I have always been the spontaneous type of traveler. Sometimes I plan months ahead, but most of the time, I simply follow my mood and see where it takes me.
Traveling without an itinerary has never bothered me. In fact, some of my favorite trips happened because I booked a one-way ticket without knowing exactly when I would leave.
That was exactly how my trip to San Juan, La Union happened.
La Union had never really been on my travel bucket list. But after learning how to surf, I became curious about the country’s surfing capital. Add the fact that any destination with the sea immediately catches my attention, and it didn’t take much convincing for me to book a bus ticket and just go.
If you’re looking for a realistic 3 days 2 nights itinerary in San Juan La Union, here’s exactly how my spontaneous solo trip unfolded.
Quick Facts About San Juan, La Union
- Province: La Union
- Main Tourist Area: Urbiztondo, San Juan
- Best Known For: Surfing, cafés, beach lifestyle
- Travel Time from Manila: 5-7 Hours
- Ideal Stay: 3 Days 2 Nights
- Best For: Solo travelers, surfers, digital nomads, weekend trips
- Mobile signal: Good
- Internet: Available in most cafés and hostels
Why Visit San Juan, La Union
San Juan is often called the surfing capital of Northern Luzon, but there is more to it than waves. It was very easy to slow down here.
San Juan offers a good mix of adventure and downtime for surfing enthusiasts, coffee lovers, digital nomads, solo travelers, or even simply for someone looking for a quick escape from Manila.
How To Go To San Juan, La Union From Manila
I was staying in Makati when I suddenly decided to visit La Union. Here’s exactly what I did:
- Went to Partas Bus Terminal in Pasay
- Purchased a Deluxe Bus ticket bound for Laoag
- Departure time: 12:30 PM
- Arrival in San Juan: around 7:30 PM
- One stopover for snacks and restroom breaks
- Dropped off at Urbiztondo 7-Eleven
- Walked approximately 3 minutes to my hostel
The entire trip was straightforward, making San Juan one of the easiest destinations to visit from Manila.
Where I Stayed in San Juan, La Union
Brokeshore Hostel
As a certified hostel girlie, staying in a hostel was an easy decision. I booked my accommodation only two hours before arriving in La Union through Airbnb. Here are the things I liked about Brokeshore Hostel:
- Located in Urbiztondo
- Around 3 minutes from the famous 7-Eleven
- Peaceful atmosphere
- Modern and clean bathrooms
- Free WiFi
- In-house kitchen serving meals
- Convenient location for surfers
A small thing to note: the bunk beds are a bit compact, so travelers who don’t like tight sleeping spaces may find them uncomfortable.
Where To Eat In La Union For First Timers
One of my favorite parts of traveling is discovering food spots along the way. These are the places I personally visited during my stay:
- Tagpuan
- Masa Bakehouse
- Kabsat
- Seabuds Café
- Lewis House
- Coco Mama
- Miryinda
- RamNam Ramen
- El Union Coffee
- Taaw Beach Club
- Billie’s Kitchen
I honestly didn’t feel the need to visit every trendy spot in San Jan, La Union. These places were enough to keep me caffeinated, well-fed, and happy throughout the trip.
Getting Around San Juan, La Union
If there was one thing that surprised me, it was the tricycle fare. Most of my rides cost around ₱150 one way.
At first, I found it expensive compared to what I was used to paying elsewhere in the Philippines. But since I was traveling solo, I was essentially paying for the entire tricycle rather than sharing the ride with other passengers.
My advice? Walk whenever possible around Urbiztondo. Most cafés, surf schools, restaurants, and accommodations are located within walking distance of each other.
La Union Land Tour
Since I had extra time, I joined a half-day tricycle land tour around La Union.
- Duration: 3 to 4 hours
- Tricycle tour rate: ₱1,000
- Shared with two other travelers
- Entrance fees not included
Spots Visited
Man-Made Forest
The scenery immediately reminded me of the Bilar Man-Made Forest in Bohol.
Namacpacan Church
A beautiful historic church that is worth a quick stop if you’re interested in heritage sites.
Baluarte Watch Tower
Entrance Fee: ₱50
Local photographers are available to help take photos. There is no fixed fee, but tipping is appreciated. I personally gave ₱100.
Bahay Na Bato
Entrance Fee: ₱50
This was one of my favorite stops because you can also visit the nearby Pebble Beach.
Bato de Luna
Originally included in the itinerary, but we skipped it because the afternoon heat was brutal.
My Actual 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary in San Juan, La Union + Expenses
Since I didn’t plan this trip at all, this itinerary ended up being a mix of surfing, café hopping, working remotely, and simply seeing where the day took me.
Travel and Arrival Day
- Bus from Pasay to San Juan, La Union – ₱708
- Arrived in Urbiztondo around 7:30 PM
- Checked in at Brokeshore Hostel
- Walked around the area to get familiar with the neighborhood
- Dinner at Tagpuan (Arroz Caldo) – ₱150–₱200
It was raining lightly when I arrived, and a hot bowl of arroz caldo felt like the perfect welcome to La Union.
Day 1: Land Tour and Sunset
- Breakfast and work session at Masa Bakehouse – ₱400–₱800
- Joined a half-day La Union Land Tour – ₱1,000
- Man-Made Forest
- Namacpacan Church
- Baluarte Watch Tower
- Bahay na Bato
- Pebble Beach
- Returned to San Juan
- Sunset and drinks at Taaw Beach Club – ₱350 consumable
- Tricycle back to hostel – ₱150
- Dinner at Kabsat – ₱500–₱1,000
Taaw Beach Club became one of my favorite places during the trip. The sunset views alone were worth the visit
Day 2: Surf, Work, and Cafe Hop
- Morning surf lesson at San Juan Surf School – ₱600
- Surf photos and videos – ₱300
- Breakfast at Seabuds Cafe – ₱100–₱500
- Back to hostel to freshen up
- Brunch and remote work at Lewis House – ₱200–₱350
- Afternoon surf session – ₱600
- Additional surf photos and videos – ₱300
- Nap at the hostel
- Dinner at Miryinda – ₱100–₱500
- Late-night snack at RamNam Ramen – ₱200–₱400
This was probably my favorite day because I got to surf twice while still having enough time to work and relax.
Day 3: One Last Surf Before Leaving
- Morning surf lesson – ₱600
- Breakfast and coffee at El Union Coffee – ₱200–₱400
- Returned to the hostel to shower and pack
- Checked out of Brokeshore Hostel
- Lunch at Billie’s Kitchen – ₱300–₱600
- Continued my trip to Bani, Pangasinan to freedive
Most travelers head back to Manila after La Union. I ended up extending the adventure and went straight to Pangasinan instead.
Tips For First-Time Solo Travelers in La Union
- Tricycle fares can feel expensive when traveling alone.
- Digital payments are widely accepted and often preferred.
- Google Maps is surprisingly reliable around San Juan.
- Join a shared tour to reduce transportation costs.
- Bring sunscreen because La Union can get extremely hot.
- Stay in Urbiztondo if surfing is your priority.
- Don’t overplan your trip. Some of the best experiences happen when you leave room for spontaneity.
If you want a 3 days 2 nights itinerary in San Juan La Union, my biggest advice is not to overcomplicate it.
The beauty of La Union isn’t found in checking attractions off a list. It’s in slow mornings at cafés, random conversations with strangers, sunset sessions by the beach, and deciding on a whim to paddle out for one more wave.
This trip wasn’t planned at all, yet it became one of the most enjoyable spontaneous trips I’ve taken recently.
Never tried surfing before? Read my guide on my first-time surfing experience in Mati and see how my surfing journey started.
Surfing in Dahican Mati: My First Time Experience and Guide
