La Union is a province in the Philippines located at the Ilocos Region in Luzon. San Fernando City is the capital and bordered by Ilocos Sur to the North, Benguet to the east and Pangasinan to the South. The west is bounded by South China Sea.
La Union got its name when the southern towns were formed in 1850. La Union is a Spanish collective word for “The Union” or “The Unity”. The merged towns are Ilocos Sur province, the northern towns of Pangasinan and the western towns of Benguet.
2D/1N experienceLa Union Surfing Budget Package
(Surfing Lessons)
3D/2N experienceLa Union Surfing Budget Package
(Surfing Lessons)
experienceLa Union Surf Expeditions
(Surfing Expedition with roundtrip transfers from Manila)
Contents:
La Union, also known as the surfing capital of the north, has year-round waves for those who love this kind of sport. This coastal province has a series of beach breaks for beginners and occasional challenging point breaks for skilled surfers. It is the closest spot from Manila, just a few hours drive and has a pleasant atmosphere even for beach combing. Surfs in La Union have a standard line up of 100m from shore. Waves start at 1-m and can swell up to 4-6ft. Waves can close out after a strong typhoon.
The season which has two parts, quite unique for the Philippines, spans from July to October, waves are not nearly as consistent and from November to February, this is when the waves are bigger and more consistent due to the typhoon season providing bigger waves.
The surf is great for both novice and experienced riders alike, a good range of sites ensures this.
This site is located out of the bay and would have to be the most consistent break around. You can always be guaranteed a right hander when all else is failing.
You can often see the waves breaking off the point onto the rocks, not the easiest to get to, in fact I’m not sure if you are allowed to travel in that area, maybe someone in the know can drop me a line.
Nice easy waves off the Monaliza Resort, by far the most popular surfing spot in La Union. Produces both lefts and rights, so it keeps both naturals and goofy’s happy.
The wave works both right and left with the left being the longer ride over a sand bottom.
There are numerous other spots littered up and down the coast from San Fernando. Waves can be caught on the coast from Tabok, Bacnotan, Cabaroan and also south of San Fernando off the airport and depending on time of year right down to Bauang.
Various bus transports depart from Manila to La Union every hour. San Fernando City is 273 km away which is about 5 hours drive by land if you’re not so much in a hurry or you can take a 30 minute ride by air.
There are lots of places to go for a tour in La Union if you’re not into surfing or just want to stroll around. We listed the destinations below which you can include to your itinerary:
- Poro Point Special Economic and Freeport Zone
- Thunderbird Resort Hotel and Fiesta Casino & Golf Course
- Guinabang Falls – Bacnotan
- Pebble Beach with Baluarte – Luna
- St. Catherine Parish – Luna (Our Lady of Namacpacan)
- Ukkalong Falls – Luna
- Coconut Garden – Balaoan
- Centennial Tree – Bacnotan
- Guinabang Falls – Bacnotan
- Board Walk – Poro Point San Fernando City
- Fiesta Casino – San Fernando City
- Botanical & Zoological Garden – San Fernando City
- Provincial Capitol – San Fernando City
- Amburayan River – Sudipen
- Hidden Valley – San Gabriel
- Lon – oy Spring – San Gabriel
- Bakes Swimming Pool – Santol
- Bagulin Forest – Bagulin
- La Unions Highest Peak – Bagulin
- Tuddingan Falls – Bagulin
- Bolikewkew Rice Terraces – Burgos
- Imelda Lake – Burgos
- Tapuakan River – Pugo
- Eco Park – Santol
- Basilica Minore – Agoo
2D/1N experienceLa Union Surfing Adventure Package
2D/1N experienceLa Union Surfing Budget Package
3D/2N experienceLa Union Surfing Adventure Package
3D/2N experienceLa Union Surfing Budget Package
experienceLa Union Surf Expeditions
