About Baguio

Baguio, for many, is a retreat from the sweltering lowlands to the pine filled highlands. Following your drive up the mountain, you will be greeted with a climate and culture very different from the rest of the Philippines. Whether you want to learn about local cultures, sample local cuisine, or simply get away to the great outdoors, Baguio serves as your gateway to the Cordilleras.

Quick facts about Baguio:

Common languages spoken: Baguio Ilokano, English, Kankanaey, Ibaloi, and Tagalog.

Population: 320,000+

Altitude: About 5,000 feet above sea level.

Roads to Baguio: Kennon Road (after 2/19/2024, open only to those going down), Marcos Highway (Ben Palispis Highway), Asin Road (very windy), and Naguilian Road 

Visit www.GoBaguio.com for more information (external site).
Baguio Wikipedia page (external site)

Baguio Weather

While Baguio and the Cordillera’s are part of the Philippines, weather here can often be very different from other areas. We recommend checking the weather in Baguio and the North before coming up.
AccuWeather – Baguio City Weather (external site)

Places to Visit

In addition to seeing, Baguio itself, there are also many different attractions to see in the area. In no particular order, simply grouped based on location.

  • Botanical Garden (nature), Wright Park (horseback riding), Mine’s View (shopping)
  • Camp John Hay (shopping, hiking, and ziplining), PMA
  • Burnham Park (bike and boat rentals), Baguio Museum (cultural and historical), Session Road (shopping), Night Market (shopping), SM (shopping, dining, and recreation at Sky Ranch)
  • Tam-awan Village (cultural and art), Igorot Stone Kingdom, Mount Costa (hiking), Admiral’s Farm Park (hiking), La Trinidad Strawberry Farms
  • Lourdes Grotto, Heritage Hill and Nature Park
  • Asin Road Woodcarving and Hot Springs, Ben Cab Museum (art)

Special Laws in Baguio

There are a few special laws to be aware of. They are the following:
Anti-distracted ordinance – No walking on sidewalks while using mobile devices (external site)

Vehicle Coding – Vehicles are not allowed to drive within the highlighted area from 7am to 7pm based on the last number on their license plate. The perimeter roads highlighted in dark blue can be driven on when it’s your “no-drive day.”

The fine is P500 or so per day.

1 or 2 = Monday
3 or 4 = Tuesday
5 or 6 = Wednesday
7 or 8 = Thursday
9 or 0 = Friday

 

Map of Baguio for Coding Vehicles

To get to Doane Rest on your Coding Day, you can go to Legarda Road from Marcos Highway (Legarda is on your left) or from Kennon Road (Legarda is on your right). Follow Legarda Road to where you must turn right. Before turning right, you will pass McDonald’s on the corner, and after turning right, City Hall will be on your left. Follow this road around until it turns left away from downtown. Turn left, but then try to stay in the right lane so you can go right down Bokawkan (not Naguilian Road). Bokawkan is pretty steep, but you will follow this downhill for a bit. You will pass Holiday Supermarket on your left and Toyota Baguio on your right. At the intersection just after Toyota, turn right. You will be on Magsaysay. Doane Rest is on the right immediately after Cleanfuel gas station and before Iglesia Ni Cristo.

To leave Doane Rest on your coding day, turn left out of Doane Rest and go down Magsaysay to the flyover intersection. Turn left here to go up Bokawkan (not the left that will go onto the overpass). Go up Bokawkan until you get to the traffic light at the top; take a left here. You will pass a Shell on your right, and then you need to turn right. Stay in the right lane, and go straight along this road. City Hall will be on your left. Keep going straight, passing McDonald’s on your left, and you will then be on Legarda Road. Follow Legarda road until it T’s, then you can turn right to go to Marcos Highway or left to Kennon Road.