangay). They also have cool resorts if you want absolute peace. Good examples are Gregorio Homes and Marand Resort and Spa.
4. Explore beaches to the north: Bacnotan, Darigayos, and Pebble Beach
If you take a jeepney to the small municipality of Luna (30 pesos/1 hour), you’ll find several places of interest to see in La Unión.
First, the famous Pebble Beach. Although it might seem normal to you, Filipinos—surrounded by so many paradisiacal beaches with fine white sand—are amazed to find a beach full of pebbles of all sizes. Without being fabulous (and even though people have taken lots of stones, making it less pretty), Pebble Beach is a cool beach and, besides, you won’t have to shake sand out of everything.
Not far from it is Kamay Na Bato Open Art Gallery, a favorite among Filipino travelers. This house offers a fabulous collection of wooden and stone sculptures by a Korean artist named Bong Kim. For us, the most interesting part is the shop, full of Filipino handicrafts. Admission is 30 pesos per person.
Don’t leave Luna yet—there are still a couple of interesting places. The first is Luna’s Watch Tower, or Baluarte, the watchtower used in colonial times to look out for pirates. The tower was restored because a typhoon in 2015 almost swept it away.
To finish, we suggest stopping by the Namacpacan Church, or Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Although the current building dates from the late 19th century—an earthquake damaged it badly—it’s worth visiting to see the altar. Our Lady of Namacpacan, affectionately known as Apo Baket, is much venerated in the area. It’s said that the image came from Spain, commissioned by an Augustinian priest living in Vigan in 1871. However, while en route, the galleon transporting it had to take shelter south of Luna, in Darigayos, and it was taken as a sign that the Virgin wanted to remain in Namacpan.
Bacnotan and Darigayos Beach
Since you’ve come this far north, a good way to complete this La Unión route is to stop at the beaches of Bacnotan and Darigayos. Both are very similar to those of San Juan, with fine golden sand, although they usually have calmer waters. If you have to choose, Darigayos Beach has lighter sand and we find it prettier.
At the latter you’ll also find some little huts to shelter from the sun. If you go on a weekend, you’ll see Filipinos enjoying their free time feasting and having a ball.
5. Watch the sunset
La Unión’s location, on the west of Luzon, means you can enjoy spectacular sunsets on its beaches, with the sun dropping below the horizon line.
If you want to see them in a quiet place, move away from Urbiztondo Beach. You can head a bit north, around Clean Beach Coffee, or keep walking toward San Juan Beach and find your own spot. Of course, you can also take advantage of the beach bars’ and restaurants’ happy hours and toast to another great day in La Unión, Philippines.
6. Cool off at the waterfalls to see in La Unión: Tangadan Falls, Bulay Anito, and Bulalakaw
Another of the things to do in La Unión is to explore some of the waterfalls in the area. The most popular—and the ones we encourage you to visit—are the Tangadan Falls, about 15 meters high. In fact, “tangadan” means “look up” in Ilocano, the local language.
To get there, you’ll need to do an easy 15–60 minute walk, depending on the route you choose. It’s a good way to get some exercise and then take a well-deserved dip. Admission is 30 pesos and it’s necessary to hire a guide for 500 pesos (up to 6 people).
Because access has been made much easier, it’s now one of the must-sees in La Unión. If, like us, you enjoy solitude, we encourage you to visit Monday to Friday, when there are fewer people.
How to get to Tangadan Falls?
If you’re not staying in San Juan, take a jeepney there first. Then take another one toward San Gabriel (20 minutes/19 pesos). Tell the driver you’re going to the falls so they can drop you where the tricycles head toward the falls. From that point, take a tricycle or habal-habal (shared motorbike) to the start of the trail (25 pesos per person).
You’ll arrive at a booth where you pay the fees and meet your guide. Then you can walk along the Barobo River and see different cascades where you can jump and swim. There’s even a sort of hanging chair to cross from one side to the other. After roughly an hour of walking, you’ll reach the waterfall.
Another option is to go by vehicle to a parking area located about 15 minutes from the falls and skip the walk. We only recommend this if you don’t have time for the other route, since the trail is nice. Also keep in mind that getting to the parking area isn’t particularly cheap… Habal-habal rides cost around 300 pesos per person. If you’re lucky, you can try to join a group going by jeepney, which is much cheaper.
Other interesting waterfalls include Bulay Anito and Bulalakaw, but we didn’t get to visit them. If you do, please tell us how it went.
7. Enjoy the food scene at Urbiztondo’s cool restaurants and cafés
One of the great things about this area becoming popular among Manileños is that the food scene has blossomed massively. To the traditional carenderias we told you about in What to eat in the Philippines a whole bunch of cute cafés have been added, where you can choose among fancy coffee names, places serving smoothie bowls ready for any Instagram photo, and restaurants featuring cuisines from around the world.
Keep in mind that if you’re on a tight budget, Urbiztondo isn’t the best place for cheap eats in La Unión. If you’re looking for budget options, head to the ends of town—San Juan or San Fernando—where you’ll find choices for all price ranges.
Put in the effort and tick this item off your list of things to do in La Unión by visiting some of our favorite places to eat in La Unión listed below. You can locate them on the map at the end of this article.
Cool cafés for breakfast in La Unión
- El Union Coffee: possibly the best-known café in La Unión—and also the most trendy. It’s a cool (and somewhat pricey) place for breakfast. Alongside good coffee they have pastries, cakes and, best of all, tasty hot cheese sandwiches. We particularly liked their coffee with Mexican horchata.
- Clean Beach Coffee: in a very nice beachfront area, this hipster, eco‑friendly café won us over. Focused on coffee, they also have bites like tasty kaya toast (a kind of coconut jam). Heads up: if you fill one of the bags there with beach trash, they’ll give you a free iced tea!
- Barefoot: if you go on a weekend, don’t be surprised to find a line for breakfast here… One secret to their success is the bread—the real deal. Breakfasts are seriously hearty.
- Masa Bakehouse: located in San Juan, this is your spot if you want good pastries and bread. They also have decent pizzas and burgers.
- Makai Bowls: in a gorgeous ocean‑view spot, it’s one of the most Instagrammable places to eat in La Unión. They serve very tasty and photogenic smoothie bowls (and good—that’s the important bit).
- Coco Mama: delicious desserts starring coconut ice cream. Besides being beautiful (served in a coconut), they’re vegan!
Restaurants to eat in La Unión
- Tagpuan: one of our favorites—and also among the most affordable. They serve bowls of what could be called Filipino comfort food, i.e., the kind you crave after a hangover. They have vegetarian options.
- Nak Nak’s Eatery: yes, eating in La Unión is pricey, but you can always look for a carenderia like this and enjoy traditional Filipino stews for little money.
- Papa Bear: we loved this spot serving mainly Asian food with a fusion twist. The Vietnamese pho is very well done.
- Mad Monkeys: one of the most popular restaurants in La Unión, so there’s always a buzz. We liked their burgers the most.
- Olas Banditos: Mexican food! Good burritos and tacos, including vegetarian options. The place is also cool and they serve nice Mexican horchata.
- Gefseis Greek Grill: while it isn’t cheap for the portion sizes, the Greek food felt very authentic. Plus, it has direct beach views.
8. Visit the Ma‑Cho Taoist Temple—an interesting thing to do in La Unión
In the mood for some culture? Then head to San Fernando and discover the Ma‑Cho Temple. This is a Taoist temple built in the 70s to worship the Chinese deity Matzu, protector of the sea and patron of fishermen. Hence its location, on a hill with views of the China Sea.
Entry is free, so don’t hesitate to go in and stroll around. You’ll find pagodas, gardens, fountains, and, of course, wooden statues of Taoist deities spread over its 7 floors.
Keep in mind that, as it’s a temple, knees and shoulders must be covered. Kissing and holding hands are also prohibited.
To get there, you can take a jeepney to San Fernando from Urbiztondo or San Juan (11 pesos) and from there take a tricycle to the temple (10 pesos) or walk.
9. Go out partying!
As a weekend destination, it won’t surprise you that La Unión is a great place to have a few drinks on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s not that the party goes on until the early hours, but it definitely has more atmosphere than other beach destinations in the Philippines.
Here’s a selection of lively bars in La Unión:
- Fatwave Surf Resort: lively beachfront spot for enjoying a cocktail during happy hour (2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
- Tipple & Brew: although the food is so‑so, it’s one of the few places to have craft beer. They have a very nice terrace area and a happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Flotsam and Jetsam: this hostel has been the place to be in La Unión for years. Its lovely terrace—with lots of different spaces—is very lively if you want a drink. They also serve food, but we don’t remember it being spectacular enough to recommend.
- Le Point Bar PH: also on Urbiztondo Beach, it’s a great spot for a beer at sunset or a drink later on.
- Ol’ Pub La Union: live music almost every weekend, cold beer, and tasty margaritas.
10. Other things to do in La Unión
We’ve already covered the most interesting sights and things to do in La Unión, Philippines, but if you have more time, here are a few more quirky places you might like:
- Gapuz Grapes Farm: did you know there are lots of vineyards in La Unión? It seems that in the 70s Alfonso Aromin started planting vines in the Bauang area, and neighbors quickly followed suit. Although it began as a hobby, they soon became wineries. If you’re curious, you can visit them and, in season (March to May), take part in the grape harvest. There are many wineries, but the most famous is Gapuz Grapes Farm. Entry is free, but they charge 20 pesos if you want to take photos.
- Churches and other religious sites: besides Namacpacan, there are several interesting churches to see in La Unión. The one in Bacnotan, for example, dates from the Spanish colonial era and has neoclassical architecture. If you pass through San Fernando, it’s worth visiting the Cathedral of Saint William the Hermit, a reconstruction of the original 18th‑century one. We’re even more fond of the Pindangan Ruins, the remains of an old Spanish‑era stone church.
Where to stay
Our advice is to focus on the Urbiztondo or San Juan area when looking for places to stay. If you’re coming to surf, this is where you’ll find the best waves. If not, it’s also where there’s a bigger selection of restaurants and bars and where you’ll feel most comfortable going for a swim.
If you choose to stay in San Fernando, there’s no need to worry either. There are jeepneys to Urbiztondo for 11 pesos (around 25 minutes) or tricycles (200–300 pesos) running at any hour of the day. If you opt for the more relaxed San Juan, you’ll also find frequent jeepneys to Urbiztondo or San Fernando. Getting around is very easy.
We strongly recommend that you book your accommodation in La Unión a bit in advance, especially if you’re coming on a weekend, at Christmas, New Year’s, or on a national holiday. Prices are not exactly cheap and you don’t want to overpay for not planning ahead.
We explain everything in Best hotels to stay in La Unión, but here are some recommendations:
- Backpacker hostel: Rada Hostel LU
A super‑modern hostel with everything you need for a comfortable few days in La Unión. They have quadruple rooms and a very cool rooftop to meet other travelers. Bed price includes a good breakfast.
- Budget hotel in La Unión: Zen Rooms G Hotel La Union
Right in Urbiztondo, a newly built hotel without much frill but with new furnishings. They have double, triple, and single rooms with air conditioning.
- Resort in La Unión: Kahuna Beach Resort & Spa
Located in the heart of Urbiztondo, it’s the area’s most glamorous hotel, with a spectacular pool overlooking the sea.
How to get to La Unión
You can’t fly directly to La Unión. The closest airports are Manila and Clark. From there, you’ll need to go overland (bus or van). If you’re exploring other parts of Luzon, we also explain how to get there from them in How to get to La Unión.
Some tips for visiting La Unión
If you want to enjoy this Filipino corner, here are the tips we would have liked to receive:
- Internet works quite well, especially if you use it Monday through Friday when there are fewer people. Even so, we recommend having a SIM card with data. We tell you more in Internet in the Philippines.
- Most ATMs are concentrated in San Fernando, but there’s also a BDO in Urbiztondo. Withdrawing from an ATM costs money, so we recommend bringing cash. Read Money in the Philippines to learn more.
- If your visa is about to expire, you can do the Philippines visa extension at the immigration office in San Fernando. We did it there once and it was great—super fast!
- You’ll be able to get around comfortably and very cheaply between Urbiztondo, San Juan, and San Fernando by jeepneys or tricycles. There’s no need to haggle—prices are set and fixed.
- Remember to travel with travel insurance for the Philippines like the one we use. If you’re going to surf, remember insurers consider it an adventure sport and, depending on your policy, you may or may not be covered.
Map of La Unión
Here’s the map showing all these things to do in La Unión, plus restaurants and hotels:
Did you like this list of things to do in La Unión? We hope so. If any doubts have come up, we’d love to answer you in the comments.
