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. Immediately, when the excitement surrounding its flower parks resonated on social media, this bucolic city was all of a sudden catapulted into fame.
Positioned about 48 kilometers north of Baguio, Atok could be reached after a two-hour drive. Getting right here, the highway is paved all the best way however the drive isn’t all the time straightforward. It zigzags constantly and, due to the altitude, visibility is usually 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 below are among the must-see locations and must-do actions (in no specific order).
Atok Issues to Do
Superb dawn
And after we say wonderful, we imply gloooorious! This has acquired to be one of the 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 you’ll want to do — though simpler mentioned than executed — 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 Travellers Inn, a tiny inn atop a cliff, good for dawn watching, therefore the title. Should you’re fortunate, you additionally get handled to a view of a sea of clouds slowly drifting under.
One other favourite dawn viewing spot is Northern Blossom Flower Farm. Talking of…
Northern Blossom Flower Farm
This intricately designed flower farm performed an enormous position in placing Atok on the mainstream vacationer map. It’s normally pictures of their cabbage roses (rose cabbages?) bathing within the faint morning glow that make the rounds on Instagram and Fb, attracting increasingly more guests.
As for me, I simply adore flowers. To me, it means happiness, success, and good occasions. The assorted lovely blooms in season add colours and life to our environment, eliciting sighs of surprise and awe from admiring spectators. Think about how delighted I used to be to be on the Northern Blossom Flower 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.
Apart from its signature rose cabbages, you’ll additionally discover several types 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 straightforward to get sunburnt at larger locations when it’s chilly, simply because we don’t really feel it straight away. However for those who can’t assist visiting between 10:00 AM and three:00 PM, simply convey safety from the solar like a hat, shades, and umbrella.
The ticket fee 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.
Deal with: Northern Blossom Flower Farm, KM50, Barangay Cattubo, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM; Sunday, CLOSED. This would possibly change, so examine the official Fb web page for updates and bulletins.
Entrance Price: Common (11-59 y/o), P250; Senior & PWD with ID, P200; Youngster (6-10 y/o), P50; Youngster (0-5 y/o), FREE
Information Price: P250 per group
Haight’s Place
One other flowery attraction in Atok is Haight’s Place, tucked in one of many municipality’s coldest corners. Similar to Northern Blossom, it’s dwelling to numerous rows of flowering crops like snapdragons, alstroemeria, and cosmos, portray the realm in varied colours. A couple of photograph spots are additionally put in all through the place.
Apart from its flowers, Haight’s Place can also be open for tenting and pre-nuptial shoots. It additionally has lodging choices (cabins) for in a single day keep. And for those who get hungry exploring the place, there’s a cafe inside the principle constructing.
Deal with: Haight’s Place, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Every day). The schedule might change, relying on particular occasion or non-public gathering reservations, so examine the official Fb web page of Haight’s Place for the bulletins.
Entrance Price: Common, P150; Senior, P100; Youngster (8-12 y/o), P50; Youngster (7 y/o and under), FREE. Observe that these charges embrace entrance to Sakura Park, Environmental Price, and Upkeep Price.
Sakura Park
Do you know that the Philippines has its personal cherry blossom park? It’s located simply subsequent to Haight’s Place! Based on our guides, the Sakura Park is a totally separate entity. Haight’s Place is privately owned, charging an entrance price, 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 timber gifted in 2016 by Japan’s Kochi Prefecture and the Japanese Embassy to the Province of Benguet. They gave a complete of 40 timber 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 after all, it’s seasonal.
Should you want to see them in full bloom, it may get difficult as a result of it’s all about timing it proper. After we visited in early March, the timber had been naked. Our guides mentioned they need to bloom in late March to April, relying on the rain. And after they do, they normally simply final for per week or two, similar to different types of sakura. Regardless, the park has different flowering crops scattered across the website.
By the best way, to handle your expectations, these timber are a bit small (extra like huge shrubs than timber).
Deal with: Sakura Park, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Every day, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The schedule might change, relying on particular occasion or non-public gathering reservations, so examine the official Fb web page of Haight’s Place for the bulletins.
Entrance Price: FREE
Second Highest Level of PH Freeway System
Positioned alongside Halsema Freeway, Atok used to carry the title of the very best level within the Philippine Freeway System on the altitude of seven,400 toes (2,255 meters) above sea degree. It clung to that document from World Battle II till 2019, when a brand new highest level was proclaimed. Right now that distinction is held by a spot at about 7,968 toes (2,429 meters) alongside the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Highway within the municipality of Tinoc in Ifugao.
Though the crown has been snatched, it nonetheless stays a worthy cease; due to the beautiful view of the craggy panorama under. Vacationers (presumably on the best way to or from Sagada and Bontoc) nonetheless drop by to take pictures with the outdated signage.
Location: KM52, Halsema Freeway, Barangay Cattubo, Atok, Benguet
Lourdes Grotto (Wagangan Rock Formations)
Protruding in the course of an unlimited space of vegetable terraces, the Wagangan Rock Formations safeguard the Lourdes Grotto, also referred to as the Bosleng Grotto. Hid atop a peculiar stack of large rocks, it’s exhausting to overlook for those who’re coming from Haight’s Place or Sakura Park.
From the jump-off level or parking space, you’ll must take a brief trek, 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 Woman of Lourdes. It’s a functioning chapel and Mass is held right here frequently, in accordance with our information.
The rock formations additionally cradle two viewpoints, one on the very prime and one other just under 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. Should you resolve to go all the best way to the highest, watch out on the steep means down.
Deal with: Our Woman of Lourdes Bosleng Grotto, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Wayangan Rock Formation, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Every day); Lourdes Grotto Gates, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Saturdays). The schedule might change with out prior discover. You could contact the Atok Tourism Workplace for the most recent bulletins.
Entrance Price: P120/head
Halsema Half Tunnel
Alongside the winding Halsema Freeway (Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Highway), a 50-meter half-tunnel (with 3.8 meters top clearance) has change into one in all Atok’s well-liked points of interest. After Hurricane Trining devastated the area, washing out the highway within the space, the one viable possibility for highway building was to carve out this large rocky outcrop making a pure half-tunnel.
Coming from Baguio, you’ll cross by means of the half tunnel simply earlier than reaching Atok Municipal Corridor and Atok Vacationer Heart in Barangay Cattubo. A couple of toes away from the half tunnel, there’s a restroom and a few outlets. You may park right here if you wish to cease for pictures.
Location: Halsema Half Tunnel, Halsema Freeway, Atok, Benguet
Osocan Spanish Path
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 treasured.
Based on our information, the path stretches for 2-3 kilometers, that includes three man-made tunnels or caves carved by means of large rocks.
There are literally two trailheads — the better 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).
Loyung’s Restaurant
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 parking zone and a spacious eating space.
It serves inexpensive Filipino dishes with comparatively greater servings in comparison with the everyday 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. Based on them, the bestseller is the custard cake, however the group favored the egg pie higher.
Deal with: KM49, Halsema Freeway, Barangay Cattubo, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:00 AM – 8:30 PM; Sunday, CLOSED
Mount Timbak
At over 2700 meters above sea degree, Mount 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 may see its summit from the Second Highest Level.)
After we had been exploring the city, our driver Kuya Bobby extremely advisable 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. Evidently, the summit affords an impressive view. Additionally close by is the positioning of the Cave Mummies of Timbak.
Atok Guided Excursions
Atok Day Tour from Baguio
If you’re a giant group otherwise you simply need a hassle-free journey to Atok from Baguio, you may try tour packages. We discovered one on-line that’s inclusive of personal roundtrip transportation, entrance charges, refreshments, snacks, and souvenirs. You may observe the hyperlink under for more information:
✅ CHECK ATOK DAY TOUR PACKAGE HERE!
Atok Tour Packages
Whereas many vacationers preferring D-I-Y model go straight to points of interest, we extremely encourage you to drop by the Atok Tourism Workplace (inside 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 involved in reserving a guided tour, listed below 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)
– Mount Olis
– Lourdes Grotto
– Sakura Park / Haight’s Place / 2nd Highest Level
– Northern Blossom Flower Farm - PACKAGE 2
P2,200 (Good for five pax)
– Mount Timbak
– 2nd Highest Level
– Hidden Cypress Botanical Backyard
– Northern Blossom Flower Farm / Mount Olis Viewpoint - PACKAGE 3
P2,500 (Good for five pax)– Mount Olis
– Lordes Grotto
– Sakura Park / Haight’s Place / 2nd Highest Level
– Mount Timbak
– Northern Blossom Flower Farm - PACKAGE 4
P3,500 (Good for five pax)– Mount Olis
– Sakura Park / Haight’s Place / 2nd Highest Level
– Mount Timbak
– Hidden Cypress Botanical Backyard
– Northern Blossom Flower Farm
The place to Keep in Atok
Planning to remain in a single day in Atok? Don’t anticipate finding full-service lodges right here. However don’t fear as a result of there are homestays, inns, and transient homes out there. As talked about earlier, our group stayed at Dawn Cabin Travellers Inn, which is conveniently positioned close to the Northern Blossom Flower Farm. Under are the contact particulars and different choices:
- Dawn Cabin Travellers Inn
Contact Quantity: +63 950 658 7171
Social Media: Fb Web page - Northern Blossom Transient Rooms & Homes
Contact Quantity: +63 908 151 3368 | +63 967 095 9033
Social Media: Fb Web page - Haight’s Place
Contact Quantity: +63 967 483 4555
Social Media: Fb Web page - Burton’s Cabin & Yard
Contact Quantity: +63 907 882 6188
Social Media: Fb Web page - Isaac Transient & Ambiance Backyard
Contact Quantity: +63 909 208 4203
Social Media: Fb Web page
Updates Log
2024 11 21 – Up to date to mirror modifications in schedules and charges; added lodging choices and tour bundle choices
2022 4 11 – First uploaded
Co-written with Yosh Dimen
Images by Yosh Dimen & Asta Alvarez
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