"Monina's Hundr... erm... Bolinao Page" Top 5 Page for this destination Bolinao by monina_c

Bolinao Travel Guide: 71 reviews and 352 photos

An Unexpected Pleasure

When this trip to Pangasinan was in the planning stage, I thought that we will be dropping by Bolinao and then go on to Hundred Islands to island hop, swim and snorkel the whole weekend. NOPE! That didn't happen!

We spent the whole weekend in Bolinao, Pangasinan, a small town on the western-most tip of the Province. It's got the South China Sea on one side, Lingayen Gulf on the other and the Kakiputan Channel cutting across to separate Santiago Island from the mainland.

As a defense to boredom (that's what I feared) I brought along some books to while away the down time. Hehehe! I never did get a chance to finish even one chapter the whole weekend! Well, of course, it didn't hurt that we had the insider knowledge of our hosts, Aline and Allan born and bred in Bolinao, going for us, thus, very little time was wasted in organizing ourselves and getting around the town.

Ahem! A Little Bolinao History Lesson

Historic, century-old Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

From the Official Pangasinan website:

Originally, Bolinao was a settlement composed of a little over a hundred families under Captain Pedro Lombi, established in 1575 at a point called Binabalian, on the northern coast of Santiago Island. The rampant attacks and raids of Moro pirates urged Capitan Lombi to transfer the town-site to the mainland and accordingly, with the aid of Fr. Geronimo de Casro, he finally founded the town in 1596 near Libsong where a clear spring of about two meters in diameter kept lumping.

By this spring grew a "boli-bolinao" tree of the molave family with luxuriant foliage from which was derived the present name of the town. Under this tree the affairs of the town were administered while stone walls were piled nearby as corner-stone of the Roman Catholic Church which was finally completed in 1609, thirteen years after the transfer of the town site.

So much to do, so little time

bolinao collage

There was so much to do and so much to see in this small coastal town.

> Island hopping? Check!
> Swimming and Snorkelling? Check!
> Caving? Check!
> Food trip? Check! Check! Check! :D

MUST DO ON THE NEXT TRIP TO BOLINAO:

> Take a dip in the Enchanted Cave
> Balingasay River cruise
(Side note: B. R. is recognized by an international body as one of the cleanest rivers in Luzon)
> Check out the other lighthouse
> Visit the Bolinao Museum
> Watch a boat race

The best part of the whole trip was getting to know your travel companions better. We found out things that we never knew about members of the group and blew away the misconceptions we harbored about each other. I highly recommend a road trip to really get to know people that you deal with!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful
Cons:Beautiful

Last visit to Bolinao: Dec 2007
Intro Updated May 21, 2009
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Reviews (10)

Something Different in Bolinao - Bolinao

Something Different in Bolinao Restaurants (1)

Simple fare made special because it is fresh! I had a good meal in Sungayan! It was great to eat while gazing at the... more travel advice

High tide in front of Calicdan's - Bolinao

Economical Option Hotels (1)

Calicdan's is an unpretentious clean little resort with a spectacular view of Bolinao Sunrise and a stretch of creamy... more travel advice

Balingasay River "Cruise" Things to Do (5)

Balingasay River is reputed to be the cleanest river in the Region so it is really great to be able to explore a part of... more travel advice

Eat some "kudin-kudin" (aka sea urchin) Things to Do (5)

If you get a chance to visit Silaki or any of the islets in Bolinao, ask the locals if you can sample some kudin-kudin... more travel advice

Shopping (1)
Pasalubongs

Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All Visit to the UP-Marine Science Institute

Travelogues (4)

1 - 4 of 4

Comments (11)

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high_d Mar 31, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Your bday sounded like my kind of day:) I'm loving the pics on this pages...esp.the foodie ones:)) How was the sea urchin? Did you taste it?
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RobKSA Sep 27, 2009 at 12:04 AM

Thanks for the bday greets monins, regards!
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TheTravelSlut Jul 29, 2009 at 9:26 AM

Great tips and pics... :-) Ann, The TravelSlut
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dancinbudgie Jun 2, 2009 at 2:13 AM

Hi Monina! Love your opening pic here...will come back to see more! Tracey
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goutammitra Apr 17, 2008 at 1:11 AM

Excellent page and the place. Our gain!!! A smilling Monina! How far is this place from Manila?
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sakikot Jul 30, 2007 at 8:50 PM

Hello Monina! Fishpens on this page looks fun!
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nixca316 Mar 11, 2007 at 6:25 PM

sa binibini na nagbinyag sa akin ng pangalan na Nixie...ang ganda ng mga pahina mo. =) Salamat sa pagbati. Kaawaan ka ng Diyos! =)
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Dyesebel Feb 22, 2007 at 8:59 PM

Thank you so much for the beautiful epostcard;) attend ka na sa March 30;)? Kulit ko 'no?
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i-s-a Feb 22, 2007 at 6:29 PM

this is a beautiful page monina. i haven't been to bolinao and now i'll find someone to go there with me :0) would love to visit the cave.
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SLLiew Jan 24, 2007 at 7:54 PM

Love those giant clams. They are "noisy" when diving. Make me want to go there today :)