After the mysticism of Sagada and the majesty of the Banaue rice terraces, Baguio feels like a warm sweater you put on after a long walk in the cold. It is a city-park, a city-garden, and the point where our journey through Northern Luzon smoothly transitions into a pleasant nostalgia.
When we drive into Baguio, the first thing that catches the eye—or rather, the nose—is the scent. It smells of pine needles, cool earth, and something elusively “countryside-like.” Unlike the humid, stifling heat of the Philippine lowlands, the air here is always fresh, almost invigorating. It’s no wonder that during colonial times, the Americans proclaimed Baguio their “Summer Capital”: while the asphalt melted in Manila, officers and their families escaped here to the cool shade of ancient pine trees.
Baguio is a place where history blends with modernity. Here you can see old mansions that preserve the spirit of the early 20th century, and just across the street—vibrant markets where people buzz, haggle, and eat on the go.
Baguio is perhaps the only place in the Philippines where the main gastronomic souvenir is strawberries. Yes, there are entire fields laid out here, and we always stop by to pick a basket of fresh, just-plucked berries. They also make incredible strawberry jam here, which will later remind you of this journey during long winter evenings.
The markets of Baguio are a unique form of meditation. They sell everything: from knitted wool sweaters (which you actually need here!) to authentic Igorot handicrafts. If you want to take a piece of the North back with you—this is your chance. But don’t rush to buy the first thing you see: you need to wander, chat with the vendors, and find that specific item that will hold the warmth of these mountains.
Our path back toward the ocean and the heat lies through a long, winding descent. And it’s during these hours, as the mountains gradually recede, that you begin to realize what has changed.
Over this week, you’ve traveled a path that cannot be compared to a standard “hotel” vacation. You’ve seen how people built mountains with their own hands. You’ve descended into the darkness where the shadows of the past live. You’ve sipped coffee in the clouds and breathed air that has nothing in common with city dust.
At Werdana Travel, we know: returning to “normal life” after such an expedition is difficult. But you are carrying more than just photos (though there will be hundreds of them!). You are carrying the realization that the Philippines is not just about perfect beaches; it is a country with a deep, powerful, and very beautiful soul.
Thank you for sharing these kilometers of serpentines with us. We hope that Northern Luzon remains as deep in your heart as it is in ours. And the ocean? The ocean will wait. After mountains like these, it will seem even bluer and more peaceful to you.
