A Trip To Baguio: Practicing Safe COVID Protocols, Enjoying Cultural Explorations

(March 17, 2021: Latest NTF Advisory on out of region travel with family:

“Minors in Metro Manila could go out of the region provided these were family travels, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said on Wednesday.” More details here: –> Article)

Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines, is now open for tourists after nearly a year of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mikko once told us that he wanted to go to Baguio so upon hearing the news, we immediately packed our bags to celebrate Mikko’s 13th birthday. He hasn’t been to Baguio yet, and we want to give him and Zoey the best Baguio experience that goes beyond smelling pine trees and tasting strawberries. We wanted to give them the culture of Baguio.

How We Planned Our Trip

To ensure a safe and smooth holiday we are required to follow strict health protocols before and during our trip.

Here are the latest entry protocols for travelers to Baguio City:

• Valid government ID
• Duly issued VISITA QTP ( No QTP, NO ENTRY)
• Negative RT PCR or Antigen Test result conducted within 72 hours prior to entry or maybe tested at central triage.

Below is the step-by-step guide on getting a QTP and how to book a visit: 

1. Schedule a trip through the Baguio VISITA website (https://visita.baguio.gov.ph/)

Scheduling your visit is required because visitors are limited to only 750 people per day

We created a Baguio VISITA account and requested a visit on our preferred date. We were required to indicate our personal information, purpose of visit, date of visit, and accommodation details, among others. 

2. Wait for the confirmation

We waited for the confirmation email before we packed our bags. The confirmation email includes the QR Coded Tourist Pass (QTP) we’ll present to the triage area.

A QTP looks like this:

3. We traveled from Manila to Baguio

Travel time from Manila to Baguio takes three to four hours, depending on the traffic. We took the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the travel experience was a breeze!

4.  Upon arrival, we proceed to the triage area

Before we headed to our hotel, we were required to present our QR codes, and health declaration form to the triage area located at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC).

The two triage locations are:

• CAP John Hay – For tourists arriving from 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Baguio Convention Center – For tourists arriving beyond 8am to 5pm. Open 24 hours.

After the health assessment, the local COVID staff in the city advised us to follow health protocols, such as wearing face masks and face shields, observing physical distancing, and avoiding crowded places. 

Our Detailed Itinerary

We’ve booked accommodation at The Manor at Camp John Hay. Here are their travel guidelines:

The Manor at Camp John Hay is a bit far from the city center, but it offers the best atmosphere in Baguio. We wanted to give Mikko and Zoey some peace and quiet that the busy city of Manila couldn’t give them. 

So, after dropping our luggage at The Manor, we then started our official trip. Here’s our detailed itinerary in Baguio:

Exploring Camp John Hay

• Quick tour at The Manor – we explored this property and tried out some of its offerings to tourists. I read several positive reviews about The Manor at Camp John Hay so our expectations were at an all-time high. I read in one of the reviews that the property features picturesque scenery courtesy of the Cordillera mountain range paired with fresh air and crisp cool weather that never dips below 19 degrees Celsius. Truly, this hotel in Baguio did not disappoint; it offered all that and more!

• Quick walk at Camp John Hay –  outside The Manor, we walked through the lush pine forest of Camp John Hay to get some fresh air. There are also many restaurants, cafes, and outlet stores in the area. Camp John Hay offers endless possibilities for each of its guests. 

Crossing Tourist Attractions Off Our List

• Horseback riding at Wright Park –  we tried the famous activity in the city, and enjoyed it. Zoey, however, fell asleep in the arms of her daddy during the ride. Horse-renting service providers at Wright Park provide an accompanying guide or “Pony Boys” so beginners do not have to worry about their first horse ride.

• Stopover at SM City Baguio – since there were no active COVID cases in the city, we and the kids were allowed to enter the mall. We had our lunch at Botejyu, a restaurant offering authentic Japanese cuisine.

• Visiting Bencab Museum – we visited the famous museum of Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, our national artist for visual arts, outside the city. Since we were already there, we also took the time to visit Uncle Buddy, the nephew of Bencab and also an artist with several exhibits in Baguio and other parts of the Philippines. We bought three paintings from Uncle Buddy for a discounted price and went home with two more free paintings!

• Dinner at Le Chef – we celebrated Mikko’s 13th Birthday at The Manor’s restaurant. We weren’t able to have a long and complete family dinner as we had to take turns babysitting Zoey. 

More Tourist Activities in the City Center

• Tourist activities at Burnham Park – we went bike and boat riding at Burnham Park, two of the most popular and accessible tourist activities in Baguio. 

• Buying Pasalubongs – we headed to The Other Office (formerly Villa Cordilleras) to buy Baguio Country Club’s raisin bread. This trademark bread is the old home recipe of the country club’s former manager over 50 years ago. It’s now a staple merienda in the city. 

• Lunch at Cafe by the Ruins – we had our lunch at one of the famous and oldest coffee shops in the city. We ordered some of their bestsellers—Baguio Bagnet, Shrimp curry, strawberry yogurt, and Rizal Tsokolate. Bencab is one of the founders of Cafe by the Ruins; the others are also skilled artists and entrepreneurs in Baguio.

• Back to Manila – leaving the city of pines behind, we started hitting the road and traveled back to the busy city of Manila at around 2pm and reached home at past 6PM. It was a happy, well-spent family weekend trip.