I was invited by my officemate from Lingayen, Pangasinan to go to Bolinao, Pangasinan. I heard that Bolinao has white sand beaches, caves, old churches, and a lighthouse. I didn’t think twice when I decided to come.

We left Manila on Friday after office hours or exactly 5:00 pm. We went to SM West where our ride, a Toyota Tamaraw FX, was waiting for us. Although the FX was old, it was a very reliable means of transportation. We also brought food and other things that we needed for the trip. We arrived at Lingayen, Pangasinan at around midnight and we slept at my officemate’s house. The next day at 6 in the morning, we went to the Lingayen Market to buy food for our trip to Bolinao. To get there we have to cross the Lingayen River. The river was very wide that it looked like an ocean and the panorama around it was truly amazing. When all we needed were ready, we went straight to Bolinao.

There were many resorts in Bolinao like Puerto del Sol, Punta Riviera, and Treasures of Bolinao. We decided to stay at Treasures of Bolinao resort because of its proximity to the white sand beach, its beautiful scenery, and most of all it gave us the best discount. It was only a few days before the holy week, so there were only a few vacationers checked in.

The white beach of Bolinao is beautiful and untouched by modern technology. The water is very clear that you can see the fishes under it. (Boracay cannot match its clarity and cleanliness). This is probably because no boats or ships go past this area. So you can feel the rejuvenating power of the clear water once you dip in it. There are also rock formations carved by the endless waves that slam beside the Treasures of Bolinao Resort. Even the color of the sunset is stunning.

There are also small caves that you may want to go into. You just have to shell out a few peso (at that time, it was around P20) as entrance fee. These caves line up the dusty road of Bolinao. Then, do not forget to visit the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse.

With all the historical churches, historical landmarks and multitude of natural wonders of Bolinao, it is indeed a sanctuary for the tired soul.