Hailed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio’s relatively cooler temperature, delicious bites, and breathtaking views attract throngs of visitors to its hilly bosom. But while we are busy feeding our senses with everything Baguio offers, we sometimes fail to realize that we are unintentionally committing travel mistakes and forget to be mindful of our actions.
We confess that our team is addicted to Baguio! We keep coming back every year, multiple times even! We can’t get enough of it. The city map is dotted with attractions, filling itineraries with activities to enjoy and notable places to visit. But whether traveling for the first time or not, familiarizing ourselves with the local culture and the rules and regulations will help us avoid doing something that might come across as offensive to the locals. Read on to learn more about the common mistakes and misconceptions travelers make in Baguio.
HELLO! We just want to clarify that this video is by no means made by experts, but rather made from our experience as frequent travelers to Baguio. If you want to add anything or have any opinions on the items we’ve included in this list of travel mistakes to avoid in Baguio, feel free to use our comment section!
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
Baguio Travel Mistakes
1. Expecting that it’s a walk in the park.
Baguio is a well-developed city laced with roads and sidewalks, so most tourists assume that they can easily explore the city on foot. The fact that Baguio is big and its terrain largely uneven usually flies out of the window when tourists think about walking from one attraction to another.
Well, it’s possible to explore on foot, BUT it has its challenges. The walking distance might be short, but Baguio’s hilly terrain will require more effort and stamina. If you are up for the challenge, then by all means, enjoy your mini urban hike!
If you want a guided walking tour around the city, you’ll find different kinds of walking tours for different types of tourists – history buffs, creative peeps, and photo op enthusiasts! Here are some of them:
If history is your thing:
✅ CHECK BAGUIO HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR HERE!
Do you want to know more about the city’s art scene?
✅ JOIN BAGUIO CREATIVE WALKING TOUR HERE!
Amp up your OOTD post or profile pic!
✅ BOOK BAGUIO INSTAGRAM WALKING TOUR HERE!
2. Using your mobile phone while walking.
Yep, you read that right. Actually, it’s any form of distraction while walking and crossing the streets of Baguio. Through Ordinance 49-2019 or Anti-Distracted Walking Law, the use of distractive devices and items such as, but not limited to, mobile devices are prohibited while walking and crossing the streets — including sidewalks — within the city proper.
This ordinance was implemented to address the rising number of fatal incidents and accidents involving pedestrians on their phones, tablets, etc. Aside from mobile devices and tablets, this ordinance also covers other reading materials like books, magazines, papers, etc.
The implementation is especially strict on Session Road. As for the other areas, we’re not sure how strict they enforce the city ordinance, but it’s always best to follow the rules. If you need to check your phone or take a call, find a space where you can pause for a moment or stand to the side to avoid obstructing the flow of pedestrians. Here are the penalties for violating:
Anti-Distracted Walking Law (Ordinance 49-2019)
Penalties
- First Offense: Warning/Reprimand by an authorized officer
- Second Offense: 10 days of community service
3. Assuming that it’s cold all day, all year.
The average temperature of Baguio per year is between 15°C to 23°C, still cooler than Manila and other lowland areas. The coolest period is from November to February. It’s usually foggy and misty during the rainy season, which is between June and October.
The summer months of March, April, and May are the warmest, with an average temperature of 26°C. But in recent years, it can also reach 30°C to 32°C, especially during the El Niño season. If you’re not sure what type of jacket to pack, you can check the weather before your trip. Or you can bring both lightweight and thick jackets, just in case.
4. Not taking public transportation.
While it may be more convenient for you or your group to bring your own car, this will only add to the rising volume of vehicles in Baguio, making the roads more congested. Another concern is the difficulty in finding a parking spot. Traffic in Baguio is becoming serious, particularly during the peak seasons, which include summer, Christmas, New Year, and the Panagbenga Festival in February.
If you have no problem commuting, just leave your car and take public transportation. From Manila, many bus companies offer express routes, which are faster and have fewer stops. You can check out our Manila to Baguio Bus Guide article for the bus schedules and fares.
Going around the City of Pines, you can either ride a jeepney or take a taxi. But if you are not familiar with the jeepney stops, you can just go for a taxi. There are plenty of taxis in Baguio — with honest drivers to boot! Another plus point is that the taxi fares are relatively cheap here. And, if you are wondering, Grab is also available in Baguio.
5. Letting your guard down at Burnham Park.
Burnham Park is one of the most visited tourist spots in Baguio. The extensive green space hosts numerous features, including Burnham Lake, Athletic Bowl, Skating Rink, gardens, and other leisure spaces. It caters to any type of tourist, so huge crowds usually gather here. But while enjoying your time here, don’t let your guard down.
Always keep an eye on your belongings and make sure your valuables are stored securely. Baguio is generally safe, but there are still scoundrels who take advantage of the thick crowd and the hustle and bustle in Burnham Park, so be cautious.
6. Sticking to fast food.
Part of a city’s development is having the presence of well-known fast food restaurants, malls, and cafés. But when in Baguio, it’s a crime not to go on a gastronomic adventure. This highland city has plenty of good restaurants and diverse culinary flavors — from local Cordilleran dishes to international offerings like Japanese, Korean, American, and even Greek! There are also several homegrown restaurants you can’t find anywhere else but here. Don’t pass up the opportunity to try them!
You can check out a couple of articles we made if you are looking for the best restaurants and affordable places to eat in Baguio: BEST Restaurants and AFFORDABLE Eats in Baguio.
7. Claiming that locals eat dog meat.
It’s wrong to generalize that locals eat dog meat just because someone told you about it or you hear about it often. While isolated cases may exist, let’s not be hasty in our judgment and refrain from stereotyping or generalizing.
In addition, the current mayor of Baguio, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, has ordered to strengthen the implementation of Republic Act 8485, also known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, and to double down on punishing violators, including those who will be caught getting involved in the dog meat trade.
Sources:
[1] Baguio City Public Information Office (https://www.facebook.com/share/187T9USFnX/)[2] GMA News Online (https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/909244/magalong-orders-inspection-of-baguio-eateries-over-alleged-serving-of-dog-meat/story/)
8. Thinking La Trinidad is part of Baguio.
Contrary to popular belief, La Trinidad is not part of Baguio. It’s a completely separate town. But because of its accessibility and proximity to Baguio, tourists often get the idea that the town is under the jurisdiction of Baguio.
This led many to associate the famous strawberry farm with Baguio when it’s actually located in La Trinidad. To correct this common misconception, the municipality of La Trinidad officially named it the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm.
9. Assuming that Baguio is near Banaue and Sagada.
Baguio is the common jump-off point to or stopover for Banaue and Sagada. This might be one of the reasons why people think the two destinations are close to Baguio. It’s also important to note that all three tourist destinations are not under one province. Sagada is in Mountain Province, Banaue in Ifugao, and Baguio in Benguet (geographically but administratively independent).
It’s easy to lump them up as one place, but the Cordillera Region is vast and rugged, and getting to Sagada or Banaue from Baguio can still take five to six hours.
10. Ridiculing the Igorots.
When we asked our friend, who was born and raised in the City of Pines, what the usual mistakes tourists make when exploring Baguio, one of the answers he gave us was this:
“Yung pinaka common siguro na mistake na na-experience ko ay more on etiquette towards the locals or natives. For example, yung naghahanap sila ng Igorot (referring to the locals na nagpapa-photo op sa Botanical Garden or Mines View Park). Very sensitive yung locals about that and usually magagalit sila if tourists ask that kasi majority naman ng people in Baguio are Igorots.”
[The most common mistake that I’ve probably experienced is more on etiquette towards the locals or natives. For example, when they ask for an “Igorot” (referring to the locals who pose for photo ops at Botanical Garden or Mines View Park). The locals are very sensitive about that and they will usually get upset if tourists ask that because majority of the people in Baguio are Igorots.]
Most of us, if not all, are also sensitive when someone ridicules or mocks our roots or heritage — even if it’s unintentional, so this sentiment is not hard to grasp. This is why it’s extremely important to always do our research first before our trip to avoid committing mistakes or offending the locals.
Where to Stay in Baguio
If you’re currently planning your trip to Baguio but you still haven’t found a place to stay, here are some of the top-rated hotels you can consider.
Top Hotels on Agoda
- CASA VALLEJO HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - G1 LODGE DESIGN HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - VENUS PARKVIEW HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - GRAND SIERRA PINES HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE ORCHARD HOTEL BAGUIO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Hotels.com
- THE FOREST LODGE AT CAMP JOHN HAY
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - MICROTEL BY WYNDHAM BAGUIO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - HOTEL ELIZABETH BAGUIO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - AZALEA HOTELS & RESIDENCES BAGUIO
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - TRAVELITE EXPRESS HOTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
You can also check out our Top 10 Hotels in Baguio City article for more hotel suggestions in Baguio.
Find more Baguio Hotels!
Updates Log
2024.12.05 – First uploaded
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