To do
San Juan Plaza
Our plaza is officially called San Juan People’s Park, and is flanked by bleacher grandstands that have small community businesses underneath. Have a snack at the nearby newly-opened Kowloon House franchise or a fifty peso haircut under the shade of the towering acacias.
Occasional Zumba sessions and school activities are done here—all part of the charm of town life, but most charming is the old Saint John The Baptist Church. It is more than 300-years-old and is remodeling to reaffirm its traditional brick-and-mortar look. You may hear bells in the morning, occasional music during weddings and other events, and a 6PM Angelus.
Across the highway is the colonial façade of the San Juan Municipal Hall. Beside it is a strip mall with a 7-11, a Landbank ATM, and a few restos and shops. Behind the municipal hall are a few good carinderias and an ukay-ukay. If you are looking to try out a few native delicacies (goat dishes, dinakdakan, igado, pulpog), you may do so on foot, but you’ll be slightly heavier on the walk back.
If you make a right at Gaerlan Street (named after a friar who revolted against Spanish rule), you’ll reach the base of Emerging Islands, an artist residency program started by a few old friends of ours.
Masa bakeshop has relocated at the end of these residential blocks, at the first warehouse-like property to your right on the diversion road leading up to San Gabriel (and to our farm, Hilom, from which we grow our red rice, adlai and salad greens).
Beach Day
Nano Surf School is an LUSC member surf school run by legendary local surfer Nano Lopez and his family. They are our proud exclusive partner for beginner surf lessons, which may be prearranged for the duration of your stay by informing any member of our staff.
If you are an intermediate to advanced surfer who would like to improve further, let’s talk. Surfing styles are broad and wide and individual needs differ, but we would gladly match you up with a professional local coach to suit your specific areas for skill development.
All the instructors we work with are licensed instructors, lifeguards and administrators of emergency care. Surf conditions vary day to day, and they will pick a spot that will ensure that your adventure would be as safe as it would be enjoyable.
The Surftown Strip
So much growth has occurred in the past 20 or so years from when we, the partners, began surfing, but as many of you know, the main strip is already known to be a crawl of sorts for all manner of food, beverage and experience persuasions.
We can’t namecheck every single establishment, but we have a few places we’re happy to recommend, such as Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel, Clean Beach Coffee, our many friends at Great Northwest (aka GNW), La Gula Desserts, Seabuds and Coast Call at San Juan Surf Resort (which the oldies may still refer to as “Surf Camp”), Ramenrique and Salad Stoke at Mona Lisa, La Gula Desserts, Miryinda, Tagpuan, Little Canggu, La Gringa, El Chapo, Seawadeeka, Surfer’s Point Deck, Lakbai Musika—the list goes on, and on, and on.
Best explored on foot, parking can be a challenge. Go legit pay parking or risk a ticket—tickets suck and you’ll be glad for this heads up.
Gas/Bike Pedal
All these spots are drivable, and depending on your fitness level, reachable by bicycle. We’re a bike-friendly establishment, and we’ll find a way to keep your steeds indoors and dry. You may even join us on our easy rolling rides in the back hills of San Juan. You want climbs and do hardcore stuff, we can intro you to a few people that do that sorta thing. Yes, Baguio is bikeable via Naguilian, if you’re crazy enough, patient enough or both. Other friends bike Besang, Santol and the historic ridge of Bacsil.
Hiraya is a good destination for a sunset beer or even a meal, Luna has that old watchtower with Steak To One and Lola Mending’s for food, not to mention the old Namacpacan Church and a picturesque plaza. Bangar is where inabel weaving is done, neighboring Bacnotan is known for roadside pottery, and tours may be arranged for Tangadan Falls, Immuki island, and Santol.
Sagada and Vigan are a few driving hours away (you’ll hit Ilocos Sur in a couple hours after the last town of La Union province, Sudipen). Baguio by car is an hour and a half and a good cool option for flat ocean days.
Thrifting
We know a few good pickers if you like thrifting one-offs from surplus, or antique shops that sell more premium merch. There’s Don Segundo in Luna, Emerson’s surplus and Roda Daoa’s in San Gabriel San Juan, Osang’s in Poro, San Fernando and Ely Badong for higher end stuff.