"The City of Pines & Salad Bowl of the Phils" Top 5 Page for this destination Baguio by joiwatani

Baguio Travel Guide: 325 reviews and 885 photos

My Igorot attire at the Mines View park - Baguio

Honeymoon Capital of the Philippines

This city is very famous because of its very cool climate. At one point, it was even considered the "Honeymoon Capital of the Philippines".

The weather is absolutely charming. Since the city is located up in the Cordillera mountains, perched over 6,000 feet above sea level, the weather is always very cool during the summer season. Early in the mornings, it gets very cold and foggy. The fog sometimes enveloped the outskirts of the city and it goes all the way to the city that sometimes you can't see the next person walking besides you.

And, as soon as the sun shines, you can see the mountain dew slowly disappears. The bright sun rays cascade piercing the pine trees and as it slowly goes up, the weather gets a little bit warmer .

Most newly weds come here for their honeymoon because of the cooler climate. When it gets so hotter and humid in Manila or the nearby provinces, the "lowlanders" drive to the city!

As they say, the city makes you get into the mood of loving!

Visit Baguio in Feb for the flower fest!

My sister Elena at the Panagbenga Festival

The Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival)

The government of the Philippines is promoting local tourism which is more sustainable than foreign tourism. So, they formalized their idea of bringing local tourists by having festivals. And, which is more but fitting than the flower festival! The city is very famous for its flowers anyway, so they might as well utilize it!

That's where the "Panagbenga Festival" (Flower Festival) started.

Baguio City has a lot of flowers. The cool climate is good for these flowers to grow. The city has different flowers that you can't find in the lowlands. I remember that in our dorm at St. Louis Universty's Cardijn's Hall where I stayed for over four years, the rooms were named in flowers from A-Z andI you can find all these flowers in Baguio City! Anthuriums, Begonias, Carnation, Dahlia, Everlasting, Fuschia, Gladiola, Hibiscus, Iris, Jasmine, Lilies, Magnolia, Nasturtium, Orchids, Petunia, Roses, Sylvias, ...There are also baby's breath, cala lilies, the long stem roses, baby's breath, morning bells, Spanish skirts.

There are many flower stores in Baguio at the back of Magsaysay Avenue and at Kayang Street. In the early morning, you will see truck loads of flowers being delivered to the lowlands to sell. The local farmers market these flowers to the different cities in the Philippines for weddings, funerals, and other occasions.

The local parks are beautiful in the city because of the silvia flowers, Spanish skirts flowers, verbenas, begonias, gladiolas and marigolds. They paint the city with different colored live plants!

Session Road

Myself at the Panagbenga Festival 2002

Session Road

It is best to explore the city of Baguio by foot. You can go down the famous Session road and Magsaysay street where there is an array of vegetable and street vendors. Go inside the market and bargain souvenir items from key chains to local woodcarvings. Go up Kayang street where you can find the best deals of food -from the locally grinded coffee beans (it's better than Starbucks, believe me!) to a bunch of bananas! Eat some "goto" (warm pooridge) at the corner of Magsaysay avenue and grab some peanut brittles as "pasalubongs" (gifts). The locally woven baskets and belts are inexpensive- that is if you know how to bargain. They last forever because they are made of rattan. Bring home some handcarved fork and spoons!

Places to visit in Baguio City:

Mines View Park
Mansion House
Lourdes Grotto
Burnham Park
Baguio Cathedral
Camp John Hay
Asin Hot Springs
Pink Sisters
San Pablo Seminary
Maryhurst Seminary
St. Louis University Silver Shop
La Trinidad
Narda's Gift Shop
SM Baguio
Maharlika
St. Louis University
University of Baguio
University of the Philippines

Pros and Cons

Pros:The cool weather! Beautiful woodcarving, arts and crafts
Cons:Local tradition is diminishing! Pine trees are being cut down!
In a nutshell:I love Baguio City! It is a city you want to come back and visit each time!

Last visit to Baguio: Aug 2010
Intro Updated Sep 29, 2010
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Reviews (31)

Help the Senior Citizens in Baguio!!! - Baguio

Help the Senior Citizens in Baguio!!! Things to Do (18)

Besides having your pictures taken in Igorot Costume, you are also donating some of your payment to the Senior Citizens... more travel advice

My aunts and cousin at the Botanical Garden - Baguio

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I had been so tired as I didn't have enough sleep for about two weeks, so I told my aunt that I will wait for them in... more travel advice

Those two big dogs at Mines View Park Things to Do (18)

While I was changing to my Igorot Costume, my cousins and my aunts went to another stall and paid P80 ($1.50) to have... more travel advice

I bought a cane in Baguio for my mom! Shopping (5)

Maharlika has a lot of souvenir items that you can find- from knitted sweaters, hats, sweets, baskets, wood carvings,... more travel advice

Travelogues (10)

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Comments (9)

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DAO Jun 11, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Hello Jo, have you received your postcard yet? Great page.
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  joiwatani Jan 12, 2013 at 10:23 AM
  
  Hi, DAO. I changed my PO Box and got a larger one! MY PO Box now is PO Box 2204, Everett, WA 98202
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  DAO Jan 14, 2013 at 12:57 AM
  
  Got it !
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jusdenise93 Jul 18, 2009 at 7:23 PM

aaw. you beat me! I've only lived in Baguio for 9 years, i think. :) Nice tips!
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OH_DK Apr 26, 2009 at 7:14 AM

It was a great experience seeing the sunrise from Mt.Pulag with this group! see also my videos - we sure had a lot of fun. There's more pics coming.
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unaS Apr 9, 2009 at 12:10 PM

You make it so enticing that suddenly I want to visit.
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georeiser Dec 12, 2008 at 5:56 AM

Hi Jo. Your Baguio pages are great!!! :-)
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jumpingnorman Dec 7, 2008 at 10:17 AM

Nice to see Baguio tips, JO! I used to go there every summer and enjoyed the "coolness"...excellent tips!
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Wann Nov 5, 2007 at 9:51 AM

Hi Jo! nice page here! the photo of kid riding horse is lovely :-)
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sayedaburas Sep 4, 2007 at 7:13 AM

Sounds lovely and 'Mabuti', best of luck (~_~)
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meiyergani Aug 20, 2007 at 3:18 PM

A helpful and informative tips, One day I will visit this nice Baguio city where an international Chess competition between 2 GMI hold long long ago