La Union Travel Guide

Sunset, beach, and the vibe - my La Union love affair 🧡

La Union, or popularly called “Elyu”, has emerged in the spotlight among travelers with its inexplicable vibe that makes you want to keep coming back, or for some, stay for good. Probably the first thing that would pop in your mind when you hear about this place is surfing. And yes, Urbiztondo’s waves would definitely spark the inner surfer in you, which is by the way perfect even for beginners. 

Aside from this well known fact, San Juan quickly turned into a food haven.  While Bali has Seminyak for the cozy and Pinterest-y cafes and restaurants, Philippines has Elyu. Not only do they serve mouth-watering meals, cafes here put as much effort in their store interiors, with a bonus view of the beach.

So how do we get there? Where can we stay? What spots should we try? See my travel guide below!

How to Get There

From Cubao, take a bus bound for La Union and tell the conductor to drop you off at Urbiztondo Beach. If bus is up to San Fernando La Union only, take another ride either via Northbound Jeepney or Bus (e.g. Candon or Ilocos bound) and tell the driver to drop you off at Urbiztondo Beach, which is a 20-minute ride. For your quick reference, please see below bus schedules and ticket price.

Source: http://www.phbus.com/partas-bus-manila-to-la-union/

Where to Stay

Elyu has a lot of hostels and other types of accommodations which are just walking distance from the beach. Popular options for hostels are The Circle, Flotsam & Jetsam, Vessel Hostel, Charlie’s Hangar, and El Navi among others.

If you want more privacy and security, private room options are also available. Here are the three hotels I have already tried which are all walking distance to Urbiztondo Beach.

1. Costa Villa

Located at the rear of Kabsat.

Php 1,250 per night, good for 2 pax via Agoda

AC Room, Double bed with private CR.

*Inclusive of Breakfast

2. Chill’n Hotel

Located near Flotsam & Jetsam, opposite road.

Php 2,100 per night, good for 2 pax via Booking.com

AC Room, Double bed with private CR.

*Inclusive of Breakfast

3. CT Apartelle

Located along roadside. Near the Great Northwest

Php 2,000 per night, good for 2 pax. Walk-in.

AC Room, Double bed with private CR.

*Original reservation got cancelled, so we decided to search for nearby hotels.

Activities in Urbiztondo

If you are visiting for the first time, you might as well try these activities for yourself, as I did before. And heck, I would not have done it any other way.

1. Surfing

-       I hope you won’t skip this on your first visit. Whether you get to stand on the board or not, the experience is still awesome. Take it from a non-swimmer like me! Surfing instructors will guide you through out so no worries.

-        Php 500 per hour (inclusive of board rental and instructor)

2. Food Crawl

-     Eat your way out of this food paradise! I’ve listed below some of the restaurants I have visited on my various stays in La Union. There are still a lot out there to try, so I’ll probably come back! 😉

3. Sunset Watching

-       La Union showcases one of the best sunsets I’ve seen. Catch it by the beach side with your favorite drinks, play with the beach dogs of Elyu, or just simply listen to the crashing waves as the sky paints itself gold.

Must try Cafes and Restaurants

One of the reasons why I keep coming back to Elyu is because of the food crawl! I love how this place offers different food and drink options which will surely satisfy all food junkies out there! It’s safe to say that chunk of my travel budget went to my craving belly. lol Here are some of the restaurants that I have personally tried, from coffee shops to smoothie shacks, and restobars of course!

1.  El Union Coffee 

But first, coffee! Always craving for their Cold Brew Latte. Tried their grilled cheese sandwich and ricotta toast too. First café you’ll see at Great Northwest when you enter by the road side. 

2. Makai Bowls 

Located at the second floor of the Great Northwest, facing the beach front. Serving smoothie bowls, fruit shakes and more healthy options!

3. Kabsat La Union 

Perfect chill spot for sunset watching. Tried their blue marlin and bacon cheese fries, with beer of course. 😊 Better be there early so you can choose a day bed for a more comfy experience. This is a beach front resto bar which is a few steps away from Flotsam & Jetsam.

4. Seabuds La Union 

For the vegan souls. They serve smoothie bowls and healthy snacks. Really loved their minimalist interior, accentuated with native pieces like rattan chairs and lamp shades. Try taking a seat upstairs for a clearer view of Urbiztondo beach, it will not disappoint I tell you! Located inside San Juan Surf Resort.

5. Fatwave Resort

Instagram worthy restaurant serving delightful meals. Tried their combo meal with 2 pieces of burrito and 1 bottle of beer, for Php 280 only! Oh, did I mention that it’s beach front too? 😊

6. Flotsam & Jetsam

Can be a bit pricey but serving size is large, so you may want to share meals with your friends. I have tried their pasta and pizza which is a good deal. If you want to take a good shot with lesser photobombers, visit on day-time. Night life on this bar can get crowded, but those colorful lanterns are the bomb!

7. BeachBum Food Park

Budget friendly without sacrificing taste and quality! And since it’s a food park, you can have a lot of options to choose from. Tried their three cheese pizza, a bucket of beer, and porterhouse steak by Rustic Box that costs 350 Pesos only! Located just beside CT Apartelle.

8.  Papa Bear

Tried their Chicken Satay and Pork Sambal – the perfect fix for our hungry tummies! 

So there you go fellas! I hope you will enjoy La Union as much as I did! Happy travels!