BASILICA MINORE OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY – AGOO

Agoo receives its fair share of visitors during Holy Week. The town is known
for its church, the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity which is hailed as one
of the most beautiful in La Union. Another feature the church is known for is the
large oil painting located behind the main entrance – the two angels in the
foreground are done in the image of Imelda Marcos (former First Lady of the
Philippines) and Mrs. Aspiras (wife of Jose Aspiras, a native of Agoo who
commissioned the painting when he was Secretary of Tourism in the 1970s).
 EAGLE OF THE NORTH – AGOO

Eagle Monument – a symbol of Agoo and one that marks the start of
Marcos Highway, the road that leads to Baguio.
 AGOO ECO PARK – AGOO

“Agoo Eco-Park” which is a part of the Agoo- Damortis Protected

Landscape and Seascape. I thought it is a newly developed area in this coastal
town of La Union.
This eco-tourism site is located at Sta. Rita West and Sta. Rita Central, in
Agoo, La Union. If you are coming from Manila, you will have to pass by the town
proper. The landmark you might want to take note is the Universal Leaf
Philippines (a tobacco company that is hard to miss along the highway going to
Ilocos). You will find a road on the left side with signage that says “Sta. Rita”. Go
straight until you pass by the Sta. Rita Elementary School, and a local chapel.
Then take that narrow, unpaved road to the left where a small guard station is
seen at the left side. In here, you have to pay Php 15.00 per person as an
environmental fee.
ARINGAY RIVER – ARINGAY
 CENTENNIAL TREE - BACNOTAN

This centennial tree is located at the heart of the school grounds. It is so

magnificent and huge I was happy I decided to see it. The tree and its leaves and
branches envelope us and give a lovely cool shade. You can sit down, and rest,
and just marvel at the magnificence of nature.
When you enter the municipality of Bacnotan, charter a tryke driver to
take you to Carcarmay Elementary school. It is about 7 kilometers from the
poblacion but the drive was quick.
 URBIZTONDO BEACH – SAN JUAN

The main beach for surfing. You will find shops for renting surfing
boards if you want to learn how to surf. Around the area, you will find
restaurants and places to stay in La Union depending on your budget and
preferences.
 TANGADAN FALLS – SAN GABRIEL

If you are coming from San Juan Beach or San Fernando La Union, you
have to ride a jeep to San Gabriel for around 20 PHP. Just mention to the
jeepney driver that you are going to Tangadan Falls and he will drop you off in
the tricycle terminal where you can get a tricycle for 50 PHP for two people.
The entrance fee for Tangadan Falls is 30 PHP. You can have a guide for 500-
600 PHP (good enough for 6-7 people and you can always join a group to share
expenses) and they will guide you around the trek for 50-60 minutes to get to
Tangadan Falls.
 GRAPE FARM – BAUANG

Yes, there are a number of grape farms in La Union. One of the most
famous grape farms is in Bauang, La Union. It is called Lomboy Grape Farm,
the one believed to be the first grape farm in the Philippines. Entrance Fee is
PHP 100 and PHP 150 for grape picking. It is open from 7AM to 4PM from
Monday to Saturday and 7AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday.
 MA-CHO TEMPLE – SAN FERNANDO

This temple prides Taoist architecture overlooking the coastline of San

Fernando. Because of this, it is a perfect spot to watch the sunset and to take
pictures. Just remember to behave and dress properly because it is still a place
of worship.
 BALAY NA BATO

One of the tourist spots in La Union is Balay na Bato or Bahay na Bato,

or Noble Stone House. It was a rest house that turned into a tourist spot. Balay
na Bato is owned by a couple from Baguio and it features a lot of stone sculptures
by Vong Kim, a Korean artist. Entrance fee costs less than PHP 50.
 PEBBLE BEACH – LUNA

In Luna, La Union, locals collect pebbles from the Pebble Beach. They sort
out the pebbles and handpick the best ones so they can sell them to other
countries. They believe that the beautiful pebbles in La Union won’t run out
soon.
 BALUARTE WATCHOVER – LUNA

Baluarte Watchover is located in Pebble Beach in Luna, La Union. This is

a mix of modern and old watchover, with the view to the calm sea. If you love
taking photos, the door with padlocks is a great background!
 THUNDERBIRD RESORT – SAN FERNANDO

You can visit Thunderbird Resort in La Union for spending the whole day.
The entrance fee is 500 PHP (300 PHP consumables) for adults and 300 PHP
(300 PHP consumables) for kids.
You can enjoy of a swim, casino and walking around the property. It’s a nice
place to take pictures around. The food is delicious and you can relax with your
smoothie in the pool area. If you like taking pictures, you will feel the vibe
of Santorini with the villas and the similar white and blue colors Santorini.
 NAMACPACAN CHURCH – LUNA

This church houses the image of Our Lady of Namacpacan, a the title given
to the Virgin Mary by the natives of La Union. If you are a Catholic who loves
church/cathedral hopping, you’ll definitely want to stop by here to offer your
prayers and just enjoy the silence of the church.
 IMMUKI ISLAND – SAN JUAN

This beach has blue-green lagoons and natural pools. It’s just 30 minutes
away from San Juan Beach. Immuki is a word derived from the name sea slugs,
that can thrive only on dead corals.
 TAPUAKAN RIVER – PUGO

Tapuakan River or Tapuacan River is claimed to be the cleanest Inland

River of the northern region of the Philippines. It has crystal clear waters flowing
from the mountain top towards the river mainstream. It’s definitely a must to
visit this place. Just remember to bring your own food as there are no nearby
restaurants or stores. Also, if you are bringing kids on your trip, be careful as
the place is rocky.
 BACNOTAN BEACHES

It’s just 10 kilometers North from San Juan Beach where you will find
other beaches. Some of them are great for surfing. But if you aren’t a surfer,
there are also beaches which are more relaxing where you can just swim,
sunbathe or relax at the shore. It’s great to visit Bacnotan beaches at sunset
time!
 PORO POINT LIGHTHOUSE – SAN FERNANDO

This lighthouse was an old one, built in 1905 during American occupation
in the Philippines. It is 8 meters high and made up of concrete and it also has a
gallery but no lantern. Take note that it is not accessible by visitors because it’s
located in a military base. You can just take a photo of the lighthouse for
remembrance. However, there are rumors that they will soon develop the
lighthouse as a tourist destination. Hopefully, haha!
 SURFING - SAN JUAN

La Union is home to nearest surfing spots from Manila. Aside from good
swells, this is one of the reasons why it had become a popular destination for
avid surfers and people who want to learn the sport. Urbiztondo Beach in San
Juan is the most popular surfing spot and main tourist area. In contrast to other
beaches in the Philippines, its peak season starts in October until March when
the best waves arrive. Looking for other spots to surf? You can also find
alternative surf spots nearby including Bacnotan, Darigayos, Taboc,and Jesus
Point in Carilla.
 TaNGADAN FALLS CLIFF DIVING – SAN GABRIEL

Take a break from the surf and enjoy a dip at Tangadan Falls. This
waterfall in San Gabriel is an easy day trip from San Juan. Tangadan Falls has
a spacious plunge pool that is perfect for swimming. You can ride a bamboo raft
to the main cascade and enjoy a cool waterfalls shower massage. Nearby, you
can find two smaller waterfalls that are popular for cliff diving. One is located on
the upper level, upstream, and the other is farther downstream.
 FOOD TRIP & NIGHTLIFE – SAN JUAN

The rise of San Juan as a popular beach getaway near Manila attracts a
steady crowd of Millenials. Urbiztondo had grown a bit of a hipster feel to it. Don’t
miss the Instagram and tummy-worthy food scene. Then, cap the night off with
drinks at many beach and roadside bars. My personal favorite places to
eat/drink are Olas Banditos (Mexican), Mad Monkeys (Burgers), Surf Shack
(Restobar) and Tagpuan (Affordable meals).
 HALO HALO DE ILOKO – SAN FERNANDP

The food scene is exciting as well in San Fernando, the capital city of La
Union. Getting there only takes 20 minutes, it’s a shame if you miss it. The most
popular place to eat here is Halo Halo de Iloko, located along Zandueta Street.
They sell Halo Halo with a tasty twist. Try the Buko Halo Halo, Ginataan nga
Halo Halo or Deep Fried Halo Halo. They also serve delicious Ilokano-fusion
dishes. You might have to queue a bit before getting a table since the restaurant
is almost always full. The wait is worth it.
 BAHAY NA BATO – LUNA

From San Juan, head north to the town of Luna and check out Bahay Na
Bato, the newest tourist attraction in the province. Built from stones found along
Luna’s rare pebbled beaches, the rest house sits on a peaceful property owned
by Dr. Edison and Dr. Purita Chan-Noble. In the interiors and around the
grounds, you can find many interesting stone and wooden sculptures made by
Korean artist, Bong Kim. The artistic feel of the place reminded me a lot of
the Black Houses in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
From San Juan, ride a jeep bound for Luna (PHP30 fare per person). Drop off at
the town proper. Then, ride a tricycle to Bahay Na Bato in Brgy. Nalvo Norte
(PHP50 fare per tricycle). Total travel time is around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
 LUNA PEBBLE BEACH

On the beachfront of Bahay Na Bato, you can find the most beautiful
pebble beach that remains in Luna. This section of the coastline is surrounded
by vibrant blue waters and strong sea waves. The town is known as the Pebble
Capital of the North because of its many pebbled beaches and big stone-picking
industry.
 LUNA CHURCH AND BALUARTE – LUNA

Visit some of Luna’s remaining heritage sites. The St. Catherine of

Alexandria Parish, also called The Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan or
Namacpacan Church, stands beside the town plaza. This Spanish-colonial
church was built in 1690. It is one of the grandest churches in the province. It
is listed as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of
the Philippines. A few hundred meters away, the Luna Baluarte or Watchtower
stands along a pebbled beach. The watchtower served as a fortress that was used
by Spanish colonizers to warn residents of pirate attacks.
During my visit, I, and travel buddy Gael discovered that the Luna
Watchtower had been beautifully restored. The structure was fully intact and
repaired from its ruined state after it got destroyed by a strong typhoon in 2015.
Unfortunately, the once beautiful pebbled beach in this area had been over-
mined by stone pickers. From the photos we had seen online, the pebbles used
to cover the whole beachfront up to the waterline. Today, only patches of big
stones remain. It’s a shame because pebbled beaches are quite rare, formed by
nature for millions of years. Now it is long gone.
 SOLARENA – CABA

First established as a family getaway, sol arena is a seaside beach resort

located in the province of caba, la union.
Wake up to the relaxing sound of crashing waves and feel right at home in
our spacious seaside cabanas and garden villas.
During the day, enjoy the relaxing view of sun, sand and sea while having
a delicious meal at our beachfront restaurant, casa mana.
 TEKDAG-ASO FALLS - BACNOTAN

Experience the thrill of hiking in this highland barangay of Bacnotan 440

meters above sea level. Three waterfalls—Zim-sim-ug Twin Falls, Padtok Falls,
and Tekdag Aso Falls—will greet trekkers along the way, before finally reaching
the peak which gives a fantastic view of the lowlands and the West Philippine
Sea.
 ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH CHURCH

St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church is an old Catholic Church built
in 1868. It was then called San Miguel then later Vagnotan, when it was
established as an Augustinian mission in 1583. The church was damaged during
the earthwake and was restorated between 1870-1887.
 MILITARY SHRINE AND PARK

This camp located along Darigayos cove in Luna is the general

headquarters of the USAFIP, NL, which reserved as a military Shrine and Park
by virtue of Proclamation 590 signed by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos on June 1, 1995.
 BOLIKEWKEW TERRACES

Located at Delles, the majestic sight of rice fields depicts the town’s main
livelihood which is farming. It has an area of approximately 1 hectare. It is best
visited during the months of October to December when the rice grains have
turned to gold.