The Best of Pangasinan Attractions

As the situation improves and tourist sites slowly open up to travelers and visitors, here are some of the best that Pangasinan has to offer. 

Alaminos and the Hundred Islands National Park, has been one of the jewels in the crown of tourist destinations in Pangasinan for a few decades now. Although it had faced deterioration sometime in the 80's and 90's, this national park had undergone a massive rehabilitation program and a major facelift that almost deems it unrecognizable. See more... 

Anda is the so-called "Mother of the Hundred Islands." because of its proximity to the popular destination. However, it boasts of its own white sand beaches and even a sand bar. On low tides, the water recedes so far out that it is possible to walk in shallow water for more than a hundred meters. See more...

Conveniently located near the TPLEX and McArthur Highway, Balungao is home to Mt. Balungao, an extinct volcano that has become a popular destination for hikers and mountain climbers due to its challenging vertical assault. It is also home to a few hot springs, extreme adventure activities and a 1.4 kilometer zipline. See more...

Bani is one of the towns located at the western edge of Pangasinan facing the West Philippine Sea. It offers its own charming beaches and caves. See more...

Another tourism jewel of this province is Bolinao, hosting a myriad of attractions and activities that won't conveniently fit in one day - beautiful beaches and waterfalls, a lighthouse, caves, and even a fun river cruise. See more...

Burgos, another coastal town facing the West Philippine Sea has become well known for it's "Death Pool", a hole in a part of its rocky coastline that seems to push and suck the waters because of the surging of the waves. It also offers beautiful blue waters and beautiful sunsets. See more...

Dasol is known of its white sand beaches, amazing blue waters that get calm like a lake at certain parts of the day and Colibra island for a fun day out at sea. See more...

The capital of Pangasinan, Lingayen, especially the capitol grounds is a sight to behold, especially at night. a few hundred meters is the historical Lingayen Beach where Gen. Douglas McArthur landed as he returned to fulfill his promise. See more...

Natividad, one of the more inland towns, makes Pangasinan a province of variety and not just all about beaches. Here, you can take a short yet breathtaking trek to Maranum Falls. Another short climb will take you to its Sky Plaza that hosts a massive statue of a replica of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking the town and its neighbors. See more...

Tayug has recently come into the travel and tourism radar after its Sunflower Farm went viral on social media. See more...

Pangasinan Attractions: Hundred Islands National Park

For a province that has so much to offer, from breathtaking beaches, crave-worthy food, and historical significance, it is difficult to imagine Pangasinan without its famous Hundred Islands National Park. 

Famous in the ’70s and 80’s, destroyed by dynamite fishing and went through a slump in the ’90s and re-emerged with a major facelift and aggressive transformation in the 2000s, The Hundred Islands National Park has seen tourists coming back in droves, not just from the country but from many parts of the world.

Gone are the lousy straw huts, dirty island bathrooms and disorganized boat assignments. These have been replaced by world-class, concrete cabanas, a massively organized tourism administration, a beautiful boardwalk and tons of exciting modern activities that make it the jewel of all Pangasinan travel destinations.

Check out the awesome pictures below.

From the start, you will be greeted by a beautiful park

And a pleasant boardwalk

Where you can see boats waiting to take you to the islands

There is even a relaxing koi garden

Various activities await the adventurous traveler. Banana boat rides...

Jet skis

After a fun swim, rest in one of the solid concrete cabanas 

The various developed islands have gone a world-class facelift and makeover

It has become safe enough to pitch a tent and spend the night

Calm and pristine lagoons are waiting at every corner

While in many others white sand beaches and turqouise blue waters invite for a cool swim

Before heading home, drop by the caves for a selfie with the stalactite and stalagmite formations 

Tourists flock to Hundred Islands even during rainy days

Tourists flock to Hundred Islands even during rainy days

ALAMINOS CITY, Aug. 16 (PNA) -- Tourists continue to flock to the Hundred Islands in droves notwithstanding the rainy season.

This was disclosed by Alaminos City Administrator Wilmer Panabang who estimated the daily arrival in the province's number tourist spot to 200 and more than 1,000 during weekends.

In fact, he said, the number of tourist arrivals in the Hundred Islands improved this year as compared to last year and in 2008 and 2009 which were marked by down trend in tourism due to the effects on the industry wrought by Tyhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng".

Thus, even during the rainy season, tourists--mostly domestic, are arriving in droves, he added.

The number of foreign tourists arriving has not increased though but there was no downtrend in their number too. Most of the foreign tourists are Koreans and Japanese and a few Americans and Europeans.

Panabang said that more tourists will come to the Hundred Islands if they can cut their travel time in going to Alaminos from Manila which is five hours to only 40 minutes by means of air travel.

This can only be realized, he said, if the Pangasinan Airport, which is now undergoing construction, will soon be completed.

The project, initiated by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, has the backing of President Benigno S. Aquino III and Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas.

To date, land acquisition and earth movement are now ongoing at the proposed Pangasinan Airport using initial P200 million released by DOTC.

Panabang said of the amount, P50 million formed the first trance and the second trance amounted to P150 million. All these were used to acquire 80 hectares of land that will form part of the airport's runway of 150 hectares.

"Hopefully, the third trance of another P60 million will be released in the next few weeks, good for another 60 hectares of land to be acquired," Panabang said.

If completed, the Pangasinan airport will first serve domestic tourists and later expanded to an international airport. With a 150-hectare runway, excluding its access roads, the Pangasinan Airport will be bigger than the Laoag International Airport which is only 70 hectares.

He said a foreign investor is also keen on building an 18-hole golf course in Alaminos to complement the airport project. (PNA)

Bigger Gali-langoy Eco-Adventure Race this September

Exhilarating and amazing as it was, the Gali-Langoy Eco-Adventure Race will have its second edition not next year but this coming September.

This was promised by Mayor Hernani A. Braganza during the awarding rites of this very successful staging of this unique aqua-triathlon at Lucap Wharf here to the delight of the participants and tourists alike.

"The competition looked too easy for our athletes," said Braganza referring to the island to island swim, island to island parao and island to mainland kayak race which was covered by GMA 7 and ABS-CBN and local radio stations and print media.

“We might just as well make it more competitive and even longer to bring out the best in them,” added the city’s biggest sports fan and enthusiast. 

“Probably a 3-day event will do, a whole day swim relay, another day for parao race and one more day for kayak race from Hundred Islands to the mainland.” 

Braganza said the activity will be this September as the highlight of the celebration of the 6th anniversary of the Hundred Islands turn-over from the Philippine Tourism Authority to the city government of Alaminos.

The mayor, who personally witnessed how exciting the race was and how the eleven teams enjoyed the competition, was surprised how the local tankers finished the 1.41 kilometer swim leg in 37 minutes. 

He also disclosed that after seeing the parao race, local and foreign tourists expressed interest on renting the parao and possibly go fishing outside the marine sanctuary.

Braganza said local fishermen using parao nowadays could easily have an income of P 200 a day from an average of 4 -5 kilos of fish caught.

“If they will have it rented to our guests, they could easily earn P 200 in just an hour," he explained.

“And this will basically be another livelihood opportunity for our people aside from the kayaking industry which is now flourishing in our city. We wanted the Hundred Islands to be bigger than Burnham Park from our sister city - Baguio and ultimately be known as the kayaking capital of the country".

Team Telbang 2 which dominated the swimming competition is this year’s champion with Team Lucap 1 and Team Telbang finishing the second and third place, respectively.

Ryan Gutierez easily claimed the Lopez to Quezon swim leg and submitted a 5.52 mins., Nelson Casipit ( 23.09 mins.) ruled the Quezon to Clave Islands leg and Aldrin Gutierrez (18.85 mins) won the Clave to Children Island leg.

In parao race, Team Lucap 1 reigned supreme and the winning pairs were Ronnie Alcartado/Roger Abrocio, (18.85mins), Rey Villena/JR Donato (13.28 mins) and Joeny Navarro Jr./Dendo Villena (19.09mins).

The duo of Alcartado and Abrocio also topped the Governor Island to Lucap wharf kayak race which clocked 28.06 mins.

Top three teams in the First Gali-Langoy Eco-Adventure Race received especially designed e-kawayan trophies, medals and cash prizes amounting to  P 30, 000, P 20, 000 and P10, 000 for the first, second and third placers respectively.

Leg winners also received P 3, 000 pesos each while the top finishers in the grueling Quezon to Clave Islands and Clave to Children Island swim legs got P 5, 000 each.

Non winning teams also received a P 3,000 consolation prize.

Mayor Braganza personally handed the prizes to the race winners.Joining him during the awarding rites were Vice Mayor Cesar Manzano, city councilors Earl James Aquino and Margielou Orange Humilde, Jose Elvis Sison, Gali-langoy chairman; ACPO Chief- Col. Rollie Saltat, vice chairman; and Ernesto Sarmiento, race director.

In separate interviews with Pangasinan media and ABS-CBN North Central Luzon and GMA 7, Braganza thanked the organizers, sponsors and the participations for the successful staging of this one of a kind eco-sports adventure.

He cited that Gali-langoy is another program of our city government aimed at promoting not just the majestic beauty of the Hundred Islands National Park but also the Alaminians’ innate talent in swimming and sheer endurance in eco-adventure sports, stressed the mayor.

“This event is one of the highlights of this year’s celebration of our Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) that includes the thanks-giving mass, iguhit mo ang yaman ng hundred islands (pantalan art painting),the nightly concert at the wharf and highly anticipated fireworks display and the MOA signing on the crafting of short courses in our city,” he said.

“Through Gali-langoy, we are also promoting these low impact environment friendly activities in order to protect the natural habitat and breeding ground of hundreds of marine species that now thrive in our park,” he stressed.

One that will further ensure a healthier and bountiful protein bowl for Alaminians and the Pangasinenses in general.

Source

73,000 tourists flock to Hundred Islands from Jan-April

MANILA, Philippines – Tourism in the Hundred Islands National Park had a flourishing turnout in the early months of 2011 with thousands of tourists flocking to the place for their holiday getaway.

According to the local government, 73,000 tourists visited the main attraction of Alaminos, Pangasinan from the months of January to April this year.

More tourists also spent their Holy Week vacation in the park this year at 12,195, as compared to last year’s record of 10,560.

The increase is attributed to the new outdoor activities offered by the park.

Aside from swimming, the park also offers snorkeling, scuba diving, and bird watching.

The Hundred Islands National Park is also promoting island-hopping for adventure seekers, with rates being offered as low as P800.

Delighted by the turnout, park manager Rey Livara said: "Natutuwa kami na marami pa rin ang dumaragsa dito."

The local government remains keen on attracting more and more tourists in the coming months.

Tourism has been a boon for the business sector particularly those in the hotel, restaurant and souvenirs services, Livara said.

Vendor Anita Baniqued added: "Madami talaga ngayong (turista)… kaya kami naman nakakaipon na din para sa pamilya." 

Source

Hundred Islands National Park Travel

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Hundred Islands

Comprising the 1,844-hectare nature and recreational park, the Hundred Islands National Park was the venue of the recent Triathlon Open organized by the Department of Tourism (DoT) together with the City Government of Alaminos and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

DoT Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano said, "The event shows that sports can be a very good ingredient to further develop tourism in the country."

He added that Filipinos are capable of keeping pace with the rest of the world in sports that require great skills and rigid discipline and training.

Aside from being geared as Pangasinan's tourism capital, the Hundred Islands National Park will also be groomed as one of the prime adventure sports destinations in the country. "Hundred Islands can be a perfect getaway for those who thirst for adventure and adrenalinepumping sports," he said.

The triathlon, which is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world today, is a multi-sport race against time and other competitors, known as triathletes. It involves completing three sporting disciplines-swimming, biking, and running-done in immediate succession. The goal is to complete the three-leg race in the shortest time. The transition periods and activities, from swim to bike and from bike to run, are part of the race and included in the total time.

The Hundred Islands Triathlon Open attracted over 80 participants from neighboring cities and provinces, mostly from Manila and Subic. This is the first team-up between DoT and TRAP and is the second time that TRAP is collaborating with Alaminos City in the conduct of a triathlon event at the Hundred Islands. The first one was way back in 1996, dubbed as the "Alaminos Sprint Triathlon".

The race distance for the Hundred Islands Triathlon Open covered a 750-meter ocean swim, 20-km road bike, and 5km road run. The swim leg was held along the waters of Lucap Wharf through a rectangular swim course, while the bike and run legs were held on a concrete road at the Lucap area.

Alaminos City, known for its natural beauty, is decorated with a cluster of 124 islets (during low tide and 123 on high tide), located west of Lingayen Gulf. Hundred Islands was established as a park on Jan. 18, 1940 under Proclamation No. 667 issued by the late President Manuel L. Quezon making it the first national park, and in whose honor the biggest of the islands was named.

Truly a breathtaking wonder of nature, the islands are mainly composed of coralline limestone, characterized by a wide reef flat. A highly diverse ecosystem supports a variety of marine and terrestrial floral and fauna and wildlife resources while various marine resources such as sea grasses, corals and numerous fish species abound in the waters.

On many points between the islets, the waters are shallow making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Other recreational activities in the islands are picnicking, diving, island hopping and spelunking. Among the most frequently visited caves here are Milagrosa, Cathedral and Virgin.

Only three islands have been developed for tourism, namely: Governor; Quezon and Children's Islands.

How to get there:

From Lucap, one takes a 30-minute boatride to any of these islands. Of the three islands, only the Governor's Island keeps a guesthouse which is ideal for family use. It has two bedrooms, living room, dining room, bathroom and kitchen.

The nipa huts and mini pavilion with bedrooms at Children's Island are for budget travelers. Common areas are provided for dining and cooking. Meanwhile, Quezon Island is often visited by picnickers and campers. It also has a pavilion with picnic tables.