🇵🇭 SAN FERNANDO • (La Union) Tricycle Tour: A Four-Hour Itinerary

"This 4-hour itinerary would not be possible if you are commuting in between the destinations since it would be time-consuming to wait for a ride one after the other, worse, if there will be other passengers, the pain of budgeting your time would hurt deeper."

Just happened to have a limited time in San Fernando, La Union but want to see the major attractions of this city? You might have stumbled in the right page. With this post, I am sharing to you my experience in San Fernando City and on how I managed to explore the city in a doable 4-hour tricycle tour itinerary.

The tricycle I rode into for the 4-hour tour with "kuya"

Walking tour is always my favorite and doing a walking tour is cost-efficient and gives you a chance to feel the heartbeat of the place. Baguio and Vigan are good cities to have a walking tour and I wanted to do it in San Fernando the way I am doing in Vigan and Baguio but I learned that the major attractions in the city are few kilometers apart. 

Aside from the fact that the must-see places are far from each other, San Fernando is also a hot coastal city with busy streets congested with smokes from vehicles that add an uncomfortable feeling under the heat of the summer sun.

Because of this circumstance, an idea popped out at the back of my mind, "Why not try a tricycle tour for my remaining time in the city?"

First 45 minutes (Balance: 3 hours, 15 minutes)

Ok, we'll start the 4-hour tour by chilling out at Halo-Halo de Iloko Balay. This restaurant is considered as a tourists attraction in San Fernando City earning a title as a museum-restaurant (Click here to learn more).

The concept of starting your tour with a cold dessert or drinks has health benefits actually. Heat stroke is not uncommon during summer so for tourists who are hypertensive or high-risk with this kind of condition, ingesting some cold drinks may help lower down the body temperature.

So before you face the heat, be prepared to combat the heat.

It may take some time to wait for your halo-halo order here so 45 minutes is the time allotted for you to stay in this restaurant. There's 2 hours and 15 minutes left.

Next 40 minutes (Balance: 2 hour, 35 minutes)

For the next 40 minutes, the next destination would be at the Taoist temple called the Ma-cho Temple.

Ma-Cho temple is actually a Taoist temple with a connection to the Roman Catholic faith - weird eh? [Click here to learn more].

This Taoist temple is located on a hill that allows you to see the view of the San Fernando Bay. 30 minutes would be enough to tour around the temple. Don't forget to go inside it. The other 10 minutes is allotted for the travel time from Halo-Halo de Iloko Balay to this Taoist Temple.

Next 45 minutes (Balance: 1 hour, 50 minutes)

See a tangible part of history as you head to Pindangan Ruins. Pindangan Ruins are the remains of a church built in 1786 that was destroyed due to an earthquake (Learn more about Pindangan Ruins, Click here).

You may consume 15 minutes in reaching Pindangan Ruins from Ma-Cho Temple. Be sure to keep silent here because there might be a mass going on next door. The ruined area is being taken care by the nuns of the Carmelite Monastery which is just located nearby.

Next 1 hour (Balance 50 minutes)

After exposing yourself to the remains of the past, let us go contemporary as you head to the Santorini-inspired Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point...

Going to the resort, you don't need an entrance fee but if you are riding a tricycle, you may need to undergo an interview portion under several security guards.

Just before you enter the Poro Point Economic Zone, security guards will ask you what are you going to do inside. Be honest, say you are a traveler, or a tourist who is going to visit the Thunderbird Resort.

Before you enter the Thunderbird Resort, the security guards will ask you again about your intent. I was initially disapproved to enter when I said that I am going to take photos of the resort but they let me come in after a second appeal [Read my complete story here].

Last 50 minutes

For the Finale, you need to see a place that will alleviate your tiredness and to relax your mind and soul. A good choice for this is to climb at the top of Pagoda Hill for you to see the relaxing San Fernando Bay Sunset.

I started the tricycle tour at 2:30 pm so I was able to capture the sunset as a finale for my last 50 minutes just before it turned 6 pm..

The tricycle driver ascended me to the hilly part of the city.

So how did I come up with this 4-hour tour with a tricycle? I just picked a tricycle randomly and talked to the driver if he wants to tour me around (the deal was 250 pesos).

Well he agreed and I think the prize is already fine especially if you are running out of time and you want to maximize that remaining time.

This 4-hour itinerary would not be possible if you are commuting in between the destinations since it would be time-consuming to wait for a ride one after the other, worse, if there will be other passengers, the pain of budgeting your time would hurt deeper.

So, hiring your own tricycle could be a good choice. Please do haggle for the prize and if you think it is too expensive, there are still other tricycle drivers out there who might like a cheaper deal.

My 4-Hour Itinerary Summary

Halo-halo de Iloko Balay (45 minutes)
Ma-Cho Temple (40 minutes)
Pindangan Ruins (45 minutes)
Thunderbird Resort (1 hour)
Pagoda Hill (Chinese Pagoda) (50 minutes)