Baguio City has more hidden attractions than you know.
Image: Mount Costa Facebook Page
With Baguio City’s numerous tourist spots that offer fun recreational activities, the City of Pines is one of the best places for a quick getaway. If you’ve been here one or a few times, you would probably think that there aren’t any more places to visit other than its famous attractions.
In that case, this article is about to surprise you. The Summer Capital is actually home to a few more visit-worthy spots that are off the beaten path. From cafes in full bloom to haunted houses, there are more hidden gems in Baguio that can make your trip more worthwhile. If this sparked your curiosity, keep reading to find out what these hidden gems in Baguio are!
1. Mount Costa
Location: Puguis, La Trinidad, Philippines
Visit not just one, but 24 gardens in a day in Mount Costa!
Image: Mount Costa Facebook Page
If you’re looking for a place for healing and rejuvenation, then Mount Costa is your best bet. The place is located far from the city center, making it a quiet and somehow isolated space. It has a total of 24 gardens with unique landscapes, including the Mirror Garden, a place full of mirrors that creates various illusions; the Outdoor Musical Garden, a section with adorned with different musical instruments; and the Celestial Garden, an area where you can learn more about astronomy through displays of planets and other celestial bodies.
2. Laperal White House
Location: Leonard Wood Road, Baguio, Benguet
The sight of the exteriors of the house alone is already spine-chilling.
Images: Left, Carmela Asistio via Unsplash; Right @efrenjgg
Baguio City has its own share of ghost stories, some of which coming from the most haunted house in the place: the Laperal White House. It is said that tragic and cruel events took place in the house during the Japanese colonial era, which caused it to be filled with restless spirits. Housekeepers, security guards, and passersby claimed to have seen ghosts peering through the windows and standing in front of the main door. This might be one of the reasons the White House isn’t exactly a popular tourist spot. However, if you’re up for a good scare in the City of Pines, then this place is a must-visit.
3. Mt. Cloud Bookshop
Location: 001 Yangco Road (corner Brent Road), Baguio City
The bookshop is home to rare finds.
Image: Mt. Cloud Bookshop Facebook Page
Mt. Cloud Bookshop might just be one of the coziest bookshops in all of Baguio City. Its vintage-style wooden interiors, staircase, and bookshelves give off homey vibes. The bookshop houses unique and quality books, 80% of which are Filipiniana and 20% are international. From Philippine literature to general fiction, Mt. Cloud has a wide range of books that anyone can enjoy. Guests have the freedom to open books and flip them from cover to cover, and they can even make use of the bookshop’s old-school library ladder to get books that are out of reach.
4. Ili-Likha Artist Village
Location: Assumption Road, Baguio
“Ili-likha” is a Filipino term which translates to “to be created” in English.
Image: @jlyeaeun
A spot where art meets dining, Ili-Likha Artist Village is the perfect haven for all art lovers who are foodies as well. One distinct thing about the village is its eco-architecture made of recycled materials such as old bottles, broken glass, and even old bicycle frames. The materials are creatively incorporated in walls, walkways, and staircases, making the village a delightful masterpiece. The entire place also coexists with trees, for the owners refused to cut them down to help preserve nature. When it comes to dining, Ili-Likha houses various food stalls that serve classic dishes including rice meals, chicken and fries, pastries, coffee, and lugaw (rice porridge).
5. The Flower Cafe
Location: 307 Ambuklao Road, Tiptop, Baguio City
The cafe looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale.
Image: The Flower Cafe PH Facebook Page
Here’s a place in Baguio that is always in full bloom whatever the weather. The Flower Cafe is known as the place where a thousand flowers bloom. From the ceiling down to the tables, the place is adorned with brightly colored flowers of different shapes and sizes. You’d be surprised to know that some of these flowers are actually edible. The Flower Cafe offers a selection of all-natural flower teas that you can brew using a siphon vacuum brewer; all you have to do is choose three flowers to be brewed. Unique dishes such as the Panagbenga salad, tomato soup in a bread bowl, and octopus and salmon canape are only some of the must-tries in the cafe.
Whether you’re on a trip for relaxation or even a little ghost adventure, Baguio City is sure to give you what you need. And now that you know where to go, it’s time to plan a visit!
Go to Yoorekka to discover more hidden gems in Baguio and other local spots!
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