A Day Trip To Pangasinan : Cabongaoan Beach ~ The Boracay of The North

Pangasinan is known for many tourist attractions including the famous Hundred Islands in Alaminos , the Enchanting cave and falls of Bolinao and the white sand beaches of Dasol! Considering that the province is located along the Lingayen Gulf and South China Sea, Pangasinan has so many great beaches to offer and just recently, people are discovering some of the province’s hidden gems including the Cabongaoan Beach of Burgos which is currently being dubbed as the Boracay of the North! With its golden powdery sand and amazing rock formation near the shore, is Cabongaoan Beach or simply Cabo beach deserving enough for such title?

Aside from the stunning beach and rock formation, what really makes the Cabongaoan Beach popular among travelers is the so-called “Death Pool” lagoon. After it was featured in a Vlog, the beach started to gain more attention and they started to find this deep lagoon more intriguing. I was lucky enough to spot a package tour hosted by “Happy Feet Travel and Tours” offering a day trip to Pangasinan. This includes a trip to the famous Cabongaoan Beach and a chance to witness the Death Pool upclose and also a side trip to Sunflower farm in Tayug.

Supposedly, it should only take us four to five hours travel from Manila to Pangasinan but this trip took a little longer because.. well.. apparently, the driver was seemingly not aware of our destination. But honestly, despite of consuming some of our time, i actually enjoyed the part when we passed though some rough and seemingly deserted area in Pangasinan.

We later learned that the way we took is the way going to Tambobong , another popular beach in Pangasinan so that left us no choice but to go back
After almost an hour of driving, we finally reached the Cabo Beach. The place is slowly turning to one of the most favorite tourist spots in Pangasinan yet despite the blossoming popularity, the place was not yet commercially-abused (for the lack of the better term) and I really hope it will stay that way. Roads’ however, are now being rehabilitated for the convenience of the travelers who would like to visit the place. By the time we get there, some parts of the road are cemented but to set some expectations , it was generally a bumpy ride!

You have to climb down for at least 40-50 steps to reach the resort and you will be welcomed with an overwhelming amount of open-type nipa hut cottages. I spoke to one of the locals during that trip and according to the certain guy named Tony, there was actually no entrance fee YET to Cabongaoan but you must pay for the cottages or the rooms. This will range from Php500 (tables) to Php2500 depending on the type of cottages you want to avail. Bigger cottages have outlets you can freely use.

Or better yet, you can set up your tent near the shore and it’s free of charge! For those who brought cars, please be mindful too that there is parking fee of Php100
After that long and exhausting travel, is Cabongaoan beach worth a journey? Is it really deserving enough to be dubbed as the Boracay of the North? Well, the funny thing here is that I have never been to Boracay yet so I cannot really compare the two beaches but I know the fact that Boracay is famous for its powdery white sand and interesting rock formations near its shore.

Cabongaoan Beach may not have that super fine white sand but it offers a fine golden sand that compliments well with its turquoise water

Unfortunately, by the time we get there, we were greeted by strong and huge waves and the water near the shore wasn’t so clear but according to the locals, if the waves are not too strong and when the water is still , that’s where the crystal clear shore will appear.

I have learned that the stretch of the Cabongaoan Beach is divided into different resorts. If you are in a tight budget, you can just settle with those open cottages offered by Roven’s Place or better yet avail Kuya Tony’s rooms. He has  two story building but they are not really cozy. For better accommodation, you can visit the Viva La Vida Resort on the further left of the Cabo Beach. Their Villa Tolledo is ideally elevated to give you a nice picturesque view of the Cabo Beach.

A trip to Cabongaoan will not be completed without checking the famous Death pool but in order to reach this place, you have to pass through a series of rocky trails.


There are certain areas in this beach that are filled with interesting rock formation and boulders of different form and sizes





Did you know that they also offer Island Hopping here? For 1500 a bangkero (boatmen) can take your group to a nearby island. The amount of island may not be as overwhelming than those in Alaminos but I guess it is worth an adventure.





The rocky shore of Cabongaoan


The more we get close to the Death Pool, the harder the trail becomes but I just can’t help but to marvel those interesting rock formation you can spot nearby

This is actually my favorite part of the Cabo beach!

The rock formations near the shore. Those crowd you can see from afar are heading to where the Death Pool is located

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Cabongaoan Beach In Pangasinan
►Cabongaoan Beach is accessible but expect a long bumpy ride
►Cottages will range from Php500 to Php2500 (Tables can be rented for 500 in Roven’s Place)
►There is NO entrance fee to Cabongaoan Beach [Roven’s Place]
►Parking Fee is Php100
►Comfort Rooms are available for free
►Stores can be spotted nearby the resort
►You can bring foods too and stoves can be rented as well
►Most cottages have outlets to charge your gears and gadgets
►Some parts of the shore can be very sharp because of the rocks so be cautious
►I spotted dogs on the shore so that is safe to assume that Cabo Beach is pet friendly too
►The place could be really crowded on weekends

How to get to Cabongaoan Beach Resort
►For public transport, you can take a bus from Cubao or Pasay that are bound to Alaminos, Pangasinan. Victory Liner and Five Star Buses offer such route for Php393 to Php400. Once you get to the town proper of Alaminos, ride another bus bound to Burgos (Php30).
►One in Burgos, you can charter a tricycle to take you to Cabangaoan Beach. It’s going to take more or less 45 minutes to reach the beach from the town proper of Burgos. The charge, however, could be really pricey. They charge Php300 for a single ride so make sure to negotiate with the driver so they can fetch you back.

►Better yet, you can look for travel packages online much like what Happy Feet Travel and Tours offered to us. I actually find it more practical than doing a DIY tour because the overall cost will be divided to your group, making it more affordable

Where To Stay in Pangasinan
You can check this list of affordable Hotels and Resorts in Pangasinan in TravelBookPH and feel free to book online in great discounts.

Boracay of the North might be a bold claim for Cabongaoan but the people of Burgos is probably very proud of this hidden gem in Pangasinan! Now that the place is starting to boom and getting a lot of attention, I just hope the government in Burgos will maintain this place and prevent it from being too much spoiled. Travelers should also be responsible and should learn to respect this wonderful paradise. Anyway, after few minutes of passing through that rocky trail, I finally got the chance to witness the famous Death Pool Lagoon and I am going to share more about it on my next #DayTripInPangasinan entry.

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