10 Things to Do in the Philippines' Summer Capital of Baguio

Baguio City has been THE Summer Capital of the Philippines ever since the Americans built their colony there. Today, it’s still a favorite among locals and foreigners alike. It’s easily accessible with a six to eight-hour bus ride from Metro Manila. When there, we recommend you visit the following places:

1. Cafes and restaurants along Session Road

An eight hour travel will leave you famished, so the first order of the day might as well be breakfast. Session road is filled with different cafes and restaurants that you can choose from. You’ll be sure that all the ingredients are fresh, thanks to the abundance of farms in the region. Session Road is accessible by foot from the bus station.

Breakfast at Zola Cafe

2 and 3. Walk around the city (Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral and Burnham Park)

From Session Road, you can walk around the city, starting with a walk to the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral. The iconic pink Cathedral is perched on a hill atop the city. Offer a prayer with a candle or maybe catch someone getting married. From there, your feet can take you to Burnham Park.

Baguio Cathedral

Burnham Park is the patch of green at the heart of Baguio City. It serves as the central recreation area of the city where people can have a walk, relax, or ride a boat in the lake. At night, the edge of Burnham Park transforms into an ukay-ukay(flea market) mecca, famous for selling second hand branded and luxury merchandise.  

Burnham Park | Photo by Kenneth Gaerlan

4. Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay is a former American military base. The Tree Top Adventure offers a zipline and other daring rides for those looking for thrilling time. There are also restaurants in the commercial area to refuel yourself after exhausting your energy from the different adventurous activities.

Walking at Camp John Hay

5.  BenCab Musem

Hop on to a jeep to Asin to get to the BenCab museum for a little culture in the mountains. The gallery permanently houses the contemporary works of the National Artist, Benedicto Cabrera popularly known as Bencab. There’s also a cafe, a farm, garden, and a mini-forest for everybody’s enjoyment and inspiration.

Bencab Museum Cafe

6. Strawberry Picking

The cool climate of Baguio is perfect for growing these juicy red berries. Because of its abundance, practically everything in Baguio is laced with strawberries from jams, to pies, to taho. To get your fill, head off to the fields in La Trinidad and pick a basket of berries which you can keep for yourself.

Strawberries in Benguet

7. Balatoc Mines

How often do you get to ride an authentic mine wagon and go into the tunnels in full mining gear? This is what the Balatoc Mines offer tourists who visit. To get there, take an Acupan-Balatoc jeepney from the city proper.

Balatoc Mines | Photo by John Marx Velasco

8. Baguio Botanical Gardens

This is the place to be if you just want to commune with nature, so to speak. It’s perfect for people who want to contemplate amongst flowers and greenery. Pets are allowed, so you can bring your best pooch pal when you go there.  There are also native Igorot people who will gladly pose with you for a picture.

Baguio Botanical Garden | Photo by Pacazano

9. Mines View Park

Mines View Park is a standard stop in Baguio tours. You can get there by riding the jeep or taking a private vehicle. View the mountains in the viewing deck, try strawberry taho and other street fare, take a picture with the St. Bernard dogs, and strike a pose in traditional Igorot costume while you’re there.

Mines View Park | Photo by: Louie Alfred Gomez

10. Shop for Pasalubong

What’s a quintessential Pinoy vacation without pasalubong shopping? Choose from strawberries, barrel men, vegetables, and sweets, all available in the Baguio City Market and other pasalubong centers scattered in the city. 

Good Shepherd items

Tourist Attractions in Baguio : BenCab Museum

BenCab Museum is one of Baguio's frequently visited tourist spots. It is located at Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet. It's about 15-minute drive from Baguio City proper and is also accessible by public transportation. It is home to the art collections of Philippine National Artist Benedicto Cabrera populary known as BenCab. He is considered as a master of contemporary Philippine art. A graduate of Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines, BenCab began carving a niche for himself in Manila’s art circles shortly after completing his degree.

Baguio Food Tour 2014 Blogger-Participants with the Master (photo from rina-alcantara.com)

BenCab museum is composed of nine galleries and a coffee shop. The galleries include BenCab's collection of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture. Below are some of his collections. We were very glad to be accommodated in the museum during the Baguio Food Tour 2014. It was also a pleasure to meet the master himself.

Bencab Museum

Address: Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, Philippines
Operating Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily (except Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
Contact number: (+63 74) 442-7165 | (+63 920) 530-1954
Website: www.bencabmuseum.org

BenCab Museum Entrance Fee

Regular Admisssion – P 100.00
Student, Senior Citizen, or PWD (with ID) – P 80.00
Children not taller than 42” – FREE Admission

How to Get to Bencab Museum

From Baguio City you may either take a taxi or jeepney. If you choose the former, it will only take you about 15-20 minutes from downtown Baguio and fare is approximately less than P100. If you choose to go to BenCab Museum by jeepney, you may take a Tuba-bound jeepney and alight at Km. 6. The jeepney will stop right across the museum. Fare is around P12 and travel time is about 30 minutes.

A Relaxing Stay at Microtel Inn & Suites Baguio City

Microtel Inn & Suites Baguio is the most convenient place to stay while in the City of Pines. It is situated right next to Victory Liner terminal and is very close to Session Road, Lourdes Grotto, Burnham Park and and Baguio Cathedral. It is ideal for solo travelers and families on vacation as you can choose from their single, double and suite rooms.

The Facade

Microtel Baguio probably has the most attractive facade in the city. I love its architectural design and the bright blue color of the hotel. Once you enter the lobby, you will feel the good vibe of the hotel. It's an old building but has a quaint look and feel. 

The Room

I got the single room and I like how it looks like. It has a double bed equipped with an air-conditioning unit, a LED TV, s small table and a toilet and bathroom. The room is ideal for solo travelers or couples who wants to enjoy a soothing night in the summer capital of the Philippines. 

Roaming Around Baguio

When you stay at Microtel, you will be able to visit nearby attractions just by walking. The famous Baguio Cathedral and Session Road are just a few minutes walk from the hotel. Burnham Park is also just a walking distance. The city is known for its cold temperature so walking at night is enjoyable. 

Satisfying your Gastronomic Cravings

Microtel Baguio has an in-house restaurant, Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant. It offers Spanish inspired dishes at very affordable prices. The complimentary breakfast is also served at the restaurant. Aside from breakfast, Microtel Baguio also offers unlimited coffee stationed at the lobby available for self-service.  

Verdict

The best part about this hotel is its location. I know a lot of people consider location as their first concern when choosing a hotel to stay. I say, this has the best location as it just sits beside Victory Liner terminal and is at the heart of Baguio City. Staying at Microtel was definitely satisfying. 

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham - Baguio

Upper Session Road Baguio City 2600 Philippines 

Phone Numbers: +63 (74) 619-3333 to 34, (074) 619 3342 

Fax Number: (074) 619 3344 

Mobile Number: (0927) 516 4129 / (0922) 816 8436 

Email: baguio@microtel.ph 

Website: www.microtel-baguio.com

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A Short Visit to the Strawberry Farm of La Trinidad, Benguet

I have been to Baguio several times already but every time I go there I always miss visiting the famed strawberry farm of La Trinidad, Benguet. During my latest visit to Baguio, I made sure to pay a visit to the farm and experience picking fresh strawberries.

We left Azalea Residences early in the morning because I had to leave Baguio around lunch time bound for Manila. We took a cab and arrived in La Trinidad around 5:30AM. The farm was still closed to visitors and the temperature was kinda freezing. We decided to go to a nearby hostel and had some coffee. After about an hour, someone approached us and told us that the farm was already open and we can start what we have been waiting for: to pick some fresh strawberries.

Tahoooo!
Before doing so, we bought a glass of strawberry taho. It was delicious and tasted way better than the strawberry taho in downtown Baguio. The taho in La Trinidad has preserved whole strawberries while the one in Baguio has only bits and pieces. It's definitely a must-try when in La Trinidad.

Fresh Strawberries
The price of picking fresh strawberries is almost tripled compared to buying strawberries at the market. It will cost you P350/kilo in the farm and about P100/kilo or less in the market. But of course, it's the experience that made it enticing. Not to mention you get to eat fresh strawberries in the farm as many as you can.

After almost two hours of enjoying the farm, we decided to go back to the hotel. It was definitely a great experience. 

How to go to the Strawberry Farm
Just take a cab from downtown Baguio and inform the driver to drop you off at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet. It should only cost you a little over P100 for the taxi fare.

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