If you’re studying in the Philippines for a short while, you’ll probably have no trouble finding tourist spots. But if you’re planning to stay for a long while, it might be worth checking out the local scenery. But, because they’re local, there are some issues.

はふた

How do I access there…?

When that happens, I suggest going on sightseeing tours that are set up for locals.

In this article, we’ll talk about the pros of using group tours for sightseeing in the Philippines.

This article is a continuation of “Dingalan, Aurora. Beach and Island Tour“. I suggest reading the article above first, since the first part is especially relevant.

Joiners Groups in the Philippines

I’ve used Philippine tour groups twice before.

The first time was when I went on a really tough day-long mountaineering trip to Mt. Pulag, and the second time was on this trip to Aurora.

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You have to go to Baguio right now

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Dingalan, Aurora. Beach and Island Tour

The Philippines has a lot of really beautiful places. There are all kinds of different types, like ocean, mountain, and

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When I traveled to San Juan, Vigan, Banaue, and other places in the past, I’d rent a van to get around. That worked well for me because I wanted to decide the time allocation on my own.

However, Mt. Pulag and Aurora are a different story. I had to go through some special procedures at the site.

As foreigners, it’s tough, and it’s also hard to get the info we need beforehand.

We’d like to get info from our language school teachers, but most of them reply, 👦”I don’t know much about it…. People in Baguio tend to stay inside a lot!

Advantages of using a tour company

If you are going to a place you are not familiar with, rely on professionals. There are several advantages to taking a tour.

• Travel plans are available
• Group rates apply
• Meet new people

Travel plans are available

If you’re having a hard time making plans in a new place, get someone who knows the area well to make an itinerary for you. With a local guide, you won’t have to worry about getting tickets or paying for anything when you get there.

On this Aurora trip, they took care of everything from getting us around, including transfers, to arranging the boat and lunch.　The process was finished in the shortest time possible, which was great in terms of time efficiency.

Group rates apply

Taking a tour can also save you money. That’s because the cost of transportation and guides can be split among a group. In general, if you want to keep transportation costs low, you’ll probably think about using buses. But if you’re traveling to a wide range of places, the costs can really add up. Using taxis or tricycles with a small number of people is often more expensive.

The tour company has an all-inclusive price. The price is set and doesn’t change based on the number of people. The price for Aurora was 1,800 pesos for a day trip, including transportation, van, boat, guide, and lunch. I think the price was pretty reasonable.

Meet new people

It’s a good or a bad thing, depending on who you are, but it’s a great way to meet new people. The tour plan, called a joiner, is basically for Filipinos who live there. The other participants are all Filipinos. I’ve found that the tour participants are usually pretty friendly towards foreigners.

Since English is the common language in the Philippines, communication is not a problem. This is a unique advantage for the Philippines, where English is widely spoken. Filipinos are friendly towards foreigners who are interested in the Philippines. When you travel with them, they’ll tell you about good food and hidden spots, which will make your trip even better.

Aurora Joiner Travel Memorandum

I’d like to go over the details of the joiner’s trip one more time. Here’s the schedule we were given ahead of time:

【Day 0】Applying

I registered for the joiner tour I participated in this time through Facebook. The registration was finished 15 hours before the tour started. It was less than a day after the reservation was completed. It was a total coincidence that we almost joined the tour. The deciding factor was “this picture.

“SEAT SALE” basically means a last-minute discount. This ad popped up on Facebook out of the blue. I had been thinking, “I’d like to visit Aurora someday,” and when I noticed I had already applied. This image doesn’t show the price or percentage discount. If you want the details, you’ll have to contact the tour group directly. Just so you know, “PM” stands for “Private Message.”

So I sent the following message.

はふた

Here is the message that came back.

Tour agency

For 1,800 pesos, a five-hour day trip each way is definitely worth it. At this point, the more I heard about the event, the more I wanted to participate—but I decided to get some details about the itinerary first. Here’s the plan that was sent to me.

I also found out that the original price was 1,999 pesos. It was actually a 10% discount. I’m leaving in 10 hours. So, I hurried to get ready. The other instructions I received are following.

Also, I need to pay in advance to reserve a tour. The amount is 500 pesos. I paid with online money transfer using “Gcash,” one of the local cashless payment methods. The rest of the payment will be due at the end of the tour.

At the meeting point

We were planning to leave at 1:30 AM, so I took a nap at 9 PM. the night before and left school around midnight. We’ll meet near the Victory Liner bus terminal. It was right around the same time when I went to Mt. Pulag.

Before, the van was parked in a big lot at Jollibee, but this time it was parked on the main street. I met my driver 30 minutes before departure. Thankfully, he was already on standby.

But, this is the Philippines. It’s a place where being laid back and on time, or what they call “Filipino time,” is the usual way of doing things. I’m wondering what time we’ll all be getting together.

I feared it would be late, but the meeting was completed 15 minutes before departure. They were on time, and some of them even got there before me. Like I noticed on my last trip to Mt. Pulag, Filipinos who love to travel are always on time.

Departure to Aurora

There were 11 people on the tour. Also, there was one guide and one driver, for a total of 13 people. It was a late night, so there wasn’t a formal introduction, and we all headed out right after we got together.

Once again, I was the only foreigner there. The van was pretty much packed, with 11 people crammed into the back three rows.

Then, we started our journey down the winding mountain roads of Baguio. The inside of the van was dark and quiet, so I was able to sleep without any problems.

Breakfast At The Restaurant

Three hours after leaving Baguio, I was asleep. Before I knew it, I had arrived at my first destination.

Here is the venue of the breakfast.「Helen’s NINGNANGAN and RESTAURANT」

It’s 4:30 a.m., and the sun hasn’t come up yet, but the place is full of customers. Of course, all the customers are Filipinos, except for me.

Breakfast is a budget meal called “turo turo” or “silog,” where you pick from a bunch of side dishes. There’s a staff member there to serve you your meal, and you can just point to what you want.

I chose the stir-fried corned beef and spring rolls + garlic rice. The price was 100 pesos.

It’s just as good as it looks, and the whole thing is pretty decadent. Some people might find this meal a bit heavy, but I’m used to Filipino food and I liked it.

To The Peninsula Tour!

After breakfast, it was time to head out for a tour of the peninsula. We’re starting in a port called Dingalan. As I said in my last article, the sea and mountains look stunning in the morning sun.

This is where the tour of the peninsula starts, and there are always new families and tours coming in. That’s where tours come in handy, because you can just sit back and let them take care of everything.

The tour representative will take care of everything from registration to boat arrangements, so all we participants have to do is wait. Once you’ve finished the sign-up process, we’ll listen to the orientation in Tagalog, and then we’re all set to go.

You can read more about sightseeing from here in our previous blog. Please click here!

Lunch is a traditional Filipino boodle fight!

After enjoying the beach, caves, and hiking, it’s time for lunch. We’ll have a “boodle fight“—it’s a traditional Filipino meal.

Here, they have a big platter of rice, side dishes, and fruits all laid out on a banana leaf, and everyone just eats it by hand. This might be a bit of a struggle for individuals or small groups of travelers, but it’s part of the program if you’re on a tour.

Since we’re near the ocean this time, the food options have more seafood. Fresh shrimp, squid, and shellfish are served on top. This rice is super easy to eat, and I ended up eating twice as much as usual!

To the famons Waterfall

The main part of the tour trip was to visit the peninsula, but there was another destination. That is “Tanawan Falls,” a locally famous waterfall.

It is about 30 minutes away from Dingalan Feeder Port by van.

When I heard the word “waterfall,” I had an image of a waterfall deep in the mountains surrounded by nature, but Tanawan Falls has been converted into a tourist attraction that looks like an amusement park.

We’ve got athletic and photo spots, swimming pools, dormitories, and zip lines. All of these are there to give you a waterfall and activity experience.

There are four plans you can use, and you can choose your preferences.

I was a little tired from my tour of the peninsula, so I decided to enter with a plan to see only the waterfalls.

After checking in at the reception desk, it took about 10 minutes to get to the path and stairs, which were in good shape. Here’s what I saw.

Overflowing with people, people, people…!

That’s not surprising, since this was in the middle of Holy Week, a four-day holiday weekend in May. No wonder it was so crowded.

I ended up just relaxing by the waterfall and cooling off in the pool for about 30 minutes.

I wouldn’t say Tanawan Falls is a must-see for everyone. If you’re looking for a natural waterfall, I’d suggest checking out Tangadan Falls near San Juan Beach.

But the view from the reception desk was really nice.

Buy Souvenirs

The trip ends with shopping at a small market where there are a bunch of souvenir shops. The market is about 5 or 6 stores, a little larger than the Salisari Store. There weren’t any specialties, just the usual snacks and sweets.

I bought just this T-shirt. I love collecting local T-shirts, so this was a must-have for me.

Then it was back to Baguio, leaving Aurora around 5:30PM, arriving and disbanding around 10:30PM.

After the joiner trip…

After this joiner trip, I once again felt grateful for the English culture in the Philippines. I can communicate with other tourists and get information that only locals could know.

When they talk to me, they speak English, but when it comes to Filipinos talking to each other, they speak Tagalog. Some of you might not be able to stand it because you’ll be in a situation where you don’t know what they’re talking about.

So, here are the people we’re looking to join the tour:

The local people who participate in joiners are pretty friendly and helpful. Sure, there are individual differences, but the hurdles aren’t as high as you’d expect.

Here are the tour groups I used this time.

If you follow it on Facebook, you might find some interesting places and unexpected sales. If you’re interested in a group trip, I hope you’ll join us on one of our tours!

Popular spots like “Hundred Islands” and “Vigan” are a hit with international students in Baguio.

はふた

Hey, do you want to visit some cool local tourist spots that most foreign students don’t know about?

We’ll show you the beaches and mountains in a local area of the Philippines called “Aurora.” You’ll get a stunning view…!

Where is Aurora, Dingalan?

Aurora is a province on the east coast of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines. It’s shaped like a long narrow area along the coast, as you can see on the map below.

Aurora is about 200 km from Baguio, and the trip takes less than 4 hours. Depending on the destination, you might have to add a few hours on top of that.

Dingalan, our destination this time, is an extra hour away. To put it simply, it takes about five hours there and back from Baguio.

As usual, you have to take a winding mountain road to get from Baguio to the city. If you get easily car sick, be sure to prepare some medicine to avoid being it.

Climate of Aurora Dingaland

In April of 2025.

April is the end of the dry season and the start of the rainy season, which is said to be the hottest time of year in many parts of the country.

Here’s the temperature difference: Compared to Baguio, which is cooler, Aurora Province has an everlasting summer climate.

Weather forecast in Baguio

Weather forecast in Aurora

Since this trip was a late night departure and early morning arrival, it wasn’t too hot at 5:00 a.m., and I was fine wearing a hoodie.

But then the sun came out in the afternoon, making it hard to spend a lot of time in places where the sun is shining.

Sightseeing Spots in Aurora, Dingalan

One of the best things you can do in Aurora is to visit the spectacular natural scenery.

This time, I visited two spots with a tour company.

• Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula
• Tanawan Falls

Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula

The main part of the itinerary is a tour of this peninsula. It is a great plan to enjoy both the sea and the mountains.

The most famous of all is Batanes of the East, rated 4.8 stars (450) on Google Maps. There were only high rating reviews and very few bad reviews.

The most frequently used keywords are “hiking,” “climbing,” and “adventure,” and it seems that hands-on activities are highly valued.

Tanawan Falls

At first glance, “Tanawan Falls” seems to be just a place with a waterfall surrounded by nature.

In reality, it is an amusement park.

The waterfall play was the main attraction, but the park had been artificially enhanced with facilities such as a zip line, photo booth, and dormitories.

The rating on Google Maps is 4.4 stars (380), overall a high rating, but there were some negative comments about it being “small and crowded”. I myself found it to be crowded. Well, it was a visit during a 4-day weekend, so it was a bit unavoidable.

Tour of the Dingalan Peninsula

From here, I would like to talk about the details of the Peninsula Tour!

The model case for the Peninsula Tour is as follows

The Dingalan Peninsula Tour is a plan to charter a boat and go swimming and hiking in the ocean.

Dingalan Feeder Port

Here you will register your name and charter a boat.

The view from the harbor is like the one below. The contrast between the coast, the cliffs, and the mountains is very nice, and everything looks beautifully lit.

I was amazed by the bright green color that reminded me of the “Chocolate Hills“, one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines.

Several small boats are anchored in the harbor and large ships can be seen offshore. In the early morning, you can also see the scenery illuminated by the rising sun. This is a view that cannot be seen in Baguio, which is surrounded by mountains, so it is quite impressive.

Back to the procedure.

To register on the list, you must give your name, address, and date of birth. The registration fee is 60 pesos per person. You will then meet the guides and the boat driver.

I was on a tour, so all the formalities were done by a representative. Then, before we left, we had an orientation…

ツアーガイド

Mangyaring magsuot ng life jacket sa bangka.

はふた

(No way, it’s all Tagalog…!)

So I did not understand the orientation very well…. Well, that was unavoidable since all the tour participants were Filipinos except me. It probably said “wear life jackets on the boat” and “don’t throw your arms and legs out“.

Travel by boat

A total of 13 people (10 tour participants, 1 tour guide and 2 drivers) boarded the boat and went to the base.

Here is the boat we boarded this time.

Life jackets are required during the trip, and you can sit on the side and enjoy the scenery. The speed is slower than a vehicle, but there is a pleasant breeze. The waves are calm and there is no splashing.

When I went to the sea, I thought the green of the mountains was beautiful. The blue of the ocean and the green of the mountains look very nice.

It took me about 20 minutes to get from the harbor to the base. At that time, I felt quite excited.

White Beach Resort

After traveling by boat for a while, you will often see people setting up camp.

Now, I arrived at the destination.

Our base is the White Beach Resort, a beach with campsites. We anchor the boat and go ashore.

The beach is not that big, only about 10 minutes from one end to the other.

It is not as white as the name “White Beach” might suggest, and many parts of the beach are stone scaffolds like mud flats.

The clarity of the sea is like this. At high tide the water is quite clear, but at low tide I felt that the water was quite muddy.

The base for this event was a section of a cabin. A few simple tables and chairs are provided. There is a store and a light hot snack shop nearby.

There is also a first aid house or something near the sea, so you won’t be in trouble in case of an emergency.

Of course, there are toilets and showers, but it is a simple type that you flush yourself.

Batanes of the East

As soon as we arrived at the base, we started hiking without going into the ocean. Behind the White Beach Resort is the entrance to the trail.

We left our big luggage at the base, packed light and were ready to go.

The hiking trail is in the condition shown in the photo. You will have to walk all the way up the trail, which is a mixture of dirt and mud.

By the way, the destination is the part indicated by the arrow in the picture below. The height of the starting point: from 0 m above sea level you have to climb to the top of the hill.

Shoes and flip-flops are not recommended, as some parts of the trail are very muddy. Sandals that can be securely fastened to your feet are recommended.

There are also situations where you have to climb a slope as steep as a staircase. In such places, there are ropes and you should use them well to reach the top.

It took us about 30 minutes to climb the rather hard mountain path. Finally, you are confronted with an impressive view.

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This scene that appeared before my eyes is truly impressive. Both the mountains and the ocean play a leading role, and the contrast of colors is extremely beautiful.

There were vivid colors that felt like they had been image-edited, even though we were supposed to be watching a live scene. The location was so beautiful that I was so surprised and receptive that I could not think of anything else for a while.

One thing you have to be careful about. That is the intense sunlight.

There are few shadows, and the sun shines fiercely, so sunscreen measures such as hats and lotions are essential.

After enjoying the scenery to the fullest, the next stop is the Dingalan Lighthouse.

It is a rather open room with a single high tower on top of a small hill.

Unfortunately, the entrance is blocked, so it is not possible to climb up.

It will take you about 10 minutes to get there.

The trail is well trodden and relatively easy to walk.

The distant view is not much different, but this one was wider with a grassy plain.

Having enjoyed the lighthouse, you are now on your way back. Let’s return to the base on a different route than the one we took.

Dingalan Cave

The last stop is the Cave. Going to the cave is an optional fee and costs 100 pesos per person.

However, it is not like diving into a cave, which is the common image.

It is more like going to see a big hole in the seashore.

You will need to take a boat again from White Beach, where the base is located, to get to the cave.

Go around the protruding part of the peninsula to the other side.

The trip to the cave takes about 20 minutes one way.

You can get as close as this, but you cannot come to shore. We had to jump into the sea and go ashore.

The waves seemed pretty high. Although life jackets are provided, if you are not a good swimmer, you may want to wait on the boat.

I came here because I had to, but I just thought, “It’s a big hole,” so if you have time, you might want to give it a try. It is also fun to take a boat ride.

Return to port

When you have had enough fun and are satisfied, return to the port. Please ask your guide to arrange a return boat for you well in advance.

If you have followed the itinerary to this point, you should have five hours, including time for lunch.

When you arrive at the port, the entire trip is over. Take a van or tricycle to your destination or return home.

Conclusion

In this article I introduced the beaches in the area of Aurora, on the east coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.

It is a fun place to experience something new and full of local flavor.

I joined a tour I found on Facebook and all the other participants were Filipinos.

I didn’t hear a word of Japanese, Korean or even English on the beach. I was immersed in Tagalog for the first time in a long time.

The price was 1,800 pesos.

I think this price is quite reasonable for the van, boat, guide and lunch included.

If visiting on your own is too difficult, you may want to join a tour.

I hope you will refer to this article and visit the Aurora Borealis, a hidden and spectacular place!

Hundred Islands vs. Aurora: Which is better?

Well, while Aurora’s beaches were truly a hidden gem for foreigners, there are other areas where similar activities can be enjoyed.

It’s Hundred Islands.

Marine Activities at Hundred Islands!

We will provide you with the latest information about Handled Island, which is only 4 hours and 30 minutes away from Bag

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It is exactly the same in that you rent a boat and visit the sights. In fact, I thought it was similar to the Hundred Islands during my trip.

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For beginners, Handled Island is recommended.

The reasons are as follows

Used to foreign tourists

ハンドレッドアイランドのスタッフは外国人慣れしているため、積極的に英語で話してくれようとしてくれますし、こちらが拙い英語でもなんとかなることが多いです。

一方、オーロラに外国人はほとんど居ませんでした。スタッフの方は英語も話せるはずですが、あまり慣れていないような印象を受けました。

Easy to access

There is a direct bus service to Alaminos, where Hundred Islands is located. Tricycles to get there are also easy to arrange.

Aurora, on the other hand, is more remote and difficult to get to. Therefore it is better to use a van.

Beautiful ocean

Although it may be due to the conditions of the day, the clarity of the ocean seemed to be higher on the Hundred Islands. Being on the west side of the island, it seems to be less affected by typhoons.

Plenty of activities

Handled Island offers a variety of activities such as zip lines, banana boats and dive sites in addition to snorkeling.

It is overwhelmed by the number of marine activities.

Clean toilets and showers

I think the port from which Handred Island departed had toilets and showers that were relatively clean and easy to use.

Aurora, on the other hand, is very basic. Maybe some people dislike that.

Recommendations in Aurora

However, the Aurora Borealis has a unique feature that only the Aurora Borealis can offer.

This is the capability to enjoy both sea and mountain views.

Batanes of the East in particular is a one-of-a-kind view like no other. I, too, was impressed.

It’s a place you don’t often get a chance to visit, so it’s a great way to experience something different from others.

If you are in the Philippines and have already visited all the major tourist attractions, or if you are looking for an unusual experience, you should definitely visit Aurora Dingalan!

Group trip story; 10 Filipinos, strangers.【The memorandum of Aurora trip】

The most famous tourist attractions on Luzon Island in the Philippines are Manila, Angeles, Vigan, and Baguio.If you&amp

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はふた

I guess what we can see is just rural senary, and everyone exaggerates it or so??
…I thought.

In fact, it is not boring, it’s fun so much, and I realized that it is great place to enjoy activity especially for trekking. Therefore, I’d like to share a whole our travel and the way to enjoy Banaue!

Sightseeing Spots in Banaue

There are 4 sightseeing spots for the begineers where they can choose as below.

1. BATAD VILLAGE & RICE TERRACES
    + TAPPIYAH FALLS
2. BANGAAN VILLAGE & RICE TERRACES
3. BANAUE MAIN VIEW POINT
4. HAPAO RICE TERRACES & HOT SPRINGS

As you know, the most famous place is the Rice Terraces, but there are some different features each other. Among these places above, the most popular one is “1. BATAD VILLAGE & RICE TERRACES + TAPPIYAH FALLS” definitely. On the other hand, the spot where being easy to access is “3. BANAUE MAIN VIEW POINT”, and it takes 1 hour to see all.

Among these choices, we visited 1, 2, and 3. In my opinion, I’d like to rank them as these number, and introduce them in order!

BATAD VILLAGE

• ACCESS
  BATAD VILLAGE is located in 16km far place from Banaue, and it took 40 mins by van. There must be the most famous and vastest.
• TIME REQUIRED
  7 hours：Rice terraces trekking, Playing in the water at the water fall
• SERVICE FEE
  Normally, the entrance fee including both Rice Terraces and Water fall is 50 pesos each, but we could enter there for 40 pesos because we are students. In addition, there is an additional payment for parking lot. For a tricicle, it costs 50 pesos for 1day, or 200 pesos for overnight. For a van, it costs 150 pesos for 1day, or 300 pesos for overnight.
  

• GUIDE FEE
  I recommend to recruit guides to visit because the ways to these Rice Terraces are complecated. In our case, I contacted with some guide groups through Facebook in advance, but we hired a guide provided by the owner of the hostel because it was so affordable. The price was 1,300 pesos for 8 people, the cheapest one than others.

For your information, I got several type of suggestions from each tour guide like “It required to hire 2 guides, and the fee is 1,200 pesos each”, or “650 pesos each attendee”. Amoung them, one group suggested us a good condition, you can contact him through a Facebook account below. he said “Though you are 8 members, it’s ok one guide for 1,500 pesos because you’re all 20s or 30s.“

BANGAAN VILLAGE

• ACCESS
  BANGAAN VILLAGE is located 18km far place from the city, and the direction is almost same as BATAD VILLAGE. Therefore, it’s better to visit them at the same time.
• TIME REQUIRED
  10 minutes：Some photo spots from high point
• SURVICE FEE
  None
• REMARK
  We can see an unique landscape that a small village is surrounded by the Rice Terraces in all directions. Perhaps, we may be able to go down and visit the village, but we passed at that time.
  

BANAUE MAIN VIEW POINT

• ACCESS
  It is located near the city about 4km far.
• TIME REQUIRED
  1 hour：Some photo spots from high point
• SURVICE FEE
  None
• REMARK
  This is the nearest and most convenient spots to see the Rice Terraces. We can find 5 view spots easily when we go north from the city. I recommend to go there before visiting BATAD because the scale is not so big.

HAPAO RICE TERRACES & HOT SPRINGS(Not visiting at this time)

• ACCESS
  It is located in west part from the city about 10km.
• TIME REQUIRED
  5 hours：Trekking at the Rice Terraces, natural hot spring.
• GUIDE FEE
  700pesos according to the tour guide introduced above.
• REMARK
  This is also trekking spot at the Rice Terrace. The goal is specifed to the natural hot spring, so, it provides us unique experience.　(We passed at this time because of the schedule)
  

MUST visit “BATAD”!

The BATAD Rice Terrace is the best for me, so I’d like to introduce a whole way in detail!

At first, we proceed to go down the slope after parking the van. The condition of that is steep like pictures below, so it definitily slippery. It is necessary to prepare the shoes which good for trekking.

After a while, we can find the building that having the role of reception and office. We regiter information and pay 50 pesos to enter.(Notice: You can get student discount if you bring your ID. It becomes 40 pesos) .

Go on the rough road, suddenly, the vast Rice Terraces appears in front of our sight. When I saw the landscape, I’m really moved and feel happy to have be able to visit there even though I was disapointed a little to see BANAUE MAIN VIEW POINT at 1st day.

Secoundly, we ‘ll proceed to the road in the village to approach the rice fields. The way is not flat but steep and unsteady because it is constructed aside of the mountain, so we have to care our step.

Also, it seems to be complecated for a beginner. That’s why, we are required to hire a travel guide. I recommend everyone to follow it because it’s very difficult to choose correct ways, but it’s not necessary as long as you have a experienced member.

Finally, we can face the fields in front of our sight after passing the road in the village. All what we can see are filelds, fields, and fields. Besides, the conbination of both blue sky and green mountain match with them very well.

Fortunately, the moment we visited was the best season, so we could see the fields which filled with rice plants. As a side note, the best month to visit there are known as both February to March or May to June. Former one is good for observing the situation of planting, and latter one is good for seeing rice plants.

The parts of sidewalk are too narrow and steep. Sometimes, even the handrail are missed, so, I’d like to warn the person who has Acrophobia.

Following that, we go down to leave for the water fall. It is pouring at the opposite sides of their Rice Terraces, and that location is much lower then them. It means we have to pass very steep site again.

After about 30 minutes going down, we finally reach the water fall. I realized that it’s not just optional place to drop by because it’s great landscape as well as the Rice Terraces.

This place is good for swimming, also. Then, we can take advantage of simple changing space which is installed by vinyl sheet. We can take a rest for a while since we must have been tired to reach there.

Lastly, we’ll head to the entrance. However, did you notice about the difficulity to do that? A whole trip until the water fall is going down, down and down, then, it’s time to go up. This type of adventure is so hard to complete because we already got tired on the half of the way.

In fact, I found some signboard which indicade the elevesion, and it’s obvious how far we proceeded when you see the pictures below. The signboard at the entrance shows it’s sea level is 1,100m. While, the sign near the water fall indicates 752m. I don’t have any idea which proves they are true, but the gap between the top point and the bottom is hard enough to make us exhausted, actually.

Thus, we seemed to step about 10km to complete all journey. We have to prepare suitable cloths and belongings because BATAD trip is not only a trekking but also climing a mountain.

Afterword

That’s all about the activities I experienced at BANAUE and BATAD. I was surprised they provide so hard activety than I expected before I didn’t have any ideas about that and I may heve underestimated about what we can do.  

【2024】The greatest World Heritage ”The Rise Terraces” in Banaue 【How to access】

"Banaue, Rice Terrace", I knew the name of place, of cource, but the long distance between Baguio and Banaue w

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In conclusion, I strongly recommend everyone to go there because I coud get precious experiences. It’s my pleasure if these informations are helpful to consider to make your itinirary. I’d like to go to HAPAO if I have a chance to go there again.

See ya!

What’s “Banaue”?

Banaue is a northen small town where located in notrhen part of Luzon island. We can access there only few ways which passing the road by either car or bus. Furthermore, it is said that it takes 7 hours by van, and 10 hours by bus.

The most famous spot is definetely “Rice Terraces” which surrounded by vast nature. The maintained rice fields cordinates unprecedented scenery as a picture below. When it comes to the Philippines, you can imagine the beach easily, but you must have seen this location before.

There rice terraces has been resistered as a world culture helitage in 1995. The continuous scenery from lower to higher is known as if “The stair to heaven“, and it has been atracted a lot of people for long time.

The way to “Banaue”

Why it takes 7 to 10 hours? It is obvious when we look at the map. We have to choose the long distance to make a detour the high mountains because the northen part of Luzon island is surrounded them.This is the reality to stay at and go out Baguio city.

Futhermore, those roads must be zig-zag in the most of parts. When I went through such situations in real, I came up with a idea as below.

はふた

「！！？？」

「I must get car sick unless close my eyes… 」

Normally, I rarely get car sick, but I felt reallly bad mood at that time.

Especially, it’s so hard to endure the zig-zag road around Baguio City because there are many sharp curve. When I return back the way to Banaue, I realized that the road condition get sharp for first 2hours, mild for next 1hour, straight for 2hours, and zig-zag again for last 2hours.

The transportaions

As I clamed, there is no choice except passing the road, and we can choose 3 different transportations as below.

We chose “①Private Van“. As a result, I thought it is the best way to go there both comfortably and affordably. I’d like to state these pros and cons based on my experience.

Needless to say, the public transportation schedules like bus are already organized, so there is time limitation to paln to go to the trip. It might make us to give up to enjoy staying there efficiently even though it takes quite long time to go.

Also, it’s not smooth way to go because the bus often stop by somewhere to pick up and drop off the passangers. That’s why, it is said that it takes 10 hours while we can go there for 7 hours by van. In my opinion, that 3 hours gap is so big to go through because of the read condition.

In addition, we have to leave for the bus terminal to take on it at first, and have to wait until deperture time. Considering the situation, it’s more convenient to hire the private van since we can summon it whatever we want to gather. Also, it’s helpful to release our both physical and mental stress.　

There are many cases which we encounter the situation that temperature inside car become too much cool like a refrigerate. Someone said that he couldn’t stand without wearing his jacket. On the other hand, we can control AC with takin care of others.

Then, it is imprtant to consider a break time as well as temperature. We can’t decide the schedule to do it, and some bus drivers take much time longer than 30 min. The situation must be hard to keep our mood as well as less break time.

The second important thing is to hire a transportation to go around in Banaue. It is mandatry because most of sightseeing spots are far from the city. Hiring a tricicle, a bike attached sub seat on the side is common way on site.

However, hiring a private tricicle costs a lot, actually. It seems to be claimed approximately 3,000 pesos to go around there. We can share the fee each passenger because it is available for 3 people, but it is still big amount.

On the other hand, hiring a private van is helpful to save money to go around. We visited there with 8 members, and paid 15,000 pesos. It means 1,875 pesos each person including both the round trip and local transportation fare. It was not only more comfortable but also cheaper than bus.

Needless to say, a organizer has to recruit some members who join a travel plan if he wants to hire a private van. Sometimes, it is not easy to do that because of the long distance like I was.

Once, I almost gave up to organize it when some applicants changed their mind and cancel it, suddenly. In my opinion, the ban fare becomes almost same as both bus and tricicle fare, somehow you recruit 7 members.

When it comes to hiring a private van, the driver accompany with our group. Thus, we also have to take care of him. Given the contract with the tranportation company, what we provide to him was up to us.

We provided him a single room which one of our member canceled and breakfast on 2nd day. As a matter of fact, it was difficult for me to leave him because he must be tired to go through such a long drive. If we didn’t do that, he was supposed to stay night inside the van.

On the half way of Banaue, we were trapped by police inspection. Then, they asked not only the driver but also us some questions like “Where are you from?” or “Is there a tour guide?”. It took 30 min to leave for again.

We couldn’t know what kind of violations they claimed, but our driver seemd to get ticketed for some penalty for 3,000 pesos. As a result, we didn’t need to pay additional money because of the incident, but it rarely happen when we take advantage of bus.

Afterword 

That’s all about the part of my story about an access to Banaue based on my experiences. As I mentioned several times, I strongly recommend everyone to go there by a private van. Considering that efficience of time and comfortability, it is much better than other ways.

【2024年最新版】世界遺産のライステラスを見にBanaue(バナウエ)へ！ 【アクティビティ紹介】

「ライステラスって仰々しく言っているだけで、ただの田舎風景が見れるだけでしょ？」実際に行って見ると、退屈なんてことは無く、かなりアクティビティ性の高い場所なんだなと実感します。そこで、今回は旅の全容とバナウエの楽しみ方について、じっくり紹介

はふたぶろぐ | バギオの情報リアルタイム発信

In addition, there is an advantage for our budget. According to another website I checked before, the auther mentioned that we should bring nearly 5,000 pesos. It was written after pandemic, but total amount they spent is completely different.

The total amount of ours is below.

The individual amount is more affordable than we expected. (This is a sample on May, 2024.) I realized that Banaue is adequate scale to go around for 2 days 1 night. Also, I recommend you go to Sagada if your itenerary is longer than it.

#ドタバタ旅行記フィリピン公共交通機関
「バギオからバナウェ行き方」
※１ペソ=2.7円

バンか夜行バスを利用する２通りを確認(2024年4月23日時点)

［バンルート］
①バン利用=バギオ(Baguio)→ラガウェ(Lagawe)5h30m
・出発時間=7:00, 11:00, 14:00, 19:00
・乗り場(16.4180372, 120.5961104)…

— ドタバタ旅行記 (@DotabataJ99686) April 25, 2024

Lastly, I found an information abount bus schedule which one Japanese mentioned on X(Twitter), so I posted it above. Please check the latest information by yourself because I don’t have any proof it is correct.

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You have to go to Baguio right now

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The New Year’s holiday is only three days, on the 30th, 31st, and 1st!

First of all, our school is closed for only 3 days at the end of the year, and classes normally start on January 2. And this year it is especially short because of the unlucky coincidence of weekends and holidays. Since we are a private school, this seems to be the case in order to meet the minimum number of class days per term.

Incidentally, there is also an official declaration from the President that January 2 is not a holiday. This may be due to the fake news that circulated during the recent Christmas break that a weekday was hastily declared a national holiday. So, the year-end and New Year holidays are much shorter in the Philippines.

1月2日は祝日ではないと発表。大統領広報室長官はマルコス大統領は1月2日を休日と宣言していないと強調した。年末年始の連休は12月30日、31日、1月1日となる。https://t.co/nkqMRgasdS

— フィリピンのニュースあれこれ (@pharekore) December 30, 2023

Because of this situation, it is difficult to go away during this period. Especially on New Year’s Day, I had heard from teachers that there are few transportation services such as Jeepneys, so I decided to greet New Year’s Eve in Baguio City as a mature person this time.

How to spend New Year’s Eve in the Philippines in general

For local people, vacation periods such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve are generally spent with their families. In cities such as Baguio, the number of people who work in the city temporarily decreases as they return to their hometowns, and the only people who remain in the city are tourists. This situation is probably the reason why there is less transportation.

However, hotels and other service businesses are generally open. As in Japan, except for privately owned restaurants, pharmacies and convenience stores are open even though their hours are shortened, so international students do not have to worry even in an emergency.

In addition, in Filipino culture, it is said that it is good luck to make a loud noise. Therefore, on the 31st, firecrackers can be heard everywhere throughout the day. It is usually surprisingly loud until midnight, so it is better to move to a lively place and enjoy it with a sense of “Oh, they’re doing it, they’re doing it.

新年を前に花火による負傷者が115人に増加。大晦日に8人が爆竹などで負傷しルソン島中部の4歳の少年は違法爆竹により右手の指をすべて失った。花火によるケガ人の6割は違法花火によるものだと保健省は強調。警察に違法販売の取締りを強化するよう求めた。https://t.co/j3SqVSOk5w

— フィリピンのニュースあれこれ (@pharekore) December 31, 2023

By the way, here is some news.

New Year’s Eve Event Information

Fireworks are the loudest sound during the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s holidays. Fireworks events are also planned in Baguio. The location will be an outdoor event space next to Burnham Park in the center of Baguio. Thankfully, the event will be held in a location that can be seen from basically anywhere in the city.

There are many other New Year’s Eve events planned for tourists and international students, and a quick search seems to indicate that many of them are buffets at hotels. However, most of the events are basically held at hotels in the suburbs, a bit far from Baguio City, and we were not sure if we would be able to come back, so we decided to forgo these this time.

Instead, we attended the following events. It was a countdown event held at a bar on the rooftop of Avanao Square, a shopping mall that I often go to.

About Bóveda Sky Lounge

This bar, Bóveda Sky Lounge, just opened on December 15 this year, so there were not so many customers. It is a very reasonable place, as there is no door charge.

The mall itself closes at 8 pm, so you can use the elevator in the underground parking lot to get there instead of the main entrance. The way to get there is a little confusing, so we asked a security guard, who was very polite and guided us to the new establishment.

There are indoor and terrace seats here, and it seems to be able to accommodate about 50 people. As is usually the case in the Philippines, the music is blaring so loud that it is difficult to hear conversations. Normally, I would think twice about it, but for New Year’s Eve countdown, it is just right.

The terrace seats are a little further away from the sound source, so it is still easy to have a conversation. The temperature at that time was just right for a hoodie, so it was no problem to stay long. However, we went without a reservation and were lucky enough to be guided to the terrace seats, but it is highly likely that they are already reserved.

Here is the menu. I think this price is very reasonable including location. Since we had a Muslim friend with us at the time, we were happy to see that there was a full range of non-alcoholic beverages, but the coffee was still being prepared. The tea was in tea bag form, which was a little disappointing.

New Year’s Eve countdown at the Sky Bar!

We arrived before 10 pm and, as mentioned above, were lucky enough to have a table on the terrace. From there, we waited for New Year’s Eve, eating our guts out and marveling at the “tequila sunrise” in the pitcher.

Incidentally, after this, handheld fireworks/penlights were handed out, which was “nice,” but neither worked well. I was disappointed that the fireworks did not ignite when lit and the penlight’s light was weak, but let’s just buy into the spirit of hospitality they tried to provide.

After waiting and waiting and waiting, the time finally came. At the same time as the new year began, fireworks were going off in the direction of Burnham Park.

As I thought, the rooftop bar is a great place to watch the fireworks from close by. Personally, it was not so crowded, and I felt very comfortable because people were enjoying themselves moderately and moderately.

Summary

This time I reported about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Eve spent in Baguio, where I studied abroad. Considering the location, the rooftop bar is quite expensive in Japan, but overseas, the price is quite reasonable. We drank and ate there and it cost about 1,600 pesos for the three of us.

By the way, the restrooms are quite clean as they were just built.

Also, we walked back to our dormitory after New Year’s and it was peaceful and we felt no threat. Once again, I feel Baguio is a very safe city. However, you must not let your guard down. When you use this service, please remember that you are only in a foreign country and enjoy yourself with moderation.

1:30 AM Departure

After a 5-hour nap, we started at this time. I could not sleep well and woke up every hour or so, but I was in perfect physical condition and had no worries at all. The sky was full of stars, and at that time I could clearly see the constellation of Orion.

I expected the temperature to be colder than the day before because it was late at night, but because the wind was calm, I did not feel that cold. I was wearing five layers of clothing at this time: a T-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, light hoodie, nylon hoodie, light nylon jacket, and two layers of jersey and jeans underneath.

There was nothing around to light the way, and the light at hand was the only way to illuminate the path. At first, the path is a paved area like a field footpath, and it doesn’t feel like you are climbing yet, but rather a flat path with little gradient.

There was no sign of rain, but there were many puddles and mud puddles on the ground, so we had to watch our footing even though it was pitch dark. Along the way, the path gradually narrowed to less than 1 meter wide and became a mountain path surrounded by vegetation.

2:45 AM Arrival at the first checkpoint

About 1 hour and 15 minutes after we started walking, we arrived at the first rest point. There is a really simple restroom here. Although not at all tired, it was hotter than we expected, so we changed some of our clothes while taking a break. At this point I was just fine with three top layers of clothing and one jersey underneath.

Fifteen minutes before reaching the first camp point, or about 45 minutes after we started walking, the terrain became like climbing a natural staircase made of rocky terrain, but the incline was still not severe enough to be a hike.

4:00 AM Arrival at the second checkpoint

After another 1 hour and 15 minutes, we arrived at a rest point and a restroom. The sky was still pitch black and we could not see anything without a light. This was the last checkpoint, and the narrow trail continued all the way to the summit.

After the first checkpoint, the path became flat again, and at times there were points where it seemed to go downhill. The alternating uphill and downhill sections are less taxing on the legs than the continuous ascent. I still had plenty of time to spare physically.

The photo above was taken on the way back after it became light, and the vegetation around the path was getting lower. Only short bamboo grows from this area.

I started to feel a breeze from this area and put on all three of my jackets that I had taken off. Fortunately, I was not sweating, so I was able to avoid getting cold, but it is difficult to regulate body temperature in this area.

4:30 AM: Two difficult points awaiting us

As we proceeded through the short expanse of bamboo shown in the previous photo, the wind often blew through, robbing us of body heat and energy. However, to be honest, up to this point, it felt more like hiking than climbing, and there was no difficulty at all, but this is the crucial point.

Difficulty 1: Muddy and muddy trail

The footholds up to this point were relatively firm and made of rocks, but we had to follow a trail covered with mud and puddles until we reached the summit. In addition to the unstable footholds, visibility is limited to the area illuminated by the light, making it extremely difficult to advance.

As it turned out, I had to fall several times. I fell forward twice, fell on my buttocks once, got my feet caught in the muck and lost my shoes twice, and almost lost my balance more than 10 times on the path due to the ridiculous conditions.

Difficulty 2: Steep gradient that appears near the summit.

It had already been 3 hours and 30 minutes since we started walking, and thanks to the relatively flat terrain, I felt I had plenty of time to spare physically. However, near the summit, several places appeared where we had to raise our legs to the level of thigh training.

This is where I felt the sudden onset of fatigue. Moreover, as mentioned above, the condition of the trail remains poor. Moreover, it is difficult to move forward as much as you would like because the road ahead is clogged with other climbers.

We know that we are almost to the summit, but these difficulties are breaking our hearts.

6:00 AM We arrived at the summit!

We were 30 minutes behind schedule, but after four hours of frantic walking, we managed to reach the summit! Despite various difficulties, we managed to climb the summit with all our strength and willpower. Here is the view from the summit.

Unfortunately, the clouds were too deep this time to see the sunrise. However, we felt a great sense of accomplishment. It is hard to describe this feeling without actually experiencing it. I guess you have to overcome difficulties in order to feel this feeling.

The summit was filled with people, all taking pictures of each other and praising each other’s efforts. However, the summit is cold, cold, cold. The wind was blowing so hard that the temperature dropped dramatically. About 10% of the people who reached the summit were shivering in places where they could shelter from the wind, wearing aluminum sheets for emergency body heat retention.

I was not that heavily equipped, so I did not stay long. Following the advice of an expert climber, we decided to descend the mountain after staying about 40 minutes. After that, we returned along the same route we had come.

The return trip was less difficult because it was brighter, but we used up what little energy we had left to continue on the same precarious footing. In the end, we started our descent at around 6:40 a.m. and returned to our lodge at around 10:40 a.m., bringing the curtain down on a trip of approximately 15 km and 9 hours in total time.

Three reasons why I do not recommend Mt.

I have described the entire climbing trip with impressive views, but having done it before, I do not recommend Mt.

Reason #1: It is difficult to regulate body temperature.

Temperatures in the mountains change rapidly. You will need down jackets and windbreakers, which are not necessary when living in Baguio. In addition to warm clothes, you also need to consider how much space you have in your luggage to take off and save when you get hot. It is also difficult to change clothes in the dark.

Reason #2: Special equipment is needed.

In addition to the above-mentioned warm clothes, you need to prepare special equipment such as headlights and raincoats, which are not used in everyday life. Preparing your belongings is easy in itself, but of course it will cost you money, which means that the cost will be extra than the tour fee.

Reason #3: It is difficult to choose the right luggage.

There is a lot of information on what is needed for night climbing, but it is difficult to determine what to actually bring. I was too focused on hydration and brought a 2L water bottle with me, but ended up using only 1L. The remaining 1L was merely luggage and became a cause of unnecessary fatigue.

Reason #4: There is a possibility that your belongings will be covered in mud.

The muddy conditions at the end of the trail were worse than I expected, and my clothes and shoes were badly stained. In addition, my headlamp had actually run out of charge, and since I had been using the light function of my smartphone to illuminate the trail from the halfway point, mud got into the charging port when I fell, and I was one step away from breaking it.

It was a very difficult experience, partly due to my lack of checking.

Summary

In this article, I have given you the full story of the Mt. This is only a beginner’s point of view, so I hope you will find it helpful.

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You have to go to Baguio right now

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I myself found it very difficult, but when I asked some of the more experienced members how difficult it was, they said that it was about a 4 out of 10 intermediate level. The condition of the trail was poor, but the slope was gentle and we did not have to use ropes or ladders to climb up.

By the way, when you return after the climb, you can go to the facility where the orientation was held and get a nice certificate like this one. There is no charge and it is made on a rather solid paper. This is another nice service.

If you have read this far and think it sounds interesting, you will definitely enjoy it, so please go and have a look. If you are a beginner, please be sure to prepare well before you try it. I wish you all a wonderful and irreplaceable adventure.

Various fees for sightseeing on Hundred Island

As the name suggests, Hand Red Island is a natural amusement park formed by a group of small islands. Each island offers a variety of activities, so it is common for groups to charter a boat to visit each of the islands.

There is an entrance about 20 minutes by tricycle from the center of Alaminos, where you can register for entry, arrange for boats, and do all other procedures.

Fees are as above. For day trips, just refer to the fee schedule on the left half of the map.

　REGISTRATION FEES：120 peso/person

　TOURGUIDE ASSISTANCE(※not nessesary)：1000 peso/group

　ISLAND ACTIVITIES：pay later

　MOTORBOAT RATES：1400 peso～/group

This sign is located right after you arrive, by the facility where you can go through the formalities, and the attendant will explain it to you in detail. Since there were four of us visiting this time, the required fee was 120 pesos/person for registration and 1400 pesos for the boat, which was 470 pesos (about 1222 yen) per person.

In addition to the items listed here, life jackets and snorkeling equipment are also available for rent. This is also not mandatory, but you are required to wear a life jacket at the point where you can jump off from a high place, so you should rent one if necessary.

Another thing to note is that each group will ask for a 200 peso deposit. In exchange for this, you will receive a garbage bag, which will be returned to you in exchange for the bag after you finish playing and return to the entrance. There are trash cans throughout the island, so I was surprised that I did not need one at any time.

Finally, toilets and showers are available for 5 or 10 pesos, depending on the purpose of use. The showers do not have a shower head, but rather a tub of water to cover yourself with, so you should keep in mind that they are not fully equipped.

After completing the formalities, we departed for Hundred Islands!

There is a magnificent gate at the entrance, and you can feel the atmosphere of a harbor town, which makes you want to take your time and look around, but that will have to wait until later. Because peddlers and beggar children will come aggressively. And they are quite persistent….

After completing the above procedures, you will be given a numbered numbered card, which you will take to the tanning area where the boatmen are located. You will be asked “Japanese?” or “Korean?” in a jovial manner, and after waiting while conversing, a boatman will be selected to guide you to the boat.

The boatman will be the driver and keeper of the boat for the trip between islands, so he will not come to you after you land on the island. However, he has a lot of information, so if you can communicate with him well enough, you don’t need to hire a separate person to double your time. Especially if you want to take your time and relax.

So we get on the boat and finally depart for the Hundred Islands. The boat has only a roof and is open in front, behind, and to the left and right, so you can directly feel the waves, wind, and smells, which is quite exciting.

Life jackets are provided on the boat and must be worn during the trip. These are for on-board use only, so it seemed that you are not allowed to take them out with you. However, the boatman was kind enough to allow us to take them out this time.

We tipped the boatman 50 pesos per person in advance, or 200 pesos for four people, at the time of departure. Speaking of tipping, you might think that you give it after receiving service, but if you give it in advance, it might be a good thing, as it was this time.

(1) The second island: Pilgrimage Island for a panoramic view of the surrounding area!

It took about 20 minutes from the entrance to the boat to cut the wind and waves comfortably. Finally, the first island came into view. It is also called “Pilgrimage Island.The blue sea and sky contrasting with the white stone statues is a beautiful sight.

The islands are connected to each other by a floating bridge, which allows visitors to come and go on foot. Walking ashore, I felt a very pleasant sense of openness and remembered the everlasting summer of the Philippines that I had forgotten during my stay in Baguio.

It takes about 10 minutes to reach the stone statues on foot, but there are many stairs, which, combined with the heat, may be surprisingly difficult. However, the view from the top is exceptional, as you can climb to a height from which you can see far into the distance.

The interior of the island is rich in nature, and colorful flowers can be seen here and there. Is this a bougainvillea? It feels somewhat Okinawan.

And don’t worry if you get tired on the way. You will encounter many stalls selling sweets, drinks, desserts, and ice cream vendors throughout the island. If you get tired, take a break and relax.

(2) The second island: the longest zip line on Governor’s Island!

After the first island, we asked the boatman if we could zip line. We did not know how many different types of ziplines there were at this time, but he took us on the longest one.

It is over 500 meters long and connects islands, and here is a full view of it. If you don’t like heights, you might lose your footing.

Actually, this is the top of the island. And we came here by crossing the sea. What I am trying to say is that you have to climb up from 0m above sea level to this height on foot, and you have to use zip line equipment.

However, it is an impressive experience. You will be able to experience for yourself the kind of activities that entertainers do on TV. It is a great feeling.

After you finish sliding, you can buy a photo of yourself with the attraction’s logo on it for 150 pesos a piece, which you can keep as a souvenir! By the way, if you have an Android user, you may be able to get all the data, so please ask the staff.

Lunch at the third island: Quezon Island!

We were hungry by this point, so we moved to an island where we could eat. Since it was lunchtime, there were many people here.What is amazing is the clarity of the water and cleanliness of the sand around the island here.

This area varies from island to island, but it was much better here. So the people who spend time here seem to be enjoying swimming in a rather relaxed and leisurely manner.

First, we toasted with a mango smoothie and a coconut smoothie (150 pesos each)!

After that, we will have lunch at this restaurant.

Here is the menu. Here is what we ordered,

　Fried Bangus 250 peso ×2pcs

　Fried Hipon w/ Garic 250 peso

　Chicken Pork Adobo 250 peso

　+ Rice 25 peso

The taste was definitely delicious. The seafood was exceptional. I was very satisfied because I had always wanted to try a whole fish called “Bangus” when visiting the Pampanga region. The price was reasonable and not too expensive, even though it was priced at a tourist resort.

The third island: banana boat ride on Quezon Island!

After lunch, we spent some time relaxing on the beach of the island. The beach is a little smaller in size, but the sea water temperature is just right and the waves are calm.

If you go 10 meters offshore from the beach, it becomes too deep for your feet to touch, but thanks to the rental of life jackets for the boat, you can relax and float around.

Now, you can take a banana boat ride on the same island. The price is as follows, and if you try it with a small group, you will have to share the ride with other groups, which is a little more expensive than the price on the signboard at the entrance.

As expected, we could not bring our camera on the banana boat, so we do not have any pictures, but it was nice to move at high speed between islands for about 10 minutes. However, it was really just a ride, and there were no screaming points, and the boat was very stable, so there were not so many thrills.

(4) Diving at the second island: Marcos Island!

The next island is very close to the island where we had lunch, and the water is clear and beautiful. The highlight of this island is the high dive from the cave. There is no charge, but you are required to wear a life jacket when diving.

I gave up bringing my camera here as well, so the photos are not very many, but there was a scene that I wanted to show you, but didn’t want to. The cave is a home for bats, and there are more than 100 live bats hanging from the ceiling.

The cave + bats + beautiful sea + diving. There are two different heights to choose from: a 2-meter beginner course and a 5-meter intermediate course.

After we all enjoyed the dive, we spent about 30 minutes floating on the sea and relaxing. After that, we stopped at the fifth island with a small diving board on the way back and went straight home.

Summary

This article was about a day trip to the Handled Islands, and if you have a one-day travel plan, going to the islands we visited is a rather ironclad course. In conclusion, I highly recommend it. It is a place where you can feel the real Philippines in a good way.

How to get to the Hundred Islands (Alaminos)

The Visayas Islands in the southern part of the Philippines, where Cebu is located, are famous for marine activities, bu

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We took the 4:00 a.m. bus from Baguio, started our activities around 10:00 a.m., finished playing around 5:00 p.m., and returned to Baguio at 24:30 p.m. We were exhausted. I need to make sure that I have enough time to rest and not let it interfere with my studies.

Also, the common way to get to and from Alaminos ↔ Handled Island is by tricycle, which costs 100 pesos. Three people can fit in the basket of this aircraft and one person in the back seat of the driver. The speed is not so fast and comfortable, so you can try it if you like!

What are Alaminos and the Hundred Islands?

Alaminos is a city located in the central western part of Luzon, an island in the northern part of the Philippines. There is a direct bus service from Baguio, and it takes 4~5 hours to get there. The climate is typical of the Philippines, with a minimum temperature of 24°C and a maximum temperature of 34°C in December, which is slightly less than 10°C higher than in Baguio.

The entrance to the Hundred Islands is about a 20-minute tricycle ride from the center of Alaminos, and you can see many small islands on Google Maps. The best part of this beach is to charter a boat and explore the numerous islands.

Bus from Baguio to Alaminos

The most common way to get to Alaminos from Baguio is through the “Victory Liner” bus company, which has its own bus terminal, with an office and terminal about a 10-minute walk east from SM City Baguio.

This facility seems to have been recently renovated and is quite clean inside. Also, there are quite a few buses operating there, so it is open from morning till late at night. Although it may not be very welcoming, I saw a few people lying down in the terminal to pass the time.

There are quite a few bus services. You can check the status of departures and arrivals on the electronic information boards.

However, these information boards only list the names of Manila and surrounding cities, not Alaminos. Moreover, the website is not very detailed. So the best way to get the latest information is to check with the counter in advance or check the Facebook page of this bus company.

The image above shows the new schedule information for spring 2023, but as of December 2023, the buses are still operating according to this schedule. According to the information in the lower center, there are four trips a day from Baguio to Alaminos.

Buses from Alaminos to Baguio

I could not get information on buses from Alaminos to Baguio no matter how much I checked in advance. I barely had enough information to know that I should be able to come back if I left there around 5:00 p.m., so I decided to decide everything haphazardly on the day of the trip.

As it turned out, the information was about right. There were two ways to return to Baguio from Alaminos.

(1) Direct bus from Alaminos to Baguio and back.

As with the trip to Alaminos, coming back by direct bus is the easiest and most comfortable way. According to the information I obtained at the bus terminal in Alaminos, there are eight buses a day, and the last bus leaves at 3:30 pm. If we take this one, we will be able to come back to Baguio around 8:00 pm.

It’s great, isn’t it? It looks so handwritten. This is why it is so hard to find information on the internet. As I will explain later, it should be the easiest and most relaxing way to return home to be able to buy in this compared to other options. Working backwards, you should try to get back from the island around 2:00 pm, which is just about the right time.

(2) How to transfer from Alaminos to Dagupan and on to Baguio.

If you feel that 3:30 pm is not enough time, don’t worry. You can extend your stay even further by taking this route via Dagupan. With this route, you can come back on the same day even if you play for the whole 5:00 pm time. It takes about 2 hours from Alaminos to Dagupan.

Buses from Alaminos to Dagupan leave every 30 minutes, so you can find a bus without having to adjust your schedule. We were told that this last bus leaves around 7:00 p.m., but since the only source of information we have is verbal, we recommend that you check with the bus company yourself before using the bus.

And the bus schedule from Dagupan to Baguio is as above. This makes it look like the last bus is at 7:00 pm, so if it is too late you will not be able to make the transfer, but as of December 2023, the bus was increased with the following times.

According to this, the last bus would be at 10:00 pm. This would allow you to arrive in Baguio after 24:00 pm. However, this schedule is not very reliable, and when we were there (Saturday), the 8:00 pm bus was not running. So it would be safer to gather information by asking the staff at Alaminos.

How to ride and pay for Victoria Liner buses

The most important thing is how to get on the bus. So, you go to the bus terminal on the day of your visit and board the bus directly without any formalities. To be honest, it took a lot of courage to follow this procedure. If there are no seats available on the day, it is not a good idea to travel on that day.

We took the first bus on Saturday (4:00 am), which was the middle day of a three-day weekend, and it was about 60% full. If it were like this every time, there would be no problem, but what happens when many people happen to be traveling on the same day and at the same time…?

Now, once you are safely on board, the bus departs roughly on time. And as soon as it departs, the tour conductor will start making the rounds inside the bus. When you tell them your destination there, you will receive a piece of paper like this.

They will make an impromptu ticket by punching a hole with a crackle on the spot. The most notable item is the “PESOS” section in the lower left corner. The price to the destination is written here, and since the holes are punched at 300 and 10, the price is 310 pesos.

When everyone has received their tickets, the tour guide will come around again to collect the fee, and you should pay it. By the way, I heard that there is a student discount, but the discount could not be applied with a language school ID.

The tour time, an amazing 22 hours! Hundred Islands Day Trip Model

AM 3:15 ：Take a cab to Victory Liner Terminal
AM 4:00 ： Baguio→Alaminos (310 pesos)
AM 8:30 ：Arrive at Alaminos
AM 9:00 ：Tricycle to the entrance of Hundred Islands (100 pesos)
AM 9:00~PM 4:00: Enjoy Hundred Islands
PM 5:00 ： Return to the entrance and take a tricycle to Victory Liner Terminal
PM 5:30 ：Alaminos to Dagupan (120 pesos)
7:30 PM ： Arrive at Dagupan, have dinner at SM City Dagupan
10:00 PM : Dagupan→Baguio (154 pesos)
12:30 PM: Arrive in Baguio

Summary

In this issue, we reported on bus transportation to Alaminos, where Hundred Islands is located. Although we were very nervous about the trip, not being able to easily confirm the bus schedule or reserve seats, we managed to return safely on a day trip.

Since there were four of us traveling together this time, we took the bus and were surprised at how inexpensive it was. I wonder how much it would cost to take a bus for 2 hours in Japan. There is also a way to go by van, but in the case of a chartered van, it cost 7,000 pesos for a maximum of 12 people. It has the advantage that there is no waiting time, so we can use our time effectively.

Next time, I will introduce the activities in Hundred Islands, then!

Mt. Ulap details, fees, what to bring, etc.

Mt. Ulap is a mountain located about 45 minutes from Baguio by jeepney or other means, and is 9 kilometers long in plane distance. There are three peaks that are higher than the surrounding area, so it is not a constant climb, and there are ups and downs. The highest point is 1846m, about 6km away.

The route is shown on the map above. There is no fork in the road, so most people follow this route. There is also a campsite, so some people may choose to climb in the opposite direction, but this is not common practice.

The entry fee is 100 pesos per person, 100 pesos per group for registration, and 800 pesos per group for one guide to take care of up to seven climbers. After that, there is a van fee from the exit to the pick-up point after descending the mountain, 400 pesos per van, which can take up to 7 people.

Therefore, the cheapest price is 286 pesos per person for a group of 7 people. Also, this entrance fee is the price after applying the student discount. International students should not forget to bring their language school ID.

As far as what to wear and what to bring, as long as we were there in December, I think you only need a lightweight long-sleeved pants, a towel, water, and rain gear. I didn’t need any warm clothes, and as I mentioned later, there is a restaurant just past the summit.

People in Baguio tend to be cold, so they are dressed up, but for us Japanese, the temperature was hot. Also, there are wild (?) cow dung all over the mountain path. There are also wild (?) cow dung on the mountain paths. Therefore, you need to wear comfortable shoes, but it might be better not to bring your favorite shoes.

How to get to Mt.Ulap

Mt. Ulap can be reached by jeepney from Baguio. The fare was 50 pesos (about 130 yen) for both the way there and the way back. There are several jeepney stations in Baguio, but the alley near the City Market is the stop for jeepneys heading to Mt.

Choose the jeepney marked “AMPUCAO. The people who ride these jeepneys are almost certainly going to climb a mountain, so don’t worry too much. So you don’t have to worry too much, but it is a good idea to let the driver know in advance that you are going to Mt.

The first departure of the jeepney seems to be around 6:00~7:00. We were able to get on the first jeepney at about 6:30 on Sunday. At this time, there were already about 20 people waiting, so the jeepney was full and soon departed. You need to watch where you are going and make sure you don’t miss it!

We had originally planned to go at 5:00 and could not find a jeepney, so we were looking for a cab instead. However, we were told that it would cost 800 or 1,000 pesos and that they didn’t know the way, so we decided to take the jeepney at the time mentioned above, which is more reliable and more economical.

From getting off the jeepney to entering the mountain

It is quite cold on the way to the mountain by jeepney because it is early in the morning. However, this is the coldest part of the trip, so if you can stand it, you may not need warm clothes for mountain climbing. Also, after leaving Baguio, we continued to climb higher and higher, which is an obvious difference from going to other areas.

Eventually, all passengers at this time got off at the entry reception point. The sign says “Mt. Ulap Registration” so head in that direction; after about 5 minutes of walking, you will see an elementary school, which is the reception point. The children are playing basketball in the gymnasium, and it looks like a well-functioning elementary school.

Here you will pay the fee and register your name, phone number, and address. After that, your wrist will be stamped with a permit to enter the mountain, and you will meet your guide. We were accompanied by a 22-year-old woman as our guide.

You can rent a walking stick, similar to those carried by pilgrims, to aid in the climb, but we did not use one. There are no restroom facilities until the 2nd peak, so if you are worried about your safety, you can use the restrooms here.

Next time, we will continue with a detailed description of the trail and the second half.

Mt. Kalugong location and access from Baguio

Mt. Kalugong is a mountain about 45 minutes from Baguio. There are direct jeepneys that go directly to the site, although we stopped once at another location to attend a festival. On our return trip, we took the jeepney from the bottom of the trailhead and it cost us 19 pesos to get back to Rizal Park.

The destination is written on the side of the jeepney; there are several jeepneys from Rizal Park to Latrinidad, but choose the one that says “Tomay” or “Camp Dangwa” as your destination. Choose the one that says “Tomay” or “Camp Dangwa” as your destination. Buyagan” will go in the opposite direction.

Also, after confirming that you have the right destination, it is safer to tell the driver that you are going to Mt. The jeepney destinations are different on the T-shaped boulevard in the map below. Choose the jeepney that goes the right way.

The beginning of the trailhead is steep. If you come by jeepney, you will need to climb this slope for about 15 minutes. However, if you come by cab, they will take you further up, so you can cut out this entire path.

The road and entrance fee.

The beginning of the trailhead is in an open forest-like area, where there is a toll booth. The entrance fee is 100 pesos (about 260 yen). Since this area is already high, you can see a beautiful view even from here. There is also a swing made of logs, so you can have fun even from here.

When it comes time to go to the top, there are two routes to choose from: one is a very safe and short route (about 10 minutes) along a well-maintained path. The other is a rather treacherous route with rocky surfaces, difficult to walk on, and takes about 20 minutes.

We, of course, chose the more dangerous route.

The flat, forest-like path at first gradually disappears, and the route becomes one of hopping and jumping over sharp rock surfaces. Moreover, there are gaps that resemble valleys in places, so if you trip, you will fall several meters, and if you drop your phone or other belongings, you will be gone for good.

And most terrifying of all are the bare rocky areas with no fall protection at all. You can avoid such places, but people climb up there in search of a good photo.

Even if you are not afraid of heights, the height makes your legs tremble, and the unstable rock footholds can cause you to fall dozens of meters if you step off. It is no wonder that an accident or two may have occurred in the past, and young children are posing for pictures in such a location.

I would never recommend it, but it is a unique experience that you can only have here. If you try it, please avoid rainy or windy days and be responsible for anything that happens.

Mt. Kalugong Kape-an/Cafe with a store at the top of the mountain

Mt. Kalugong Kape-an/Café is a café located beyond the road mentioned above and is the destination of the climb. Of course, it can be reached from the gentle path, so don’t worry; it is rated quite high on Google maps at 4.5 Stars (106).

In Japan, cafes in the mountains have an image of being simple and everything being expensive, but this café has a stylish interior and is reasonably priced. The food and drink menu is quite extensive, so you can use it just as you would a café in town.

Unfortunately, the food menu was not available at this time, and only drinks and cakes could be ordered. The reason why we chose this time was because we could see the sunset from this cafe.

It is the rainy season and there were a lot of clouds, so we could not see a beautiful sunset, but this view alone was worth the visit. If you want to see a beautiful sunset, I recommend coming during the dry season (January to June) when the weather is more stable.

Moon on the ground shining from 7:00 p.m.

After enjoying the café to the fullest and returning to the forest road where the toll booth is located, the time is 18:00. In fact, Mt. Kalugong has a lot to offer even at this hour. Although it is already dark, we will take another route to the summit.

Stone steps are set up along the way, and lights are turned on so you can proceed even at night. After about 10 minutes, you will see a gate and another toll booth.

You will need to pay another 100 pesos to get to the desired location. As soon as you finish paying and filling out the form, you will see…

This moon monument. This moon is placed in a scenic spot by the cliffs overlooking the city. As you can see, it is a great spot to take pictures. It was late in the day, but many people had gathered to take commemorative photos.

You will be given a number for each group, and you should wait your turn. In the meantime, you can climb to a higher level, hang out in a bar-like area, or surround a campfire day.

This is a photo shoot with the moon and I highly recommend it. It is impressive to see it in person, and it is also quite photogenic. Sit, stand, lie down, and take all kinds of individual and group photos. The staff will gladly take group photos for you. It’s a valuable experience that you can’t get anywhere else.

And after you have enjoyed yourself as much as you can, descend the mountain carefully the way you came.

Summary & Points to keep in mind when descending at night

In this article, I introduced Mt. Kalugong in La Trinidad, the neighboring city of Baguio. It is not as tough as mountain climbing (if you choose the right route), so it is an easy hiking spot. I recommend visiting at noon because you can enjoy the sunset and the moon monument.

【お手軽なのに絶景】Mt.Yangbewでハイキング

今回は学校の先生たちとバギオのお隣「La Trinidad」と言う地域の40分くらいで登れるMt.Yangbewという山へハイキングに行ってきました。その様子を行き方も併せて紹介します。

はふたぶろぐ | バギオの情報リアルタイム発信

One point to note if you stay until nighttime: unless you charter a cab on your way back, you will have to go down a narrow road about the size of a car for about 20 minutes. That’s the road we took a short cut by cab on the way there.

It is quite dark and deserted, so you need to be cautious. Although the Baguio area is said to be safe, it is best to be cautious. As with the rocky surface when climbing a mountain, please be aware of such risks before you plan your trip. Good bye!