Trip to Baguio, Philippines

About 7 or so hours drive North of Manila is Baguio.

It’s located nearly 5,000 feet above sea level in the middle of the mountainous part of Northern Luzon.

And it’s spectacular.

At least the countryside around it and some of the developments are. The city itself is like many other Philippine cities – colourful, but noisy and polluted.

However two places that are well worth a visit are Camp John Hay – a resort development with a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, plus hotels and cottages – and Mines View.

Getting to Baguio involves a road trip from Manila.

You can take one of the long distance buses (very cheap) or you can hire a car and driver (more expensive but still excellent value), or you can drive yourself.

Road travel in the Philippines is not as safe as in Europe, the US or Australia but, oddly, I find driving there to be quite easy.

The problem with the buses is that they’re driven at break-neck speeds and maintenance is often less than thorough. So traveling on them is always interesting.

If you get a good driver, of course, a car and driver is a great option.

But I always prefer to drive myself when I visit, because if I’m driving I’m in control.

I can (and do) pull over to let the buses past. I’d rather have them in front of me where I can see what they’re up to, than sitting on my rear number plate with possibly dodgy brakes.

The first part of the drive from Manila (about 60 miles or so) is on the North Luzon Expressway. The NLE is a good quality 2 or 3 lane highway. No problems there.

But once you get to Angeles the NLE ends and you get onto single-lane-each-way roads. And your average speed plummets.

There are all sorts of vehicles on these roads. From heavy farm vehicles carrying sugar cane, to the buses, to normal cars, jeepneys and tricycles.

All of them traveling at a wide range of speeds and all of them likely to turn across in front of you without the slightest indication.

So defensive driving is a must.

The problem with a car and driver is that if you do have an accident, and the other people involved see the car contains a foreigner, your problems instantly multiply.

Of course, the same risk exists if you’re driving yourself – but at least you’re in control and I’ve never experienced any problems.

Again, though, defensive driving is a must!

So, continuing North along the MacArthur Highway you get to Agoo, from where you have two options for getting to Baguio:

1. Kennon Road, which is fully tarmacced but from which buses and heavy vehicles are excluded
2. Marcos highway, which is a better road, used by the buses and heavy vehicles, but not nearly as spectacular.

If you’re in a car I do recommend Kennon Road. (If you’re in a bus you’ll have no choice – it’ll be Marcos Highway).

Travelling along Kennon Road you climb from somewhere near sea level up nearly 5,000 feet to Baguio.

And you travel along winding roads up the sides of mountains, through gorges and past attractive villages along the way.

The climate in Baguio is completely different to much of the Philippines because of the altitude. It’s less humid and a lot cooler. And cold in the Winter – which nowhere else in Philippines is!

When you get to Baguio two places to head for are Camp John Hay and Mines View.

Camp John Hay was originally a US forces camp. Today it’s been developed into a spectacular resort with a world-class golf course, hotels, self-catering cottages, a convention centre and shopping malls.

Plus you can explore the roughly 1,700 acres, which make up the property. They’re largely forested, but with well maintained paths and trails you can follow.

And you can do this either on foot or on horse-back (pony-back actually).

The other place to head for is Mines View.

Whereas John Hay camp is restful, Mines View is a hive of activity with lots of stalls and small shops selling local products, and all the usual hustling from people trying to sell you typical tourist stuff.

But the views out across the mountains are wonderful.

Here are a few pictures (click on the thumbnail below and then again on the resulting picture to get a decent sized image):

If you’re traveling to Philippines I do recommend a visit to Baguio. Because of its location, the climate is very different to most of the Philippines and the surrounding area is beautiful.

As long as you like mountains, that is.

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