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Travel Guide: Baler, Aurora

Kara Santos

Baler, the capital town of the province of Aurora, is a haven for surfers and bikers. This laid-back coastal town is known primarily for its waves. Numerous surf shops are situated along Sabang beach catering to novice and the seasoned surfers. 

Baler is also a great destination for motorcyclists and road-trippers, as getting here involves a scenic ride passing roads that zigzags through the mountains. But for those who want to skip the long ride and just enjoy explore on two wheels once they get there, it’s easy enough to hop on a bus from Manila, then just rent bicycles or motorcycles from town.

Baler offers a mix of that cool surfer vibe similar to towns like San Juan in La Union and Siargao while still retaining the laid-back provincial appeal and local hospitality. It’s not as crowded, but still has the facilities to accommodate different types of travelers. This makes it an appealing destination for solo travelers or groups those who want to explore off-the-beaten path destinations in the rest of Aurora province. 

Baler also offers an interesting historical and cultural destination, being the backdrop of the infamous Siege of Baler, a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War.

The 1979 war film Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvali and Martin Sheen, was filmed in Baler and actually gave birth to the surfing culture here. When filming finished, crew members left their surfboards behind, and locals learned to ride the waves.

Where exactly is Baler?

Baler is a second-class municipality and capital of the province of Aurora in the Philippines. It is located around 230 kilometers northeast of Manila via a mountain pass accessible by bus and private vehicles. Aurora is a long province facing the Philippine Sea, and bordered by the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.

How to get to Baler

From Manila, travel time to Baler is roughly 5 to 6 hours. If you’re taking public transportation, the most direct way to get there is via the Joy Bus of Genesis Transport. You can also reach Baler via Victory Liner bus to Cabanatuan. From there, you’ll have to transfer to a van or another bus to bring you to Baler.

By bus:

Genesis Transport Inc. provides a direct route from Metro Manila to Baler. The bus ride can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours depending on traffic with the fare costs about P500. Their terminal is located along EDSA in Pasay City and Cubao with first trip departing 3:00 AM leaving at hourly intervals. Alternatively, you can take buses like Victory Liner which go to Cabanatuan and than transfer to a public utility van heading for Baler at the terminal. Last trip of vans depends on numbers of passengers. Van travel time is 2.5 hours. 

Genesis Transport has a more comfortable option via their executive coach Joy Bus. For a fare of P700+, you get to travel in style and with NO STOPOVERS. The Joy Bus has an onboard comfort room, free snacks served by a bus stewardess, free wifi, blanket & pillow and a good morning kit. Schedule is 12MN and 4:30AM. Travel Time: 5-6 hours Non-Stop, To book, you can call Genesis at (02) 709-0545 / (02) 709-0544 / (02) 441-6834. The terminal to Baler is along the Northbound lane of Edsa near Cubao. For latest bus schedules & fares, check here.

By car or private vehicle:

From Manila, enter the North Expressway at Balintawak and exit at SCTEX (entry at LaPaz, Tarlac toll gate). From there, follow the highway leading to Aliaga and to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. From Cabanatuan City Proper, take the Nueva Ecija-Aurora highway, passing thru the towns of Talavera, Rizal, and Pantabangan until you reach the Aurora border, then through the towns of Maria Aurora, San Luis, and finally, Baler.

Note: For those traveling on small displacement motorcycles that can’t pass the Expressway, open the route on Googlemaps and click “Avoid tolls and highways” option. 

Getting around in Baler

Bicycle: Baler is a great destination for cyclists. Mountain bikes can be rented in shops and guesthouses for P300/day. You can easily go around the main tourist sights around town on bikes.

Motorbike: If you want to cover more ground and explore further destinations (like the Millennium Tree and Dicasalarin Cove), it’s better to rent a motorbike. Motorbikes (mostly semi-automatic XRMs and full manual motorbikes) are widely available in Sabang beach, costing P500-P800/day depending on the model. There are also a few automatic scooters for rent. Both bicycles and motorbikes are available for rent at Pajaroja Lodge along Sabang Beach.

As of 2019, some establishments offer motorbike rentals with surf racks, which is the easiest way you can check out surf spots in the area. BALER RENT A BIKE: 0919-5299751 / 0905-53960094

Tricycle: Tricycle drivers double as tour guides in Baler and offer trike tours to the main destinations around Baler including: Baler Church, Dona Aurora House, Museo de Baler, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, Aniao Islet on Diguisit Beach, Hanging Bridge, Millennium Tree, and Mother Falls. Trike tours cost P500 (half day) – P800/whole day (good for up to 3 people) depending on the destinations to be visited.

TIP: If you want a shortcut from Sabang Beach to Cemento Beach, you can ride a boat at T. Molina Street. From there, you will emerge at Castillo, a road leading out to Ermita Hill. Boat ride takes less than 5 minutes and fare costs P5 per person. This cuts travel time by 30-45 mins.

Where to go / What to do in Baler

Learn to surf at Sabang beach

With its long stretch of sandy shoreline and soft and shallow oceanbed, Sabang Beach in Baler is an ideal place for those who want to learn to surf. There are lots of surf shops along the beach including Charlie Does Surf School, Michael’s Surf Shop & Nalu Surf Camp where you can hire surfing instructors and rent surf boards. While the waves are best during peak surfing season from September to February, you can still catch some baby waves right near the shore all year around.

Surfing lessons with instructors cost P350-400/hour. If you don’t need an instructor, surf board rentals cost just P200/hour, P400/half-day and P800-1000 for whole day rentals. If you want bigger waves, you’ll need to rent a motorized banca to reach different surfing spots.

Hike and swim at Ditumabo Falls

San Luis, a neighboring town of Baler is the jump off point for a hike to the Mother Falls, also known as Ditumabo Waterfalls. To get here, one must hike up a trail of rocks and pebbles, muddy footpaths, wade through streams, and clamber over slippery rocks passing multiple knee-deep river crossings. 

The 1.3 km hike can take about 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. Because of a typhoon that hit in 2015, the trail and basin pool has changed a bit since my first visit. Taking a dip here is like an ice bucket challenge.

Cruise to Dicasalarin Cove

Enjoy a scenic boat ride to Dicasalarin Cove, a secluded beach cove with light brown colored sand about 30 minutes from the main surfing area of Sabang. Seasta Beach Resort offers packaged boat tours. 

This cove has access to a trail leading up to Baler Lighthouse. If you’re not up to hiking, you can just admire the view of the lighthouse from the boat as you cruise along.

Enjoy water sports

Visitors can now enjoy water-based activities in Baler. Have a fun ride on the banana boats, UFO couch and flying fish rides in Baler offered by Buoyancy Water Sports. Each activity is good for 15-minutes.

Commune with nature

Nature Green Forest Resort in Sitio Zabali past Cemento Beach offers a nice secluded getaway with natural attractions like bamboo rafting, kayak riding and floating cottages.

Play mini-golf

If you’re looking for something else to do other than surfing, you might want to check out Joker’s Hideaway, a resort that offers a swimming pool and mini golf area.

Explore Baler by bike

For short tours around Baler, you can easily bike to the main tourist spots around town. For a more scenic ride, check out the road from Sabang to Diguisit Beach, where you can pass Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, and a nice coastal road along Cemento Beach with good views. The road going up to the PAG-ASA Weather Station and Dicasalarin Cove is a sheer test of endurance.

Go on a walking tour 

There are lots of historic places of interest around Baler that you can easily walk around in a couple of hours. This includes the Baler Church, the Quezon Memorial Park (the birthplace of the late president Manuel L. Quezon), the Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon House, a house rebuilt in honor of the wife of the late Commonwealth president, the Baler icon and the Museo de Baler.

Learn more about the local art scene

Speaking of museums, if you want to get a glimpse of the local art scene, the Vincent Gonzales Art Museum, along the highway before reaching the town proper of Baler, is a good place to visit. This contemporary art museum houses the works of Baler-born artist Vincent Gonzales. Budding artists can also paint on shirts in an adjacent cafe. The museum is open from Sunday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (closed on Saturdays)

Hike up Ermita Hill

Ermita Hill is situated in Mt. Dibudalan at Sitio Dicaloyungan, Barangay Zabali. From the top of the hill, you can get a view of Baler Bay, Dima-Dimalangat and Aniao Islets.

Visit Diguisit Beach & rock formations

Aside from Sabang Beach, Diguisit Beach is another surf spot in Baler. Diguisit is situated on the Baler Bay along Cemento Beach. The beach here features a lot of rock formations including Aniao islets.

Climb up a gigantic Balete tree

The “Millennium Tree” in the town of Maria Aurora is a gigantic balete tree towering more than five stories high. Said to be 600-years old, this tree is the largest tree of its kind in Asia. Through the years, the trees roots have grown above ground and in various sections of the trunk. Locals and visitors can easily climb inside through a hollow opening and up the tree’s massive roots.

Where to eat in Baler

Where to stay in Baler

NOTE: This travel guide was compiled from three separate trips to Baler, Aurora in July 2013, March 2016 & January 2019 (#LakbayNorte8).

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