How To Go To Costa Pacifica Baler
Every traveler goes through a series of awakenings. The first is ordinarily the moment when it dawns on them that they are built-in to wander.
Mine happened in Baler. I was a high school sophomore, attending a Boy Scout Regional Jamboree held in Aurora, which was office of Region IV-A at the fourth dimension. I spent over 16 hours in a packed chartered jeepney from Batangas to Baler, my long-altitude travel debut. With optics wide open up and center full of awe, I saw Aurora every bit a wonderland. Our camp was fix upwards in a clearing by the stream, in betwixt a lush wood and an ivory declension. Over a few days, we saw our first waterfall, and enjoyed fine beaches and mountaineering trails. I was never the same again.
It's because of this that I did non want to render to Aurora — information technology's the fear of shattering a perfect prototype I painted in my caput when I was a child. I was afraid that, like most expert things in life, Baler too has changed and information technology would not be the same place that I advisedly guarded in my juvenile recollections. I was xiii years quondam then. I'grand 31 now. Information technology'due south been xviii long years.
Only the fourth dimension to render has come up.
WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Understanding Baler
It all started when, all of a sudden, nosotros felt a stiff desire to learn how to surf. It's something that nosotros had never tried earlier, even though we had been to a number of surfing havens effectually the globe. Pagudpud is too far. La Union, we had just visited a few months before. Scanning the map for somewhere close, Baler was naturally brought up. For the past several years, Baler has been synonymous with surfing.
A lot has inverse since my visit as a kid. First, travel time is much shorter and comfortable. From Manila, Baler can at present be reached afterward merely a 5-half dozen-hour drive on generally paved roads. The province has likewise been moved from the jurisdiction of Region IV-A (Southern Tagalog) to Region III (Fundamental Luzon).
It'due south a pocket-sized town whose recorded history can exist traced back to 1609 when it was founded by Franciscan missionaries. When nosotros were talking to locals, we noticed that they put Ermita Hill in such high regard. Our surfing teacher pointed to it proudly a few times during the session. The caretaker of the hotel where nosotros were staying encouraged u.s.a. to run into it too. It wasn't until we were there that we finally understood the significance of the place. In 1735, a tsunami ravaged the town and killed thousands. Only six families, who were able to run to the top of Ermita Loma, survived. Our guide shared that well-nigh of the population can trace their roots to whatsoever of the six families.
Today, although Baler is much more continued to the residuum of the world, it remains a minor town. Information technology is the capital of Aurora merely it is not a city, so don't wait the capricious comforts or whims you're used to in the metro. Life here is still simple and pretty laid-back.
- Language: Tagalog mostly. But in that location are a few Ilocano speakers. English is widely understood.
- Currency: Philippine peso (PhP). PhP100 = USD2, EUR ane.65, KRW 22000, JPY218
- Style of payment: Cash. At that place are a few ATMs in town so information technology would be best to take greenbacks before your visit.
How to Go to Baler from Manila
The easiest style to reach Baler is by bus. In that location are direct buses available from Cubao in Quezon Metropolis. You have two options:
- GENESIS BUS. The cheap selection. Your typical air-conditioned bus that makes a few stops throughout the trip. Travel time: 6-seven hours. Fare: P550.
- JOYBUS. The comfy option. A non-finish motorbus service with more comfortable seats, much bigger legroom, blankets, pillows, and even snacks. Travel time: v-6 hours. Fare: P750.
Only at that place'south an fifty-fifty cheaper pick. You can travel to Cabanatuan by bus (Another option is to travel to Cabanatuan by bus (P185) and then past van to Baler (P220).
Where to Stay in Baler
Starting time things first: If y'all're visiting on a weekend or holiday (particularly in summer), you might want to book way in advance. Baler is small and rooms tin can sell out easily on elevation dates.
The two properties below are the highest-rated on Agoda.
Budget Pick: Blue Coco Baler Beach House
Blue Coco Baler Embankment Business firm, a beachfront property, has air-conditioned rooms that are good for 2pax for just P1700 per night. That'due south merely P850 per person.
CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
Splurge Option: Costa Pacifica
If you have more than moolah (money), Costa Pacifica is a great choice. Information technology boasts excellent amenities like free wifi and a pool facing the beach. Room for 2 is at effectually P6350 per dark.
Cheque RATES & AVAILABILITY
Photos above were provided past the resorts via Agoda.
Search for more: Baler Hotels
How to Get Effectually Baler
If you have your own car, it will be very easy to explore Baler. The roads are by and large paved, and tourist attractions are non that far apart. If you lot want, yous tin can just hire a guide to give you directions and more than local insights nearly each finish. Guide fee: P500.
Otherwise, y'all have four options.
- By van. P2500 per twenty-four hour period. Good for upward to x pax.
- Past tricycle. Full day bout, P800 per solar day. Half-day tour, P300. Up to 3 pax.
- Past bicycle. Mountain bike rental, P300 per solar day or P35 per hour.
- By motorcycle. Cheapest motorcycle rental we found, P800 per day. Not sure if there are lower options.
Van and tricycle tours will terminate at the following:
- Ditumabo Falls
- Diguisit Falls
- Aniao Stone Formations
- 600-yo Balete Tree
- PAGASA Viewpoint (van, motorbike)
Notation that these rates don't include archway and parking fees, which nosotros will indicate in the "Places to Visit" department below.
For short distances, you may travel past tricycle for only P10-P20 per person, depending on the distance.
Places to Visit in Baler
With the exception of Ampere Embankment, all these can be visited past taking a tricycle or van tour. If your hotel is shut to Sabang Embankment, you can skip this and just enjoy the embankment another day since information technology'due south near anyway.
If you lot're on a tricycle bout, y'all will need to transfer to habal-habal to get to Dicasalarin Cove or PAGASA Viewpoint because the road is too steep for trikes. Make sure you make prior arrangements.
Sabang Beach
Sabang Embankment, the well-nigh attainable swimming and surfing spot in Baler. The water here is shallow but the slap-up strong, which makes information technology an ideal place to learn to surf. Here are the rates:
Surfboard rental + instructor fee: P350 per 60 minutes
Surfboard rental just: P200 per hr or P800 per twenty-four hour period
You lot may contact our surfing instructor who was very patient with usa during our session. Here are his details:
- Ian: 09281850211
Ditumabo Female parent Falls
Located in San Luis. Will require a 20-minute hike. There are nutrient stalls (selling hotdogs, kwek-kwek, lumpia, banana cue, camote cue, etc) along the trail. You tin grab a quick breakfast here on your way back. If you tin, visit in the early morning to avert the crowd.
Note: Some people volition tell you that vans and cars are not allowed to go to the start of the trail, and merely tricycles can take you lot in that location (P200 roundtrip). That's NOT Truthful. Private cars tin go.
Entrance Fee: P30 per person
Parking Fee: P30 per vehicle
Tour Guide Fee: P200 per guide
Diguisit Falls
A quick, easy climb is required. But it can become glace in the afternoon, when drenched guests take wetted the trail.
Entrance Fee: FREE
Cottage Rental: P200
Aniao Rock Formations and Lukso-lukso Islets
Aka Diguisit Islets. A scattering of picturesque islets peppering the rocky declension almost Diguisit Falls.
Entrance Fee: P20 per head
600-Twelvemonth Old Balete Tree
A ginormous banyan tree. You tin also go inside it for a fee.
Entrance Fee: P15
Parking Fee: P10 per vehicle
If you want to go inside the tree: P10
Ermita Hill
Where the six families who survived the tsunami ran to. From here, yous can bask a dandy view of Baler town and Sabang Beach and other surrounding areas. The entrance fee goes to the scholarship of several students at a nearby higher.
Archway Fee: P15
Parking Fee: P10
Dicasalarin Cove
A private beach tucked neatly backside the hills of Baler. If you program on visiting, you will accept to register beforehand at Costa Pacifica. (The two properties are owned by the same possessor.) If you want to maximize your stay here, we recommend dedicating an unabridged morning.
Once more, tricycles tin't access this because the road is too steep then you lot might want to pre-arrange a habal-habal ride to take you to Dicasalarin from the trike dropoff bespeak. Your tricycle driver likely knows someone.
Opening hours: 8am-5pm
Entrance Fee: P300 (P100 for Costa Pacifica guests)
Habal-habal ride: P200-P300 roundtrip
Other Baler Tourist Spots:
- Ampere Embankment
- PAGASA Viewpoint
- Baler Museum
- Aurora Business firm
- Baler Church building
- Hanging Bridge
Where to Consume in Baler
The iii food places that stood out for the states are: Kublai, Bayler View, and Dialyn.
Kubli Bistro. A newly opened restaurant in Poblacion. Without a doubtfulness, it is here that we had our best dining feel in town. The food is delish, the identify clean, the servings humongous, and the service impeccable. They are proudest of their kubli rice (P345), but it was merely okay. But nosotros absolutely loved everything else we tried. Lodge their barbeque skewers (P275), sisig a la bopes (P230), buffalo wings (P285), and adwas iced tea (P65). Every serving is good for around 3 pax.
Bayler View. A simple open-air eating house by the beach. Their menu is loaded with Pinoy and western options. Judging from the tables during our visit, Pinoy spaghetti is a favorite. But we loved their perfectly cooked Buttered Chicken, despite being too sugariness for my sense of taste.
Dialyn'southward Bakeshop. An iconic establishment in Baler famous for their brazo de mercedes, yema swirl, asado buns, and more.
Sample Baler Itinerary with Expenses Breakup
Here's a sample Baler weekend itinerary. You tin tweak this to fit your needs and preferences.
Notation that the costs indicated here are per person. However, this itinerary assumes you lot're a group of 4, splitting the bill. The toll per stop covers the entrance fee, parking fee, and guide fee (if applicative). For the breakup, just check out at the "Places to Visit" department above.
Since there are iv in the group and a tricycle tin can suit only iii, charter 2 tricycles and then anybody's comfortable.
Mean solar day 1: DICASALARIN + SURFING
01:30 am – ETD Genesis Bus Cubao – P550
08:00 am – ETA Baler
08:xxx am – Early on hotel bank check in or luggage drop
09:00 am – Starting time Tricycle Tour – P250 (P500/ii pax)
09:xxx am – Transfer to habal-habal – P150 (P300/2 pax)
09:xl am – Dicasalarin Cove – P300 + P50 parking
11:40 am – Aniao Rock Formations – P20
12:00 pm – Diguisit Falls – Free
01:00 pm – Lunch at Poblacion (end bout)
02:00 pm – Back at hotel, rest
03:xxx pm – Surf time at Sabang Beach!
05:30 pm – Picket sunset
06:x pm – Freshen up at hotel
07:thirty pm – Dinner at Bayler – P200
10:00 pm – Lights out
Mean solar day 2: DITUMABO FALLS + TOWN Bout
07:00 am – Commencement tricycle tour – P250 (P500/2pax)
07:30 am – Ditumabo Falls – P95 per person (parking, guide, entrance)
09:xxx am – Balete Park – P30
10:thirty am – Continue tour: come across other stops
12:thirty pm – Tiffin at Kubli Bistro (stop bout) – P250
02:00 pm – Dorsum at hotel, check out
03:xxx pm – Joybus to Manila – P750
If you're a group of 4 and you stay in a quad room at Smart Beach Business firm, each of y'all should fix around P3800. If you lot want to surf, add P200 per hr for the board rental.
If y'all accept your ain ride and you lot have a P2500 upkeep for gas and toll fees (divided by four pax), the same itinerary will set you back P2400 per person.
Yous can nonetheless reduce the price by doing the following:
- Eat at cheaper eateries. The sample itinerary above urges you to consume at Bayler View or Kubli Bistro, but there are much cheaper food places around town. P100 should be more enough for a decent meal.
- Wrap up your bout early on so you could catch the 2pm Genesis bus to Manila instead of taking the Joybus. It will salvage you P200.
- As mentioned, the price volition drop significantly if you have your own ride and your group is bigger. This manner y'all accept more to split the gas and cost expenses with.
This travel guide is a work in progress. We'll exist updating this when we recall something and every time we render. If you have more to add, let u.s. know in the comments section below.
Updates: 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 3️⃣ • 2️⃣6️⃣
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Source: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/10/baler-itinerary/
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