How to Spend a Weekend in Aurora, Baler – Backpacker Style
Surrounded by mountains, far-stretching rice fields, and stunning coastlines, Aurora, Baler is a veritable utopia to weekend warriors eager to escape from the city and commune with nature. Baler is also delightfully affordable, so it’s no surprise that this quiet, unassuming town is such a hit among many travelers. If you’re eyeing Baler as your next weekend getaway, below are some helpful tips.
Day 1 — Day Tour Guide
Upon arriving at your beachfront hotel in Sabang after a 5-hour bus ride, the call of the ocean could be hard to resist. But, let the beach wait and channel that excitement toward the promise of fantastic sights and novel experiences on a day tour. Day tours are the best way to explore the town and ecological sites in the region.
The cheapest tours are offered by tricycle drivers who weave through the town like an army of ants. They offer full-day tours and half-day tours. Most hotels liaise with accredited tricycle drivers who double as tour guides. It’s advisable to go with someone referred by your hotel. Below is a list of attractions typically included in a day tour.
Top Sites
- Sabang Beach — Baler’s top attraction and surfing center
- Millenium Tree — A celebrated, 600-year-old Balete Tree.
- Ditumabo Falls/Mother Falls — w/ an admission fee per person | Tour guides are optional
- Hanging Bridge
- Ermita Hill — The highest point in Baler, popular for sightseeing – w/ an admission fee per person
- Diguisit Beach and Diguisit Falls
- Aniao Cove — A beautiful cove in Baranggay Zabali. – w/ an admission fee per person
- Fishing Port
Town Attractions
- Museo de Baler — There is a minimal admission fee
- Dona Aurora Quezon House
- Baler Church
Find out more here — 10 Attractions You Must See Before Leaving Aurora, Baler
Other Options
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- Dicasalarin Cove — Privately-owned but open to the public. – w/ an admission fee per
- Cemento Beach
- Ampere Beach
Day 2 — Surf to Your Heart’s Delight
Now that you’ve explored the region you could dedicate your second day to the ocean. In Sabang, find your way to the colorful umbrellas along the beach. Beneath them you’ll find eager surfing instructors waiting on standby for newcomers. They’ll all claim to be a champion at some surfing tournament. Champion or not, they seem to know their craft. They offer 1.5 hour lessons (inclusive of surfboard rental). Experienced surfers may bring their own boards or rent one.
Traveling to Baler
A weekend trip to anywhere requires some serious time management and since Baler is about 4 to 5 hours away from Metro Manila, it’s advisable to get on the road as early as Friday night. Yes, you’ll have to make that not-so-small sacrifice of sleeping uncomfortably in a freezing bus. They provide blankets, but you’ll still need to layer up with a jacket.
A number of bus lines serve the Manila-Baler route although the most popular choice is Genesis Lines in Cubao, Edsa. They offer five evening trips starting at midnight up to 5:30 a.m. There are deluxe and semi-deluxe buses, the former costs more. According to the ticketing clerk the only difference between the two is deluxe buses have reclining seats. All other amenities are the same.
Traveling Back to Manila
Genesis offers four trips from Baler to Manila daily. The earliest is at 4:30 a.m. and succeeding trips are from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m. On Sundays tickets sell fast so it’s best to book in advance. However, if all trips are booked up by the time you arrive at the terminal your next option is the van-shuttle. The downside of shuttles are, the trips are longer, (about 6 hours), due to a longer route, and you’d have to wait until the vans are filled up which can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. The vans are parked right across Genesis’ terminal.
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If you’re one of them weekend warriors in need of respite from city living or just another wanderluster pondering on your next adventure, look no further, Baler awaits with a promise of breathtaking sights, friendly people, and delightful memories to look back on.
Selfie during an early morning stroll at Sabang, Beach. Sunrise at Sabang is a not-to-be-missed event, but if you can’t get up early enough, make sure you don’t miss the equally stunning sunset.
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