Viaje Western Pangasinan | Whole Day in Bolinao

The long bus trip was over, we finally reached our destination for the day.


Day 1 - June 2, 2011 | The Town of Bolinao

We were very excited to start our day trip in Bolinao, though no one from our group knows this town, all were first timers. I only based our directions from the blogs I read from the previous days of preparation (I am the "punong abala" for this trip - meaning, it was I who made the IT's and the reservations).

| Bolinao Town is a 3rd class municipality found in the western most tip of the Luzon Islands. Part of the province of Pangasinan in Region I - Ilocos Region. People speak Ilocano, Pangasinense and Bolinao.

Destination #1 - St. James the Great Parish

From the bus terminal, I lead the several meters walk (I was not really sure where we're going that time). Then hurray, we found the Bolinao Church aka St. James the Great Parish.

| St James the Great Parish, built in 1609 by Augustinian Friars. One of the oldest in the country, its belltower was once the tallest in northern Luzon. Half of it was toppled by an earthquake in 1788 and its convent got burned in 1819.

The church's facade was awesome, the details and sculptures were great, even the growing plants adds beauty to the old structure. There's nothing much to see inside though, the ceiling was under renovation  and the walls are under a repainting job.

Bolinao Church

photo from Roan. us at Bolinao Church

an old sculpture in front of the church, walang kamay

the sawsawan ng holy water

inside the church

There was a Binungey store in front of the church's gate, each sells at P20.00. Since I was a bit hungry already, I didn't hesitate to give it a try. Taste is similar to biko.

| Binungey is a sweet sticky rice placed in a bamboo, found only in Bolinao.

binungey for sale

photo from Roan. Batang Lakwatsero buying binungey

Stay at Villa Carolina

Exploring the town with heavy baggage is a bad idea, especially if you're with girls who are not used to backpacking trips. After our unsuccessful search for early morning carinderia, we just decided to head to Villa Carolina. I already made a reservation, so I believe they're expecting us already.

| Villa Carolina is a beach resort located at Brgy. Ilog Malino. They're complete with amenities like swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi, pool table and videoke. They also have car and tricycle rentals in case their guests don't have any transport. Rooms range from affordable to quite expensive.  

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  Villa Carolina Y Juan Beach Resort

  Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan 

  Ms. Carol: +639216983340

 other resorts are:

 Puerto Del Sol Resort 

 Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan

 + 63(2)637-8963 / 635-2547 / 6315103

 Punta Riviera Resort

 Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan

 (63)756961350 / (63)756961274

  Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort

  Brgy. Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan 

  +63-908-227-2748

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From the bayan of Bolinao, we rode a trike to Villa Carolina (P150.00). While on the road, I tried to make a deal with the manong tricycle driver, asked him how much would it cost if we'll hire his trike for a whole day trip around Bolinao, he offered a van instead for P1,500.00. We reached Villa Carolina and we're still not done with the negotiations, Ms. Carol who was already waiting for us overheard our deal with the manong driver. We agreed at P1,500.00 for a whole day trip, got his contact number before he leaves.   

When the tricycle driver left, Ms Carol told us that they also have an SUV for rent, at first she offered it at P2,500.00, pero dahil I used my "paawa" charm we got it at extremely lower price. We quickly cancelled our first deal with manong tricycle driver. yey.

| Mr. and Mrs. Ore (John and Carol), owners of the the resort, are very friendly. The safety of their guests are their priority. Their service are the best. I highly recommend their place.    

I reserved a JC room, a fan room fronting the beach good for 4-8 persons. Each room costs P3000-3500 but I was able to haggle it again at lower price, yipee (off peak season na kaya madaling mag-haggle).

the famous Venetian bridge of Bolinao, only in Villa Carolina

photo from Roan. herself and the view from our JC Room

After we settled our things, quickly had our instant breakfast (instant noodles, coco crunch and instant oatmeal), we proceeded na with the Bolinao tour.  Mr. John (pronounced as Yahn) himself was our pilot/tour guide.


Destination #2 - Bolinao Falls 1 and 2

Our first stop was the Bolinao falls #1, thirty minutes drive from the resort. There were a lot of visitors when we arrived at around 11:30 am, some were doing picnic, some were jumping at the falls.

Bolinao falls #1 is great. The waters are clear, clean and rocky, some parts are mossy and slippery. The falls is very tempting, I wanted to jump but I don't know how to swim at the 12 feet deep water. There's the natural ambiance in the place.

Bolinao Fall # 1, mabato at malumot

gusto ko tumalon, but I can't swim

photo from Roan. Batang Lakwatsero in action

Mr John told us that there's another falls in Bolinao (Bolinao Falls #2) not too far from Bolinao falls #1. After spending some more minutes at Bolinao Falls #1, we climbed up the muddy trail (where my friend enjoyed a mud slide) back to our car. We then drove our way to Bolinao Falls #2. As we reached the area, we still followed the ruined stone stairway to the falls 

photo from Roan. the muddy trail

photo from Roan. Bonn enjoyed the mud slide

Bolinao falls #2 is a much greater falls. The cold natural green water is very pleasing, and its plunging sound is a music. We own the place for a couple of minutes until a group of three young men came and jumped at the falls. 

photo from Roan. the stone stairway to the falls

photo from Roan.  herself at the falls

inggit ako, gusto ko din tumalon sa talon.

Bolinao Falls # 2

Destination #3 - Palengke

Still wet from dipping at the falls, we headed next to Bolinao market to buy goods for dinner and eat our lunch. Mr John parked the car somewhere near an Old Spanish Well, still functioning but not sure if it's still good for drinking.

the well

At the market, we had a quick 15 minutes shop. We bought rice, eggs, and hotdogs - frugality runs in our veins. We also bought our cheap lunch for take out, decided to consume it at Villa Carolina. On our way back to the resort, we passed by the bridge that's built across Luzon's cleanest river, the Balingasay River. 

egg is not bad, it's rich in protein

Around 2:30 pm, we had our lunch at the resort, we also used their pool for 20 minutes. After that we continued the Bolinao tour.

Destination #4 - Wonderful Cave

Bolinao has three caves to offer to cave-lover tourists. These are Enchanted Cave, Cindy's Cave and Wonderful Cave. 

Originally in our IT, Enchanted Cave was our next destination, but according to some friends and to Mr John himself, the owner of Enchanted Cave charges the guests with heavy rates. And the owners themselves are not that tourist-friendly.

So Mr John brought us to another cave, not so far from Enchanted, but with friendly rates and owners. At the Wonderful Cave, we were welcomed warmly by the owner. She's very nice and friendly, we lover her. For only P40.00, we were able enter and dip at the uber cold and clear pool inside. So wonderful, the name is justified. We spent 30 minutes inside the cave.

the super nice owner of Wonderful Cave showing us the way

Batang Lakwatsero inside the cave

this is Mr John, look how clear the water is

my girlfriends, gulat?

rock climbed my way out

I rock climbed my way out of the cave, so I got my shirt really muddy.

Destination #5 - Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

Just 20 minutes drive from the cave is the second tallest lighthouse in the country, next to Cape Bojeador of Ilocos Norte. This light house is one of the famous landmark in Bolinao. Photography enthusiasts would surely fall in love with this giant structure.

My girlfirends were enjoying jumpshots while I was doing my photography - introvert style.

this is Cape Bolinao lighthouse, built in 1905 

Wih and the lighthouse

Sariling Sikap #1. Batang Lakwatsero at the ruined house

Destination #6 - Patar Beach: Rock Formations and Sunset

We finally reached Patar Beach, famous for its white sand and rock formations. But my batteries were already low.

I left again my girlfriends at the beach while I walked an estimate of 1 kilometer distance to reach the rock formations. I crossed a bed of smelly kelp, rock climbed a huge reef, and walked over a rocky shore with small pool full of marine life (crabs, sea urchins, shrimps, brittle stars, small fish, hermit crab). I returned to my friends as soon as I captured the rock formations. I still managed to capture some photos of the rock formations and the sunset before my batteries died.

the Patar White sand beach

Patar Beach Rock formation

sea urchin

rock formation, a closer look

a bed of kelp

sunset in Patar

happy feet

We did jumpshots at Patar beach as the sun was setting.


We spent the night at Villa Carolina, consumed our dinner of a breakfast meal (composed of hotdogs and sunny side up), enjoyed the pool and the jacuzzi, and finally fallen into deep sleep at our JC room. 


End of Day 1.


Day 2 - June 3, 2011 | Last Hours in Bolinao


As always, the nocturnal me woke up so early. It was still very dark outside, only 4 am.

I went up the rooftop (yup JC rooms have a rooftop), brought my camera with me and munched my greaseless peanuts while waiting for the sunrise. On the rooftop, I fell asleep for almost an hour, I woke up again around 5 am, this time the sky was getting brighter.

sunrise seen from the rooftop

I then decided to do a morning beach photowalk, now joined by my friend Marian.

cow in the beach

By 6:30 am, we started to packed our things and prepared ourselves for a much greater adventure in Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City.

We checked out by 9:30 am and rode a trike to bayan of Bolinao. We were able to catch the 10 am trip (ordinary bus) to Alaminos City. The fare was only P40.00 from Bolinao to Alaminos City.

photo from Roan. us with Ms Carol

photo from Roan. us with Mr John

photo from Roan. the archway of Villa Carolina

bus going to Alaminos City

Read my Hundred Islands experience here.

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Viaje Western Pangasinan Series Bolinao-Alaminos Trip for 3D2N (June 2-4, 2011)

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Trip to Bolinao and Alaminos - Preview

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Not So Ordinary Six Hour Trip - Part 1
Viaje Western Pangasinan | Whole Day in Bolinao - Part 2

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Hundred Islands National Park - Part 3

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Meet the Islands of HINP - Part 4

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Seven Caves in Hundred Islands - Part 5

Viaje Western Pangasinan | Buy Your Pasalubong - Part 6

Itinerary | Bolinao and Alaminos

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