Baler, Aurora | A Rainy Weekend Trip
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Been visiting Baler for quite some time but for this blog, I will share a short and rainy Baler experience.
Baler is a town in the province of Aurora. Situated on the east side of Luzon facing the Pacific, it has beaches that are awesome for surfing. One of the nearest surf spot from Manila. Aside from surfing, Baler do have other tourist attractions like falls, beaches and coves. So this my go to destination when I want an adventure filled weekend.
We arrived late at night in the town of Baler with heavy rain. We stayed in Nalu Surf Camp, a resort with a beach-front access to Sabang Beach. They also have an affordable “Ifugao Nipa Huts”.
When morning came, it greeted us with stormy winds and nonstop drizzles. Judging by the looks of it, the weather won't stop anytime soon. Instead of heading back to the room and hope for the sun to come out, we decided to make the most of the day.
Because of the blustery wind, the waves were not ideal for surfing. This also means that the surf area was not crowded. I rented a board and started to surf. Catches few waves and had plenty of wipeouts. Tried my best to document the experience with a GoPro.
Next, it’s time for coffee. Walking distance to Nalu Surf Camp is Charlie Does. A Hotel, surf shop and Café. They also serve vegetarian dishes.
Then, we hired a tricycle for a tour to Ditumabo Falls or the one they call Mother Falls. When we arrived at the drop-off point, we saw the strong river current. Even if we really wanted to visit Mother Falls, we had to withdraw our trekking plan because of possible flash floods and landslides.
Instead, we headed to some random spots in Baler.
We asked our guide to end our tour at Hungry Surfer at Bay’s Inn. TThe restaurant is on its new location. Several minutes’ walk from Sabang Beach. The original location was actually in Bay’s Inn with a beach view. This restaurant is institution in Baler, they are open 24 hours serving all day breakfast and more. Note: Forgot to take pictures of the food because we were starving.
That night, we went out for a walk to the town proper. Had dinner in some local eatery and explored Quezon Park.
This is my short and rainy Baler experience. Yes, our activities was limited due to the bad weather but experiencing Baler in a different state also creates opportunity. The gloomy weather added a cinematic vibe to my shots. Also, surfed in the famous Sabang beach without a crowd. I realized that we should learn to step out of our comfort zone and embrace the bumps along the way. Because sometimes, those bumps makes the moment extraordinary.
WATCH THE FULL VLOG HERE
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BALER
The best time to visit Baler is during surf season. This is from September to March. What I recommend is visit during December to February. This is the cold season in Philippines. It will make your exploration more pleasant than during summer when temperature can reach up to 34°C.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS TO PACK TO BALER
Summer / Beach Outfit
Swimwear
Sandals / Slippers
Camera / Action Cam
Extra Batteries / Memory Card
Powerbank
Tumbler
Dry bag
Beach mat
WHERE TO STAY IN BALER
Here is/are the accommodation/s I’ve tried and would recommend to you. If interested, you can book via Agoda by clicking the link below:
HOW TO GET TO BALER FROM MANILA
If you will go to Baler from Manila without a car, the best option is a bus ride via JoyBus. Genesis Bus Station is located in Cubao. Travel time is around 5 hours. Joy bus has 5 trips from 11PM to 5:30AM daily. It is important to book in advance.
A cheaper option is the regular bus from the same company. It goes every hour from 12MN to 8AM but may vary depending on the number of passengers.
If you can only travel after 8AM, then the other option is to ride a bus at Five Star Bus Station in Cubao to Cabanatuan. Then transfer to a van in Cabanatuan Bus Station going to Baler. Travel time plus waiting time for this option will take almost a day.
BALER BUDGET AND ITINERARY
The estimated budget for an overnight Baler trip via a bus to Cabanatuan is around Php3,500.00 per person. This is assuming that there is an additional 4 meals with Php200.00 budget per meal per person. Expected costs is shown below:
Five Star Bus (Cubao to Cabanatuan) – Php213.00/pax
Van to Baler – Php220.00/pax
Nalu Surf Camp Ifugao Hut (AC Room) – Php2,700.00/night
2-3 person
Breakfast included
Surf Lesson – Php350.00/hour
Tricycle tour – Php500.00/half day
Regular Tricycle Ride – Php10-20.00/pax
NOTE: Rates indicated above may change.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN VISITING BALER
Surf Season is September to March.
Travel time is 5-6 hours via direct route.
If you will travel via Cabanatuan, allocate the whole day.
3 hours to Cabanatuan
3 hours to Baler
Plus waiting time and stopovers
Tricycle is the mode of transportation going around Baler. Regular rate is around Php10.00-20.00.
There are several options to choose from but in general food in Baler is affordable.
Buffet is a thing in Baler so you should try one in the Town Proper.
Charlie Does FB Page @Charlie.Does
Hungry Surfer by Bay’s Inn FB Page @hungrysurferbaler
Most accommodations accepts credit cards but do bring cash.
Check the weather if you plan to go to Mother Falls / Ditumabo Falls.
There are plenty of ATMs in the town proper.
Signal is not a problem in the area.
Going back to Manila? There is a Genesis Bus station in town proper with a regular bus schedule daily.
BALER TRAVEL TIPS
If you travel via Cabanatuan, van will leave once all seats are taken. This may affect your schedule. Aside from passengers and their bags, they might fill it up with packages/padala. This means it will be an uncomfortable 3-4 hours ride. What I recommend is to pay for the whole row if you have spare cash.
If you plan to visit Ditomabo Falls (Mother Falls), avoid rainy season.
Bring cash in tour.
Bring a dry bag,
Use GoPro for the water activities but never use a GoPro and a head mount while surfing. I almost lost one in La Union.
Do not leave trash behind.
WHAT’S IN MY BAG?
If you want to know more about the cameras, gadgets and travel essentials I use, check out “MY GEAR”
This is a DIY travel guide to Baler, Aurora via Joybus. Did a Baler Land Tour for a day. Went to Ermita Hill, Diguisit Beach, Diguisit Falls, Mother Falls. Also, surfed in Sabang Beach.