Baguio City Adventure Tours: Philippines Travel Diary
Before heading to Cordillera Administrative Region for another jam-packed adventure and activities, our 2-day (Day 26-27) excursion in El Nido and Puerto Princesa gave us a glimpse of Palawan’s rich marine life. There we met helpful local people, and took stunning pictures of the scenic and tranquil beaches on the island.
Travel Diary for Day 28-29:
As a kick start to this 2-day adventure trip (Day 28-29), we traveled back to Manila in the island of Luzon to get everything we needed for our stop over in Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
You might have heard of Baguio before, haven’t you? Also known as the “City of Pines”, it is more than just cool mountain air, breathtaking views, and rich cultural legacy.
As a famous tourist destination in the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon, Baguio City is a mixture of beautiful cultures and a home to local crafts, historical parks and museums, and traditional Cordillera lifestyles. Surely, you’ll want to meet them in the eye.
The pleasant climate and verdant pine trees make Baguio an ideal getaway for local and foreign guests looking for an escape from the tropical heat of the bustling metro. It was for this same reason why American soldiers built a hill station in Baguio during Americans colonizátion in the Philippines in the early 1900s. They even considered it a home away from home. For these soldiers, the city’s cold weather relieved them from homesickness, because it reminded them of their snowy hometown.
Day 28: How do we get from Puerto Princesa to Manila by Plane?
20 March:
Today (Day 28), we ran late. So, we had to rush from our accommodation to the airport in Puerto Princesa to catch our flight to Manila. We requested our tricycle driver to take all possible shortcuts to avoid the busy early morning traffic in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. A tricycle is a Filipino-style motorcycle with a sidecar that transports passengers on short distances. We barely made it to our flight on time, but fortunately we did.
If you are flying from Manila to Puerto Princesa, Palawan or vice versa, you will reach your destination in approximately 1 hour.
How do we Prepare for the Trip to Cordillera Mountains?
Back in Manila, we shopped for things we needed for our trip to the Cordillera mountains at the Mall of Asia in Pasay, Metro Manila. Cyberzone is a one-stop shop that sells all sorts of trendy electronic gadgets from authorized sellers. I (Dani) accompanied Zak in buying a new phone to control his drone.
You might be wondering if you can bring drones in the Philippines. As long as it is for commercial and recreational purposes, “Yes, you can”.
Since we were already in the Philippines’ largest shopping mall, we bought a few more things for our upcoming trip in Buscalan Village, in the mountains of Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). We grabbed some sweets and dried fruit snacks for pasalubong (a treat or souvenir given by someone who just returned from a trip to friends at home).
After shopping, we stopped by Marc’s place in Makati, Manila. It was nice to hang out with Marc and Stefan who migrated to the Philippines from Europe. For the meantime, we stored some of our equipment at his (Marc’s) place for safekeeping, while we were touring around different destinations in the Philippines. We need to use various kinds of gear for our adventure trips in the country. We realized that it is always good to have these top essentials when you travel in the Philippines, especially in the northern part.
Do you know that you have a lot of transportation options in Metro Manila? You won’t have a problem getting around the capital of the Philippines when you know where you are going.
How do we Get from Manila to Baguio City by Bus?
Late at night, we took off and got to the Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Pasay, Manila – from where we took a provincial bus to Baguio. We headed to Benguet Province. The bus trip from Manila to Baguio, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), took around 8 hours depending on the traffic. We traveled more or less 243 kilometers, and reached Baguio City without feeling uncomfortable.
Do you want to know what made our trip convenient? Here’s the catch! We made the right decision in choosing a public bus transport that offers a deluxe seat, a bigger legroom space, and a bathroom on-board. If your budget allows you for a little upgrade, we recommend choosing this transport option for a more relaxed long-distance trip.
Check out our ultimate travel guide to the summer capital of the Philippines to know how to get there, when is the best time to visit, and which best places to see and stay.
Google My Maps Baguio City Travel Adventures: Day 28-29
If planning a trip to Baguio City, check out the Google My Maps below to experience activities and adventures, and get to know different routes and directions, accommodations to stay, attractions to visit, and restaurants to dine in. Visit the Baguio City travel Google My Map to learn more about our Philippines Travel routes and adventures.
Day 29: How do we Explore the Tourist Spots in Baguio City?
How do we Try Jollibee-Filipino Fast Food in Baguio City?
Unfortunately, all taxis were booked at that time. So, we looked for a shelter somewhere and ended up going to Jollibee. It is a Filipino fast-food chain similar to McDonald’s that sells burgers, chicken, sundae, and many others. It is typical to find Jollibee in most of the cities and towns in the Philippines.
The food was okay, and the restaurant’s customer service was excellent. Summing it up, our experience at Jollibee Filipino fast food restaurant was fun. On top of that, you will be amazed by the variety of places to eat and the best foods in Baguio.
It kept on raining, but we made our way back to the Transient House. It was a very long day, so we rested early.
What are the Best Accommodations in Baguio?
The crushing heat of Manila makes locals and foreigners look forward to the Baguio coolness. The breezy "City of Pines" is home to verdant forests, fresh fruit, and hilly landscapes. Here are some accommodations that you might want to include in your itinerary.
What are the Top Things to do in Baguio?
Baguio City is one of the highly urbanized and most-visited cities on the island of Luzon. With its booming economy and around 345,000 inhabitants, urban planners have taken a cautious approach to build, rebuild, and develop the city's layout.
Visitors to Baguio Citycan expect marvelous sights as they visit the top destinations that pay homage to the past. Interested? Come and explore some of the top things to do in Baguio City:
Google My Maps Philippines Travel Diary: Day 1 to Day 51
Check out the Google Maps below, to have an overview of the entire 51 days of Philippines travel adventure including exciting attractions and activities we did, destinations we explored, and travel directions in the Philippines.
Philippines Adventure Tours from Day: 1 to Day: 51
The Philippines is home to the best destinations that any adventurer should not miss. Here is a complete overview of the Philippines Travel Diary experience for our 51-day trip to the different tourist attractions in the country.
Day 1-2: Manila Adventure Tours
Day 3-4: Bantayan Island Adventure Tours
Day 5-6: Cebu City & South Cebu Adventure Tours
Day 7-8: Southern Visayas Island of Negros Adventure Tours
Day 9-11: Siquijor Island Adventure Tours
Day 12-14: Guimaras Island Adventure Tours
Day 15-17: Gigantes Island Adventure Tours
Day 18-20: Philippine Visa Extension & Food Tours in Metro Manila
Day 21-23: Puerto Princesa Adventure Tours
Day 24-25: El Nido Adventure Tours
Day 26-27: El Nido Motorbike Adventure & Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour
Day 28-29: Baguio City Adventure Tours
Day 30-31: Sagada Adventure Tours
Day 32-33: Buscalan, Kalinga Adventure Tours
Day 34: Banaue, Batad Rice Terraces Adventure Tours
Day 35-36: Pangasinan Adventure Tours
Day 37-38: Hundred Islands National Park Adventure Tours
Day 42-47: Metro Manila Adventure Tours
Day 40-41: Leyte Eastern Visayas Adventure Tours
Day 48- 50: The Bamboo Paraiso Beach Resort & Hundred Islands Adventures
Day 51: Best Tour in Pangasinan & Back to Manila