5. Try Balungao Adventure Park’s back to back 1.4km and 650m zipline!
Tucked at the foot of Mt. Balungao, Balungao Adventure Park is an effort of the local government to attract tourists and create a sustainable job for its residents. They wanted to preserve nature and instead of focusing on industrialization, they decided to chose to invest in tourism, providing both a sustainable job for their residents, while preserving the beauty of their town.
Although rather small compared to other adventure parks, the administration continues to exert efforts on providing the best services to guests and tourists alike. They currently offer ATV rides, hot springs, and two zip lines that are some of the longest available in the country. For an affordable rate of Php850, you can already experience the 1.4km and 650m zip line, plus a 15-minute ATV ride!
4. Stay at Punta Riviera Resort where the sea meets the river.
Ever imagined how it feels to see where the river and the sea converge? Well, imagine no more as Punta Riviera offers top-of-the-line accommodations with a splendid view of the sea and the river. Whether it be kayaking through the 4 kilometer beauty of Ilog Malinao or plunging through the crystal clear waters of the sea, there’s no reason why you cannot enjoy yourself in this one-of-a-kind resort in Pangasinan. Bonus: Visit the Patar Beach and the Bolinao Lighthouse, too, which are just a couple of minutes away from the resort!
3. Experience power kiting with Power Kite Pangasinan.
Just a stone’s throw away from the Lingayen Capitol is their beautiful beach. Perfect for outdoor recreational activities and sunset watching, Lingayen’s beach is also home to one of the most interesting activities that we’ve seen: power kiting.
As the name suggests, power kiting is an activity that involves gigantic kites that you can control to be able to cruise by land or by sea. Although there is no chance for you to ride the board on your first try, power kiting is an equally challenging and fun activity to do. For only Php100, you can learn how to properly handle a kite and its basic navigations, and how to control its direction once your on board. It’s also an interesting way to work out your triceps and biceps while on vacation.
2. Cruise through Balingasay River.
Located in Bolinao, Pangasinan, the Balingasay River is one of the cleanest bodies of water in the country. Reminiscent of Bohol’s Loboc River Cruise, you no longer need to fly out just to try dining on a raft while enjoying the scenic view as you go along. Surrounded by lush green trees, Balingasay River Cruise is definitely one for the books and is something that must not be missed out. You can rent one of Sungayan Grill’s floating cottages for as low as Php250 per head, inclusive of food and drinks.
1. Take the Pangasinan food crawl challenge!
Pangasinan is home to some of the most delicious dishes in the Philippines. Bring out the foodie in you by checking out restaurants and trying out the province’s finest cuisines.
One of the great places to visit are Matutina’s Gerry’s Seafood restaurant, which serves sumptuous poque-poque, buttered shrimp, pinakbet, breaded bangus with mango, and buttered talaba. Started out as a small canteen in the 70’s, Matutina’s has proven to be one of the most successful chains in the province, opening 5 different branches in Pangasinan in the succeeding years.
Another interesting place to check out is Patio Elmina. Owned by the Fernandez Family, the place does not only provide food, but is also a great location for events. It was also unbelievably instagrammable. They have a very native and homey approach to food and decors. Must try: their crispy hipon and crispy bangus sisig.
Want some more options? Why not drop by the Riverside Bugallon, a casual dining that offers authentic Pangasinan dishes on a reasonable price. We highly recommend their hito, chicken tanglad, and crispy shrimp. Heaven.
So, have we convinced you to come and join us on a tour to Pangasinan? Visit them this summer and let us know which activities you enjoyed the most! 🙂
The NLEX Lakbay Norte 5 is a media familiarization trip organized by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
