Unless you’re an avid tourist, particularly fond of visiting Asia, you may not be familiar with Baguio. But those who are familiar with the Philippines will know of the iconic city which is quickly growing in its popularity as a holiday destination.
Located in northern Luzon in the mountain province of Benguet. Baguio City is famous for having a wide variety of tourist locations in a relatively small area. For many people, a trip to Baguio provides a lot to do without the need for those long, exhausting road trips.
The public transport system within the city is cheap and easy to use. This is what makes Baguio is one of the easiest and trouble-free cities to explore in The Philippines.
Because of its elevated position in the mountains, Baguio typically features temperate a few degrees lower than the lowland areas. You’re unlikely to encounter unusually humid weather, which is great if you’re the type of person that doesn’t acclimatise well to the typical conditions found in The Philippines.
That said, you should be prepared for temperatures between 15 to 23C. According to the locals, temperatures can shift quickly from cool to extremely chilly, so you may want to pack some extra clothing.
Rainfall can vary significantly depending on which time of the year you visit. During its dry seasons, between Dec-Apr, you’ll be seeing little to no rainfall. However, between May and November, the city features near constant rainfall. This can significantly affect your exploration efforts, so it’s essential to plan carefully and well in advance.
How can I get to Baguio?
The best way to get to Baguio would ultimately be by private vehicle. Baguio is only ~250km from Manila, if you’re able to travel at night in a private vehicle, the trip can be as short as 3 hours as there is much less traffic on the roads.
A comprehensive guide for those driving to Baguio
There is also a constant stream of buses travelling between Manila and Baguio. I personally took the Victory Liner Express Bus which generally takes 4 – 5 hours to get there. On the way back from Baguio I missed the express bus, so rather than waiting 2 hours for the next one to leave, I just took the standard bus back.
Due to bad traffic conditions and frequent stopping for passengers, this took 10 hours to return to Manila. The express bus is only about ~P200 more expensive than the standard bus, so I recommend prioritising the express bus over the standard. The time saving and extra comfort is well worth the extra money you pay.
For more information on bus departure times, fares and terminal locations directly visit the websites of the Genesis and Victory Liner bus companies.
My complete review of the bus ride from Manila to Baguio.
Baguio – What are the attractions and points of interest?
Baguio Cathedral is lovingly referred to as Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral by the locals. It is a monument with gorgeous architecture and eye-catching design located on top of Mount Mary Hill. The cathedral provides a brilliant view of the entire city from where it stands. Getting to the top does require climbing around a hundred steps. If you’d rather not climb, then there are escalators which will take you right to the top with minimal effort.
Burnham Park termed the mother of all parks’ in Baguio is another popular location set right at the heart of the city. The park’s beauty has transformed its surroundings into a prime piece of real estate, hotly contested on a regular basis. Designed and named after a genius Americas urban planner, Daniel Burnham. Burnham Park is valued by many for providing a peaceful environment isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. But it also features an amusement park for those looking to enjoy themselves.
My visit to Mines View Park caught me by surprise. I had seen photos of the site before visiting but I still wasn’t really excited about going. I think the problem is a lot of the pictures of Mines View Park rarely do the site justice. The view really is breathtaking, you have a completely unobstructed panoramic view of the rolling mountains of Benguet as well as views of the gold and copper mines – which I was unable to spot.
For those wanting to venture out of the city, you can also go strawberry picking in La Trinidad, Benguet. The strawberry farm is found less than an hour from Baguio City and is surrounded by other attractions such as the Valley of Colours and Mt. Yangbew.
It was surprisingly enjoyable wondering around the plantation with your little basket hunting down strawberries from the farms’ countless plants. Once you are finished the employees will weigh your basket, you then pay based on a certain price per kilo. The farm also had a variety of other strawberry based products including different varieties of strawberry wine
These are not the only popular locations. The Session Road, Camp John Hay and the Baguio Botanical Garden are just some of the stunning sites that you can see in Baguio. The City really is packed full of different points of interest all within a short commute of each other, this is what makes Baguio City one of my favourite holiday destinations.
Best hotels in Baguio
Venus Parkview Hotel
During my visit, I stayed at the Venus Parkview Hotel. I booked the hotel because location looked ideal, right in the heart of Baguio, the rooms also looked modern and extremely comfortable.
The hotel really delivered – the rooms were as nice as I had expected and the staff were extremely helpful and pleasant to deal with. The next time I visit Baguio, I will be returning to Venus Parkview Hotel
The Manor at Camp John Hay
Although I didn’t stay at The Manor at Camp John Hay I did spend some time around the hotel during my visit. The hotel is situated slightly outside of the City, surrounded by the regions signature pine trees as well as having meticulously maintained gardens.
The location of The Manor at Camp John Hay makes it one of the best hotels in Baguio. If you truly want to relax and enjoy the mountain air, this is the place to be.
Hotel Veniz Burnham
For those wishing to travel on a budget, I would strongly recommend Hotel Veniz. The hotel is situated right in the heart of Baguio City meaning you are within walking distance to everything you will need during your stay.
Although the hotel is at a budget price, it is still available to offer all the services you would expect such as wifi, free breakfast, and room service.
If you are after convenience at a low price, I recommend you book a room at Hotel Veniz.
For a complete guide to of hotels, apartelles and transient rooms see Agoda, Baguio
Decent weather, ease of transportation and an absolutely endless list of places to visit make Baguio a must-see for those planning a vacation to the Philippines. Just make sure you time the trip just right to avoid being trapped in a never ending downpour of rain which can turn your vacation into a disaster.
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