Hello again Elyu! <3
This is my second time to visit this cute rural province. In two years, the vibes in San Juan, La Union have changed into a more millenial setting.
La Union or #ELYU is tagged as the “Surfing Capital of the North” because of its consistent swells due to the northeast winds (amihan) from October to March and the southwest monsoon (habagat) from July to September which is perfectly fine for beginners and those who just want to experience surfing.
It is located in Ilocos Region, northern part of the Philippines and it is like 6 hours drive away from Manila. Going north of Manila is more convenient and accessible now since there are expressways NLEX, SCTex, and TPLex. We had a smooth and easy journey.
Aside from barkada bonding or sort of reunion, it is also my birthday celebration. Yay! These guys are so close to my heart that I frequently celebrate my birthdays with them.
Enough of me, here are the things we did in Elyu during our 3 days and 2 nights stay.
Visit Beach Bum Food Park
Interestingly, there are many food parks in the area. But, this has caught our attention because they have a live acoustic band. Like the typical food parks, there are different stalls and cuisine to choose from.
Never Miss the Flotsam Party Night
This is a hyped place but, I really love the atmosphere here. As they say, everything is ELYUminating. The combination of lights and the colors are just vibrant, hip, and young. People usually gather here to rave in Saturday Night Backpacker Party. It is also a nice place to catch up and chill with friends or fam if the party has not started yet.
Go Beach Bum & Play
My favorite part of the trip – beach bumming, and yes, not surfing! Just because I got exhausted from work, I feel like I needed to loosen up and stay calm. The sea breeze and the natural sound of the ocean waves are absolutely relaxing. Some activities we did were play beach volley and frisbee, beachcombing, sunbathing, watch people passing-by and basically, do nothing.
Secret Beach Surfing
There is a secret beach! Mr. Anthony of Surf LU brought us to the other end of the famous beach hotel and surfing area. For sometime, we owned the beach spot. We were the only group who surf and glide through the waters. We booked to Surf LU for surfing by 3pm to catch the sunset as well. It costs P400 per hour including the guide and surfboard. An hour is enough to learn how to surf, but just be brave to stand over the board when the big wave is pushing.
Dine In Great Northwest
Another popular spot and must-visit in Elyu – the Great Northwest. I love fried chicken so no brainer we went straight to Sabong Fried Chicken. True enough they offer unique flavors of double fried chicken glaze with rice, side dish, and dips. After dinner, we hang out by the viewing deck and feel the serene night.
