If you are visiting Baguio City for the first time, I guess you should have checked some of the places of interests in this small city.
Baguio has been visited by the majority of guests from all over the country South Korea, countries from the ASEAN region, Japan, China, and some part of the middle east countries.
However, aside from those popular places like Burnham Park, The Mansion, Botanical Garden etc, there are actually various attractions available outside the city which is a recommendable place for you to explore with.
I have listed here some interesting places of interests which you may be interested in:
1. Tam-awan Village
This area is located in Long Long Road, La Trinidad Benguet. Sometimes it is misinterpreted by tourists that this is a part of Baguio City but actually it is geographically situation in La Trinidad, Benguet.
This wonderful place is good for trekking and exploring some cultural heritage in Baguio and Benguet Province including other parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The place is also good for sunset viewing as well.
Tam-awan village also serves some local dishes like pinikpikan (chicken in a soup), coffee (baraku), and some indigenous food of the Cordilleran people.
2. La Trinidad Strawberry Fields
Strawberry field is always busy especially during the festive season following the months of December until May of the year. The Strawberry farm has a lot of different varieties of strawberries and other Benguet vegetables such as cabbage, onions, pechay, lettuce, and many more.
Some of the farmers who owned the field allow tourist for strawberry picking which made it more adventurous to them. The cost is a bit expensive though but at the end of the day, the guests are able to enjoy the activity.
The place is also surrounded by small stalls selling Baguio and Benguet products like souvenirs, preserved food, jams, chips etc. At the same time, you must also try their strawberry Taho. It is thus far one of the best in town. The price is about PHP 10 per cup.
During Strawberry Festival (month of March), this place is crowded by local tourist from other parts of the country to witness their street dancing competitions, mini-flower float parade and some of their highlights including horseback riding, and showcasing of the world record giant strawberry cake.
3. BenCab Museum
Bencab Museum is located in Km 6, Asin Road, Tuba Benguet. This museum showcases different artifacts and galleries that is good for everyone to appreciate it. It also showcases some of the cultural traditions of the Cordillera Administrative Region through painting.
They also have a good place outside the museum for their guest to relax with. They have a small garden where you can feed their fish, ducks and even relax in their man-made nipa huts. This place can be explored within 1 hour but if you want to take a photo outside their garden, it will take an additional one hour depends on your preferences.
Getting to this place for you as a tourist would be a bit of hassle. It is recommendable for you to hire taxi from the city center since going back might be a bit challenging if you will take jitney services.
4. Lion’s Head
Lion's head is a statue along Kennon Road which is one of the major roads that connects the City of Baguio to some parts of the lowland region particularly La union, Pangasinan including other parts in Luzon area like Manila, Pampanga, Batangas, Tarlak and so on.
These attractions is mistakenly known as part of Baguio City, however, it is actually part of Tuba, one of the municipalities in Benguet.
The Lion’s Head has about 40 feet in height which was believed to be build out in the year 1969-1970 by the Lions Club of Baguio City.
This place is always packed for just photo shooting by majority of tourists. There are also some small stalls nearby the Lions’ Head for you to buy Baguio products and other souvenirs.
5. Mt. Kalugong
Mt. Kalugong is located in Tawang La Trinidad Benguet. It’s about 45 minutes jitney ride away from the City of Baguio via the Magsaysay Road.
This mountain is known for its limestone rock formations. The area is a good spot for a scenic view of La Trinidad especially the famous strawberry fields.
By the way, this place is owned by a private individual so there is an entrance fee of about RM100 per person.
6. Benguet Province Museum
Benguet Provincial Museum is located just beside the Capitol of Benguet. It is managed by the Benguet Tourism Office.
The museum is about two-storey building full of artifacts and some indigenous products of Benguet. This museum is good for children for them to learn more about Benguet culture.
7. Mount Yangbew
As of Feb. 29, 2016, the barangay officials of Tawang officially named this place as Mt. Yanbew. It was formerly known as Mt. Jumbo, Mt. Jambo, and Mt. Yanbo.
This place is actually known as “the Little Mt Pulag in Benguet” as it showcases a very nice and relaxing view of some parts of Benguet province and some parts of Baguio City. This place is good for hiking at the same time.
8. La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post
Aside from Baguio City Hanger Public Market, you can also visit La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post if you wish to buy a bulk of vegetable before heading back to your hometown. The rates of the vegetables are all cheap as the price are all in wholesale basis.
This place is very busy early in the morning from 4 AM until 8 AM, but at around 9 onwards, it is not that busy but still, it depends on the number of vegetable suppliers sending their vegetables to this places.
9. Bell Church
This small place is considered as the "little china town" community in La Trinidad. It is very close to Baguio City via the Magsaysay Road. This place is actually surrounded by Chinese temples by the Chinese Filipino indigenous religious organization in Baguio and Benguet Chapter.
This place is located nearby the road in Km. 3, La Trinidad which is about 10-20 minutes jitney ride from the heart of the City Center of Baguio.
This place showcases the Chinese temples. It is open for the public for visitation. No entrance fee is required. It maybe considered as a tiny china town, you will be surprised that you only few Chinese People around the area.
10. Dinosaur Island
This particular places showcases various types of Dinosaur and it is actually situated in a 3.2 hectares along the Badiwan Road of Tuba Benguet. It is about 30-45 minutes way from the heart of the City Center by jitney or private hire.
Since this is located on hill side, guests must be prepared in hiking their stairs. It will require a lot of walking to enjoy the adventures of Dinosaur Island.
The Park features life sized man-made dinosaurs in a natural surroundings where one can hear the sounds and movements of the dinosaurs. It really fun and exiting especially for the little one. By the way, the exhibits and dinosaurs are all in an outdoor area so you must be ready to bring umbrella with you in case it rains.
Nearby to the Dinosaur Island is also their Holly Land walk which talks about Christianity and some of the challenges of Jesus Christ. There is an entrance fee going to both of this place, by the way.
Meanwhile, it is also advisable to visit Benguet province during Adivay Festival. This festival will surely be one of the best cultural festivals in the Philippines as it showcase different types so indigenous games and activities for you to witness.
Adivay festival in Benguet is usually spearheaded by the 13 municipalities of Benguet during the month of November.
Visiting Baguio City and nearby municipalities must be within the month of September until the first week of June of the year. Which means that for June to early part of September, it is quite a challenge for you to enjoy these places due to the rainy and typhoon season which may cause some flash-floods and roadblock along your journey.
In terms of mobility, you can roam around these places by public transport like jitneys, taxi and private hires.