For my 30th birthday, we finally crossed it off the bucket list. A trip to Elyu that has been overdue! Have you been wanting to plan your own relaxing trip to Urbiztondo, La Union? If so, here’s a sneak peek at how our first trip went.
How to Commute From Manila to Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union
An easy and cheap way to get from Manila to Urbiztondo is to take a bus from the Partas Terminal in Pasay.
A bus ticket costs ₱644 for each person. We bought our tickets online to save time and avoid the long lines.
How to Book a Partas Bus Ticket Online
- Visit Biyaheroes.com to reserve your seat.
- Print the voucher after booking.
- Bring the voucher to the reservation booth at the terminal to get your bus ticket.
- Wait for departure.
Travel time is about 7 hours. We left Pasay at 9 a.m. and arrived in Urbiztondo, San Juan around 4 p.m.
Best Time to Visit La Union
The best time to go is from November and April, whether you want to ride waves or just relax on the beach.
This dry season is great if you want to go surfing. It’s not likely to rain, and the waves are great for beginners. This is the best time for a La Union DIY trip.
People who don’t surf and people who do surf both enjoy this time of year. They can catch waves, watch the sunset, or just relax by the sea.
Between May and October, the waves grow stronger and the chances of rain go up, but with fewer tourists around, it’s a great time for those craving a quiet escape and a break from the crowds.
Based on our experience, we visited in March during the dry season for a 3-day, 2-night trip from Friday to Sunday.
The waves were perfect for beginners, and the weather stayed clear with no rain. From early morning until early afternoon, the beach was less busy and not too crowded.
But as the sun started to set, more tourists arrived, making the beach livelier and more crowded.
Where to Stay in Urbiztondo?
San Juan Surf Resort
This is a beachfront hotel located in Urbiztondo. It’s just a few steps away from the beach, conveniently along the highway, and near 7-Eleven.
The room was clean, spacious, and had everything we needed. An air-conditioning, a private bathroom with a hot shower, a small fridge, and a double bed.
It cost ₱3,800 per night, and we stayed for 3 days and 2 nights.
Just a quick note: pets aren’t allowed, and you can’t bring in outside food and drinks, though they’re okay with light snacks and beverages.
The resort also has a beachfront restaurant, which was perfect for meals or a chill coffee break with a sea view.
We always prefer staying in beachfront accommodations because it’s more convenient and you don’t need to cross the highway just to get to the beach.
They also have rooms with ocean views, but unfortunately, those were fully booked when we made our reservation. We chose a room without a view instead, but it was still a great and relaxing stay.
There are also other hotels nearby, some are beachfront, while others are just a short walk away but require crossing the highway.
What to Do in Urbiztondo La Union
Surfing in urbiztondo beach
Know as the “Surfing Capital of the North,” Urbiztondo Beach is the main spot for surfing in San Juan. Whether you’re a beginner or just want to try it for fun, this is a great place to learn.
Surfing lessons cost ₱600 per hour, and that already includes the surfboard and an instructor. There are many surf schools along the beach, so it’s easy to find one.
I didn’t expect to enjoy surfing so much when I first tried it. At first, I just watched people riding the waves, and it looked fun and easy. I thought, “I want to try that too!”
But when I got on the board, it was really hard to stand up and keep my balance. I kept falling into the water again and again.
After many tries, I finally stood up and rode a wave and it felt amazing! I enjoyed it so much that now I want to go back and do it again.
Chill at the beach and enjoy the sunset
La Union is a great travel destination to relax, whether you want to watch surfers ride the waves in the morning, soaking up the sun, or just enjoy the salty air.
We spent our mornings taking slow walks along the shore and watching surfers in action.
It was peaceful and less crowded during that time. People who love the sunset also like to go to La Union.
La Union is also a favorite spot for sunset lovers. As the sun starts to set, everything turns golden and the beach begins to fill up with people.
Since we went on a weekend, we already expected the crowd, but the view was still worth it.
Urbiztondo, La Union Restaurants and Coffee Spots
If you’re looking for a place to eat, drink coffee, or get food, these are the best areas we discovered while travelling in Elyu.
Coast Call Kitchen & Bar
Coast Call Kitchen & Bar is an in-house restaurant of San Juan Surf Resort. They served good breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and coffee. What I loved most was the boneless daing na bangus that I had for breakfast.
We also tried their coffee, and it’s good. For me, this is a great spot while enjoying the beach view.
Seabuds
Seabuds is a small beachfront café within San Juan Surf Resort. It’s a perfect spot to relax, whether you’re staying at the resort or just strolling by the shore.
We ordered one of their smoothies, and it was super refreshing, cool, fruity, and just what we needed after a day under the sun. Sipping it while looking out at the sea and feeling the breeze made the moment extra relaxing.
The café is perfect for taking a break and enjoying the beach view.
Tagpuan
Tagpuan served Filipino rice bowls topped with bagnet, adobo, and tapa. We tried their bagnet and adobo rice bowl. The bagnet was crispy and it was delicious.
Kabsat
We had our lunch at Kabsat and tried their Sinigang na Baka and Wagyu Beef Sisig.
Kabsat restaurant is a popular destination in La Union. This is located near the beach in Urbiztondo.
Since it was the weekend, the restaurant was crowded and had a long line, but we were able to have lunch. It was good and we really enjoyed the scenic beachfront view.
Billies Coffee & Kitchen
Billies Coffee & Kitchen is a must-visit restaurant that I want to return to once I visit Elyu again. It’s just a short walk from the main highway.
The café is situated within the Shorebreak Hostel. It is a pet-friendly cafe. I really loved their LAX latte and combo pancake. It’s delicious, and the pancake is soft. I will go back here soon.
El Union
We heard El Union is a must-try coffee shop. It was around 8 a.m. when we got there, but there was already a long line of people. We tried their Dirty Horchata and Dirty White.
The horchata was good but I was not able to enjoy the Dirty White coffee. I wish I had ordered a different coffee on their menu.
Till next time, La Union! I want to go back and surf again! We will visit other places and try new restaurants and coffee on our next visit.
