Baguio City, nestled in the Corderilla Region, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Benguet Province and Northern Luzon. Dubbed the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” Baguio City boasts a cool climate with promising scenic landscapes and a vibrant culture. On the other hand, there’s so much more to see in Benguet Province than Baguio City.
Atok, another municipality in Benguet Province, offers stunning natural attractions and a serene countryside experience. Atok, Benguet, is just two hours away from Baguio City; thus, it is very accessible to visit. Both towns are relatively close to each other, but I must say that Atok is an underrated place in Benguet. It has breathtaking landscapes, a much cooler climate, and is definitely less crowded than Baguio.
Based on my experience, I have been to both places a few times already, and I could say that both have their own charm and distinction. With that, if you’re planning to visit Benguet, here’s an ultimate travel guide to Baguio and Atok, Benguet for 3 days and 2 nights!
Table of Contents
How to get from Manila to Baguio?
Manila to Baguio by Bus
If you’re traveling from Manila to Baguio on your own, there are several bus companies that operate routes from Manila to Baguio if you’re traveling on your own. These include Victory Liner, Genesis Transport, and JoyBus. These bus companies are typically located in Cubao, Quezon City, or Paranaque City (PITX). Just make sure to check the bus company’s website or contact them directly to confirm the terminal location and schedule.
If you’re coming from the south (like Cavite), you can opt to take a bus from the PITX bus terminal. Every two hours, Solid North Transit operates a bus from PITX to Baguio City. The bus tickets cost around PHP 850, and the trip takes approximately five to six hours.
How to get from Baguio to Atok, Benguet?
If you’re traveling from Baguio to Atok, Benguet, on your own, you can take a bus from Baguio City to Bontoc or Sagada. Then, you can simply inform the conductor or driver that you’re heading to Atok, and they’ll drop you off at the junction. Other than that, you can also opt to take a van from Baguio City to the Atok route, which is usually located at the Dangwa Terminal or near Baguio Public Market.
However, if you’re looking for a lesser-hassle option, you may opt to rent a car traveling from Baguio to Atok, Benguet. Or, you can avail tour packages from a travel agency, which is actually much more convenient than taking public transportation.
In our case, we availed of the Baguio-Atok package tour from B T Travel and Tours.
Essential Travel Guides & Tips
- Benguet has a cool climate, so you should bring your jacket or coat to avoid getting too cold and catching colds.
- Make sure to bring enough cash with you. Though most establishments are accepting e-payments like G-Cash.
- Respect the locals and avoid littering.
Where to go in Baguio City?
If you’re traveling to Baguio City, here are some of the best places to see and visit within the city:
- Lions Head
- Bencab Museum
- Lourdes Grotto
- Mirador Hill
- Old Diplomat Hotel
- Igorot Stone Kingdom
- Botanical Garden
- The Mansion
- Wright Park
- Mines View Park
- The Good Shepherd
In addition to these destinations, you can also visit La Trinidad, Benguet, as a side trip. La Trinidad is another small town in Benguet, which is also a popular place to visit because it is just around 30 minutes away from Baguio City. Thus, here are some of the places to visit in La Trinidad, Benguet.
- The Strawberry Farm
- Valley of Colors
- Bell Church
Please take note that you might not be able to visit all these places in one day. You can maximize your two-day stay in Baguio City by seeing and visiting all of these places!
Baguio Tour Entrance Fees
- Lions Head: (FREE)
- Bencab Museum: Php 150 – Php 200
- Lourdes Grotto: (FREE)
- Mirador Hill: PHP 20
- Old Diplomat Hotel: Php 20
- Igorot Stone Kingdom: PHP 100
- Strawberry Farm (free)
- Valley of Colors (DONATION ONLY)
- Bell Church: PHP 20
- Botanical Garden: PHP 20
- The Mansion: (FREE)
- Wright Park (free)
- Mines View Park: PHP 10
- The Good Shepherd: (FREE)
Where to go in Atok, Benguet?
After exploring the city of Baguio for a day or two, you can head over to Atok, Benguet for a one-day trip! As previously mentioned, Atok, Benguet, is two hours away from Baguio City, but it is definitely possible to visit the best places in Atok for one day. With that said, here are some of the places to visit in the town of Atok, Benguet:
- Northern Blossom Farm
- Haights Place
- The highest point
- Mt. Olis
- Half Tunnel
- Beacon Hill
Atok Tour Entrance Fees
- Northern Blossom Farm: PHP 250
- Haights Place (Sakura Park): PHP 150
- Highest Point (FREE)
- Mt. Olis: PHP 100
- Half Tunnel (FREE)
- Beacon Hill: PHP 100
Where to stay in Benguet?
There are a lot of accommodations to choose from when in Benguet. If you’re traveling to Baguio and Atok for 3 days and 2 nights, I’d personally suggest staying in Baguio City for 3 days! This is ideal, especially if you’re only traveling to Atok, Benguet for one day!
You can opt to book an accommodation via an online booking site such as Agoda, Booking, or Airbnb!
How much is the ideal budget for the Baguio-Atok Tour?
Based on our experience, we spent around Php 5,000 pesos each, which includes our accommodation, bus fare from Manila to Baguio and vice versa, food, entrance fees to tourist spots, and package tour fees from B T Travel and Tours.
Benguet has so much more to offer. If you’re planning to visit Baguio but want to see more of Benguet’s beauty, you can include Atok in your itinerary along with Baguio!
Hey, my name is Ara Patria—a solo female traveler who is in her quest of traveling the world. I write and learn about life through the lenses of my camera, personal experiences, and adventures. Join me as I unravel the mystery of life through exploring the wanders of the world.