BAGUIO: The Route from Manila to Baguio in FOUR (4) Hours!

May 31, 2014


BAGUIO: The Route from Manila to Baguio in FOUR (4) 3 1/2 Hours!


See my update as of May 2015 below!!!:

It's my first time to drive to Baguio. Last week, in May 2014, a Thursday, it took me 4 hours to drive from Petron Lakeshore in NLEX San Fernando, Pampanga to Le Monet Hotel, Baguio City. I didn't include travel time before arriving at Petron Lakeshore where we had lunch because prior to arriving at Petron Lakeshore we made a lot of stops so travel time is not accurate.

On our return to Manila, my husband, a seasoned driver, was able to drive from Baguio to Cubao in 4 hours 40 minutes, with a 40 minute stop at Caltex NLEX for lunch. The departure date and time from Baguio is a Sunday in May at 11:00 AM. Prior to that, my husband rode the Victory Liner non-stop deluxe bus from Cubao to Baguio, and they made it to Baguio in 4.5 hours. 

My point in sharing this to you is to show that it's actually possible for a seasoned driver to drive non-stop from Cubao to Baguio and vice versa in 4 hours.




The full map from NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX (until Carmen)-Magilas Trail-Kennon Road-Le Monet Hotel:




My tip:

1. Take the Magilas route. It avoids the towns of Villasis and Urdaneta and cuts travel time, especially since the portion of MacArthur highway in these towns are under construction.

2. At the end of the TPLEX at Carmen, make sure to turn right to take the Magilas route. The sign at the end of the TPLEX at Carmen says that you should turn left to go to Baguio. Ignore that.Turn RIGHT instead.


VIDEO OF THE EXITS

As a first-time driver to Baguio, I familiarized myself with videos of the route. Before I drove to Baguio, the only video available online is the first video below. So I uploaded the video my son took of the signs and the exits to TPLEX and Magilas trail.

1. Manila to Baguio from NLEX to SCTEX...


Video courtesy of www.gobaguio.com


Note that the video above was uploaded in 2008, before the SCTEX and the TPLEX was connected. Instead of exiting at La Paz, Tarlac, you enter the TPLEX. Checkout the video below.


2. ... From SCTEX to TPLEX...





3. ...From TPLEX to Magilas Trail.






UPDATE AS OF MAY 2015:

The full map from NLEX-SCTEX-TPLEX (until Urdaneta exit)-Binalonan-Pozzorubio-Rosario-Kennon Road-Le Monet Hotel:



The video above is still good except NO. 3. You no longer turn right to Magilas trail. You go straight until you reach the end of the construction, which exits at Urdaneta but avoids the town

My BANAUE and SAGADA Itinerary with Kids (Day 3: Banaue Viewpoint, Mount Polis, Bayyo Rice Terraces, Sagada)

May 14, 2014


My BANAUE and SAGADA Itinerary with Kids 
(Day 3: Banaue to Sagada: Banaue Viewpoint, Mount Polis, Bayyo Rice Terraces, Sagada)

DAY 2. SATURDAY
KIANGAN-BATAD-KIANGAN

See the BATAD RICE TERRACES


DAY 3. SUNDAY
KIANGAN - BANAUE - SAGADA

See the Banaue Rice Terraces at the Banaue Viewpoint
Lunch at Mount Polis
See the Bayyo Rice Terraces


Map of the Route for today:



STARTING POINT: Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast
FIRST STOP: Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoints 
SECOND STOP: Lunch at Mount Polis
THIRD STOP: Bayyo Rice Terraces Viewpoint
FINAL DESTINATION: Sagada



OUR ACTUAL ITINERARY:

11:30 AM:
We checked out and left Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast, Kiangan, Ifugao.


11:40 AM:
We fuelled up at Eastern Gas Station at Lagawe, Ifugao, the next town after Kiangan and before Banaue.  
The price of diesel fuel is 48.50 pesos per liter.  
Many gas stations in Lagawe are closed on Sundays. This gas station is open even on Sundays and is recommended by Doc Toto, owner of Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast.

11:40 PM - 12:40 PM:
We travelled from Eastern Gas Station in Lagawe to Banaue viewpoints going towards Bontoc.


WELCOME TO BANAUE !!!



12:40 PM - 1:40 PM:
We stopped and viewed the Banaue Rice Terraces at the different viewpoints along the road from Banaue to Bontoc. 
Check out my post : How to Find the Banaue Rice Terraces View Point



1:40 PM - 2:10 PM:
Travel time from the Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoints to Mount Polis.


2:10 PM - 2:40 PM:

Arrival at Mount Polis 


Lunch at Mount Polis Rolling Coffee Shop and Restaurant.
Check out my post : The Road from BANAUE to SAGADA: Mount Polis Rolling Coffee Shop and Restaurant




2:40 PM - 3:00 PM:
Travel time from Mount Polis to Bayyo Rice Terraces viewpoint


3:00 PM:
Bayyo Rice Terraces 
Check out my post: The Road from BANAUE to SAGADA: BAYYO RICE TERRACES Viewpoint


3:00 - 3:30 PM:
Travel time from Bayyo Rice Terraces to Bontoc


3:30 PM - 3:50 PM:
Travel time from Bontoc town to the fork going to Sagada


4:20 PM:
Arrival in Sagada


Checked in at St. Joseph's Resthouse
Checkout my post: St. Joseph's Resthouse: Best Accommodations in Sagada



5:30 PM:
Ordered dinner for take out at Yoghurt house

6:00 PM:
Dinner at St. Joseph's Resthouse


DAY 4. MONDAY
SAGADA

Do SPELUNKING AT SUMAGUING CAVE

DAY 5. TUESDAY
SAGADA

See Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins
Do the Sagada Zipline

Read more of Day 5 of My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids 


DAY 6. WEDNESDAY
SAGADA - MANILA

See Dalton Pass

Read more of Day 6 of My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids 

BANAUE: Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast at Kiangan, Ifugao: The Best Accommodations near the Banaue Rice Terraces

May 11, 2014


BANAUE: Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast at Kiangan, Ifugao:
The Best Accommodations near the Banaue Rice Terraces

Why I love Ibulao Ibulao:

1. The beautiful accommodations

We checked in at a VILLA ROOM. The rate is 4500 pesos per room per night for 6 persons. Let the photos speak for themselves. Below are photos of our accommodations:


The villa room



My kids inside the villa room





The entrance of the villa room
Panoramic photo of the villa room
Inside the villa room
This is what you see from the entrance of the villa room


As you can see, towels, linen and blankets are provided.

The view from the loft



The view from the window side


The stairs to the loft

The loft

The separate toilet

The separate shower

2. The reasonable rates
a. The rock room: good for 5-6 persons at 2,800 pesos per room per night 
b. The west and east rooms: good for 2-3 persons at 1,600 pesos per room per night
c. The villa room: good for 6-10 persons at 4,500 pesos per room per night 
All rooms have airconditioning and hot shower. 
Towels and linens are provided. 
Reservation policy and cancellation policy: Please reserve by emailing Doc Toto at totokalug@yahoo.com.ph. Since they don't require a deposit for reservation, please have the courtesy of cancelling your reservation as soon as you know that you're unable to arrive.
WALK-INS ARE NOT ENTERTAINED. 
The rooms are value for money. With the above rates and the quality of rooms, it  beats the Banaue hotel in terms of room rates and quality of accommodations.

3. The great food
We had gourmet breakfast at 180 pesos per person, inclusive of gourmet coffee.
The dining area

Oops... My son almost finished the food before I was able to take the photo.




The view from the dining area


4. The location
It's a mere 30 minutes away from Banaue town. With the limited and basic accommodations at Banaue town, Ibulao is the best accommodations near the Banaue rice terraces not only because of the beauty and ambience of the place, but also because of its reasonable rates.

5. The great service and warm hospitality

Doc Toto's policy is to have only one group at a time staying at his place. This assures you of privacy and great service. You actually feel like an honoured guest and family friend while staying at his place. He joins you at breakfast, asks what you need and provides you with reliable guides to places you want to explore. It's a home away from home.


More photos of the grounds and other rooms: 










Drs. Toto and Tess Kalugdan's residence beside the villa room



The villa room (at the right) with the Kalugdan residence (on the left)



Bigger dining area for big groups






How to find Ibulao Ibulao:

Check out my post below for directions from Manila to Ibulao Ibulao:

My BANAUE and SAGADA Itinerary with Kids (Day 1: Manila to Kiangan)





Turn left to Kiangan

The entrance to Ibulao Ibulao Bed and Breakfast is the upward sloping road after the Kiangan arch.

This is the upward sloping entrance to Ibulao and Ibulao Bed and Breakfast


How to contact Ibulao Ibulao:







Drs. Toto and Tess Kalugdan welcomed us into their beautiful home.
This photo is taken inside their living room.

Thanks for the warm hospitality!!!
We will be back!


Department of Tourism Accreditation of Ibulao and Ibulao Bed and Breakfast: