Sabang Beach — Attraction in Aurora

Sabang Beach of Baler - The Birthplace of Philippine Surfing Sabang Beach, Baler Aurora - Schadow1 Expeditions

April 18, 2014 Part 5 of the Baler Series

Sabang Beach is a two-kilometer strip of gray sand facing East over the Pacific Ocean. Famously known with its frequently strong waves that are massive enough to give life to people who would like to ride the waves. As such, Sabang Beach of Baler is the birthplace of surfing in the country. From posh resorts to serene home-stays and beach-fronts, this beach gets you stoked!

Sabang Beach may not be a pristine beach if white sand is what you dig. But its beauty emanates as being called the sunrise beach of Aurora province where sunrise and waves are equally as astounding to complement each other to bring forth an amazing surfing experience.

If you are more of a party-goer when hanging out on beaches, the northern half of Sabang beach are proliferated with hostels, and even beautiful hotels with swimming pools are present. Food trips are common as the whole stretch has grills, restaurants and bars along the road and beach side.

Sabang Beach, Baler Aurora - Schadow1 Expeditions From Volkswagen-converted Grills to posh resorts at North Sabang Beach

Those that are into serenity and those who would like to commune with nature would rather stay at its southern half near the mouth of Duongan River. This side of the beach are only proliferated with homestays, cottages and spots for putting up tents.

Schadow1 Expeditions chose the latter and stayed at Secret Spot (coordinates 15.75567N, 121.57281E), a beach guest house with only one air-conditioned room and the rest are either cottages or places where you can hang your hammocks or pitch your tent. A place where you can sleep along its fine sands under the moonlit sky with a background sound of the waves lashing to the shores from the Pacific Ocean.

Secret Spot, Baler Aurora - Schadow1 Expeditions

Secret Spot, Baler Aurora - Schadow1 Expeditions

This is why I would rather pitch a tent on a beach facing eastwards - you can greet the sunrise as early as a tint of sun rays peeks over the horizon; then jump to the waters straight from where you slept the night before.

Sunrise at Sabang Beach, Baler Aurora - Schadow1 Expeditions

As this is Baler, and this is Sabang Beach, the surfing birthplace of the country; no time must be wasted. It was my first time to surf and so are my friends who came with me on this one long summer weekend...

I recently had a great experience at a beach that turned out to be a perfect getaway. The first thing I noticed was how clean and peaceful the place was—it wasn’t crowded at all, which made it feel even more relaxing. The waves were gentle and ideal for beginner surfers like me who are just learning the basics.

There were beach watchers on duty who made sure to remind tourists to stay cautious, especially since there are areas where the water gets deeper unexpectedly. Their presence made us feel safe and cared for.

Convenience was another big plus—there were plenty of convenience stores nearby, along with some bars and the local market, which made grabbing snacks and supplies super easy. One of the best parts of the trip was collecting some driftwood along the shore and setting up a bonfire at night. It made the whole experience even more memorable.

Overall, it was a peaceful and fun day at the beach, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet spot to surf, relax, and...

It was summer 2017. We stayed at Pacific Waves Inn, about 100 meters from the beach. The beach was really made for surfing. The waves are strong yet gentle. Surfers, young and old, could go farther from the shore because the water is shallow. Even if you are not fond of surfing, you can still enjoy the beach as there are lots of things to watch. You can even do other things like yoga, kite flying, or just walk around the beach line.

Local surfing trainers are kind and you can haggle their rate. We paid 300 pesos for an hour of surfing lessons. This included the surfboard. My friends paired with each other to share the fee. Half an hour of surfing will definitely tire you. Some of the trainers have short temper, probably because some people are just naughty or because of multiple training sessions.

Over all, in the morning or in late afternoon, you can never be wrong with...