Commuting from La Union Back to Manila

After soaking up the sun, waves, and culture in La Union, it’s time to head back to Manila. Back to real life, as they say. If you’re wondering how to make the return journey as smooth as possible, taking a bus is your best bet. Here’s a simple guide to get you back home without a hitch.

Choose Your Bus Company

Several bus companies operate routes from La Union to Manila, offering a variety of schedules and comfort levels.

• Partas Transportation Co.: Known for its extensive network and reliable service.
• Viron Bus Lines: Offers a comfortable ride with good schedules.
• Dominion Bus Lines: Provides multiple trips daily, making it a convenient option.

My preference? Partas. There are buses coming in from other areas in Northern Luzon every hour, but during rush hours (Sunday night when everyone wants to get back to the city in time for the Monday workday), all the buses are packed with people.

The buses that travel from La Union usually have the most number of passengers and arriving 30 mins before your planned travel out time may be too late. Come at around 2 hours before to catch a good bus. 

If you're badly in a rush, indicate to the conductor or the bus driver that you would be willing to take "center seat," which simply means you're willing to sacrifice comfort and sit on the aisle on  the trash pail with lid, on your luggage, or on the floor itself for the entire duration of the trip.

Where to Catch the Bus

Buses heading back to Manila can be boarded at various terminals in La Union. Major towns like San Fernando and San Juan have several pick-up points.

Main Terminals

• San Fernando: The main bus terminal here is a hub for several bus companies.
• San Juan: If you’re in the surfing capital, check for buses stopping along the main road near the beach resorts.

3. Schedule and Ticket Prices

Departure Times 

• Buses typically run from early morning (2AM) until late evening. 

Ticket Prices:

• Expect to pay between PHP 500 to PHP 800, depending on the bus class (regular, deluxe, or first-class). De Luxe buses are usually booked in advance by online travel websites.

4. Travel Duration

The trip from La Union to Manila usually takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and the specific drop-off point in Manila. 

Missed the bus? Take private vans that drop off passengers at Balintawak, central Manila, and Pasay.

If you missed the bus but badly need to get back to the city, you can opt to grab a shared ride with other  stranded passengers in the same predicament. How safe are these rides? Relatively safe. It's a lucrative. business, and for sure, they wouldn't want to destroy their means of livelihood by scamming people. That said, they aren't regulated yet. Just take a photo of the van and the plate number and send to friends by social media messenger.