Dingalan, Aurora. Beach and Island Tour

The Philippines has a lot of really beautiful places. There are all kinds of different types, like ocean, mountain, and cityscapes.

Popular spots like “Hundred Islands” and “Vigan” are a hit with international students in Baguio.

We’ll show you the beaches and mountains in a local area of the Philippines called “Aurora.” You’ll get a stunning view…!

Where is Aurora, Dingalan?

Aurora is a province on the east coast of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines. It’s shaped like a long narrow area along the coast, as you can see on the map below.

Aurora is about 200 km from Baguio, and the trip takes less than 4 hours. Depending on the destination, you might have to add a few hours on top of that.

Dingalan, our destination this time, is an extra hour away. To put it simply, it takes about five hours there and back from Baguio.

As usual, you have to take a winding mountain road to get from Baguio to the city. If you get easily car sick, be sure to prepare some medicine to avoid being it.

Climate of Aurora Dingaland

In April of 2025.

April is the end of the dry season and the start of the rainy season, which is said to be the hottest time of year in many parts of the country.

Here’s the temperature difference: Compared to Baguio, which is cooler, Aurora Province has an everlasting summer climate.

Since this trip was a late night departure and early morning arrival, it wasn’t too hot at 5:00 a.m., and I was fine wearing a hoodie.

But then the sun came out in the afternoon, making it hard to spend a lot of time in places where the sun is shining.

Sightseeing Spots in Aurora, Dingalan

One of the best things you can do in Aurora is to visit the spectacular natural scenery.

This time, I visited two spots with a tour company.

• Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula
• Tanawan Falls

Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula

The main part of the itinerary is a tour of this peninsula. It is a great plan to enjoy both the sea and the mountains.

The most famous of all is Batanes of the East, rated 4.8 stars (450) on Google Maps. There were only high rating reviews and very few bad reviews.

The most frequently used keywords are “hiking,” “climbing,” and “adventure,” and it seems that hands-on activities are highly valued.

Tanawan Falls

At first glance, “Tanawan Falls” seems to be just a place with a waterfall surrounded by nature.

In reality, it is an amusement park.

The waterfall play was the main attraction, but the park had been artificially enhanced with facilities such as a zip line, photo booth, and dormitories.

The rating on Google Maps is 4.4 stars (380), overall a high rating, but there were some negative comments about it being “small and crowded”. I myself found it to be crowded. Well, it was a visit during a 4-day weekend, so it was a bit unavoidable.

Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula

From here, I would like to talk about the details of the Peninsula Tour!

The model case for the Peninsula Tour is as follows

The Dingalan Peninsula Tour is a plan to charter a boat and go swimming and hiking in the ocean.

Dingalan Feeder Port

Here you will register your name and charter a boat.

The view from the harbor is like the one below. The contrast between the coast, the cliffs, and the mountains is very nice, and everything looks beautifully lit.

I was amazed by the bright green color that reminded me of the “Chocolate Hills“, one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines.

Several small boats are anchored in the harbor and large ships can be seen offshore. In the early morning, you can also see the scenery illuminated by the rising sun. This is a view that cannot be seen in Baguio, which is surrounded by mountains, so it is quite impressive.

Back to the procedure.

To register on the list, you must give your name, address, and date of birth. The registration fee is 60 pesos per person. You will then meet the guides and the boat driver.

I was on a tour, so all the formalities were done by a representative. Then, before we left, we had an orientation…

So I did not understand the orientation very well…. Well, that was unavoidable since all the tour participants were Filipinos except me. It probably said “wear life jackets on the boat” and “don’t throw your arms and legs out“.

Travel by boat

A total of 13 people (10 tour participants, 1 tour guide and 2 drivers) boarded the boat and went to the base.

Here is the boat we boarded this time.

Life jackets are required during the trip, and you can sit on the side and enjoy the scenery. The speed is slower than a vehicle, but there is a pleasant breeze. The waves are calm and there is no splashing.

When I went to the sea, I thought the green of the mountains was beautiful. The blue of the ocean and the green of the mountains look very nice.

It took me about 20 minutes to get from the harbor to the base. At that time, I felt quite excited.

White Beach Resort

After traveling by boat for a while, you will often see people setting up camp.

Now, I arrived at the destination.

Our base is the White Beach Resort, a beach with campsites. We anchor the boat and go ashore.

The beach is not that big, only about 10 minutes from one end to the other.

It is not as white as the name “White Beach” might suggest, and many parts of the beach are stone scaffolds like mud flats.

The clarity of the sea is like this. At high tide the water is quite clear, but at low tide I felt that the water was quite muddy.

The base for this event was a section of a cabin. A few simple tables and chairs are provided. There is a store and a light hot snack shop nearby.

There is also a first aid house or something near the sea, so you won’t be in trouble in case of an emergency.

Of course, there are toilets and showers, but it is a simple type that you flush yourself.

Batanes of the East

As soon as we arrived at the base, we started hiking without going into the ocean. Behind the White Beach Resort is the entrance to the trail.

We left our big luggage at the base, packed light and were ready to go.

The hiking trail is in the condition shown in the photo. You will have to walk all the way up the trail, which is a mixture of dirt and mud.

By the way, the destination is the part indicated by the arrow in the picture below. The height of the starting point: from 0 m above sea level you have to climb to the top of the hill.

Shoes and flip-flops are not recommended, as some parts of the trail are very muddy. Sandals that can be securely fastened to your feet are recommended.

There are also situations where you have to climb a slope as steep as a staircase. In such places, there are ropes and you should use them well to reach the top.

It took us about 30 minutes to climb the rather hard mountain path. Finally, you are confronted with an impressive view.

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This scene that appeared before my eyes is truly impressive. Both the mountains and the ocean play a leading role, and the contrast of colors is extremely beautiful.

There were vivid colors that felt like they had been image-edited, even though we were supposed to be watching a live scene. The location was so beautiful that I was so surprised and receptive that I could not think of anything else for a while.

One thing you have to be careful about. That is the intense sunlight.

There are few shadows, and the sun shines fiercely, so sunscreen measures such as hats and lotions are essential.

After enjoying the scenery to the fullest, the next stop is the Dingalan Lighthouse.

It is a rather open room with a single high tower on top of a small hill.

Unfortunately, the entrance is blocked, so it is not possible to climb up.

It will take you about 10 minutes to get there.

The trail is well trodden and relatively easy to walk.

The distant view is not much different, but this one was wider with a grassy plain.

Having enjoyed the lighthouse, you are now on your way back. Let’s return to the base on a different route than the one we took.

Dingalan Cave

The last stop is the Cave. Going to the cave is an optional fee and costs 100 pesos per person.

However, it is not like diving into a cave, which is the common image.

It is more like going to see a big hole in the seashore.

You will need to take a boat again from White Beach, where the base is located, to get to the cave.

Go around the protruding part of the peninsula to the other side.

The trip to the cave takes about 20 minutes one way.

You can get as close as this, but you cannot come to shore. We had to jump into the sea and go ashore.

The waves seemed pretty high. Although life jackets are provided, if you are not a good swimmer, you may want to wait on the boat.

I came here because I had to, but I just thought, “It’s a big hole,” so if you have time, you might want to give it a try. It is also fun to take a boat ride.

Return to port

When you have had enough fun and are satisfied, return to the port. Please ask your guide to arrange a return boat for you well in advance.

If you have followed the itinerary to this point, you should have five hours, including time for lunch.

When you arrive at the port, the entire trip is over. Take a van or tricycle to your destination or return home.

Conclusion

In this article I introduced the beaches in the area of Aurora, on the east coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.

It is a fun place to experience something new and full of local flavor.

I joined a tour I found on Facebook and all the other participants were Filipinos.

I didn’t hear a word of Japanese, Korean or even English on the beach. I was immersed in Tagalog for the first time in a long time.

The price was 1,800 pesos.

I think this price is quite reasonable for the van, boat, guide and lunch included.

If visiting on your own is too difficult, you may want to join a tour.

I hope you will refer to this article and visit the Aurora Borealis, a hidden and spectacular place!

Hundred Islands vs. Aurora: Which is better?

Well, while Aurora’s beaches were truly a hidden gem for foreigners, there are other areas where similar activities can be enjoyed.

It’s Hundred Islands.

It is exactly the same in that you rent a boat and visit the sights. In fact, I thought it was similar to the Hundred Islands during my trip.

The reasons are as follows

Used to foreign tourists

ハンドレッドアイランドのスタッフは外国人慣れしているため、積極的に英語で話してくれようとしてくれますし、こちらが拙い英語でもなんとかなることが多いです。

一方、オーロラに外国人はほとんど居ませんでした。スタッフの方は英語も話せるはずですが、あまり慣れていないような印象を受けました。

Easy to access

There is a direct bus service to Alaminos, where Hundred Islands is located. Tricycles to get there are also easy to arrange.

Aurora, on the other hand, is more remote and difficult to get to. Therefore it is better to use a van.

Beautiful ocean

Although it may be due to the conditions of the day, the clarity of the ocean seemed to be higher on the Hundred Islands. Being on the west side of the island, it seems to be less affected by typhoons.

Plenty of activities

Handled Island offers a variety of activities such as zip lines, banana boats and dive sites in addition to snorkeling.

It is overwhelmed by the number of marine activities.

Clean toilets and showers

I think the port from which Handred Island departed had toilets and showers that were relatively clean and easy to use.

Aurora, on the other hand, is very basic. Maybe some people dislike that.

Recommendations in Aurora

However, the Aurora Borealis has a unique feature that only the Aurora Borealis can offer.

This is the capability to enjoy both sea and mountain views.

Batanes of the East in particular is a one-of-a-kind view like no other. I, too, was impressed.

It’s a place you don’t often get a chance to visit, so it’s a great way to experience something different from others.

If you are in the Philippines and have already visited all the major tourist attractions, or if you are looking for an unusual experience, you should definitely visit Aurora Dingalan!