If you have been searching for a weekend getaway near Metro Manila, adding Pangasinan to your top list of options is highly recommended! Pangasinan is one of the top five (5) largest provinces in the Philippines. It is located about 160 kilometers north of Manila and is just a two- to three-hour drive away, hence, it has become one of the go-to places for quick vacations. It is lined with a collection of coastal towns that any wondering traveler would enjoy exploring. Most travelers associate Pangasinan with the activities around the magnificent Hundred Islands of Alaminos or Patar Beach in Bolinao. But is that really all there is to see and do in this appealing province? Other than its multicultural environment and fascinating history, the province of Pangasinan offers a great deal of stunningly beautiful tourist spots, from beautiful sandy beaches to lush greenery to crystal-clear waters. Continue reading this article to know more about the activities you can do when you make a visit to Pangasinan.
Read also: Tourist Attractions to Visit in Pangasinan
Here is a rundown of the top 10 activities you have to try in Pangasinan:
1. Tour around different salt farms.
The name Pangasinan is derived from the local translation of the phrase “where salt is made.” Pangasinan is a sanctuary to the 500-hectare Pacific Salt Farms, which is the Philippines’ largest producer of salt. Since its inception in 1956, this salt farm has become an establishment in the province, providing employment to the third generation of residents. A lot of these salt farms dominate the landscape, attracting curious visitors eager to observe industrious farmers when it is time to harvest salt. Consider taking an eco-tour to know and understand everything there is to learn about harvesting and producing salt. Camba’s Salt Farm is another enticing tourist attraction to admire. It is laid out in organized, rectangular shapes like blocks upon blocks of your favorite chocolate bars. If you have a plan of watching the farmers on the physical labor of producing salt, harvest time is generally from December to May, just before the rainy season would start in this province. You can opt to ride an old motor across the farm, consider taking a picture with a salt mountain, and perhaps even try your skills at salt harvesting.
2. Fuel yourself up on local traditional dishes.
Pangasinan is known for producing some of the most delectable dishes in the Philippines. Because Pangasinan is both a coastal and agricultural province, you can presume a variety of delicious seafood dishes as well as those made with fresh farm recipes. Dried fish, Pigar-Pigar (a stir-fried beef dish), Bangus (milkfish) from Dagupan, any food with bagoong (fish paste), and Longganisa (sausage) from Alaminos and Binalonan are just some of the dishes you need to try! Ciudad Elmina Fishing Village, one of the province’s most notable restaurants, provides a pleasant, splendid experience for guests. This al fresco and laid-back restaurant provide flavorful accurate provincial dishes surrounded by innumerable tranquil fish ponds. Every one of the local seafood plates should be your top choice. Make sure to have a big appetite if you go here because the servings are tremendous. Furthermore, do not miss out on tasting Pangasinan’s famous mighty egg! Pacific Salt Farm’s Mighty Egg is one of its standout products. These duck eggs, which only produce 3,000 mighty eggs per year, are immersed and cooked slowly for four days in the farm’s own exclusive salt lake. This one has a unique flavor, brimming with varieties from the whites all the way to the yolks. Pacific Salt Farm’s Mighty Egg is said to encapsulate the soul of the earth, offering an additional burst of energy to those who consume it. Food lovers are encouraged to review restaurants and take a bite of the best cuisines around the province of Pangasinan.
3. Explore the Hundred Islands by island-hopping.
Mainly composed of around 124 islands and islets, this is reduced to123 during high tide, the Hundred Islands National Park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Pangasinan. The National Park’s starting point is at Lucap wharf in Alaminos. This Tourism Information Center is designed as a port and entry point for boats bound for the islands, which are anchored near the Wharf. Island hopping is priced around P1,000 and P4,500, determined by the size and characteristics of the boat you will rest, as well as the duration of your stay.
Read also: Affordable House and Lot: What Is It Like To Live Near The Hundred Islands, Pangasinan?
4. Go ziplining across different islands.
Aside from island hopping, you may also opt to try ziplining. Once you try zipping from one isle to another across the clear blue waters, you’ll get an incredible view of the hundreds of islands. To experience this activity, you must first go up 250 steps to the Governors Island view deck. Once you get to the deck, you will be strapped into a harness and helmet before being fastened on the 546-meter-long cable that connects Governors Island to the Virgin Islands. Once you get to the other island through zipping, you must return to the main island by taking a walk across a sandbar that connects the two islands. If somehow the tide is too high, you can opt to rent a boat ride back.
5. Take a swim around different caves.
Enchanted Cave, which includes a natural spring pool where local residents want to swim, is among the most widely known and easy-to-reach caves in Bolinao. However, please be careful because the rocks in the pool are sharp. It would be ideal for you to wear a sandal with straps to avoid your skin from tears. The Nalsoc Cave, formerly an uncharted cavern in Barangay Colayo in Bani, Pangasinan, is a 4-kilometer-long cave with dazzling pools and waterfalls hidden within its hollows, along with enchanting white stone terraces, distinctive stalactites and stalagmites, and near infinite hidden chambers. A subterranean river runs through the cave and flows down into the West Philippine Sea. The depth of its waters is deep enough for experienced spelunkers to swim in. Cacupangan Cave in Mabini, Pangasinan, offers a somewhat more intense caving getaway. The waters of this river flow into the Balincaguing River. In recent news, the local government unit (LGU) of this municipality and involved government agencies are planning to open portions of the Angel Cave to tourists while they work to change its categorization. The Angel Cave is known for its angel-wing rock formation and majestic falls. Located in the municipality of Centro Toma, the Angel Cave is a 1.6-kilometer-long underground cave.
6. Attempt to go cliff-jumping.
Cliff-jumping, also known as cliff-diving, is the act of attempting to jump from a launch pad or cliff to a large body of water below. In most cases, no complicated equipment or preparation is necessary. Whereas intense cliff jumpers frequently plunge from absurd levels, some locations in the Philippines are relatively low in consideration of those doing it the first time. The Hundred Islands’ Marcos Island is an excellent location to give cliff diving a try for the first time. A relatively brief winding rock pathway takes you to Imelda Cave, at which a natural cave pit connects to a pool below. You can try jumping from a variety of heights ranging from around twelve to twenty feet. You can also opt to snorkel or take a swim out from the cave and back to the beach’s shore after diving into the water.
7. Consider helmet diving.
Helmet diving, also widely recognized as reef walking, allows travelers to step on the ocean floor while wearing helmets made of glass plates. You will board a boat raft near Governors Island. After being briefed on safety regulations and understanding how to neutralize underwater, you wear appropriately the helmet and come down a ladder to the sea floor, where you can take a look at the enormous amount of tropical fish and ginormous clams.
8. Try power kiting.
Lingayen’s beach is ideal for outdoor fun activities, furthermore, it hosts one of the most intriguing activities available in Pangasinan which is power kiting. Power kiting, as the name implies, is an activity that includes controlling massive kites to sail by land or sea. Even though you will not be able to sail the board on your first attempt, power kiting is an equivalently fun and engaging activity. Through power kiting, you will have to effectively carry a kite and its navigations, as well as how regulate its direction when you are on board.
9. Have a spiritual experience.
You do not need to wait to pass away before you could go to this phenomenal place of burial. Eternal Gardens Memorial Park is a unique cemetery with a glamorous design and a selection of magnificent religious statuary and constructs. The landscape design is both stunning and gentlemanly to our lost loved ones. The said graveyard truly embodies its motto, “A glimpse of heaven on a patch of earth,” with its serene and quiet atmosphere making it an ideal place for reflective thinking and substantial meditating to fuel your spiritual needs. In addition, the Shrine of the Nuestra Señora de Manaoag, located in the center of Manaoag in Pangasinan, is one of the most widely known pilgrim spots in the Philippines. This originated from the powerful narrative of folk appropriation of the Blessed Virgin’s Image and of Catholic Christianity. The story is about a farmer on his journey home from the fields who was called (‘mantatawag’) by a stunning and magnificent woman that is believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. According to the story, the Blessed Virgin Mary asked the farmer to establish a church on the premises of the apparition. Locals of Pangasinan referred to her as “Ina” or mother.
10. Chill around the white beaches while watching the sunset.
None of these activities beats a magnificent sunset along the fine beaches in Pangasinan for capturing the soul of anything or anyone. Pangasinan is a great place to watch the sunset, with numerous beaches in Lingayen, Bolinao. Moreover, if you would like to rest on a beach in peace and quiet, Abagatanen Beach is the spot to be. Abagatanen Beach, a relatively small fishing village, provides an undisturbed scene with fine white sand and luminescent clear waters. The beach is quite often at low tide and has a lovely toned-down and soothing atmosphere. Low tide also provides a secure area for any small children with you to soak across the seawater. When you’re not relaxing on the beach with your drink of choice, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the beach and snap photographs of the beautiful scenery. It provides an enchanting setting for wonderful memories, meaningful conversations, and absolutely astounding feats.
Did you know that you do not have to wait for the weekend to enjoy all these activities as BRIA Homes has developed affordable housing in Pangasinan? Specifically, BRIA is formally advancing the construction of its development in Alaminos, Pangasinan, which is home to the popular tourist destination Hundred Islands National Park! Consider living near a group of limestone islands, where the above-mentioned activities are popular! BRIA Homes is gearing up to be an enticing residential community for both the locals and Pangasinan’s other long-term residents looking to resettle in their home province such as retirees and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as well as other home seekers seeking ease of access to the shoreline and amazing scenery. (Read more about this project here: Construction of BRIA Homes Alaminos, Pangasinan in Full Swing)
BRIA Homes primes itself on developing affordable house and lot packages and easy-on-the-pocket condominium units that cater to ordinary Filipino families who aspire to acquire their own homes. It had become the perfect choice for average Filipino workers who wanted to invest in a high-quality and affordable home.
Interested property seekers can check out BRIA Homes developments through virtual tours on the BRIA website. You may also send inquiries via the official BRIA Facebook page, or reserve a property online through the BRIA reservation page.
Written by MC Sanchez
