When in Baler

Since I've spent my entire life in the city, travelling my home country and visiting views before I reach the big 3-0. I've been to the very famous Boracay and the nature wonder, Bohol. Both trips were made with the fam. This year, I decided to take on my own Adventure and travel with a friend instead (I tried to be independent, hahaha!). Check out my funtastic adventures in Baler!

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My friend and I left Manila at around 5:30 in the morning so we can fully enjoy our overnight stay. We rode the Genesis bus going straight to Baler (Btw, we decided not to join any group travels, or as what they call "joiners", because we can only be away from work for a day or two). We stayed at The Circle Hostel for the night and slept on a hammock (t'was my first time and I really want to get one for myself! teehee).

Travel and Lodging

Took the Genesis Bus going to Baler

Arrived at The Circle Hostel

The Circle Hostel

Reminder Board

Hammock Area

For Her

For Him

How the stairs look like

Rooms upstairs

Hammock Area

Where we slept -- Hammock

The day we arrived is also the first day of our tour. We asked a tricycle driver to give us a tour of their scenic places. I loved the way he talks about each place. You could tell that he knows a lot about his town, its history and all. We first went to Ermita Hill. According to our manong, this was where the eight survivors of Baler fled to when a tsunami hit the town. From the top of the hill, you will be able to see an amazing view of the town, the Sabang Beach, Cemento and Dima-Dimalangat Islet. We weren't able to climb going to the famous cross because of time constraints.

Calming view from the hill.

Another shot from the hill.

Peaceful

Ermita Hill

At Ermita Hill

Random shot from the hill.

Our shot with the view.

Just the opposite side.

Top of Ermita Hill

Our next destinations were Diguisit Falls and Diguisit Beach and Rock Formation. The falls was a simple yet beautiful site to see. We climbed up to see its beauty and stayed there for a few minutes to take photos. We headed for the beach to see the rock formation and took more fun photos where you only needed to pay the entrance fee. We didn't swim at Diguisit so we can visit other sites. We went to the famous Balete Tree. This millennium tree is 600 years old -- WOW! and take at least 60 people to encircle it. It is famous in Filipino folklore to house different entities. You can enter the tree to reach just the other side of it.

From here, went straight to one of their famous falls, the Ditumabo Mother Falls. We had a 20 - 30 minute walk just to reach the falls itself. We got the chance to swim at its waters -- don't worry, there are ropes to hang on and some of the tour guides are lifeguards. Just be careful since the water current is strong. But the site is beautiful.

Manong driver dropped us off at the hostel after visiting Ditumabo Mother Falls. We finished the tour early so we got home earlier than expected and since we were exhausted, we rested and slept at the hammock. The following day, we woke up very early to visit the Amper Beach and witness the sunrise. Travel from the hostel to the beach took us around 1 hour so we had to wake up very early. The waves at that beach are too high and the place is too rocky to go swimming so we just had a little photoshoot because why not?

After staying at the Amper Beach for an hour, we went back to the hostel and from there, we went surfing with some of the guests. We were with instructors who taught us the basics of surfing. It took us around 30 mins to an hour to reach Lipit Beach and we stayed there for 2 hours. It was a first for me and another tick off of my bucket list. I'm so ecstatic to finally experience surfing. I have no photos while surfing but I have one video from an action camera and that’s just about it. Lol! After a good two hours of surfing, we had lunch at a nearby food place (the food was more on grilled but I LOVED IT! Forgot about being body conscious because of food) then headed back to the hostel to check out and head home. We took a van going to Cabanatuan and rode a bus heading back to Manila.

I’ve tallied the expenses I’ve made for an overnight stay in Baler. It may be expensive for some but this is my very first travel alone and I do eat a lot so the budget I set had to have an amount extra for food. Teehee.

Expenses (per person)

Genesis Bus: Php 730

Tricycle Ride (Going to the Hostel): Php 15

The Circle Hostel: Php 393.79 (Total Amount: Php 787.58 ÷ 2)

Lunch: Php 83.50

Tour: Php 450 (Total Amount: Php 900 ÷ 2)

Entrance to Ermita Hill: Php 15

Entrance to Diguisit Beach and Rock Formation: Php 15

Entrance to Balete: Php 15 (To enter the tree itself, you have to pay Php 20)

Entrance to Ditumabo Mother Falls: Php 30

Transportation going to Amper Beach: Php 150 (Total Amount: Php 300 ÷ 2)

Transportation Going to Lipit Beach: Php 50 (Total Amount: Php 100 ÷ 2)

Surfing (w/ instructor): Php 700

Transportation Going Back to Manila (breakdown)

Tricycle: Php 15

Van headed for Cabanatuan: Php 230

Bus from Cabanatuan to Quezon City Terminal: Php 185

Bus from Quezon City to Makati: Php 26

Total Amount: Php 3, 103.29

I had so much even though it was only an overnight trip. Fun BUT a very exciting adventure! I would love to visit a new place with a certain budget in mind and go on a complete escapade with my best friend on my next backpacking trip. No van hired and not joining any joiners/ group travel; just us two going on a long bus ride. Maybe I should head for Ilocos on my next travel? Or do you have another place in mind? Comment below and let me know.

❤

Ishie