Patar White Sand Beach: A great location for those who are dreaming to be a model lol

Bolinao isn’t really a popular destination for those who aren’t from northern part of the Philippines for which had made it lovingly called, “The Hidden Jewel of the North.”

Now if you’re looking to see on traveling to Bolinao as your next beach bumming adventure destination but kind of lost and doesn’t know where to begin, how to get there, things to do, or where to stay, then I created this comprehensive Travel Guide for you.

How to get to Bolinao

Via bus (from Cubao or Pasay)

There are 3 major bus line companies which cater passengers going to Bolinao, Pangasinan. Mainly, they are Victory Liner (Cubao Q.C. terminal), FiveStar Bus Inc. (Pasay City terminal), and Dagupan Bus Line (Cubao Q.C. terminal). They offer day and night trips and you can book on ordinary (nonair-con) or air-conditioned bus.

Fare cost: PHP 451.00 – 459.00 for air-conditioned bus and PHP 300.00 – 350.00 for nonair-con bus (one-way trip).

Travel time: 5 to 6 hours and has three stops to Dau Terminal, Tarlac Terminal, and Alaminos terminal. So make sure to bring some foods or snacks to ease bus weariness.

Trip Schedule and Reservations: For trip schedule, ticket reservations, and other inquiries, you may contact the bus company at the following numbers:

Victory Liner, Cubao Q.C
Phone #: (02) 727-4534, 727-4688, 410-8986
Twitter: @VictoryLinerInc

FiveStar Bus Line Pasay City
Phone #: (02) 851-6613, 851-6614, 851-6659, 833-4772

Dagupan Bus Line, Cubao Q.C
Phone#: (02) 727-2330

Upon arriving at Bolinao end station, ride a tricycle and ask them to bring you to your beach resort accommodation or penthouse where you wanted to stay. Due to rocky road, travel time from Bolinao terminal to resort or hotel accommodation is 30 to 40 minutes via tricycle or car.

Via car or own transport (from Manila)

It is also convenient to get to Bolinao if you have your own car. With this, you can tour around the town and its tourist spots without worrying time compared to hiring tricycle drivers. Take the SCTEX (Subic, Clark, and Tarlac Expressway) route and pass by Alaminos and Bani Pangasinan. Along this road, a scenic view of mountainous landscapes will be seen so you might want to be awake while passing by Alaminos and Bani.

Accommodations in Bolinao, Pangasinan

It is strongly recommended to stay overnight when traveling to Bolinao. That’s why there are several hotels, resorts, penthouse, and cottages for rent in Bolinao, Pangasinan to choose from. But for budget travelers and adventurers, popular choices are room cottages at the Patar Beach itself and for travel photographers, setting up tent at Rock View Beach Resort is also a great idea.

You may also refer to my separate post: Cheapest accommodations in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Tours and best places to see in Bolinao

Please refer to my separate blog post: Best Places to Go in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Other worth visiting destination to see in Bolinao:

• UP Marine Science Institute
• Balingasay River Cruise
• Tara Falls
• Bolinao National Musuem

Where to Eat

Upon arriving at Bolinao town proper, why not fill your stomach in with warm soup? Behind the St. James Church is the Adora’s Restaurant. They serve the superb Lomi in town at PHP 50.00 only perfect for a long ride. I recommended you to drop by here before heading to your resort.

Sample Bolinao Itinerary

If you do not have car and going to Bolinao via Bus, below is the sample itinerary for you:

For those who have cars, you may do the same to save gas or you may refer to the tour map guide below:

Reminder for those who have cars: Travel time from Bolinao town proper to Patar Beach cottages (and vice versa) is approximately 30 to 40 minutes (due to rocky road). To save gas, upon reaching Bolinao Town Proper, you can either ask where Bolinao Waterfalls is or immediately start the tour while you’re on your way to the cottages/accommodation and then just go to the waterfalls on your way back to Manila or home.

My Bolinao Budget and Expenses

When I first went to Bolinao, we traveled by car and I only spent PHP 600++ for the food and gas (no accommodation, we used tent). If you will travel by car, you’ll definitely save a lot from hiring tricycle driver for the tour and fare costs.

Meanwhile, here’s the sample breakdown of budget and expenses for an overnight Bolinao trip based on the sample itinerary I created above.