2D1N Baguio, Benguet Itinerary and Expenses

In this post, I will share with you our March 2019 2D1N Baguio, Benguet Itinerary and Expenses. We planned our Baguio trip one month ahead of our actual trip and it was a good choice to include Baguio in our weekend getaway because it was the summer season and a good time to explore Baguio. Aside from visiting beaches, Baguio is also a good choice to include in your summer destination because of it’s cooler climate, famous historical places and local restaurants with a variety of cuisines. Luckily, my girlfriend and I had enough pictures and we would be happy to share it to you guys in the latter part of my blog.

Bus Transportation

Heading to Baguio, Benguet through commute is very convenient because well known Bus Lines such as Genesis and Victory Liner caters daily trips to Baguio. Genesis has terminals located in Manila (Avenida), Pasay and Cubao while Victory Liner has terminals located in Manila (Sampaloc), Pasay, Cubao and Caloocan. In our case, we decided to book out trip online with Victory Liner with our terminal origin in Cubao, Quezon City. Our mode of payment was through credit card. Actually, Genesis also offers an online booking through PinoyTravel or iWantSeats with their Joybus that offers direct non-stop trips to Cubao/Pasay – Baguio and vice versa. For Victory Liner, they offer online booking with their Standard and First Class Bus. Standard Bus has routes going to Baguio via either SCTEX – Luisita or TPLEX – Gerona while their First Class Bus offers direct trip to Cubao/Pasay – Baguio and vice-versa. I’m not really familiar with the routes of each schedule so it will be better if you directly inquire with the Victory Liner Customer Service or you may check their schedules and routes here. Below are the details of my booking:

Cubao – Baguio (Standard AC Bus)
Time: 4:00AM
Price: 485PHP x 2Pax = 970PHP
Reservation Fee: 50PHP x 2Pax = 100PHP
Total: 1,070PHP
Note: Our trip to Baguio was supposed to be via TPLEX – Gerona but we were lucky enough that our driver exited at TPLEX – Pozorrubio so we reached Baguio within only 5 hours.
Terminal Address: Denver Street, Cor Detroit, Quezon City, 1111 Metro Manila

Baguio – Cubao (Standard AC Bus)
Time: 4:00AM
Price: 485PHP x 2Pax = 970PHP
Reservation Fee: 50PHP x 2Pax = 100PHP
Total: 1,070PHP
Note: Our trip back to Cubao was via TPLEX – Gerona.
Terminal Address: Utility Rd, Baguio, Benguet

Taxi Transportation

Getting around Baguio can be through Taxi or Jeep. For faster trips, it is best if through Taxi. The Budget to be allocated in your Taxi transportation will depend on your planned itinerary. In our case, we planned to visit places that are located within the heart of Baguio City. We budgeted at most 1,000 PHP for our Taxi transportation. I’ve listed below our Taxi trips for the duration of our stay.

Taxi Trips:
Victory Liner Terminal – Cafe by The Ruins Dua
Cafe by The Ruins Dua – The Mansion
Wright Park – Baguio Botanical Garden
Baguio Botanical Garden – Camp John Hay (Historical Core)
Camp John Hay (Historical Core) – Megatower Residences
Vizco’s Session Road – Burnham Park
Burnham Park – Megatower Residences
Megatower Residences – Bistro by Hill Station (Camp John Hay)
Bistro by Hill Station (Camp John Hay) – Mines View Park
Mines View Park – Arca’s Yard
Arca’s Yard – Pizza Volante (Wright Park)
Pizza Volante (Wright Park) – Victory Liner Terminal

Accomodation

While planning for our trip in Baguio we used the Airbnb App in searching for our accommodation and we came across a listing that is located in Megatower Residences. Kindly check it here. The accommodation listed only costed us 1014.97PHP and we paid through credit card. The good thing about the accommodation is that it is only walking distance to SM Baguio, Baguio Cathedral, Session Road and Bus terminals along Gov. Pack Rd. The accommodation has 1 bunk bed and is good for backpacker type of traveler. Another good thing about the accommodation is that it is on a self check-in and check out basis. Instructions will be given by the owner upon booking of the accommodation.
Below are the details of my booking:

Accommodation: 899PHP
Service Fee: 115.97PHP
Total: 1014.97PHP
Address: Sandico Street, Unit GF10, Megatower Residence 1, Baguio, CAR 2600

Food

Baguio has a lot of choices to offer when it comes to food. There are a number of well known local restaurants in Baguio that are really worth trying. I suggest you pay them a visit and dine whenever you are in Baguio. I will share with you one by one the local restaurants that we’ve tried in the duration of our stay in Baguio. Kindly see below for the list of foods that we had tried and the estimated expenses. Kindly take note that the amount posted in the estimated expenses is only an approximation since I cannot remember anymore the specific price for the food/drinks that we’ve ordered.

1 – Cafe by The Ruins Dua
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Mt. Data Tapa Rice
– Bacon and Egg
– Siphon Coffee
Estimated Expenses: 800PHP
Address: 225 Upper Session Rd, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
Note: This is one of the best places to have a healthy and sumptuous breakfast.

2 – Vizco’s
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Strawberry Shortcake
– Black Forest
– Brewed Coffee (Comes with one refill)
Estimated Expenses: 500PHP
Branches:
– Porta Vaga Mall, Session Rd, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
– Baguio-AyalaLand Technohub, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet
– 224 Luneta Hill Dr, Baguio, 2600 Benguet (SM Baguio)
Note: Strawberry Shortcake is the real deal!

3 – Bistro by Hill Station
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Breakfast Meal (Coffee Included)
Estimated Expenses: 600PHP
Address: Baguio-AyalaLand Technohub, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet
Note: Best place also to have a healthy and sumptuous breakfast. Quite cheaper than Cafe by The Ruins Dua.

4 – Arca’s Yard
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Fruit Salad
– Cacao Hot Choco
Estimated Expenses: 400PHP
Address: Ambuklao Rd, Baguio, Benguet
Note: I highly recommend that you try their Hot Chocolate. The restaurant is quite far from the city center and the are only a handful of taxi’s within the vicinity of the area so it will be better if you put this first on your itinerary. The restaurant is located along the Baguio – Nueva Vizcaya road.

5 – Pizza Volante
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Rice Meals
– Grilled Salmon Belly
– Kenny George Pizza
Estimated Expenses: 500PHP
Branches:
– Session Theatre Bld, Session Rd, Baguio, Benguet
– Ordonio Dr, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet
– Wright Park, Romulo Dr, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
Note: I highly recommend that you guys try their pizza. We ordered their Kenny George Pizza. Price range for their food is very affordable.

6 – Purple Pad Thai
Food/Drinks Ordered:
– Rice Meals
– Drinks
Estimated Expenses: 600PHP
Address: SM Baguio Food Court
Note: Food is worth trying although SM Baguio Food Court is quite crowded.

7 – Merienda: Strawberry Taho
– Strawberry Taho
Estimated Expenses: 100PHP
Note: You can buy Strawberry Taho from street vendors especially around Mines View Park, The Mansion, Wright Park and Burnham Park.

Things To Do

Since we want to maximize our stay in Baguio, we decided to visit the places that are frequently posted in social media sites. Kindly see below for the list of places that we visited and the estimated expenses.

1 – Visit Mansion House
The Mansion House is the official summer palace of the President of the Philippines.
Address: Romulo Dr, Baguio, Benguet
Estimated Expenses: N/A
Note: Tourists are not permitted inside the Mansion House.

2 – Visit Botanical Garden
One of the Green parks of Baguio City.
Address: 37 Leonard Wood Rd, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
Estimated Expenses: N/A

3 – Visit Historical Core Place
Places such as the Cemetery of Negativism, Totem Pole, Bell House, Bell Amphitheater and Secret Garden are located in the Historical Core.
Address: Historical Core, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet
Estimated Expense: 150PHP (75PHP Entrance Fee per pax)

4 – Visit, Rent a Bike and Stroll in Burnham Park
One of the famous places that is visited by tourists and locals in Baguio. It is best to have an early morning jog and night stroll in this place.
Address: Jose Abad Santos Drive, Baguio, 2600 Benguet
Estimated Expenses: 150PHP (Bike Rental)

5 – Visit Mines View Park and Good Shepherd Convent for Pasalubong
A place where majority of the pasalubong shops are located. Good Shepherd Convent, which also sells native Baguio products is just a walking distance from Mines View Park.
Estimated Expenses: 2000PHP (1000PHP per Pax; Money spent is for pasalubong)
Note: Good Shepherd Convent products are pricier than the pasalubong shops in Mines View.

Total Expenses

Bus Transportation (Cubao – Baguio): 1070PHP
Bus Transportation (Baguio – Cubao): 1070PHP
Taxi Transportation: 1000PHP
Accomodation: 1014.97PHP
Things To Do: 2300PHP
Food: 3500PHP
Grand Total: 9954.97PHP

Itinerary

Day 1 – Saturday
– ETD Cubao 4AM
– Stopover at Sison,Pangasinan (20minutes – 25 minutes)
– ETA Baguio 9AM
– Breakfast at Cafe by The Ruins DUA
– The Mansion
– Botanical Garden
– Camp John Hay (Historical Core)
– Check-in at Megatower Residences
– Dinner at Purple Pad Thai
– Coffee and Cake at Vizco’s
– Night Stroll at Burnham Park

Day 2 – Sunday
– Wake up Call 8am
– Baguio Cathedral
– Breakfast at Bistro by Hill Station
– Buy Pasalubong at Mines View Park
– Arca’s Yard
– Pizza Volante
– ETD Baguio 4PM
– Stopover at Sison, Pangasinan (20 minutes – 25minutes)
– Stopover at Gerona, Tarlac (20 minutes – 25 minutes)
– ETA Cubao 10PM