Most of my friends are asking me about my recent trip in Baler so I am in an insistent obligation to publish my recent trip ASAP!
This was a spontaneous trip with one of my travel buddies Rachel (former co-worker at PPR). We’ve been to countless trips together and we suddenly decided to pack our stuff and hop on the bus going to Baler, Aurora.
We left Manila at around 2:30 AM, we were lucky enough to have boarded the Joy Bus going to Baler. The Joy Bus is operated by Genesis Transport Inc. they don’t accept reservation via phone or online so it is advisable to go directly at their terminal to reserve a seat and pay for your reservation. The Joy Bus is their deluxe non-stop 5-hour bus trip to & from Baler which cost P700.00/person/way. For someone who wants to be in Baler immediately you can take their Joy Bus but if you are in a tight budget you can still take a bus via Genesis which will only cost you P450.00/person/way. Travel time via their regular AC bus is about 9-10 hours depending on the stop-over.
This was a spontaneous trip with one of my travel buddies Rachel (former co-worker at PPR). We’ve been to countless trips together and we suddenly decided to pack our stuff and hop on the bus going to Baler, Aurora.
We left Manila at around 2:30 AM, we were lucky enough to have boarded the Joy Bus going to Baler. The Joy Bus is operated by Genesis Transport Inc. they don’t accept reservation via phone or online so it is advisable to go directly at their terminal to reserve a seat and pay for your reservation. The Joy Bus is their deluxe non-stop 5-hour bus trip to & from Baler which cost P700.00/person/way. For someone who wants to be in Baler immediately you can take their Joy Bus but if you are in a tight budget you can still take a bus via Genesis which will only cost you P450.00/person/way. Travel time via their regular AC bus is about 9-10 hours depending on the stop-over.
So we left at 2:30 AM and arrived in Baler, Aurora at 7:30 AM. Since it’s our 1st time to visit Baler, Aurora and we don’t have any place to stay & we have no plans yet of what’s the first thing we should do so we asked around. We then met Kuya Lino one of the tricycle drivers/guides in Baler, Aurora. We accepted his offer to tour us around Aurora for P800.00 we haggle up to P700.00 and he accepted the deal. I’ll tell you guys what once you saw how risky and full of efforts the tour is you wouldn’t wish to haggle for a lower price so we ended up giving Kuya Lino the P800.00 for the tour.
By the way, Kuya Lino helped us looked for a place to stay. He directed us at La Flor (Swimming Pool & Restaurant) for P1,100.00/night stay good for 2 persons with breakfast but then again we haggle for P1,000.00 and Ate Angie accepted our request. Place is average if you’re just looking for a place to sleep and where to keep your stuff.
Start of our day tour. Our 1st stop: Baler Church a very remarkable part of Philippine history during Spanish colonization. The church has been renovated as per Kuya Lino.
By the way, Kuya Lino helped us looked for a place to stay. He directed us at La Flor (Swimming Pool & Restaurant) for P1,100.00/night stay good for 2 persons with breakfast but then again we haggle for P1,000.00 and Ate Angie accepted our request. Place is average if you’re just looking for a place to sleep and where to keep your stuff.
Start of our day tour. Our 1st stop: Baler Church a very remarkable part of Philippine history during Spanish colonization. The church has been renovated as per Kuya Lino.
2nd stop: Museo de Baler which showcases portraits of our former president Manuel L. Quezon and the clans who survived the tidal wave on December 1735. No entrance fee at this place but donation is accepted.
They also allotted a space for photo-ops using the social media boards such as Twitter, Facebook, IG etc.
They also allotted a space for photo-ops using the social media boards such as Twitter, Facebook, IG etc.
3rd stop: Dona Aurora’s house in front of Baler Church. No entrance as well but donation is highly appreciated. Honestly, there’s nothing much here just portraits of the late president and his wife Aurora.
Then we went straight to Daguisit Falls; took some photos after hiking a very short but risky steps going up.
We had a short picture taking at this monument (see photo below) re-enactment of what had happened during the tidal wave in Aurora.
We had a short picture taking at this monument (see photo below) re-enactment of what had happened during the tidal wave in Aurora.
Next stop: Aniao Islets where people are allowed to camp-out and stay overnight with their own tents. Place is good for some picture taking. Entrance is P20.00/person.
Dropped-by at Ermita Hill for an over-view of Baler, Aurora.
Dropped-by at Ermita Hill for an over-view of Baler, Aurora.
We then headed to our 2nd to the last stop “The Millennium Tree” which is better known as the Balete Tree. As per the “Batang Balete” (Balete Kids) the tree is almost 600-Year old. No entrance for this place of course but if you want to have good photos to be uploaded on your social accounts you better talk to one of the Balete Kids to have your photo taken. All you have to do is strike a pose and give them a tip. Here are some of my photos courtesy of one of the kids:
Please visit and like their Facebook Page: Batang Balete Ako. Thank you!
Last but not the least on our day tour list is the Mother Falls. It’s an hour drive and trek going to the falls. Be careful because trekking up to the falls is very dangerous ‘coz of the slippery stones along the way & don’t forget the way up to the entrance of the falls is full of stones as well. The struggle going to the falls is all worth it. Oh and btw, there’s no entrance fee for this place; food and drinks are not allowed inside but there’s a drinking pit stop along the way if you’ll get thirsty.
Last but not the least on our day tour list is the Mother Falls. It’s an hour drive and trek going to the falls. Be careful because trekking up to the falls is very dangerous ‘coz of the slippery stones along the way & don’t forget the way up to the entrance of the falls is full of stones as well. The struggle going to the falls is all worth it. Oh and btw, there’s no entrance fee for this place; food and drinks are not allowed inside but there’s a drinking pit stop along the way if you’ll get thirsty.
Food for the ladies; we had lunch buffet for 2 consecutive days. 1st day at Gerry Shan's Place for P185.00/person and 2nd day at Carlito’s Inn and Restaurant for P150.00/person.
We had our dinner and night-out at Yellow Fin Bar & Grill . Food is super cheap and taste good. Prolly will recommend this place to eat. The place is located at the back of Aliyah Surf Camp.
We had our dinner and night-out at Yellow Fin Bar & Grill . Food is super cheap and taste good. Prolly will recommend this place to eat. The place is located at the back of Aliyah Surf Camp.
Finally the reason why we had this Baler trip is because we wanna surf. This is my 1st time to surf and I’m anxious and excited at the same time. Our surfing activity was arranged by Ate Angie and we paid P350.00/person for 1 hour only but they given us an additional half hour to surf. I enjoyed this activity because it’s new to me and I like adventures. I really had so much fun so I’m planning to go back again. Planning for a surfing experience? You can contact them at Freedom Surf School owned by Christian Aries M. Blancaflor. Contact Nos: 0918-3564727 & 0915-9746489.
If you are looking for a tour-guide you can contact Kuya Lino. Please be aware that the P800.00 day tour is good for 3 persons only using tricycle as your transportation. Other places to visit on the photo are subject for additional costs.
There’s nothing much to buy in Baler, Aurora for “Pasalubong” so we settled for some native stuff like fan, wallet and their yummy “suman” (rice cake?).
In my opinion Baler, Aurora is worth a visit but not with kids alongside not that it’s not a kid friendly environment but because they won’t appreciate it much. Baler is not Baler without surfing so it’s a must to dance with the waves.
In my opinion Baler, Aurora is worth a visit but not with kids alongside not that it’s not a kid friendly environment but because they won’t appreciate it much. Baler is not Baler without surfing so it’s a must to dance with the waves.