Pros and Cons of Traveling to Bolinao, Pangasinan

Located on the tip of a peninsula, Bolinao offers travelers a great opportunity to soak in the sun and sea and enjoy more of the tropical pleasures Pangasinan has to offer.

Bolinao is located in a region littered with secluded caves, waterfalls, and idyllic coves, but just like any other travel destination there are things about Bolinao that could either delight or disappoint you. Below are some tips and insights to help you make the most of your Pangasinan adventure.

Patar Beach, Bolinao

Patar Beach, Bolinao Ⓒ Iza Sanchez

Getting There

Bolinao Pangasinan

PROS

Commuting to Bolinao by public transpo is quite easy. Several bus lines ply the Manila-Bolinao route from terminals in Cubao and Pasay. There are hourly trips from 6a.m. through 11p.m. Once you arrive in Bolinao just hop on a tricycle to the beach resorts. It takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes depending on the location of your hotel.

CONS

The travel time – From Manila it’s a long and tedious, 6-7 hour journey to Bolinao. If you’re not into long road trips Bolinao is probably not your go-to destination.

In addition, buses pick up passengers along the way which adds up to the travel time. Tip – Take an evening trip so that you can sleep through most of the journey.

Bolinao Pangasinan

Photography by Iza Sanchez

Infrastructure

Photography by Iza Sanchez

PROS

Bolinao is has long received visitors from far and wide, and there are many low-cost, mid-range, as well as luxury hotels to choose from for your stay. In addition, transportation to and from the town is plentiful. Network signal is quite poor in certain areas.

CONS

Patar road is the only path to the resorts. Unfortunately, the road has intermittent gaps between paved and unpaved sections. According to a local, this is a result of the road project being awarded to multiple contractors on a per-kilometer basis. Apparently, the road ends wherever government funds ran out. With that in mind, it’s best to hold off on taking a trip to Bolinao in the rainy season since passage through Patar road could be difficult.

Bolinao Pangasinan

Ⓒ Iza Sanchez

About the Beach

Bolinao Pangasinan

Ⓒ Iza Sanchez

PROS

Patar Beach has very attractive, mocha-colored sands  and spectacular rock formations. It’s also not as touristy as commercial beaches close to big cities like Manila, so you can easily find a quiet spot to bask in the sun. A perfect vantage point to take in panoramic views of the beach is at the rock bridge of Treasures of Bolinao. You would have to pay a fee though to use the hotel’s facilities including the bridge.

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN

There is a river called Ilog Malino which runs alongside the beach. You may rent a kayak and go kayaking for an hour or two at Punta Riviera Resort. You can also go to Puerto Del Sol Resort.

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN

Ilog Malino, Bolinao

Bolinao Pangasinan

Bolinao Pangasinan

Sea grass and weeds cover most of the shore of Patar Beach

CONS

The locals have labeled Patar Beach the Boracay of Pangasinan. However, if you’ve seen the likes of Puka Shell Beach in Boracay or Port Barton in Palawan, you might be in for a major disappointment. The sand here is not as fine, and the water not as clear. Sea grass covers most of Patar’s shores which makes the beach look slightly unattractive (although this is a sign of a healthy marine ecosystem). Quick tip – make sure you pack beach footwear wear as you may step on something sharp, slimy, or alive.

It’s safe to say, beaches in Luzon are really no match to the white-sand beaches of Central Philippines. Nonetheles, Patar like other beaches here in the north still have some unique delights to offer.

Bolinao Pangasinan

Ⓒ Iza Sanchez 

No Snorkeling Sites

There aren’t any snorkeling sites in Patar Beach.  If you’d like to go snorkeling, take a side trip to Alaminos and  visit 100 Islands National Park. It’s just one hour away, so you might as well go.

Check out these Pangasinan travel guides for more info on the coolest attractions and things to do in the province

Bolinao Pangasinan

About Accommodation

Bolinao Pangasinan Bolinao Pangasinan

PROS

A Wide Variety of Hotels

There are many hostels along the beach so you wouldn’t have to worry about booking in advance even during  the peak season. For budget travelers you can find places that offer fan rooms for as low as P800 per night.

Bolinao Pangasinan

CONS

No Websites

Many low-cost and mid-range hotels in the area do not have websites. It’s a far stretch from one end of Patar Beach to the other and if you don’t have a private vehicle, hopping from one hotel to another on a tricycle to check out each one could be very time consuming. It’s best to book your accommodations in advance with a hotel that has a website to save time and energy.

Patar Beach, Bolinao

SCL Paradise Beach Resort 

Bolinao Pangasinan

Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort

There are at least three high-end resorts in the area. I got to see the room rates of two and found them quite pricey for a tourist spot like Bolinao. Treasures of Bolinao Beach Resort has the best location of all. Do note that the beaches in front of any of these hotels are not exclusive so you can swim and sunbathe in any part of beach regardless of where you stay. At Treasures of Bolinao and Punta Riviera visitors are welcome to rent kayaks and to use some facilities like the infinity pool, for a fee.

Bolinao Pangasinan

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN

Halo-halo after kayaking at Punta Riviera Resort, superb!

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN

My home away from home at Bolinao was SCL Paradise Beach Resort. It was a mid-range hotel. Not the best location but had a nice, garden ambiance and the WIFI was good.

Patar Beach, Bolinao

Beachfront at SCL Paradise Beach Resort 

Where to Eat

Bolinao

A huge chunk of your travel budget will likely be spent on food, unfortunately, there aren’t any cheap restaurants along the beach, I bought some snacks in town before coming to my hotel which helped me save a bit. I also ordered food from the hotel restaurant a few times, quite expensive though. Some hotels have an open kitchen where guests can cook. Having a barbeque by the beach could be nice, best to inquire at your hotel.

Bolinao Pangasinan

If Karaoke Bothers You

I spent an afternoon swimming and kayaking at Punta Riviera resort. Kayaking was fun, but, the neighboring hotel called Villa Soledad had an open karaoke facility and some guests sang Karaoke all afternoon, to their hearts delight. So if karaoke bothers you, pack some advil as you might get a migraine from loud, impassioned singing, or better yet, make sure you ask your hotel about this before you confirm your reservation.

Finally, if you go to Bolinao during summer, swim in the morning because by noon the water recedes and there won’t much of a beach left to swim in.

Check out these Pangasinan travel guides for more info on the coolest attractions and things to do in the province

bolinao, pangasinan

Boats available for rent

bolinao (2)

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Bolinao Pangasinan

Bolinao Lighthouse Ⓒ Iza Sanchez

Bolinao Pangasinan

Iza Sanchez

Iza Sanchez is a freelance ESL Teacher, adventurer, and moderator of Take The Travel. She writes about solo-backpacking, travel saving tips and other awesome travel resources.

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52 Responses

  1. Viva Tarroza says:

    Did you get a chance to see Puerto Del Sol Beach? Is the beach also full of sea grass & sea weeds!

  2. Paolo says:

    hello..i am thinking of checking out Patar Beach….are there a lot of very cheap accommodations to choose from? Thanks!

    • Iza says:

      Hey Paolo, there are quite a few resorts to choose from. Unfortunately, many of them don’t have websites or facebook pages. Also, please take note the hotels at Patar Beach are not close to each other, you’d need to ride a tricycle to get from one resort to another if you wanted to canvass rates. If you have a private vehicle it will be easier. Do check out Ilog Malino, they have kubos for rent, with toilets and beds, really basic but good enough. I think they range from 700 to 800 pesos a night.

    • clarence says:

      madaming cheap if beach front ng patar ang want nyo po puntahan…. kubo kubo (wid sala and decked beds good for 5 people) cost us only 2500

  3. Darwin says:

    Greetings! the photos that you have with Pink room, is that for the SLC resort? how many nights did you stay at the hotel? Thank you!

  4. Roxxane Tugade says:

    Hello where I can ask for accommodation/reservation. Can I have your contact #. We will be having our team building on May 7-8 this year.

  5. deb lb says:

    glad i stumbled on your blog. i was thinking one last summer trip or the family and this helps in our decision making. we are six and therefore dining options is always a factor.

  6. Ella says:

    Hi! Im just ‘bothered’ that you were ‘bothered’ by the presence of seagrasses in the area when it is actually a sign of a healthy coastal community. The seagrasses is home to many invertebrates and source of food for them. So when we see seagrass we should be happy. They’re even better than a long stretch of white sand devoid of a diversity. Just sharing my thoughts. Thanks. And yes thanks for sharing info on Bolinao.

  7. Jenn Gaupo says:

    Hi, we are planning to have our family outing in Villa Soledad this coming June. Did you recommend it or better punta Riviera? Btw, thank you for sharing your experience in Bolinao, this is a great help.

    • Iza Sanchez says:

      Hi Jenn, Villa Soledad was right across Punta Riviera. The hotel looked ok but I didn’t thoroughly check out their facilities. Punta Riviera on the other hand was very nice, quite posh and pricey though. You can check out their website to see if their rates are within your budget.

      The beach in front of these two hotels is beautiful and you can also kayak along the river parallel to the beach. During low tide though water recedes by several meters so you may want to spend as much time swimming before noon. Hope that helps.

  8. Mina says:

    Hello is benjie’s kubo or ilog malino hotel near patar beach?

    • Iza Sanchez says:

      Hey Mina,

      Yes, Benjie’s Kubo and Ilog Malino are along Patar Beach. I wasn’t able to visit that part of the beach though since it’s a very long coast.

      • maria karla says:

        malayo po ba ung ilog malino sa enchanted cave and bolinao cape house??? and pwede rin ba magrent ng tent ?? 🙂

  9. Sofia says:

    how about the signal reception there?

  10. Liza says:

    Thank you..this helps a lot

  11. Rurut says:

    Hi, have youtried going to Potipot Island in Zambales? which has a better road, going to Bolinao Pangasinan or to Potipot in Zambales?

    • Iza Sanchez says:

      Hi! I haven’t been to Potipot Island yet but I’d love to travel there in the future. Regarding road conditions, best to check the weather and avoid going when there’s a forecast of heavy rains. Good luck!

  12. Iain Booth says:

    Nice to get such an informative assessment. Something for everyone. Especially noted the non-stop karaoke. (The bane of life in the Philippines). I’ve been to most of the better known tourist beaches in the PH and it seems like this is one worth considering – even though I’d have to forego snorkelling and diving.

  13. Bambi Yu says:

    Undecided whether to chek in at Villa Soledad or Treasures of Bolinao. Which do u recommend?

  14. Leah Gan says:

    Hi. Your blog is a great help. Would like to ask if you’ve seen Veue cabins? Is it better than Punta Riviera?

    • Iza Sanchez says:

      Hi Leah,

      Sorry I haven’t seen Veue cabins. Punta Riviera is quite nice since it’s a beach front resort. I kayaked and swam there. It’s one of the pricey resorts though. Cheers!

      • hello Leah! this is Oliver Bondad. if you need help with your itineraries in Bolinao, NorthAir Travel and Tours can assist you. Regarding your question about the VEUE, its a minimalist resort, cozy, with infinity pool, whitesand beach front, and they charge P8000/day minimum of 2 days stay. for more infos add me up
        in FB

  15. Lhiz says:

    Hi. May rsort or cottage ba na malapit sa mga spots sa bolinao na owede pag iwanan ng gamit.. Para secure ung bag pag magswiswimming. We only plan to have the tour for a day. Kaya need ko malaman kung may pwede ba pagdepositan ng gamit. Like pag nasa beach or falls. Dalawa lng kmi at commute lng no private car. Thanks

  16. Mich says:

    Hi,

    I find your blog very helpful :).
    Would you know how I can to Punta Riviera Resort by public transport?

    Thank you

  17. Mole says:

    Nice article you have here. very helpful.
    How about the road? Is the road rough or is it ok to bring a car? ano po ang suggestion nyo? Thanks!!

  18. lein says:

    possible pa po ba ang Tent pitching?

    may pwede kayang lutuan lang at liguan?

  19. Xian Salta says:

    Hi..nice review you had there! Do you happen to know where a family of 5 can stay airconditioned and modest furniture wherein we can cook by our selves? That includes with cooking pots available…we plan to buy and cook since we heard that seafoods are affordable there

  20. Chris says:

    Hi! How much would be the accommodation for SCL Patar Beach Resort? Thanks!

  21. la_puente says:

    Just wanted to thank you for a highly entertaining and informative post. Hard to find such things online, really. Kudos 🙂

  22. Hi, my friends and I are planning to go to Bolinao this weekend. I would like to ask if it is easy to get a bus back to Manila even if you didn’t book for a ride prior to your trip? Thanks!

  23. james gunby says:

    I would also recommend a new eco resort in Bolinao called Birdland beach club. We stayed there and it’s a very unique and environmentally friendly resort. We used this new guide of bolinao http://www.bolinaohotels.wordpress.com or something to that effect.

  24. Alyanna Gutierrez says:

    Hi! Is it okay not to book a trip to Bolinao via online websites? Thanks!

  25. Jomai says:

    The beach at the left side of Treasures of Bolinao is nice. Sea and brown sand.No sea weeds and corals unlike at the right side.

  26. maria karla says:

    may beach po ba na malapit lng sa mga tourists sa bolinao like sa mga cave po? and pwede po bng magrent ng tent??

  27. Chelly Bee says:

    We will be opening our semi private Mini resort sometime October. We will be renting out kubo; big size with sala & room. Small size with sala only. And also camping tents. We are very strict on how many people we are accommodating so guest can enjoy the resort. We are also near the light house and caves. We will post our website once we open our resort. Hope to see you soon.

    • Wehna says:

      Hello! would Like to check your room accommodation. I’m planning to travel this December. I am reading blogs about these resorts in Patar. Would prefer the beach na hindi ma-weeds and corals. Pero parang mababa talaga yung tubig dito.

    • ched arzadon says:

      hi chelly! we are travelling to bolinao this week. is your mini resort now open? what is the name?

  28. JessicA says:

    Hi need pa po ba magpareserve bago ka pumunt ng bolinao patar beach?

  29. Jasper says:

    Hi,. Ano po marerecomend nio na low budget resort na aircon,. Tpos wala maxado see grass yung beach,? Planing to go po,. With 2 kids kasi,. Low budget bsta aircon,. We have private vehicle po,.

  1. May 7, 2017

    […] Pros and Cons of Traveling to Bolinao, Pangasinan […]

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