AN EXCITING TRIP TO BALER

Suggested Itinerary:

Day 01

Ditumabo Falls

Balete Park

Hanging Bridge

Ermita Hill

Sabang Beach

Day 02

Quezon Memorial Park

Museo de Baler

Baler Park

Baler Church

Aurora Aragon Quezon

Pasalubong Center

Ditumabo Falls

Be mesmerized with the crystal-clear water as it flows among the boulders and rocks downstreams. It is 140 feet high surrounded by rugged mossy cliffs, shrubs, and vines making it a perfect place for picnics and nature tripping.

This attraction can be found in the province of San Luis. In fact, it takes roughly half an hour on foot to reach the site from the jump start area; on the other hand, for some it may be longer depending on your pace. Expect that the water is terribly cold, so it’s advisable to wear rashguard with long sleeves which may somehow make you warm after dipping.

Reminders:

* Do not wear any jewelries or accessories you think you don’t need during the visit.

* You can just leave your extra clothes in the car. There is a changing room or shower room near the parking area.

* You may bring your camera or mobile phones to capture this natural attraction. Just make sure that it’s properly protected or covered.

Balete Park

Balete Park was built as it preserves one of Asia’s most gigantic Balete tree also known as Millennial tree. Yeah, you heard it right. It is, in fact, 500 years old which stands as tall as 60 meters or like a 3-story house. The diameter of its trunk is approximately 6 meters which needs 60 people in order to embrace the entire tree. Fortunately, tourists can climb up among the sturdy vines up to 3 meters high to have a nicer camera shot.

According to the legend, many believe that Balete trees home mythical creatures such as gnomes, tikbalang (half human, half horse), white lady, kapre, and many more. Thus, whoever tries to distract or cut the tree, will face his misfortune with no known cause. Also, people are advised to pay respect on them by whispering and asking for permission before climbing up or entering the hollow part of this tree.

Apart from this huge attraction at the park, you can buy pasalubong here particularly the rice cake or ‘suman’ in Tagalog, specially-made here because of its organic brown rice.

Hanging Bridge

This bridge is located not too far from Zabali Road. It is made of steel cables and wooden flatporm spanning to a approximately 200 meters in length over the green moss Tibag-Sabang River in Baler. The river flows out to Baler Bay, south of Sabang Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

Ermita Hill

Ermita Hill is a 2-hectare plateau overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is believed that this elevated area used to be the refuge and temporary resettlement of more or less 6 families who only survived from a tsunami occurred in 1735. Later on, some pirates rummage the entire town and captured more than 400 villagers.

Tip:

* Visit some small cottages nestled by the cliff to have a panoramic view of Sabang Beach and the ocean.

* You may as well purchase your pasalubong here.

Sabang Beach

This place is a long shoreline of grey fine sand, a very famous spot for surfing and other water activities. It is highly condensed with variety of accommodation from inexpensive lodging inns to 3-4 stars hotels and resorts, sprawling bars and restaurants with their own attractions when dusk begins. Some of these quite amusing gimmicks include bands who can perform different genres of music.

Quezon Memorial Park

The park was made to commemorate the President Manuel L. Quezon. It has some attractions that you should not miss including a steel statue of the late president, a replica of the nipa hut where he was born, and a museum.

Museo de Baler

Aurora Aragon Quezon is the wife of the former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon and the museum houses her family’s several important memorabilias and town’s cultural heritage. Everybody will surely enjoy this place because it’s fully-airconditioned.

Baler Park

A few feet from Quezon Memorial Park is Baler Park where most travelers/tourists came by and take some photos with the iconic huge signage and its 4 pillars behind it representing the 400-year momentous history of the province.

Reminder:

* To make the flow of the people more organized, please do cooperate to queue properly. There’s nothing wrong in showing a fraction of your discipline as the locals manage the people to line up to avoid the traffic on the road.

* You may give some tips to the locals as they assist you on taking better photos.  

Baler Church

This church had become the shelter of the 33 surviving Spanish soldiers for a year even though the Philippine Independence was already declared.  Finally, it was on June 2, 1899 when they marched out of the church and headed to Manila, ending the so-called Siege Baler. President Emilio Aguinaldo treated these survivors as friends instead of being prisoners.

Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon House

A few feet from Baler Church is a small nipa hut, the birth place of the late Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon. She is the wife of President Manuel Quezon.

Tip:

Keep your ticket from Museo De Baler to have a free admission on this site.

Pasalubong Center
Your visit to any tourist destinations here in the Philippines won't be complete without visiting the local Pasalubong Center. The Pasalubong Center here in Baler is somewhat small compared to other provinces. The products sold outside are a bit cheaper than the ones inside the center.