Baguio

Philippines

Baguio is a highland city in the province of Benguet. Due to its cool mountain weather, it is considered the "Summer Capital of the Philippines." The city is abundant with pine tree, so it is nicknamed the City of Pines.

Baguio, to many, is best known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", with its cool climate making this a spot to escape the chaotic scenes in Manila. The city is also home to tropical pine forests, lending the city the nickname "City of Pines". It serves as a tourist hub in the Cordilleras, serving as a jumping point to other tourist spots like Mount Pulag, Sagada and Banaue.

Baguio is considered a city separate from the province of Benguet, but it is considered part of Benguet practically, and it is the economic center for both the province and the Cordillera region. Some of the city's tourism promotions also point to nearby La Trinidad, which is both administratively and geographically in Benguet, and is the provincial capital.

The city originated as a hill outpost by the Americans in the 1900s. Road connection is provided by the zigzagging Kennon Road, and the city is planned by the noted architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham. Originally intended to be the summer capital of the Philippines, then an American colony, it soon gained its position as a popular tourist destination to many Manileños escaping the heat, noise, and crowds of the metropolis. The city has been badly damaged by the destructive Central Luzon earthquake in 1990, but the city since recovered.

Lying at in the Cordilleras, Baguio has milder temperatures, and is quite temperate than the rest of Luzon and the country as well. The climate is highland subtropical, with temperatures cooler than the lowlands, and conditions reminiscent of spring. The coldest temperatures ever recorded in the city is 6.3C. Chilly northeastern monsoon winds from Siberia can cause nighttime lows to drop almost near freezing, with frost forming from moisture turning into ice due to wind chill. Despite its altitude, Baguio has not experienced any snowfall.

The city is best visited during the dry season between November and April, when the northeast monsoon blows through northern Luzon, and rainfall is at its lowest. The cool dry season is Baguio's peak season for tourists. The rest of the year is rather rainy, and it is rather the off season for tourists.

  • Burnham Park. Go for a walk or go rowing on Burnham Lake. Visit the recently renovated Rose Garden or have fun with the kids in the Burnham Park Playground.
  • Camp John Hay. This former R&R facility for American military personnel during the American occupation was turned over to the Philippine Government in 1991. Now under the auspices of the Bases Conversion & Development Authority (BCDA), Camp John Hay is a sort of country club complete with an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and camping, among other activities. A condotel is in operation. Renovations in the resort have added different activities such as a paintball arena and zip-lining. This place can get very crowded on weekends.
  • Mines View Park. Enjoy the view of the beautiful mountain scenery with other various attractions. If you're looking for the special "Man-In-A-Barrel" souvenir and other phallic souvenirs you will find them here.
  • Philippine Military Academy. The Philippines' premier military cadet training center. It is recommended to visit P.M.A. during Saturdays as this is where the cadet groups practice field activities. The "Hundred Night Show" is a yearly play conducted by cadets and officers during December.
  • Session Road. The main thoroughfare of Baguio, where most of the city activity is centered. SM mall and Burnham Park are walking distance.
  • Lion's Head, Kennon Road, Camp 6. Limestone sculpture of a lion by the Baguio chapter of the Lions Club. It is carved by Ifugao artist Anselmo Bayang Day-ag and is considered as the Baguio's "entrance marker" for tourists coming from south of the city.

Burnham Park. Go for a walk or go rowing on Burnham Lake. Visit the recently renovated Rose Garden or have fun with the kids in the Burnham Park Playground.

Camp John Hay. This former R&R facility for American military personnel during the American occupation was turned over to the Philippine Government in 1991. Now under the auspices of the Bases Conversion & Development Authority (BCDA), Camp John Hay is a sort of country club complete with an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding and camping, among other activities. A condotel is in operation. Renovations in the resort have added different activities such as a paintball arena and zip-lining. This place can get very crowded on weekends.

Mines View Park. Enjoy the view of the beautiful mountain scenery with other various attractions. If you're looking for the special "Man-In-A-Barrel" souvenir and other phallic souvenirs you will find them here.

Philippine Military Academy. The Philippines' premier military cadet training center. It is recommended to visit P.M.A. during Saturdays as this is where the cadet groups practice field activities. The "Hundred Night Show" is a yearly play conducted by cadets and officers during December.

Session Road. The main thoroughfare of Baguio, where most of the city activity is centered. SM mall and Burnham Park are walking distance.

Lion's Head, Kennon Road, Camp 6. Limestone sculpture of a lion by the Baguio chapter of the Lions Club. It is carved by Ifugao artist Anselmo Bayang Day-ag and is considered as the Baguio's "entrance marker" for tourists coming from south of the city.

  • Panagbenga: The Baguio Flower Festival is held every February. Street parades, colorful floats and costumes and native dance displays have drawn huge crowds to Baguio every year.
  • Horse back riding: Wright Park and its surroundings. It costs per hour ( for half an hour), plus a guide fee if you want to ride beyond the park.
  • Baguio City Night Market: Harisson Road, Session Road, and surrounding streets. Around 11PM, when the normal hustle of the city cools down, the night market takes to the street. Buy clothes, shoes, and accessories at low prices. Make sure to bring a tumbler of coffee to fight off the cold as you peruse their goods.
  • North Haven Spa, 21 Avelino Street, Ferguson Rd, +63 74 3005022. 10AM-10PM. Aside from the usual Thai, Swedish and combination massage, you can have a Baguio strawberry, Benguet coffee or Cordillera rice scrub, an indigenous head massage or the Dagdagis or Kolkolis, the region’s traditional foot massage using runo sticks to stimulate the soles of the feet.
  • Spa de belles fleurs, 5th floor ES Clemente Bldg. Otek St (Chowking Burnham, in front of Baguio Orchidarium, +63 74 424 1230. M-Th 10AM-10PM; F-Su 10AM-12AM. Body and facial treatments. “Spa de Belles Fleurs” means spa with beautiful flowers in English. .

Panagbenga: The Baguio Flower Festival is held every February. Street parades, colorful floats and costumes and native dance displays have drawn huge crowds to Baguio every year.

Horse back riding: Wright Park and its surroundings. It costs per hour ( for half an hour), plus a guide fee if you want to ride beyond the park.

Baguio City Night Market: Harisson Road, Session Road, and surrounding streets. Around 11PM, when the normal hustle of the city cools down, the night market takes to the street. Buy clothes, shoes, and accessories at low prices. Make sure to bring a tumbler of coffee to fight off the cold as you peruse their goods.

North Haven Spa, 21 Avelino Street, Ferguson Rd, +63 74 3005022. 10AM-10PM. Aside from the usual Thai, Swedish and combination massage, you can have a Baguio strawberry, Benguet coffee or Cordillera rice scrub, an indigenous head massage or the Dagdagis or Kolkolis, the region’s traditional foot massage using runo sticks to stimulate the soles of the feet.

Spa de belles fleurs, 5th floor ES Clemente Bldg. Otek St (Chowking Burnham, in front of Baguio Orchidarium, +63 74 424 1230. M-Th 10AM-10PM; F-Su 10AM-12AM. Body and facial treatments. “Spa de Belles Fleurs” means spa with beautiful flowers in English. .

  • Good Shepherd Convent, 15 Gibraltar Rd, +63 74 442 3865. Baguio City. Peanut brittle, strawberry jam, sesame crunch and ube (purple yam) jam.
  • Woven articles - various articles ranging from wristbands and bookmarks through hand bags and rucksacks to slippers, all hand woven.
  • Wood carvings - rice god figurines, traditional Ifugao houses and other nice carvings made from hard wood.

  • Porta Vaga Mall, Session Road, +63 74 304-0109. 9am-8pm. Also hosts a Robinsons Supermarket.
  • SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill, Upper Session Road, +63 74 6197838 42. 10am-9pm. A large shopping mall in Baguio. It hosts a SM Supermarket. This mall is unusual among most Philippine malls you generally find because it lacks air conditioning; instead, cooling is provided by Baguio's naturally cold air.
  • Puregold Supermarket. 8AM-8PM.

Porta Vaga Mall, Session Road, +63 74 304-0109. 9am-8pm. Also hosts a Robinsons Supermarket.

SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill, Upper Session Road, +63 74 6197838 42. 10am-9pm. A large shopping mall in Baguio. It hosts a SM Supermarket. This mall is unusual among most Philippine malls you generally find because it lacks air conditioning; instead, cooling is provided by Baguio's naturally cold air.

Puregold Supermarket. 8AM-8PM.

Good Shepherd Convent, 15 Gibraltar Rd, +63 74 442 3865. Baguio City. Peanut brittle, strawberry jam, sesame crunch and ube (purple yam) jam.

Woven articles - various articles ranging from wristbands and bookmarks through hand bags and rucksacks to slippers, all hand woven.

Wood carvings - rice god figurines, traditional Ifugao houses and other nice carvings made from hard wood.

Baguio has the usual fastfood joints that are so ubiquitous in major Philippine cities. For a true taste of Baguio, have a bite at the following establishments:

  • Café by the Ruins, 23 Chuntug St., Baguio City, +63 74 4424010. Quaint ambience, hearty salads, pastas and juices and good coffee or tea.
  • Forest House Bistro & Cafe, 16 Loakan Rd. Great music, great service.
  • Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant, Rajah Matanda St., Baguio City (behind Center Mall (Main branch) and Otek St. near Burnham Park (Second branch).
  • Pizza Volante, Session Theatre Building, Session Road. Mon-Sun 24 hrs. Traditional Italian Pizza and Pasta. per person.
  • HB Bistro, 92 T. Alonzo St (opposite the Health Center. 10AM-12AM. Serves a mixture of traditional Filipino dishes like sisig, adobo and chicharon, as well as western food like pizza and pasta. Also has free WiFi, 2 soundproof karaoke rooms, a PS4, and free usage of board games.

Café by the Ruins, 23 Chuntug St., Baguio City, +63 74 4424010. Quaint ambience, hearty salads, pastas and juices and good coffee or tea.

Forest House Bistro & Cafe, 16 Loakan Rd. Great music, great service.

Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant, Rajah Matanda St., Baguio City (behind Center Mall (Main branch) and Otek St. near Burnham Park (Second branch).

Pizza Volante, Session Theatre Building, Session Road. Mon-Sun 24 hrs. Traditional Italian Pizza and Pasta. per person.

HB Bistro, 92 T. Alonzo St (opposite the Health Center. 10AM-12AM. Serves a mixture of traditional Filipino dishes like sisig, adobo and chicharon, as well as western food like pizza and pasta. Also has free WiFi, 2 soundproof karaoke rooms, a PS4, and free usage of board games.

Most of the night life is centered at Nevada Square where numerous bars are clustered ranging from "hot-babe" hotspots to chill-out bars, this is the place to be. There are some good bars outside the square like Urban Sessions and Purple which is a stone's throw away from Nevada Square. 18 BC (Fridays - Reggae Night, Saturdays - Acoustic Night) and Padi's Point draws out bargoers with their regular band.

Baguio has its fair share of Internet cafes scattered around Session Road with Netgear Internet Shop being the closest from Session Road. Many of the malls within the area also have their own Internet cafes but it is generally expensive. Expect to pay around per hour when going to internet shops outside malls. Hotels, restaurants, and malls are now offering free WiFi nowadays so if you're able to find a nice spot you can just waste your time surfing the web.

Many of the hotels do not have laundry service and finding a place to get your clothes washed can be difficult.

  • Elegant Washers Laundry Shop, * 31 Bonifacio St (corner of Bonifacio St. and Magsaysay Ave. 10 min walk from Burnham Park, +63 74 423-0432. Open 7 days a week from 8AM-7PM. Ring the bell at the front desk if you don't see an assistant. /kilo for two day service or for next day rush service.
  • Lala Laundry, Luna Ave. (on the corner of Mabini St and Luna Ave. There is no sign on the outside of the building, but you can identify the correct building by the Mang Inasal restaurant on the second floor. Go up the stairs and you’ll see a sign near the staircase for Lala Laundry on the third floor.. You may have to let out a howler if no one is at the front desk.

Elegant Washers Laundry Shop, * 31 Bonifacio St (corner of Bonifacio St. and Magsaysay Ave. 10 min walk from Burnham Park, +63 74 423-0432. Open 7 days a week from 8AM-7PM. Ring the bell at the front desk if you don't see an assistant. /kilo for two day service or for next day rush service.

Lala Laundry, Luna Ave. (on the corner of Mabini St and Luna Ave. There is no sign on the outside of the building, but you can identify the correct building by the Mang Inasal restaurant on the second floor. Go up the stairs and you’ll see a sign near the staircase for Lala Laundry on the third floor.. You may have to let out a howler if no one is at the front desk.

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Marcos Highway Rotunda, BGH Compound, +63 74 661 7910. Government Hospital

Benguet General Hospital, Halsema Highway, La Trinidad, +63 74 442 3165. Government Hospital

Notre Dame De Chartres Hospital, General Luna Road, +63 74 424-3361, +63 74 619-8530. Private Hospital

Saint Louis University-Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Assumption Road, +63 74 442 5700. Private University Hospital

Pines City Doctor's Hospital, Magsaysay Avenue, +63 74 442 4308. Private University Hospital

Sto. Niño Jesus Medical Center, * 28, Lower P. Burgos Street. Private University Hospital

As a number one rule, always secure your belongings. Keep your passports/visas/important papers at the hotel safe (if there is one available at your hotel) or in a safe place. Cellphone snatching and purse dippers are a problem but common sense and safety can keep you safe.

Crime normally increases during the holidays and Panagbenga as thousands of people visit Baguio City.

  • La Trinidad (Benguet)
  • San Fernando (La Union)
  • Vigan
  • Dagupan
  • Sagada
  • Mount Pulag in Benguet is the highest mountain in Luzon (2922 MASL) and a very popular hiking destination with its stunning scenery and "sea of clouds" views of the Cordillera mountain range. Different trails offer a diverse range of difficulty and days required. A must-visit trekking destination for outdoor enthusiasts travelling in the Philippines. TrailAdventours ([mailto:info@trailadventours info@trailadventours]) arranges trips to Mt. Pulag either from Manila or Baguio City.

Take a bus heading north to Sagada from the Lizardo Trans bus terminal. The first bus is at 6AM and there are several services afterward. The fare is and the ride takes 6-8 hours.