TRAVEL: A Guide To The Philippines’ Summer Capital
- Jane Saya
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos and foreign tourists head up to the mountains of Baguio to escape the heat. With the improved roads and infrastructure, it only takes around 4-5 hours to get there from Metro Manila.
Baguio has plenty of attractions and activities to keep you and your whole family entertained for days. If you want things to be smooth and efficient, you’re going to need to plan ahead. Here are some things you should know before booking your road trip to the summer capital.
The Ride
As with any road trip you undertake, you have to make sure your ride is safe and ready for the long drive. Check your car’s tires, oil, fluids, brakes, and just double-check everything is good to go for the trip. This is very important, especially when you take into consideration that some stretches of road on the way have very few gas stations or repair shops to stop at. It is advised that you gas up, especially before undertaking the winding and somewhat intimidating Kennon Road. From experience, it is also best if you have an SUV to make the climb up the steep roads a little easier.
Accomodation
When it comes to booking your accommodation, a quick search will tell you that you have plenty of options. There are many small hotels around the city, and even more apartments and houses you can rent for the weekend. One thing you must note when looking at places is that not all establishments have a parking area available, and if they do, it tends to be limited. Some will charge extra to reserve a parking spot for the whole duration of your stay.
Another thing I learned in my search for accommodation is that you need to check not just well-known booking websites but also social media platforms like Facebook or even TikTok. Covering all the different platforms will widen your options. Not all establishments have their own websites, and not all accommodations are on booking sites. The more personal spaces that are being rented out, such as condo units and small houses, can usually be found on social media and are being run by a regular person or family.
Something else to note is that not all establishments have air conditioning. However, it’s not always necessary, especially if you are staying in an apartment or home. Keeping a couple of windows open at night to let the breeze through is sometimes enough. If they don’t have air conditioning, they will have electric fans, which you’ll find are more than enough to cool you down.
My last suggestion for accommodation is to book something around Burnham Park if you want to be close to everything. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around the area, and of course, you don’t want to miss the night market with all the thrifting and food you can buy and eat.
If you book right around the area of the park and don’t mind walking, you can easily reach places by walking through the park. Even at night, it’s pretty well lit, and of course, walking isn’t as taxing on the body when the temperature is lower than what we’re used to in the city.
What You Should Pack
During the day, you can wear regular clothes. Jeans and a t-shirt are fine for whatever activities you have for the day. For the summer season specifically, at night, you will need a light jacket, hoodie, or sweater if you will be outdoors. During the months of April and May, the temperature can drop to as low as 18 degrees Celsius in the evenings.
If you are the type of person to try and hit as many hot spots in a day as possible, I suggest you pack a good pair of sneakers. Many of the attractions involve a lot of stairs, walking, and just generally being outdoors. When walking the streets to explore, you’ll quickly notice the many inclines and dips of the roads, and having good walking shoes on will make the exploration more comfortable.
Attractions
When it comes to the attractions, they are mostly accessible by car. Most places you want to see are usually just a 30-minute drive away, depending on the traffic. It’s also best to use a navigation app to help you get there, since there are plenty of winding roads that branch out from each other, and it can be easy to get lost. Not all attractions have signs to direct you, so it’s really best to just utilize whichever navigation app you regularly use.
One of the most important attractions to see is the famous strawberry farms in La Trinidad Valley, which is 30 minutes away from the city proper. I suggest you try to get there early, before the sun beats down on you, or go later in the afternoon when things are a little cooler.
To get the best strawberries and goods, though, go there early in the morning before they sell out. The coveted and rare sweet white strawberries usually sell out well before midday.
You can also walk around the strawberry fields without having to pick any if you don’t want to. There are plenty of stalls selling strawberries already cleaned and pre-packed.
The Philippines have plenty of destinations you can go to during the summer. However, nothing quite beats the cool temperatures and rolling mountainscapes of Baguio.
So, with these tips and tricks,
you can now have a smooth, breezy summer amid the pine forests, strawberry fields and panoramic terrains of what is known as the summer capital of the Philippines.
Accommodations
Green Valley
Europa Legarda
Places to Visit
Ben Cab Museum
Ili-Likha
Strawberry Farm
Burnham Park
Maryknoll Sanctuary
Places to Eat
Oh My Gulay!
Cafe By The Ruins
Chaya Japanese Restaurant
