Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. – Drake

Have you watched the 1979 movie Apocalypse Now? (I wasn’t even born then, hahaha. But I did watch it on DVD)… I asked because a piece of the movie was shot in the Philippines. Some scenes were actually filmed in Baler, a second-class municipality in Aurora Province. It is one of the Philippines ‘prime surfing spot. It is host to stunning geographic formations and is situated on an immense plain at the south end of Baler Bay which is an adjacent segment of the Pacific Ocean.

The once quaint town is now one of the Philippines top destinations. Visitors flock their way to Baler to experience the sea, the sand, the sun, and of course – surfing!

 HOW TO REACH BALER?

 The most common way to reach Baler is by way of riding a bus. The Genesis Transport Terminal located in Cubao offers a bus directly bound for Baler. One may choose between the Joy Bus (a deluxe, non-stop bus) and the regular aircon bus.

Joy Bus: Schedule: 12MN and 4:30AM; The travel time is about 4 hrs and 30 minutes. Cost is Php690.00. Reservations may be done.

Regular Aircon Bus: Schedule: 1AM, 2AM, 4:30AM, 5:30AM, 6:30AM and 7:30AM; the travel time is around 6 hours. Cost is around Php450.00

As an alternative, one may take their buses going to Casiguran (a northern town of Aurora). Schedule: 1AM and 3AM

If and if buses plying to Baler are full, or if you want to do a day trip – you may take a bus going to Cabanatuan then ride a van/bus to Baler, Aurora. Travel time from Cubao to Cabanatuan is around 3 hours. Cost of fare is around Php190 (one-way).

The following buses are Cabanatuan bound:

• ES Transport – Schedule: 24 hours available
• Five Star Bus- Schedule: 24 hours available
• Baliwag Transit – 1^st trip is at 2AM

Once in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija ride a bus bound for Casiguran, Aurora that will drop by Baler: D-Liner Buses are non-air-conditioned buses.
Schedule: 2AM, 5AM and 7AM; this schedules are quite uncertain as it may be dependent on the volume of passengers.
Fare to Baler: Php180/person/one-way; Travel Time to Baler is 4 hours

Another means of transportation from Cabanatuan to Baler is riding a Van: These vans in Cabanatuan are available 24 hours. You’ll see them lined up at Cabanatuan Central Terminal. Fare: Php220/person/one-way; the travel time is around 4 hours.

Once in Baler, take a tricycle to your destination of choice/s:

WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO SEE?

Based on the Local Tourism of Aurora, these are the places one can visit together with the standard prices for the tricycle tours:

1. History Trail & Eco Strip

Price: Php500/Tricycle – halfday
Max no. of pax per tricycle: 3 pax
Places to visit: History Trail (Baler Church, Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon, Museo de Baler and Quezon Park) and Eco Strip (Ermita Hill, Diguisit Beach and Añao Islet)

*** You can visit Dicasalarin and PAGASA weather station but you have to walk up a steep hill for about 30 minutes for PAGASA weather station and another 30 minutes for Dicasalarin. You may also hop on a habal-habal(single motorcycle and pay 150 per person/way).

https://roamulofied.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/dicasalarin-cove-aurora-ph/

One may also visit other towns of Aurora that are in close proximity to Baler. This includes Dipaculao (Ampere and Dinadiawan Beaches); Maria Aurora (for its Millenium Tree); and San Luis for its waterfalls like Ditumabo and Caunayan).

2. History Trail, Eco Strip, Ditumabo Falls & Balete Tree

Price: Php800/Tricycle – wholeday
Max no. of pax per tricycle: 3 pax
Places to visit: History trail (Baler church, Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon, Museo de Baler and Quezon Park) and Eco Strip (Ermita Hill, Diguisit Beach and Añao Islet) Ditumabo falls and Balete Tree.
Note: To reach the falls, one will have to trek for about 30-45 minutes .

https://roamulofied.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/diguisit/

3.  Ampere Beach (for sunrise viewing), Dipaculao (if you wish to go to Dinadiawan Beach, it may cost higher since it is farther than Ampere) Price: Php300/Tricycle; Max no. of pax per tricycle: 3 pax

https://roamulofied.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/ampere-stone-beach-dipaculao-aurora-ph/

4. Surfing in Baler: If your resort is not within Sabang (the surfing spot in Baler), you can ride a tricycle. From town center to Sabang, fare is Php 15/person. Once in Sabang, a lot of the resorts offer surf lessons. Surfing fee is usually Php350.00/hour/person. It goes with a surf instructor.

BALER ACCOMMODATION:

Within Sabang: Aliya Surf & Dive Resort – 0929-758-6005 Amihan Aplaya Lodge – 0918-693-5904 / 0918-632-8566 AMCO Beach Resort – 0921-411-7671; (044) 552-4209 Bahia de Baler Garden Resort & Restaurant I – 0908-732-0672 Bahia de Baler II – 0908-732-0672 Bay’s Inn – 0918-926-6697, 0908-982-3509 Bay-Ler View Hotel – 0927-366-8735 / 0919-286-3105 Cocohut Lodge – (042) 209 4341 Costa Pacifica – 0917-844-8371 Desiree’s Lodge & Transient House – 0920-480-0978 / 0921-751-8490 DSB Lodge – 0919-235-2435 Isla Virginia Resort – 0920-755-0467 Jamjem’s – 0921-598-3588 / 0916-200-1731 Kahea’s Lodge – 0915-748-0759 Kamagong Lodge – (42) 209-4301/0920-911-1413 Little Girl’s Surfer Lodge – 0927-395-5689 Mel-Nest Lodge – 0920-632-3043 MM Lodge – 0919-537-9405 Pacific Waves – 0917-8950-276 Sea Breeze Lodge – 0908-207-5364 / 0938-539-7344 Smart Beach House – 0928-507-6551 Surfer’s Inn – 0920-591-4962 Trezzo Inn – 0929-822-1992 / 0916-255-6025

Homestay in Sabang, Baler: Edith S. Buluag (Homestay) – 0921-751-8490 / 0920-480-0928 June B. Samano (Homestay) – 0939-500-0803 Lanie Downing (Homestay) – 0919-458-6657 Margery Paug (Homestay) – 0939-356-7025 Tony Sinsay (Homestay) – 0920-275-9116 / 0921-450-3282 Other Accommodations in Baler (Outside Sabang area): Azbahaen Leisure Farm and Resort – 0912-208-3588 / 0918-917-7784 Carlito’s Inn – 0908-872-0816 Dela Torre Beach Resort – 0920-509-6849 / 0949-608-7053 Eltrophine Lodge – 0919-373-7575 Kristines Villa Haus – 0928-242-6286 Moreno Lodge & Restaurant – 0918-451-4124 / 0928-505-9354 RAS Garden and Restaurant – 0918-539-3870 Sanchez Inn – 0920-812-9998 XTJR Traveller’s Inn – 0919-950-8554 / 0908-712-0883/0919-879-7447 ***It is best to make reservations as the number of visitors can sometimes be unpredictable specially during the summer season.