La Union
La Union in 3 days: a realistic itinerary
Photo: Psalm91st, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Three days in La Union is a realistic first surf trip: one day to arrive and settle into San Juan, two full days to actually spend time in the water or just on the beach.
The split
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | Base | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | San Juan | Arrive by bus, settle in, walk Urbiztondo Beach, book a lesson for Day 2 |
| Day 2 | San Juan | Surf lesson or board rental, beach time, San Juan’s cafes |
| Day 3 | San Juan | A second session or a rest day on the beach, before heading back |
This is a planning split, not a fixed schedule, built from the separate route and activity research on this site, last checked 12 October 2026.
How the route connects
- ManilaPasay or Cubao terminalPartas bus · 6–7 hr
- San JuanUrbiztondo Beach, base for all three days
Time is from how to get to La Union from Manila.
Day 1: arrive and settle in
Partas from Manila takes roughly 6-7 hours to San Juan, full fare breakdown in how to get to La Union from Manila. Arriving on the day bus leaves the afternoon free to walk Urbiztondo Beach and book a lesson at one of the surf schools for the next morning; arriving on the overnight bus means you can start Day 2 straight away.
Day 2: surf lessons and the beach
The main day for most visitors: a lesson with an instructor, or a board rental if you’ve surfed before. Full current rates in surf lessons in La Union. The rest of the day is the beach itself, San Juan’s cafes and bars sit along the same stretch.
Not every surf school on Urbiztondo Beach runs the same lesson the same way. San Juan Surf Resort, the rates this page links to, prices a lesson and a board separately by the hour. Sebay Surf School instead sells one all-in lesson price covering the board and instructor together, and Kahuna/La Union Surf School sells lessons as fixed packages (a 1.5-hour “Surfing 101” or a full-day session) rather than by the hour. If you book at a school other than San Juan Surf Resort, confirm what’s included before you pay, the three aren’t set up the same way. See surf lessons in La Union for the full comparison.
Day 3: a second session, or rest
A second lesson to build on Day 2, or a quieter day on the beach and around San Juan’s cafes, depending on how your body feels after a first day of paddling.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Where to stay in La Union compares San Juan, Bauang and San Fernando, San Juan’s Urbiztondo Beach is the base for this itinerary.
Before you book
This split assumes you book lessons a day ahead through a surf school directly on the beach, which is the norm outside peak weekends. For help fitting La Union into a wider Northern Luzon route, talk to Robert.
Questions people ask
Is 3 days enough for La Union?
Yes, for a first surf trip: a day to arrive and settle in, and two full days to take lessons or just spend time on Urbiztondo Beach.
What shouldn't I skip in 3 days in La Union?
A surf lesson if you haven't tried before, San Juan's surf schools are set up for exactly this, see surf lessons in La Union for current rates.
Where should I base myself for this itinerary?
San Juan, specifically along Urbiztondo Beach, within walking distance of the surf schools, hostels and beach cafes, see where to stay in La Union.
How do I get to La Union to start this itinerary?
Partas bus from Manila, roughly 6-7 hours to San Juan, see how to get to La Union from Manila for schedules and fares.
Do I need to be an experienced surfer for this itinerary?
No, San Juan's beach is beginner-friendly and most of the surf schools are set up for first-timers, with an instructor included in the lesson price.
When is the best time for this itinerary?
Roughly October to March, La Union's main surf season, when the swell is most consistent, see where to stay in La Union for more on timing.
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