Surf Town Of The North

San Juan is a coastal town in La Union, and one of the more famous surfing areas in the Philippines. I stopped here for a couple of nights on a road trip up to Vigan and Pagudpud, driving up on a Friday and heading back to Manila on the Sunday. It is about 300 kilometres from Manila, which is a five to six hour drive depending on what time you leave.

The Beach

I was there on Independence Day, so it was a holiday and plenty of people were out practising their surfing. The sand is fairly fine. It is not the whitest sand you will ever see, but it is clean enough, and the breaks are good and consistent, with sets of waves rolling in all day. There is plenty of surfboard hire and there are surf instructors everywhere if you want to learn. Behind the beach there are some really nice places, a lot of them Airbnb type stays, and a couple of resorts a bit further along.

Finding Some Space

One side of the beach is rocky, with some good rock formations and surfers working the waves, but most of the action is on the main stretch. Walk down to the other end and it is a different story. The beach is open, clean and tidy, and far less crowded. In a lot of ways it reminds me of Duli Beach in El Nido. There is also a lovely old house down that end that works as a health retreat, so if you want a massage or a spa day, it is a good spot.

Dezza’s Tip

Skip the busiest part of the beach and walk down to the quieter end. It is more peaceful and a lot more enjoyable. Leave Manila on a Friday, stay two nights and drive back on the Sunday, and it works as a weekend trip.

Where Is San Juan, La Union?