Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Baguio Travel Guide
When touring Baguio, Philippines in a private car, people may get more comfort and convenience, but not the excitement of a Baguio FX cab adventure. Here’s a Baguio travel guide on how to get more from an FX cab ride around Baguio City.
First and foremost, an important Baguio travel guide reminder is always look for FX cabs roaming the city once one sets foot on Baguio soil. They are usually found in a queue just outside bus terminals, waiting for bus passengers to step out of the terminal. This is often the scene around terminals in the Philippines. And why opt for them when in Baguio? They are a big help to one’s itinerary in many ways.
First, Baguio FX cabs charge very cheap fare. They start at a Php 25 flag down just like in Manila but the proceeding charge per kilometer is cheaper and slower. Hence, a hundred pesos can go a long way. They’re not difficult to look for. And the same can be said of them in most parts of the Philippines. They’re just outside bus stations. When a public jeep is opted for in Baguio, people will have to walk the distance from the bus terminal to the jeep terminal. So, as this Baguio travel guide recommends, upon alighting from a bus, look for an FX cab.
Second, there’s no limit to where a Baguio FX cab can take tourists around the city. Public jeeps in the Philippines have a fixed route to take day or night, and they’re mostly unavailable at midnight or in the wee hours of the morning. With FX cabs, people are brought to specific destinations even at midnight or dawn. So a vital Baguio travel guide tip especially when taking night or early morning trips to or from Baguio is to seriously consider hiring an FX cab.
Third, most FX cab drivers are friendly and can act as tourists guides. They are mostly natives of Baguio City and conversant in English and Tagalog, aside from Ilocano, of course. They are among honest and courteous drivers in the Philippines. Hence, no wonder this Baguio travel guide and most others are promoting FX cabs as public tour vehicles.
However, take note that Baguio FX cabs often have no seats available at the back. So at most, FX cabs in Baguio can accommodate 6 passengers, excluding the driver.
For a more meaningful Baguio tour, this Baguio travel guide suggests using FX cabs.
Baguio Sightseeing Guide
Cool mountain air in precipitous settings often marked by sights of low clouds caught in clusters of tall pines. This mostly characterizes sightseeing in Baguio City. But this is not all. To maximize a Baguio tour here is a Baguio sightseeing guide.
Baguio is among popular tourism centers in the north which is dominated by Ilocano-speaking folks both from Baguio itself and the nearby lowlands. So it would do well to take along an Ilocano-speaking tour companion or a Baguio sightseeing guide, perhaps a relative or friend, to enjoy the City of Pines more.
If there’s nobody available, just make sure to speak in English when talking to people, tourists or locals. Most conversation in this city is in Ilocano, Tagalog, or English. Only with this Baguio sightseeing guide or tip can tourists and vacationers really enjoy the many scenic spots in the city as well as the anticipated shopping spree.
Be sure to bring petty cash when sightseeing in Baguio. Almost all tourist spots here have souvenir stalls or shops, many of them in colorful clusters that look so appealing they never fail to lure tourists. So instead of sulking in a corner watching in envy other tourists doing their shopping binge, take this advice from this Baguio sightseeing guide and bring cash along and indulge.
The first stop is often Session Road. Most Manila-to-Baguio buses stop at the upper end of this road, or somewhere near. Just ask around the bus station which way to Session Road and it’s likely a few meters away. The next logical stop would be Baguio Cathedral. The entrance to this famous historical church is along Session Road. This practical Baguio sightseeing guide would save visitors’ time.
Then, Burnham Park, which is near the lower tip of Session Road, should be the next stop. Families on vacation in Baguio always enjoy this park where various park leisurely activities like boating, biking, and roaming are available. Then, this Baguio sightseeing guide recommends going to other places outside the city proper, like Mansion House, Mines View Park, and Wright Park, among others.
Whatever tour itinerary visiting folks decide on, they should make it a point not to miss Baguio City market to spend their major shopping spree in (and to buy the crunchiest peanut brittle), Trinidad Valley for fresh hand-picked vegetables and strawberries, Mines View for the best ube jam, the Philippine Military Academy for military souvenirs.
There are a lot more places to see and things to do in Baguio City. However, this Baguio sightseeing guide prioritizes what includes a traditional Baguio tour.
Baguio Restaurant Guide
Where are the best eateries in Baguio City? A good Baguio tour always involves a good and delightful chow. So here is a Baguio Restaurant guide.
Most fast food chains in Baguio are along the busy Session Road and simpler but recommendable eateries are on its inner streets and alleys. Popular fast food stores like Jollibee, KFC, Greenwich, Chowking, McDonalds, and Sizzling are located on Session Road. So at breakfast or lunch time, this Baguio restaurant guide recommends being in the vicinity of Session Road for quick dinner access.
However, other restaurants are also located elsewhere in Baguio offering unique dishes and service. When looking for special eateries other than fast food eateries, then try Bliss Café on Gibraltar Road for fresh vegetarian dishes, the famous Café By the Ruins on Otek Street (near Baguio City Hall) for ethnic Baguio cuisines, and Eve’s Garden on Lamtang Road for unique preparations of fresh lettuce dishes. What this Baguio restaurant guide recommends is try various restaurants for different meals.
Say, visit John Hay early in the morning and have breakfast at Little John’s for tasty American breakfast choices and then try its special Chocolate Fondue topped with fresh strawberries, marshmallows, and bananas. Then proceed to Burnham Park and Baguio City market and later have lunch at O’Mai Khan along Otek Street for some Mongolian dishes, especially barbecue. As a slight digression, this Baguio restaurant guide suggests roaming nearby Rizal Park after a meaty lunch to let all those barbecued dishes properly digest in the tummy.
Next, in the early afternoon, walk leisurely up Session Road for window shopping or an actual shopping extravaganza, checking all the shops and “ukay-ukay” stalls. This would be a tiring adventure so drop by posh Pizza Riccio on upper Session Road and grab a bite of their mouth-watering lasagna and pizzas. This is located in the Baden Powell Inn. Or try Pizza Volante on Session Road and sample its 14-inch pizza.
Later in the evening, return to the hotel for a quick shower and fresh clothes and then go back to the city proper for a good supper at Rose Bowl, which is along Harrison Road near Session Road. This Baguio restaurant guide thinks a cold night in Baguio City is better enjoyed with a hearty supper. So enjoy real Chinese dishes cooked in this pioneer Chinese restaurant which practically grew up with the city.
There are many good Baguio restaurants and many more ways to enjoy them. The foremost Baguio restaurant guide or advice is enjoy as many of them as possible.
Baguio Hotel Guide
Named as the Philippines’ Summer Capital, Baguio City is known for its relaxing and refreshing climate, as well as for its inviting atmosphere. Aside from these, many travelers also show interest in visiting the place for it offers attractive sightseeing and recreational spot. To make sure that people will have a comfortable place to stay in the city, it is best that they look for Baguio hotel guides that feature numerous hospitality service providers. Hence, by using Baguio hotel guides, travelers can have ideas about the facilities, ratings, as well as accommodation rates of inns, lodges, and hotels in the area.
Ratings: Special Features in Hotel Guides
When deciding where to stay in Baguio, Philippines, it is important that tourists use hotel guides to know the star ratings of different hospitality service providers in the place. For those who are in search for hospitality service providers that offer elegant facilities and amenities, they can look at five-star and four-star hotels like Camp John Hay The Manor Hotel, which are commonly featured in Baguio hotel guides. Meanwhile, the guides also feature three-star hotels in Baguio, Philippines, that provide efficient services and affordable accommodations such as El Cielito Inn, Concorde Hotel, and Microtel Inns and Suites Baguio.
Hotel Facilities: Important Details in Baguio Hotel Guides
Regarding accommodations, people can always look at Baguio hotel guides to know the facilities available in a particular hospitality service provider. For instance, some hotels in Baguio, Philippines, like Green Valley Country Club Hotel and Resort features leisure facilities including swimming pools for the enjoyment and relaxation of all of its guests. On the other hand, several hotels such as Agoo Playa Hotel feature special amenities in their guestrooms for the convenience of travelers.
Accommodation Rates and Location
In terms of accommodations, Baguio hotel guides also offer accommodation rates in all of the hospitality service providers that they feature. For example, travelers who are on tight budget can easily find hotels in the famous Philippine city that provide affordable accommodations by using Baguio hotel guides. Furthermore, the guides also help vacationers and travelers look for hospitality service providers that have accessible and strategic location.
Hotel guides are surely helpful to those who want to visit the other tourist destinations in the Philippines. With all the special features that the guides offer, all travelers in the Philippines are encouraged to use hotel guides to assure that they will have a memorable, enjoyable, and worry-free vacation in the various parts of the country.
Baguio City – A Cool Summer Destination
There is so much to see and explore in the beautiful city of Baguio. Located in northern Philippines, it is one of the most favorite travel destinations in the country attracting tourists from different parts of the world.
Hailed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio boasts of a year-round cool climate and nature-clad landscape. Also called The City of Flowers and The City of Pines, a diversity of flora and fauna can be found here as well.
Situated amid pine-covered hills with an expanse of scenic parks, enthralling mountain views and refreshing pine-scented air, it is an excellent place for relaxation as well as exciting discoveries.
What to Explore
Burnham Park – Located in the heart of the city, it has a promenade, a man-made lake ideal for boat rides, a biking area, a skating rink, an athletic field, a grandstand for concerts, a children’s park, and a plant and flower market (the Orchidarium).
Botanical Garden – Also known as Igorot Village, it has Igorot houses amid a garden of plants and flowers where Igorot tribesmen can be seen dressed in their traditional costumes.
Mines View Park – Gives a spectacular view of the valley and the mountains, and Baguio’s old mines.
Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary – Offers an eco-tour of nature through Baguio’s cool climate.
Wright Park – Provides a pony ride around the park.
Baguio Flower Festival (Panagbenga) – Showcases nature’s feast of local flowers in a parade of lovely flower floats, exciting street dancing and exhibits.
Camp John Hay – Formerly the American military personnel’s rest and recreation station, it maintains the best recreation facilities in Baguio, including an 18-hole golf course and a hiking trail; it is also the city’s biggest pine tree conservation area.
The Mansion - The summer residence of the Philippine president, visitors can stroll around its lovely garden.
Philippine Military Academy – A military training institution, hailed as the country’s “West Point,” that has beautiful and green school grounds.
Tam-Awan Village – Has native huts, an art gallery and uphill forest trails ideal for hiking and trekking.
Itogon Wood Carver’s Village – Features the works of independent indigenous wood carvers.
Asin Hot Springs – Has a natural hot spring where swimming pools have been built for the enjoyment of visitors.
Baguio Cathedral – A majestic rose-colored Catholic church built on top of a hill in the heart of the city.
Lourdes Grotto – A shrine located on a hill that has the image of the Lady of Lourdes and can be reached by climbing 252 steps or driving on a narrow, winding road.
Session Road – The main avenue and commercial center of Baguio where numerous shops and restaurants are located.
City Market – One of the country’s best, heaving with fresh vegetables, strawberries, flowers, fruit preserves, peanut brittle and handicrafts, including beautifully woven sweaters and clothing; bargain shopping (ukay-ukay) can also be enjoyed here.
Strawberry Farm – A strawberry plantation where fresh strawberries can be picked/harvested and bought right from the fields.
Six hours away from Manila by bus, Baguio can be reached via three routes: Kennon Road –the fastest route but most dangerous due to frequent landslides during the rainy season, Marcos Highway or Naguilian Road. It can also be accessed via a fifty-minute airplane ride from Manila.
Whichever route is taken, Baguio is a cool and great travel destination to spend summer in when in the Philippines. It is a beautiful gateway to the wonders of nature –the next best thing to a mountain retreat, and an enthralling experience that may even make you want to keep coming back.
Tags: Session Road, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Burnham Park, Flower Festival, Philippines
Panoramic Tranquility at Mines View Park, Baguio
The Mines View Park is a highly recommended tourist spot to visit when in Baguio. The place is a must see for all visitors. Here’s what you can expect when you visit the Mines View Park.
A trip to Baguio won’t ever be complete if you won’t ever get to Mines View Park. You’ll be treated to a really breathtaking view of Benguet’s gold and copper mines and the beautiful contours of the Cordillera mountain region. The Mines View Park is the most visited spot in all of Baguio.
Mines View Park is just four kilometers from downtown Baguio. It’s just a jeepney ride away and is very accessible. If you plan to go to Mines View Park you should plan ahead to go there in the earlier part of the day. The regular afternoon fog might restrict your view of the landscape in the Mines View Park if you come there late in the afternoon.
The Mines View Park used to be a mining area for small-scale miners before the American occupation. Most visitors usually visit the place after making a stop at the Mansion or the Wright Park. An observation deck can be found in the Mines View Park. To get to the observation deck visitors will have to take the winding stone-covered stairway, which is right next to the parking area. The steps on the stairway can be quite slippery after some rain, so be very careful.
There are benches for visitors where they can rest and enjoy the view. For about Php 10 you can rent binoculars and take a spectacular view of the nearby valley and mountains. Native Igorot tribesmen also frequent the Mines View Park and would be willing to pose for a picture with the tourists for a few pesos. They may even rent their outfit to some tourists who would like to try them out.
At the entrance of the Mines View Park are stalls and cafes that cater to visitors. You can buy native handicraft, silver products, jewelry, and a variety of souvenirs. You’ll sure be tempted to sample the abundant strawberries, grilled or steamed corn on the cob, and other food served at the snack bars and small stores found at the Mines View Park.
A kilo of strawberries would cost around Php 150, but prices change every now and then. The food costs as much as regular food including the coffee.
A short walk from the Park is the Good Shepherd Convent where you can get delicious jams and native delicacies. While at the Mines View Park you might like to try horseback riding. Horses at the Mines View Park can be rented for a small fee. This is a favorite activity among the little kids.
If you want to see Baguio’s best, make sure to visit the Mines View Park first. You’ll get a panoramic introduction of what Baguio has to offer.
Tags: Travel, Baguio, Tourism, Filipino, Horseback Riding, Philippines, Tourist Destination
Let’s Go to Baguio
Baguio (derived from the Ibaloi word for moss) is the Summer Capital of the country. Baguio City is otherwise known as the City of the Pines — it is a highly urbanized first class city established by Americans in the 1900. It was incorporated as a city in September 1, 1909.
Baguio City is home to a presidential mansion, a supreme court office, and legislative offices. Baguio is also the capital of the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines.
At an altitude of 1500 meters, Baguio is nestled in a tropical pine forest which is eight degrees cooler than any lowland area on the average. Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centigrade (about 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit) even during the hot summer months. From November until May, Baguio turns into a tropical paradise as greens become more distinct emphasized by the beautiful terrain marked by low verdant knolls and hillocks. The cool climate, the panoramic views of lovely flowers and foggy hills is enough to delight the soul. This makes Baguio a favorite summer destination by local and foreign tourists.
The tourist sites in Baguio City include Burnham Park (named after the city’s planner Daniel Burnham), the Baguio Cathedral, Session Road (the city’s commercial center), Baguio Grand Mosque (caters to thousands of Muslim families), Camp John Hay, the Philippine Military Academy, an Orchadium, Asin Hot Springs, and a whole lot more.
Baguio City has 109 hotels, inns, and lodging houses totaling to about 4,700 rooms available for rent. There’ll be times when these lodging facilities will be way packed with visitors and tourists during the peak summer season. Due to the demand on lodging, local residents may allow visitors to rent a room in their homes or even just let tourists stay as guests.
Cost for lodging in Baguio would be from Php 500 to a whopping Php 4,000 for the whole stay. That is pretty much the average cost when compared to lodging rates in Manila. Baguio City also has 1,117 restaurants so you don’t have to worry about your dining needs.
So how do we get to Baguio? We can travel by air to Baguio’s Loakan Airport (located 20 minutes south). Flights from Manila to Baguio are scheduled only during the morning since visibility drops down to zero when the afternoon fog starts to form. The flight from Manila to Baguio is approximately 50 minutes.
If you want to drive to Baguio then you’ve got about six hours of driving ahead of you — if you take the Kennon Road going up to Baguio City. The Kennon Road is truly as scenic as it is dangerous to travelers since it winds through a narrow steep valley. It is the fastest route compared to the Marcos Highway (which will take you about fifteen minutes longer to get to there) and the Naguilian Road which may add three solid hours to your travel.
If you plan to go to Baguio by bus the regular bus companies that can take you there are the Philippine Rabbit, Partas, Victory Liner, Dangwa Tranco, Dagupan Bus, Saurog Transit, Genesis, and Greenland. The average bus fare would cost around Php 300 but that can change depending on the bus company and if you’re traveling to Baguio on a first class trip or not.
If you’re looking to find a way to beat the summer heat in the Philippines go to Baguio and enjoy a fun-filled cool summer.
Tags: Luzon, Philippines Rabbit, Philippines, Baguio, Cordillera, Burnham Park
Cool Down in Baguio
Fun in the sun isn’t for everybody. Summer isn’t just going to the beach and catching the perfect wave. The heat, at times, can be excruciating. Sometimes, a change in temperature is what one needs to relax and have a vacation.
In the Philippines Baguio is considered to be the summer capital of the country. Because of its location at a higher elevation there is a cooler climate than the metro. It is the perfect alternative destination to those seeking refuge from the summer heat.
Traveling to Baguio can be quite a ride. It takes 8 - 10 hours to get there via the Kennon road. This happens to be the most historic and scenic route to Baguio. It is best to travel during the early morning on a weekday to avoid traffic. Along the way, the North Luzon Expressway is equiped with various pitstops for meal and bathroom breaks.
One of the most remembered times of Baguio city is the devastating earthquake during the early 90s. Several people were killed with others injured and lost because of the natural disaster. Many of the city’s structures were destroyed into piles of rubble strewn about the ground. Many doubted if Baguio could recover from this tragedy. Doubters were set at ease as the citizens and several investors slowly restored Baguio to bring back tourists and travelers.
Baguio has also become a haven for bargain shoppers. Ukay-ukay, as most locals call it, is the very reason fashion lovers head to Baguio. Great prices on the trendiest items and a variety of choices make it only more attractive to visitors. Haggling and patience is needed to find the perfect clothes and get the full experience when bargain hunting in Baguio.
Ukay-ukay stalls are located near Session road which is one of the busiest areas in the city during daytime and nighttime. It is lined with various restaurants serving international cuisine ranging from Italian, Spanish, Chinese and of course Filipino style delicacies. Familiar fast food restaurants are also here for those on a budget. At night, Session road comes alive with the lights from bars and restaurants for people in search of a good time.
For the old fashioned, Baguio has a wide range of historic and cultural sites. The Botanical Garden (Igorot village), Mines View Park, Camp John Hay, and Baguio Cathedral are only a few of the attractions that Baguio has to offer.
Visitors can also head to the oldest park in Baguio for a look at history and for some fun. Burnham Park is perfect for picnics and strolls along the lush pine trees. Horseback riding, hiking in the nature trails are also available for nature lovers. Of course, there is always that great scenery to take a picture of for aspiring photographers to add to their photo albums.
Before leaving Baguio, it is a must to head to the marketplace and stock up on fruits and vegetables. Strawberries are quite the favorite gifts to bring home for friends and families. The vegetables are fresh, cheap and even taste better than those one could buy in the high end supermarkets in Metro Manila.
Going to the beach isn’t the only thing one could do in the summer. There are other ways to relax and enjoy oneself. Nature lovers, bargain shoppers, cultural explorers all have something to experience in Baguio. Sometimes, a change in temperature is the best vacation to have. Baguio gives the chance to relax and cool down during the summer.
