Basking in the beauty of Bolinao

Enchanted. Wonderful. Paradise.

Tucked in the second biggest province of the country, the coastal town of Bolinao in Pangasinan contains picturesque wonders. Tourist destinations such as the Enchanted Cave, Solomon’s Paradise and the country’s second biggest lighthouse await guests on their journey of discovery.

The province of Pangasinan as a whole is known as “the land of romance and miracles”. Of course, everyone has heard of the Hundred Islands in Alaminos which is indeed a romantic getaway. And who hasn’t been to Manaoag Church for a religious visit?

But there’s a lot more to see in the province of Pangasinan. The province’s long coastline, which is composed of 14 coastal municipalities, ensures that there are a lot more places to explore in the place where salt is made.

Pangasinan is indeed one of the country’s most diverse provinces where tourists can find an abundance of marvelous landscapes and natural wonders. This local destination also boasts of religious, cultural and historical sites for the more discerning tourists.

But one of the municipalities in Pangasinan stands out for its number of affordable beaches as well as unique caves to cool off the summer heat. Located at the tip of Pangasinan is the quaint coastal town of Bolinao.

Bolinao is known for its rustic beauty and historic legacy. Rich in culture, verdant shelters with breathtaking waterfalls and mystic caves, it is definitely one of the places to explore in Pangasinan.

Among its mystic caves is the Enchanted Cave. No, there are no either mythical creatures nor fairies living inside. Instead, the cave would capture the imagination of guests once inside. There they will find an underground swimming area. The natural swimming spot is definitely a unique way of cooling down this summer. For only a little over a hundred pesos, guests can enjoy the unique ambience of swimming in the cave. But there are also two other caves in Bolinao which also offer underground swimming.

The beaches in Bolinao are also a great place to beat the summer heat. Complete with white sands and affordable cottages, Patar Beach is definitely not your ordinary public beach. There is no entrance fee going to the beach while cottage fees will not break your budget. The soft sands and cool waves on this side of Bolinao are definitely worth more than what guests will spend.

But if you want something more intimate or a better view of the ocean, there’s also Solomon’s Paradise Resort which has one of the most scenic views of Bolinao.

“Our main advantage compared to other beach resorts here in Patar Bolinao is our location. Solomon’s Paradise is just three minutes away from the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, five minutes away from Patar White Beach and a few minutes away from various fresh water caves,” said Brett Solomon, owner of Solomon’s Paradise.

He added: “In our beachfront, we have a private little cove that gives our guests all the privacy they can have. Here, they will find rock formations or fossils that have been there millions of years ago, and discover various sea creatures.”

“If guests want to explore more of Bolinao, they can also swim in the fresh waters of Bolinao falls 1 and 2. They can also have a short stop at the 400-year-old St. James (Bolinao Church), dive and watch in awe how the giant clams close and open right in front of you, and visit the UP marine institute if you don’t have diving or snorkeling gear,” shared Solomon.

Solomon, an Australian, came to the Philippines a little over four years ago and fell in love with the place. To be more precise, he fell in love with the private cove which is now available to the public as Solomon’s Paradise.

“There are a lot of reasons to go out and about in Bolinao. After all, Solomon’s Paradise and Bolinao are all about exploring nature’s beauty and enjoying it,” concludes Solomon.

[ Bolinao Wiki ]