Bolinao’s Prime Destination

By ANA VALENZUELA
Published MOD March 2011

BOLINAO, the farthest town in Pangasinan, boasts of one of the country’s premiere resort destinations: Puerto del Sol.
A four to five-hour drive away from Manila, Puerto del Sol is one of the town’s premiere resort destinations for foreigners and out-of-towners.






“Our guests are 50% foreigners and 50% locals or balikbayans,” says Puerto del Sol manager Raymond Malapitan.
The place is a solitary hideaway. A secret garden. Here, you would find yourself walking to and from your room and the pool to admire the resort’s garden flowers and the majestic view of the beach.




“This is the only place where we have a natural breakwater,” says Malapitan. “It is 250 to 300 meters away from the shoreline. So it is not dangerous for guests, especially the kids, to enjoy the activities by the sea because you can be sure, even at high tide, that the area is safe. It is a natural pool, where you are secure.”

Puerto del Sol is not just a place to relax but a place for adventure. “The resort offers activities outside the breakwater because of the water’s ‘biglaang lalim.’ If you are fond of diving and surfing, you can do it there outside the breakwater,” Malapitan recommends.
The resort also offers adventure trips around the island as well as tours around Bolinao and Hundred Islands with a Department of Tourism-accredited tour guide.

“Here on the other side of the road, leading to the mountains, we have the Tara Falls and the Bolinao Falls,” says Malapitan. “If you go farther, there is a natural cave that is big enough to accommodate big groups. You may even take a dip at one of the natural cool springs.”