This summer, travel to Bolinao and catch a picturesque sunset in Patar beach

A summer destination

Patar beach in Bolinao, Pangasinan is a popular destination for beachgoers especially during summer. Patar beach is actually in Brgy. Patar, which is just one of several baranggays near a coastal area in Bolinao.

How to get to Patar beach

Bolinao is about a 6-hour drive from Manila. You can take the NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX network and exit to Urdaneta, Pangasinan. From there, it is a matter of looking at Google Maps or using Waze to find your way to Bolinao.

We recently went on a road trip to Patar for a much-needed break. We did not take the Manila to Bolinao route, but instead went to Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija first before going to Bolinao.

The best route going to Bolinao from Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija will take you to a network of roads traversing several towns in Tarlac province, including Tarlac City, Camiling, Gerona and San Clemente, before arriving at Mangatarem, the first town in Pangasinan that you will see.

The trip was about 5 hours. It was a smooth ride all the way because the roads from Tarlac to Pangasinan are all very well maintained. 

Patar beach accommodations

Visitors will notice that there are now numerous inns and small hotels lining up the beachfront or near the beach. This is good, because travelers now have more choices to suit their budgets when it comes to accommodations.

The summer season brings in a lot of visitors to Patar, and as expected, there was quite a crowd when we got there. Fortunately, we already booked our accommodations prior to arriving. The rooms we got were just a few meters away from the beach. 

You will have a lot of choices when it comes to accommodations. If budget is not a concern, it would be better if you stay in a pricier place, say a hotel or an inn with its own compound and access to the beach.

For the budget conscious, there are many rooms for rent near the beach. The only downside is that some rooms are all clustered or concentrated in one area. If you do not mind hearing beachgoers belt some songs in a nearby karaoke machine, then you'll be okay.

Our rooms

The rooms we got were decent, although for the price, one might expect to get a bit more. However, the complimentary nipa hut shed we used to grill our food and eat our lunch in was a nice touch. 

A picturesque sunset

The most interesting part of the trip for me was watching a picturesque sunset at Patar beach with family and friends. The sunset was made even more picturesque by a sandbar on the southern end of Patar which rises when the tide is low. The orange glow of the setting sun and the silhouette of beachgoers walking along the sandbar makes for a great sunset photo.