Urbiztondo Beach Travel Guide 2025 {San Juan, La Union}
- Kate Colliety
- Apr 7
- 7 min read
Urbiztondo Beach is an up and coming tourist town, buzzing with restaurants and karaoke bars, famous for being the surfing capital of Luzon. Only a bus ride from Manila, the area of San Juan public beach has become a hotspot for local tourists looking to escape the city for a long weekend.
San Juan Beach and Urbiztondo Beach are the same, a lively hub just north of San Fernando city. During the winter months, the La Union surfing season peaks, bringing consistent waves perfect for both beginners and intermediates. If you’re a non-surfer, then Urbiztondo Beach is still perfect for watching the sunset from one of the beachfront bars with a cocktail or redhorse in hand.
Below, we share everything you need to know before visiting Urbiztondo Beach San Juan or not, from the best months to visit, how to get there, a la union itinerary, our experience with La Union Surfing and more.
Contents
Best Time To Visit Urbiztondo Beach
The best time to visit Urbiztondo Beach is between October and March, during the peak surf season which provides consistent waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The temperatures are also at their coolest and there is little rainfall during these months. However, that also directly overlaps with the busiest tourist season for the Philippines, so depending on what type of traveller you are, might change when it’s best for you to visit.
August to mid-October is best avoided due to the possibility of typhoons ripping through the country. Other than these months, you should still have a great time visiting San Juan beach, the shoulder seasons will just bring daily showers however it will still be warm.
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How To Get To Urbiztondo Beach Pangasinan
There are three main options to get to San Juan Beach:
Public Bus
The cheapest way to get to San Juan is via bus, La Union is a popular hub that many buses connect to - from Manila, Camiling and Tarlac. The Manila to La Union bus is roughly ₽700 each and is a very popular tourist route, we recommend booking online ahead of time to make sure you have your place reserved.
Private Taxi
Alternatively, if you’re travelling as a family or a larger group, it might make more sense to just get a private taxi to San Juan Beach. These can also be reserved online ahead of time so you can agree on a price.
Rental Car
The final option is for the braver travellers who don’t mind driving the crazy Asian roads, a rental car is a great way to get around as it gives you the flexibility to stop and see the sights as you choose. If you’re travelling as a family this might be a good way to get around in your own time, but make sure you have some experience driving in Asia first!
Suggested La Union Itinerary
The area of La Union is actually quite large, being home to San Fernando which is a bustling city, as well as the surf Town of San Juan/Urbiztondo Beach and the inland hub of San Gabriel. There’s plenty to see and do, so we recommend a minimum of 2 full days, to give you a chance to see the area, nevertheless here are some suggested itineraries:
La Union Itinerary 1 day
If you only have one day to spend in La Union, we recommend visiting San Juan Beach. Relax, go for a swim, maybe get a surf lesson, enjoy a coffee and eat great food from one of the many restaurants after watching the sunset in one of the beachfront bars. 1 day isn’t really long enough to see much more, but you’ll still enjoy your day at Urbiztondo Beach.
La Union Itinerary 2 days
We think realistically, you need at least two days to explore La Union in full. The first day could be spent relaxing at Urbiztondo Beach and surfing if you’re in season. While we recommend visiting Tangadan Falls on the second day, a two-tier waterfall sits between huge boulders and beautiful limestone cliffs, surrounded by lush jungle. It’s really one not to miss on your La Union Itinerary.
3 days (3d2n) La Union Itinerary
If you have an extra day or two, other than the two essential activities of Tangadan Falls and Urbiztondo Beach, you could spend your extra days exploring the Gapuz Grape Farm, temples or surrounding beaches, whatever suits your interests. We wouldn’t really recommend San Fernando city as it was super chaotic when we drove through.
If you’re travelling through Luzon, we highly recommend combining a Baguio and La Union Itinerary, stopping over here while making your way north. We also loved visiting Sagada’s Hanging Coffins!
Top Things To Do La Union
La Union is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, with its vast beaches, rich culture and plenty of things to do we can see why people come here. The La Union surfing hotspot, Urbiztondo Beach, has vibrant bars and restaurants, it's the perfect place to come and relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Some of the best things to do in the La Union area:
Sunset Drinks on Urbiztondo Beach
Surfing Lessons
Pottery Workshop
Visit the churches of La Union
We recommend staying as close to San Juan Beach as you can, as that’s where all the best bars and restaurants are located, meaning you’ll have a choice of where to go after relaxing on the beach.
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Just outside of the Urbiztondo Beach area is San Gabriel, another district inside of La Union and home to the amazing Tangadan Falls. We did a day trip from San Juan’s beach to the falls and it was well worth it, there are multiple options to get to Tangadan Falls: via trekking through the jungle with river crossing and cliff jumping spots or via hundreds of steps down - well worth it in our opinion.
San Juan La Union Surfing
San Juan Beach is also famous for its surfing, and Urbiztondo Beach is La Union’s surfing capital. Being the closest surf spot from Manila, it can get busy with city people looking to escape for the weekends. During the winter months, the surf here is perfect for both beginners and intermediate level surfers. So grab a board and enjoy the waves!
Just north of the main city of San Fernando is San Juan, the best area to stay in La Union for surfers and backpackers. You can find popular hostels here that encourage socialising and surfing. The surfing season runs from October to March but even without the surf, this town is a great place to come and relax.
Best For Families: Awesome Hotel (Family Resort)
Best For Solo Travellers: Flotsam and Jetsam (Affordable Beachfront)
Best For Couples: Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa (Luxury Accommodation)
Best For Backpackers: The Circle Hostel (Budget Hostel)
Best Beachfront Resort: Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
Best Places To Eat In San Juan, La Union
El Union Coffee - If you're looking for a great coffee or breakfast in the Urbiztondo Beach area then El Union Coffee is the place to head. They serve cold brews, horchata and s'mores.
Kabsat La Union - If you want local Filipino food, Kabsat serves hearty regional food, plus you can grab a cocktail here while enjoying the sunset.
Beach Bum Food Park - A collection of food stalls including Filipino, sea food and western dishes with a good atmosphere, a great place to try a variety of dishes.
Average Costs
Overall, we think La Union is a cheaper tourist area compared to Palawan and is a much cheaper destination to learn to surf than Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines. Due to the influx of local tourists, because it’s so easy to get to from Manila and Clark, the prices haven’t risen as much as the more well known tourist destinations that attract mostly international tourists.
This makes San Juan Beach a great stop for backpackers, and we suggest adding it to your Philippines Itinerary along with Baguio, Sagada and Banaue - La Union will be a surf town stopover on your way north of Luzon.
Average Philippines Backpacking Costs:
Bottle of beer: £1-3
Hostel Bed in a Dorm Room: £5-15
Private Hotel Room (for one or two people): £10-25
Trike Ride: £0.2-5
Jeepney Ride: £0.5-2
Western Restaurant Food: £5-15
Local Restaurant Food: £1-5
Street Food: £0.5-2
US Dollars
Euros
Urbiztondo Beach San Juan Travel Tips
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for The Philippines
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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