I have been to Patar beach twice, and I can say that, it never failed to take my breath away each time I visit. I wouldn't say it is close to Boracay but I am sure it is equally breathtaking. I am not considering it the Boracay of Luzon because the two beaches got different target tourism markets. If you are into night life, experiencing asian culture, classy vacation- then go visit Bora. On the other hand, if you would like to experience nature, authentic Filipino culture, economical tours..... Patar beach is the best place to visit.
Patar is 272 km away from Manila which means, if you think that you couldn't stand travelling farther than Bagiuo then, I wouldn't recommend you this place. It would be a shame though. The aesthetic features of the beach is all worth it.
I prefer taking public transpos whenever i travel. I find more adventure on it rather than sitting down during the whole trip. Victory Liner and Five Star are the only PUB that have trips to Bolinao, but you have an option to take the Alaminos route and from there, you can take the mini bus or jeepneys going to Bolinao, which will only cost you not more than (50 PhP). From the Bolinao terminal, there are several tricycles that will take you to Patar (250 Php for the tricycle max of 5 pax). The way to Patar is approximately 30 minutes.
Here is the breakdown of the one way transportation cost to Bolinao:
PUB- 350 PhP (Ordinary Bus MNL-Bolinao or MNL-Alaminos-Bolinao via jeepney)
Tricycle 50 PhP (min of 5 pax)
Total: 400 PhP
Going to Patar is a piece of cake. You can travel safely alone but it would be more costly because you have to shoulder the tricycle to Patar all by yourself.
On your way to the Beach proper, you'll pass along many pathways to Bolinao caves, the famous Patar lighthouse and several resorts. The Patar Beach is at the very end of the road. Take note, there is no entrance fee at the beach and you dont have to worry about staying overnight because the beach has several Nipa huts that you can rent for only 1300-3000 Php. The one for 1300 is good for 7 pax, interesting huh? the good part is, the Nipa huts are just right infront of the beach. Some are air conditioned, some are not. The thing is... it is pretty cold at night, and there are no mosquitos like those in Nagsasa, Zambales, so it is pretty cool and comfy you dont need your hut to be enclosed.
You dont even have to worry about bringing utensils. On our trip we just brought our personal belongings. We just borrowed the rest from the cottage owner. As for the food, we bought them all in Alaminos market, all fresh.
The Pangasinenses are all good natured folks. They are very helpful and honest. They are very kind and warm. You would truly feel the Filipino Hospitality. They can easily tell if you are from Manila. I felt like a celebrity each time I go there, so believe me when I say, i really enjoyed staying at Patar.
The first time I visited there during summer, the children gathered around me. They can talk tagalog but their main language is Ilocano. They are just nice and friendly. The Bolinao locals are truly one of the assets. The only thing you have to be cautious about is when they give you a price, it is fixed and final. They dont bargain. In all fairness to them, their products are at reasonal prices.
If you go to Patar, never miss going to the lighthouse. They say alot of films were taken there. No one is allowed to go inside the lighthouse, so most likely it is still functioning.
At the hill, where the lighthouse is located, you can actually have an overhead view of the beach, -utterly breathtaking.
There are several caves in Patar. Each has an entrance fee (50-100 PhP). Just a warning though,-never go there by foot and without a guide. Some land owners have huge dogs. One time when we got lost ,(we were riding a tric) we were attacked by 6 dogs because we took the wrong route. That was pretty scary.
The sea at the beach is actually part of South China Sea. The water is unpoiled and genuinely salty unlike the one in Boracay (which made me feel like it is a massive swimming pool). Foreigners do scuba diving at the beach (even at night). During summer, the sand is abit creamy like almost close to beige. During mid year, the sand is a little bit pale. You can surf too, preferrably during high tide.
Summer:
Late July:
The rock formations are also the must-see things in Patar. The place is just photogenic, perfect for prenups etc.
The beach also has souvenir shops. They sell shirts, dresses, products made from shells and more.
What I just noticed is that most of the products (especially in bayan Bolinao) they sell are from Manila. They sell mostly stuff that you can see in Divisoria. I have asked one of the vendors, where did they get the summer dresses. She told me that they create the designs but they are all made in Manila.
Bolinao, as compared to other parts of the region, isn't that urbanized yet. with all these observation i made, I would like to make suggestions to the LGU of Bolinao.
* Focus on the sustainability of the tourism Industry of Bolinao
*Give emphasis on the authentic products of Bolinao. For example, create a huge market where all Bolinao Products can be found
* Support for the locals of Patar, Bolinao. Livelihood programs, scholarship for the children etc.
* Raise larger funds for the maintenance of Patar beach.
Well, this is not to criticise the government of pangasinan. This is merely a suggestion. We dont want Patar to experience what Boracay had few years back in regards to water contamination etc. Besides, one of the best marketing features of Patar is its cultural experience with the locals. I would strongly suggest for the government to provide more support for them.
That's all about it. I know this blog is pretty long but I hope this helps. I'll see you next time.
**Photographs by Emilio Asuro
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