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For the longest time, it was uncommon to listen to about aspect journeys from Baguio or La Trinidad. Given the sheer variety of Baguio vacationer points of interest that may simply fill any given traveler’s itinerary, it was tough to think about needing to exit in seek for extra locations to go to. Alongside got here Atok.
This rustic city has been a favourite day journey vacation spot amongst many Baguio locals however is barely observed by vacationers. All of a sudden, when the thrill surrounding its flower parks resonated on social media, this bucolic city was out of the blue catapulted into fame.
Positioned about 48 kilometers north of Baguio, Atok may be reached after a two-hour drive. Getting right here, the highway is paved all the way in which however the drive isn’t at all times simple. It zigzags persistently and, due to the altitude, visibility is typically a difficulty. However those that courageous the winding highway and steep cliffs get rewarded with an idyllic, typically unforgettable, escape.
If you’re planning to go to Atok quickly, listed here are a number of the must-see locations and must-do actions (in no explicit order).
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
And after we say wonderful, we imply gloooorious! This has bought to be one of the vital spectacular sunrises we’ve got seen. You see, Atok is perched atop naturally forested or manually terraced mountains, placing you at a reasonably magnificent vantage level. All it’s worthwhile to do — though simpler mentioned than completed — is get up early and await the solar’s rays to slowly burst out of the ridges of the distant peaks.
You’ll discover quite a few viewpoints in Atok, however our lookout of alternative was Dawn Cabin, a tiny inn atop a cliff, excellent for dawn watching, therefore the identify. When you’re fortunate, you additionally get handled to a view of a sea of clouds slowly drifting beneath.
One other favourite dawn viewing spot is Northern Blossom Flower Farm. Talking of…
This intricately designed flower farm performed an enormous function in placing Atok on the mainstream vacationer map. It’s normally photographs of their cabbage roses (rose cabbages?) bathing within the faint morning glow that make the rounds on Instagram and Fb, attracting increasingly guests.
As for me, I simply adore flowers. To me, it means happiness, success, and good instances. The varied lovely blooms in season add colours and life to our environment, eliciting sighs of marvel and awe from admiring spectators. Think about how delighted I used to be to be on the Northern Blossom farm, strolling in between towering stalks of blooms. The sight of flower terraces overlooking the silhouette of the mountains within the distance is completely tattooed on my thoughts.
Except for its signature rose cabbages, you’ll additionally discover various kinds of annual and perennial blossoms like lilies, hydrangeas, larkspurs, and sunflowers.
It’s finest to go to early within the morning for 2 causes. One, to keep away from the group. Two, to keep away from the solar. It’s simple to get sunburnt at greater locations when it’s chilly, simply because we don’t really feel it straight away. However in case you can’t assist visiting between 10 AM and three:00 PM, simply convey safety from the solar like a hat, shades, and umbrella.
The ticket price is inclusive of espresso and bread/snack. If you’re planning to remain in a single day in Atok, the flower farm additionally presents lodging — each home and room choices.
Handle: Northern Blossom Flower Farm, KM50, Sayangan, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Monday – Saturday); CLOSED (Sundays). This would possibly change, so verify the official Fb web page for updates and bulletins.
Entrance Price: P250 (11-59 y/o); P200 (Senior & PWD with ID); P50 (6-10 y/o); FREE (0-5 y/o)
One other flowery attraction in Atok is Haight’s Place, tucked in one of many municipality’s coldest corners. Identical to Northern Blossom, it’s residence to numerous rows of flowering crops like snapdragons, alstroemeria, and cosmos, portray the world in varied colours. Just a few picture spots are additionally put in all through the place.
Except for its flowers, Haight’s Place can be open for tenting and pre-nuptial shoots. It additionally has lodging choices (cabins) for in a single day keep. And in case you get hungry exploring the place, there’s a restaurant inside the principle constructing.
Handle: Haight’s Place, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Day by day). The schedule might change, relying on particular occasion or non-public gathering reservations, so verify the official Fb web page of Haight’s Place for the bulletins.
Entrance Price: P150 (Common); P100 (Senior); P50 (8-12 y/o); FREE (7 y/o and beneath). Be aware that these charges embrace entrance to Sakura Park, Environmental Price, and Upkeep Price.
Do you know that the Philippines has its personal cherry blossom park? It’s located simply subsequent to Haight’s Place! In keeping with our guides, the Sakura Park is a very separate entity. Haight’s Place is privately owned, charging an entrance charge, whereas the Sakura Park is public and is accessible for FREE. However as a result of they’re so shut to one another, most guests mistake the 2 as a single attraction.
Positioned in Barangay Paoay, the Sakura Park is the place they planted the cherry bushes gifted in 2016 by Japan’s Kochi Prefecture and the Japanese Embassy to the Province of Benguet. They gave a complete of 40 bushes in celebration of their 40 years of friendship, however solely 34 blossomed.
Why right here? The native authorities of Atok selected this spot as a result of it meets the environmental circumstances wanted for sakura to bloom. However in fact, it’s seasonal.
When you want to see them in full bloom, it could possibly get tough as a result of it’s all about timing it proper. Once we visited in early March, the bushes had been naked. Our guides mentioned they need to bloom in late March to April, relying on the rain. And once they do, they normally simply final for per week or two, similar to different forms of sakura. Regardless, the park has different flowering crops scattered across the web site.
By the way in which, to handle your expectations, these bushes are a bit small (extra like massive shrubs than bushes).
Handle: Sakura Park, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Day by day). The schedule might change, relying on particular occasion or non-public gathering reservations, so verify the official Fb web page of Haight’s Place for the bulletins.
Entrance Price: FREE.
Positioned alongside Halsema Freeway in Barangay Paoay, Atok used to carry the title of the best level within the Philippine Freeway System on the altitude of seven,400 ft (2,255 meters) above sea stage. It clung to that document from World Battle II till 2019, when a brand new highest level was proclaimed. At present that distinction is held by a spot at about 7,968 ft (2,429 meters) alongside the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Street within the municipality of Tinoc in Ifugao.
Though the crown has been snatched, it nonetheless stays a worthy cease; because of the beautiful view of the craggy panorama beneath. Vacationers (presumably on the way in which to or from Sagada and Bontoc) nonetheless drop by to take photographs with the outdated signage.
Location: KM52, Halsema Freeway, Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Protruding in the midst of an enormous space of vegetable terraces, the Wagangan Rock Formations safeguard the Lourdes Grotto, often known as the Bosleng Grotto. Hid atop a peculiar stack of large rocks, it’s exhausting to overlook in case you’re coming from Haight’s Place or Sakura Park.
From the jump-off level or parking space, you’ll must take a brief hike, previous gardens and vegetable fields. However don’t fear, the path isn’t that lengthy or that steep.
Fronting the doorway of the grotto is a humble open-air chapel adorned with a easy rock altar and a cross. Inside is a statue of Our Girl of Lourdes. It’s a functioning chapel and Mass is held right here commonly, based on our information.
The rock formations additionally cradle two viewpoints, one on the very prime and one other slightly below it. Vacationers can climb the rocks to understand the breathtaking views of the fields and the mountains past. However we discovered the decrease lookout to be significantly better. When you resolve to go all the way in which to the highest, watch out on the steep approach down.
Handle: Our Girl of Lourdes Bosleng Grotto, Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Wayangan Rock Formation 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Day by day); Lourdes Grotto Gates 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Saturdays). The schedule might change with out prior discover. Chances are you’ll contact the Atok Tourism Workplace for the newest bulletins.
Entrance Price: P120/head
Alongside the winding Halsema Freeway (Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Street), a 50-meter half-tunnel (with 3.8 meters peak clearance) has grow to be one in every of Atok’s standard points of interest. After Hurricane Trining devastated the area, washing out the highway within the space, the one viable possibility for highway development was to carve out this big rocky outcrop making a pure half-tunnel.
Coming from Baguio, you’ll cross by the half tunnel simply earlier than reaching Atok Municipal Corridor and Atok Vacationer Middle in Sayangan. Just a few ft away from the half tunnel, there’s a restroom and a few retailers. You possibly can park right here if you wish to cease for photographs.
Location: Halsema Half Tunnel, Halsema Freeway, Atok, Benguet
The Osocan Spanish Path (or typically merely Spanish Path) was a part of the complicated community of horse and foot trails utilized by the Spaniards centuries in the past. Additionally referred to as the Salt Path, this was the route used to move salt all through the area. Again within the day, right here within the highlands, salt may be very valuable.
In keeping with our information, the path stretches for 2-3 kilometers, that includes three man-made tunnels or caves carved by big rocks.
There are literally two trailheads — the simpler downward path and the upward path. The descending route’s trailhead is positioned close to the Sakura Park space, whereas the ascending route’s trailhead is positioned between KM46 and KM47 (Landmark: JNB Diesel Station).
Positioned alongside Halsema Freeway, someplace between the Half Tunnel and the Northern Blossom Flower Farm, Loyung’s Restaurant is a well-liked roadside relaxation and eating cease for vacationers, particularly these heading to or coming from Sagada or Bontoc. It has an enormous car parking zone and a spacious eating space.
It serves reasonably priced Filipino dishes with comparatively greater servings in comparison with the standard roadside eateries. We tried sinigang na ulo ng baboy (pig’s head in bitter soup), chopseuy, and fried liempo (pork stomach).
For desserts, we had custard cake and egg pie. In keeping with them, the bestseller is the custard cake, however the crew favored the egg pie higher.
Handle: KM49, Halsema Freeway, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Monday – Friday, Sunday); 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Saturdays)
At over 2700 meters above sea stage, Mt Timbak is the third highest mountain in Luzon. (Close by Mt. Pulag and Mt. Tabayoc are first and second respectively.) And sure, you may entry it from Atok. (You possibly can see its summit from the Second Highest Level.)
Once we had been exploring the city, our driver Kuya Bobby extremely beneficial it to us for our future journey. We didn’t get to climb it then as a result of we didn’t have time, it wasn’t in our itinerary, and we weren’t even positive if it was open. (The city was simply beginning to reopen after we visited.)
The path to the highest, they are saying, is punctuated by the Stations of the Cross. For sure, the summit affords an impressive view. Additionally close by is the location of the Cave Mummies of Timbak.
Whereas many vacationers go straight to points of interest, we extremely encourage you to drop by the Atok Tourism Workplace (throughout the Municipal Corridor complicated) to register, pay the ecological charges, and rent a tour information. This fashion, not solely do you earn a greater understanding of each cease, however you additionally get to assist the native tour guides and drivers.
If you’re all in favour of reserving a guided tour, listed here are your choices. The charges are inclusive of information and transportation inside Atok however unique of entrance charges.
- PACKAGE 1
P1,500 (Good for five pax)
– Sakura Park
– Lourdes Grotto
– 2nd Highest Level - PACKAGE 2
P2,200 (Good for six pax)
– Sakura Park
– Lourdes Grotto
– 2nd Highest Level
– Spanish Path
Co-written with Yosh Dimen
Images by Yosh Dimen & Asta Alvarez
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