02/25/25 - A perfect day in Baguio 71 degrees & s to visit Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. My sister…read morein law is from Baguio Philippines. While we were in the Philippines we took a trip to the mountains to see her brother & made a stop @ Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto.

I love visiting old historical sites including churches! If…read moreyou come here be prepared to climb! I come here during typhoon season so it was very empty and was sprinkling. On the way up there are vendors along the way selling candles and offerings. I think there's a different way to get up there by motor but why not climb the stairs *DO IT FOR THE EXPERIENCE* lol. You get a really great view up there so great for photo ops

I was wondering who would put this lion here, it's like an unintended tourist attraction. Well I…read morefound out the original was place here in the 1970s by the Lions Club of Baguio, dud !!! But I was told upkeep was off and on and so was the painting of the lion from clownish looking cartoon until the the mayor of Baguio got funding to maintain it. Then in 2020 after a some patch up and a fresh paint job to make it look like a lion it become an Instagram-able, traffic stopping spot on the main highway up north of Baguio.

Every time you go to Baguio on Hwy 54, you will see this famous lions head. This was created for a…read moreproject by the Lions Club of Baguio. There is more history to learn about once you walk up to the lion head. Just the thing to do traveling towards Baguio City. There are a few side street markets to shop at as well.[109/100]

Dubbed as the official summer place of the President of the Philippines, it really is just…read moresomething to see, take pictures off, ogle at and nothing more. But it really is a sight to see when visiting Baguio. There were rumors of tours available to the public. Sadly, the rumors aren't true as it wasn't an option on our last visit. However, the gates are open for everyone to come in and enjoy the lush greenery (or brownery, depending on the season) surrounding the house. Just don't stray too far away from the gate - the house is still guarded by well-trained security with big guns who will not hesitate to use 'em if needed. It's been over 30 years since I last set eyes on this place. It's kinda nice to learn it hasn't changed. Some things are better left untouched.

Besides it being a landmark in the Philippines, because this is where the President stays every…read moretime they visit Baguio, there's not much to see but the building itself. It is a gated area & there are guards all around. It's definitely a site see if you are visiting Baguio.

One of the best views in Baler!…read more There are souvenir shops on the other side of the bridge so make sure to bring some cash. If you're used to haggling, use your skills there. It's free to go across but they do have a donation box and I'm assuming it's for the maintenance of the bridge. The water was so clear and I was amazed at how beautiful the view was and how the Hanging Bridge was actually shaky. I was walking with my grandma and I'd scare her here and there by rocking the bridge haha :P We had a great time and I'd love to visit HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Well, it' near ou house. Sometimes, me and my friend hanging around here and taking pictures. The…read moreview was beautiful

Famously called the Summer Capital of the Philippines…read more But maybe not anytime soon. Climate change is evidently happening. People don't usually wear shorts during the month of November and December but when I was there recently I was wearing shorts. It was warm. This is not how I remember the city. It is very congested and polluted nowadays. Traffic is at its worst. You're better off walking around to places. Especially during long weekends, expect a lot of crowd. So better not head to the city. Visitors usually come during Flower Festival - that is the whole month of February. While they're here they visit the land marks - Mines View Park, Mansion House, Burnham Park & Lake, Botanical Garden, Camp John Hay and other places outside the city. They usually close Session road every Sunday for Farmers Market. Every night from 9pm to 2am, they close a section of the Harrison Road to give way for the market vendors.

The Mansion. Mine's View Park. Good Shepherd Convent. SM City Baguio. Burnham Park. Mount Costa…read more Night Market. Penagbenga festival (if you time it right.) Just some of the places to hit during a visit. And it's a great city to go to if the heat of the lowlands are just too overwhelming. I'm blessed to have friends and family to stay with during a visit. For those who aren't as lucky as me, there is a variety of accommodations with reasonable prices. I love this city. I'd visit again at first opp.

Hours, Mon - Sun: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm…read more Grandad (Philippine Scouts) survived the 111+ KM Death March from Mariveles Bataan to Capa's Camp O'Donnel POW camp. He died here with thousands of American and Filipino POWs. Today, in the same location is this very peaceful place. Each tree was planted for each soldier who died here. The Capas National Shrine in Barangay Navy, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines was built by the Philippine government as a memorial to Allied soldiers who died at Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March during the Second World War. The site is a focus for commemorations on Valour Day, an annual observance held on 9 April--the anniversary of the surrender of US and Philippine forces to the Imperial Japan in 1942. There is also a memorial to the Czechs who died fighting alongside the Filipinos and US soldiers. The area where the Bataan Death March ended was proclaimed as "Capas National Shrine" by President Corazon Aquino on 7 December 1991. On 9 April 2003, a 70-metre obelisk and new memorial wall were unveiled on the grounds of the former interment camp. The obelisk is surrounded by a three-segmented, black marble wall engraved with the names of the Filipinos known to have died during the Death March. There are also statistics about the total numbers of prisoners and deaths, together with poems for peace. Nearby, there are three smaller memorials to the countries whose nationals died at the camp: the Philippines, the United States, and the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). A few hundred meters from the Obelisk is a garden separated from the rest of the shrine by a creek that can be crossed via a hanging bridge. The relics of an old train and railings are also located in the shrine complex.

This place is truly incredible! I'm so glad I visited. If I can suggest, if you're visiting Banaue,…read moredon't stay in the main city. Look it up. Hire guides. Venture out to the other rice fields in the area! Make a day trip to Sagada. Specifically, I spent a day in Banaue, visited a few other rice fields, and then proceeded to Batad(I'll review it in another review). In my opinion, if you're visiting Banaue, Batad is a must but it requires a 45-minute ride away, you're dropped off, and then have to hike 45-60 minutes into the village. There are no roads in/out of Batad and it's one of the Unesco-protected sites. Back to Banaue; After the long overnight bus ride from Manila... there are a ton of guides waiting at the main area when you arrive. You don't have to hire a guide but I did... and this is one time where I'm so happy that I did. I was able to see so much more of the area because of the tour company I hired for the 4 days of being there. To my surprise, when checking in, one of the tour companies already knew my name. They were aware that I had a reservation in Batad. Banaue is a neat place but I did love seeing the other rice terraces. Banaue has more businesses and a much larger town that has sprouted up amongst the terraces. Banaue is also the main place you're going to see the Ifugao people... some of them still wear their traditional clothing. I'd also suggest making your way uphill to the Banaue Museum. When we mentioned it to some of our tour guides, they gave us a weird look like 'Why do you want to go there?' It was full of useful information and historical artifacts from the area. It's definitely worth your time if you like learning about the places you visit. After finding a place to snag breakfast... our trike shuttled us to a few viewpoints before taking us to Hapao Rice Terraces. The lady that guided us around Hapao was so kind. I probably learned more from her than anyone I chatted with in the area. She had all the information. Hapao was worth the visit because it's immediately obvious that they're blessed with all the water. The terraces are green and they have so much water in the area that they have other food growing as well. There was also some homemade cheese bread being sold near one of the local's homes. IT WAS TASTY! The government has a small area near the church in Hapao that's for experimentation. It's a new thing but they're trying to see if they can produce different results in growing rice. Hapao also has a hot spring along with a cold swimming area. The cold swimming area was WAY TOO COLD so I spent most of my time in the hot spring with the locals! It was so much fun and I'll never forget the people I met there. After leaving Hapao, we had lunch back in Banaue and then started to make our way to Batad. One last stop before Batad was to an overlook to see Bangaan Rice Terraces. It was a good view but our guide mentioned that we couldn't go any closer. It's full of many old people and they don't like anyone that's not local coming to their village. It seemed like the main guide that we had also knew everyone around the area. Our route to Batad even included a stop by his parent's home(he was just dropping off a package), but I still loved the vibe of feeling included in the community while I was there. That feeling was even more enhanced while in Batad but I'll save that for the Batad review. Banaue is amazing in itself and it's totally worth the long trip to get there but as I said before, definitely use it as a springboard to other rice terraces and areas in North Luzon.

Visiting Banaue Rice Terraces as a kid made me realize as an adult what a beautiful place this…read morereally is. I remember being lucky enough seeing it in all its pure and untouched glory: once during almost harvest time when the golden sprigs swayed with the wind, and another when it was all just plain and beautiful green. Fast forward to adulthood, I have been lucky enough to showcase it many times to many friends and family touring Nueva Vizcaya. Only a couple of hours away from home, it was something not to be missed. It was still beautiful then. Fast forward a few more years (and visits) later, I started noticing structures being built. And then more. And more. And more...? To the point the views during part of the drive were blocked by various buildings. Some of the view points I know and familiar with we're even gone. I wondered why this was allowed to happen. It's been called the eight wonder of the world, why wasn't it more regulated...? I was told by a lot of locals that the number of tourists have waned down because of this exact reason. "It isn't as pretty or attractive as it used to be, thanks to these kinds of developments..." But despite this, it really does still hold its natural beauty - one just has to find a way to get behind said structures. You succeed this, and the view is breathtaking. Plenty of eateries to find, most people are really nice and friendly, and it really is like nothing else in the world. Here's hoping it doesn't get developed too much... it'd be a shame to lose this gift nature had bestowed upon this province.

We are just honestly visiting the restaurant Which is…read moreinside the museum so sad to say even if we're just there to eat coz my husband cannot really do all the long walk we will still have to pay for the entrance for the museum which is a no no! We're like 5 so that ₱ 1000 already that we can use for food. Thanks but no thanks !

Wish I planned out my stay due to missing the eco trail tour. There are certain times to go on this…read moretrail and it takes an hour in and about the same time back so approximately 2 hours of hiking. I arrived and started on the bottom by the cafe and worked my way up. Unfortunately this place is not friendly with disabled individuals with no elevator on site but on the map provided there is an access ramp on level 3? The wooden carvings were dope from the bed, cabinet, bench, massage chair, tobacco/lunch box holders and more! The glass doors towards the outside patio to take in the view of the mountains were perfect to weave back into the next exhibit. It's sad to see a lot of the "do not touch signs" posted everywhere which is such a distraction to the art itself so I suggest the front desk person should advise given rules to the guests before entering. I need to return with my hiking shoes next time.

CASH ONLY! What a…read moredifference 4 years makes! The last visit wasn't one to be boastful about. It was a sh*t show half the time with our boat's engine dying every ten minutes, and when it did run, the boat moved ever SOOOO slow. I almost made a vow to never stop by here ever again. But with GodNiece's first time in Pangasinan, Hundred Islands was a must go-to for her. With a tad bit of reluctance, we went. I noticed an improvement in the area's overall appearance IMMEDIATELY. Parking was abundant and clean. The welcoming area is beautifully designed which included a pond filled with koi fish and small replicas of the islands. The entry way to the boats even had an arc. It was quite welcoming. The tourist center could use a little work: FIRST: it was CASH ONLY (for everything!) which is a huge no-no for a tourist attraction as famed as this place is. (One would reasonably assume they take cards, right?!) Now, keep in mind that this place is so much more fun when visiting with somewhat of a big party (we were a mere party of 9.) It's a good thing I brought enough cash to cover everyone for everything they need (including activities.) I can only imagine the trouble some people had to go through to go back out, find a bank or ATM that's open and come right back. Oi. SECOND: I had to deal with three different receptionists just to complete the registration process - one to register each individual in my party, one for the fees and boat, and one for the deposit for the trash bags (I'll get back to this last one in a bit.) I don't see why I couldn't just deal with one person for the WHOLE thing. The only reason I can come up with as to why they do this is that maybe the need for a moderator since everything is paid in cash. (There's gotta be liability somewhere, right?) But yeah, It took way too long to just get these done. It's a good thing we were there early Friday morning on a non-peak season. (I can imagine the chaos of the crowd during the weekends, summer or peak seasons here!) It wasn't long before we got on our boat. First stop was Governor's island for the sole purpose of ziplining. (The last time I was here, it was THE only other thing to do other than swimming or snorkeling, and it was a short one at that.) It's a bit of a trek climbing up - the steps are completely uneven and steep. Although the ziplining peeps kept telling us to follow the path to the left, we kinda got lost (and ended up the other way.) We weren't the only ones, so SIGNS might be nice. The view was fantastic, I gotta admit, but dang, that was tiring as hell! But the few seconds ride was WORTH IT. You can see a different side of Hundred Islands' beauty from where you're zipping from. The trek back is just as strenuous (again, SIGNS telling us how to get back would be nice) but also worth it since you get to experience walking on the wobbling bridge. (That was interesting.) Then off to Quezon island where we relaxed a bit more and had lunch. Ziplining is also available (one long, one short) but they aren't as steep as the one at Governor's. We brought our own food and drinks, but food is available on the islant itself. A vendor came up to us selling fresh crabs (small and big ones alike) for a bargain. We had plenty of leftovers to take home. We did a lot of swimming and snorkeling around this area. Beautiful clear waters allowed us to see all the way to the bottom of the water. This never gets old. I was going to suggest going to Children's Island, but we were having such a great time, we just kicked it on this island for the rest of our visit. Oh, except for helmet diving. That was the best way to top off the day. I'm not gonna go into it, I will merely suggest you DO IT! The one practice I noticed with EVERYONE: every person was mindful of their trash. I bought an ice cream from a vendor. He took it upon himself to get the peeled off paper from me and put it in his own trash bag. In all honesty, I did not see one piece of trash anywhere. And the bit with the trash bag deposit? Fill up your bag with as much of your group's crap as you want. Once you return to the main island, they take your filled trash bag away from you AND they will return your deposit. (THIS IS AWESOME!) We all had a great day. I am so glad my family doesn't live too far away from here. I'm definitely going out of my way to come back the next time I come to the Philippines. TIP: Come EARLY. The earlier, the better! There's so much to do! (They also have banana boats and jet skiing now!) Now if only they could figure out a better system of payment (than with just cash) and eliminate the whole "line here, line there" at registration...

I came here with my family at the suggestion of my mom and aunts. We came here pretty early and…read morefor good reason. It gets pretty packed very quickly. There were 18 of us, so we reserved 2 boats. FYI once you get there, be prepared to be bombarded with people trying to sell you things. I already came across some of that that during my trip, however, there's more of it here. They literally come to your car and sell you things: sunglasses, sea shells, hats, etc. and they will follow you around. Granted this is how some people in the Philippines make their living, but I think there has to be some kind of boundary. That's just my personal opinion. The boat ride was not bad and the weather was perfect to visit the islands. We didn't visit every island because my group didn't want to, but we did stop by 2 of the islands.