What is your favorite surfing destination in the Philippines? Baler in the province of Aurora is one of the most popular surfing spots in the country. Like Siargao, this laid-back town offers all-year-round good waves making it the main tourist asset drawing surfing crowds. But Baler is not all about the endless surf, here you can find a lot of beautiful destinations and exciting activities. Let me share a comprehensive travel guide to Baler.
How to get to Baler
Bus company such as Genesis Transport has daily direct trips to Baler, Aurora. You can book your ticket at the Cubao Bus Terminal in Quezon City. You have two options, the regular air-conditioned bus and Joy Bus.
Joy Bus is P750 per person while the regular bus is P450. The Joy Bus is fully equipped with a FREE WIFI connection, blanket, pillow, snack, and a hygiene kit as well as a bus stewardess to assist you. Travel time with Joy Bus is faster than the regular bus which will take around 5 hours.
Another option is to take a Victory Line Bus in Cubao Quezon City bound for Cabanatuan and then transfer to a public van going to Baler. Van travel time is around 2-3 hours.
Getting around in Baler
Tricycles and habal-habal ( motorcycles) are the main modes of transportation in Baler. The regular fare is around P20-P30. You can also hire a tricycle if you want to have a town tour which will cost around P500-P1000 depending on the destinations that you want to visit.
When is the best time to visit Baler
If you are a pro surfer or surfing enthusiast, the best time to visit Baler is from September to November. If you only want to chill and relax, I recommend to visit Siargao during the summer season, from March to May.
Where to stay in Baler
Cube by Costa
Cube by Costa is one of the best resorts in Baler. This Instgrammable resort features an 80-room with an all-white exterior container van house design. Each room is equipped with comfy beds, flat-screen tv with cable channels, a private bathroom, fresh towels, and free toiletries.
Costa Pacifica
Located along Sabang Beach, Costa Pacifica is one of the famous beach resorts in Baler offering the best view of the beach. The resort has modern-comfy rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a lounging area, and an on-site restaurant.
Bay's Inn Resort
Bay's Inn Resort is another lodging place that you might consider on your next Baler trip. It offers accommodations and dining at a reasonable price. Each air-conditioning room is equipped with a comfy bed, flat screen tv with cable channels, a private bathroom, fresh towels, and complimentary toiletries. Free Wi-fi is also available in all areas of the resort.
Nalu Surf Camp
A perfect place for surfers is Nalu Surf Camp. It features a twist of modern and indigenous stilt house accommodations that come with comfy beds, tv with cable channels, bath towels, and FREE toiletries. Each room comes with a complimentary breakfast. They also have a hammock room which is P250 per night.
Other hotels and resorts in Baler include Bayler View Hotel, Nature Green Forest Resort, Casa Moorea, Endless Summer Hotel, La Patricia de Baler, Balud Camp Beach Resort, Azbahein Leisure Farm Resort, Cobra Reef Resort Hotel Motel Charlie Does Inn, and Seasta Beach Resort
Where to eat in Baler
Port Tavern
My first choice is the Port Tavern. Situated in SeaSta Beach Resort, it is a great place to drink while playing billiards or watching your favorite sports. This resto bar offers delectable meals, refreshing juices, and alcoholic beverages like local and imported beers, wine, cocktails, and many more.
Boardwalk Restaurant
Looking for authentic Filipino dishes? Boardwalk Restaurant is the right place for you. This Pinoy restaurant offers a wide range of authentic Pinoy dishes like Pinakbet, Kinilaw, Pako Salad, Kare-Kare, Lechon, and many more.
Yellow Fin Bar & Grill
Yellow Fin Bar & Grill is one of the popular resto bars in Baler situated a few steps from Costa Pacifica. It's open from Monday to Sunday, offering all-day breakfast meals, grilled pork, chicken, and plates of seafood. This is a great place to drink with your friends. They are selling local beers and hard liquors. It has limited tables and chairs so expect a crowd during weekends and holidays.
Other places to eat in Baler include Kubli Bistro, Charlie Does Cafe, Myrtle Park, Bike Kings Kitchen, Beach House, Mumunsi Chocolate Cafe, La Patricia Hotel & Restaurant, Gerry Shan’s Picnic Bay, and Bay-ler View Restaurant
Places to visit in Baler ( Tourist Attractions )
Sabang Beach
Sabang Beach is the most popular beach destination in the province of Aurora. It features a long stretch of sandy shoreline, a shallow ocean bed, and gigantic waves. There are several surf shops along the beach that offer surfing lessons and board rentals. The fee is P350 which includes a surfing board and a surfing lesson which will last for an hour.
Ditumabo Mother Falls
Located in the humble town of San Luis, trekking to the Ditumabo Mother Falls is one of the exciting things to do in Baler. It will only take around 30 minutes to 45 minutes to reach the 140-feet tall Mother Falls of Baler. Expect walking along a rugged trail, climbing around boulders, rock hopping, and river crossing.
The Old Balete Tree
A lot of tourists are taking photos with this 600-year-old millennium tree, the biggest and oldest tree out of all of the Balete trees in the area and the largest tree of its kind in the Philippines. Some of the twisted roots formed a little cave where you can go inside.
Diguisit Beach
Aside from Sabang Beach, Diguisit Beach is another popular surfing spot in Baler. This spot is known for having beautiful rock formations and the best place to view the sunset and sunrise.
Dicasalarin Cove
Take your best shot while taking a boat ride to Dicasalarin Cove, a secluded beach cove with fine sand and rock formations. You will also find here the Baler Lighthouse which offers amazing mountain and sea views. This beach cove is around 30 minutes away from Sabang Beach. If you want to visit this place, you may contact Seasta Beach Resort to get a boat tour.
Baler Church
Located in front of the Baler Municipal Hall, Baler Church is a well-known church in the province. It's said the Siege of Baler happened in this area where the Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a church manned by Spanish troops in the town for 337 days.
Dona Aurora House
From the name itself, for sure you already have an idea who's the owner of the house. Well, this is the replica of Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon's ancestral house showcasing the traditional Filipino way of living. It's only a few steps from Baler Church and Baler Municipal Hall. By the way, the province of Aurora was named after her. She's the wife of Manuel L Quezon, the second president of the Philippines.
Museo De Baler
Your Baler trip won't be completed without a visit to Museo De Baler. Also known as Baler Museum, it houses relics, documents, paintings, and important items of the province. At the main entrance, you will immediately notice the impressive architecture of the property and the carved designs of the walls.
Ermita Hill
The perfect place to see the view of the town of Baler is Ermita Hill. From the top of the hill, you can get a view of Baler Bay, Dima-Dimalangat, and Aniao Islets. You can also find here a 30-foot cross. This is situated in Mt. Dibudalan at Sitio Dicaloyungan, Barangay Zabali.
Activities to do in Baler
Aside from surfing, you can do a lot of activities to do in Balers such as hiking, swimming, boating, food tripping, and island hopping.
Frequently Asked Questions in Baler
Can I travel alone? Yes! A lot of international and domestic tourists are traveling as solo backpackers to Baler. I recommend to bring with your travel buddies because it's cheaper especially if you are planning to have a town tour. The more the merrier! Right?
Can I travel to Baler on the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) way? Of course. It's not necessary to get a package tour from a travel agency or tour operator. It's your choice. You can hire a tricycle if you want to tour around the town.
Is there nightlife in Baler? Nightlife in Baler is not really inviting. There are only limited bars around the area.
How much is the tour package? The tour rate will depend on the destinations that you want to visit. It will also depend if you will do a day tour or will stay there overnight or for a couple of days. There are also DIY groups that offer package tours for joiners and solo travelers.
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