The Summer Capital of the Philippines
The cool mountain air is the first sign. As you drive along the snaking mountain roads, pine trees almost barring your sight of the next bend, you begin to question whether you’re still in the Philippines. After five to six hours of driving, you’ve almost forgotten the the busy, smoggy, humid place you once called Manila. And when you reach the city itself, you notice two kinds of people – those who wear turtlenecks, cardigans or sweaters, gloved and shivering from the cold. And those who wear almost nothing at all except what seems to be a native thong, or a colorful skirt wrapped, barefoot, with headresses of feathers and beads.
Ahh… Baguio. The Summer Capital of the Philippines. With a nippy 68-74°F (on average 30 degrees cooler than Manila), its the place to enjoy year-round if you want to imagine what it must feel like in the USA. (Darn, Baltimore at 95°F is actually a lot warmer than Baguio in the summer!)
What to do, what to see? With tourism as its major industry, you will never get bored with the variety of attractions in and out of the city. Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, The Lourdes Grotto, The Mansion (built for aUS gov-general in 1908), Mines’ View Park… Befriend and take photos with a native Igorot, go horseback riding down mountain trails, enjoy the city at night, share a fireplace-lit romantic dinner at one of the many cabins for rent, or take an early morning walk to enjoy the crisp morning air.
For more on Baguio, visit WOWPhilippines, and cityofpines.com.
Tags: Baguio City, Igorot, Philippine tourism, travel
4 Comments
I love Baguio City. I haven’t been there in a while, but I loved my previous visits there. For me, Baguio City is a place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of Manila, whether in summer or not. Unfortunately, the view is becoming marred by the number of subdivisions and housing developments on the mountainside. Some of them are real eyesores.
Hey Anna, we’re glad to hear from you again. Say, do let us know if you find good deals for trips etc to the Philippines ok. We’re always on the lookout, and hoping to visit next year.
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