Philippines, La Union

Surfing San Juan! La Union's Surfing Pride

On my birthday weekend, I decided to surf and experience the South China Sea waves. The first I tried it was in Baler, and the Pacific Ocean waves.

Urbiztondo is known to be the surfing area in San Juan, La Union. Another resort I visited in the same “coast” is Flotsam and Jetsam.

Luke Landrigan's San Juan Surf School
Luke Landrigan’s San Juan Surf School

Read about our Baler surfing experience here.

San Juan Surf School was fully booked for Saturday because they were hosting the Billabong All-Girls Surfing Competition (Friday and Saturday) that’s why I had to spend the night in Baguio, which wasn’t too bad for a second choice.

This resort / surf camp is owned and managed by Aussie-Fil world-renowned surfer and endorser Luke Landrigan.

San Juan Surf School (La Union) Signage
San Juan Surf School (La Union) Signage

From Baguio, it took me about 2.5 hours to get to San Juan, via a regular air-conditioned Partas bus heading to Vigan.

I booked the deluxe room which is really cheap for PhP2280. Standard Rooms were available at PhP1800 and fan rooms at a much lower price. For more information, visit their website at www.sanjuansurfschool.com.ph

Deluxe Room (28)
Deluxe Room

The place was not too crowded when I got there, considering that it was a Sunday.

The other side of the beach:
The other side of the beach: “Anino”
I was here! (San Juan Surf School, La Union)
I was here! (San Juan Surf School, La Union)
Panoramic Shot of San Juan Sunset:
Panoramic Shot of San Juan Sunset: “Takipsilim”

This dinner cost PhP 600. It could probably be shared among 3 people, depending on the appetite. It consisted of grilled tuna belly, pork adobo, steamed eggplant, 2 servings of rice, tomato and onion and 2 glasses of iced tea.

My Birthday Treat (meal for 2)
My Birthday Treat (meal for 2)

In the morning, when I strolled the shore, I marveled at the play of colors in the eastern sky as the sun tried to rise up behind the hill.

The violet hill, eh? The beautiful play of colors and the San Juan sunrise...
The violet hill, eh? The beautiful play of colors and the San Juan sunrise…
Panoramic Shot of The San Juan Shore at Sunrise
Panoramic Shot of The San Juan Shore at Sunrise: “Bukang Liwayway”

I had breakfast at 7am, which in hindsight, should have been done after surfing since the waves were higher at this time that when we actually surfed. They served the usual Filipino or American breakfast like tocino and scrambled egg, boneless bangus (I already had Vigan longganisa while in Baguio), etc.

Atop my surf board @San Juan Surf School
Atop my surf board @San Juan Surf School

This time I did more than just being told to stand on the board. And I will blog separately about surfing 101 for beginners and wannabe’s.

You should see, there were even dogs surfing with their humans. It was so cool. Dogs actually swam!

Luke Landrigan in his San Juan Surf School
Luke Landrigan in his San Juan Surf School

The surfing with instructor is a little bit more expensive here than in Baler. It is PhP400 per hour with instructor and PhP 200 per hour for boards only. In Baler it is PhP 350 per hour with instructor, PhP 400 for the board half a day and PhP 200 per hour for board only. But it is all worth it. You would even see Luke around his resort, or sipping a beer, or playing with his dog. On my birthday, I saw him but were too shy to ask for a photograph with him.

Luke Landrigan's San Juan Surf School from the beach
Luke Landrigan’s San Juan Surf School from the beach

The sand is gray, the and the bottom of the sea is not filled with rocks, so it’s safe to fall off the board if you’re still learning.

I started packing my things less than an hour before check out, and I did so with a heavy heart. I felt like it was too short a vacation, just 2 nights. Bitin.

Just outside the resort, buses going all the way to Cubao or Avenida would pass by in intervals. Only that it took me 7.5 hours to get to Cubao because of the many bus stops.

**Added: They will host the soul surf event on Oct 24-27, 2013**

18 thoughts on “Surfing San Juan! La Union's Surfing Pride”

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