This is the second part of our do it yourself 3D / 2N itinerary in Baguio City. In case you missed the first part, you can read it on this link: Commuting to Baguio top tourist spots Day 1 which includes commuting and direction tips to get to Wright Park / The Mansion / Mines View / Good Shepherd / SM Baguio / Session Road via jeepneys and having a walking tour.
I will have a separate more personal sharing of what transpired and the experiences during our DIY Baguio City Tour. For this post, I’ll just get on right away to the tips on how to commute to the rest of the top places to see and visit in the summer capital. This was the itinerary we followed on Baguio Day 2, you can take some inspiration from this post on what you can do during your vacation.
Day 2 Itinerary Baguio and Beyond
Lourdes Shrine and Grotto – Diplomat Hotel Ruins – Tam-awan Village – La Trinidad Strawberry Farm – Bell Church – Burnham Park
How to get to Lourdes Grotto
Riding a jeepney is way cheaper compared to taxi if you want to go to Lourdes Grotto. Jeepney fare from the Lourdes – Dominican Hill terminal in the public market to the Grotto is only P8.50 per person. Taxi might be around P60 to P70.
To get to the jeepney terminal, make your way into the Hotel Veniz footbridge, it’s a crisscrossing footbridge. Go up the footbridge and then go down the side where you will be able to walk by Abanao Square. Abanao square is on Abanao St. When you get back on the street, make your way into the Zandueta St, turn left, walk until you reach the corner of Zandueta – Kayang St, you’d be able to see the different terminals on your left. Ask around for the jeepneys bound for Lourdes Grotto – Dominican Hill route.
Again, in case of confusion ask locals to help you out. Or check this map to locate the jeepney terminal.
Here’s another look at the Lourdes Grotto Baguio jeepney terminal vis a vis Session Road and Burnham Park
How to go to Diplomat Hotel Ruins in Dominican Hill from Lourdes Grotto
*Suggestion: You can go first to the ruins of the old Diplomat Hotel in Dominican Hill before you visit the Grotto. The jeepneys plying this route follow a loop so if you choose to go to the ruins first, you can just ride any jeepney that passes at the foot of Dominican hill to go back to the Lourdes Grotto on its return trip.
What we did however is walk from Grotto to Diplomat Hotel Ruins, it was a long, uphill walk. Haha. Must have taken us probably 20 to 30 minutes on foot hehe =)
After you explore the hotel ruins of Diplomat Baguio, go back to the foot of the hill and wait for any passing jeepney. The jeepney will be on their return route to Lourdes Grotto then to public market. Fare from Dominican hills back to city center is P10.
The Ruins of the Diplomat Hotel in Dominican Hill
Direction Tips in Getting to Tam-awan Village in Long Long Benguet Road
There is no direct route from Lourdes Grotto or Dominican Hill to Tam-awan Village. No choice but to go back to the Baguio city proper and make your way to the Tam-awan jeepney terminal.
Please look again at the first map above, locate the “Pinsao Pilot Project Project Terminal” That terminal is located in Hill Top St. It is also where you can find a jeep that goes to Tam-awan. So it’s either you walk the whole stretch of Zandueta and turn left on Hilltop St to get to the jeepney terminal. Or if you are back at the Lourdes-Dominican Terminal to walk further to the left until corner, then take a right to Hilltop St.
Hop on a jeepney with “Baguio Long Long Road – Tacay – Tam-Awan Vice Versa” route. This jeep will pass by the entrance of the village.
BUT what we actually did was rode on the wrong jeepney that only got us as far as ‘turning point’ on Long Long Road. We have to walk for about 10 minutes to get to Tam-awan hehehhe. We did ask the driver but the driver said yes this jeepney goes near, you’ll just need to walk a bit to get to the Village. Little did we know there is a specific jeepney that passes this Baguio tourist spot. Lol. 😀
On the return trip, you can wait for a jeepney that passes in front of Tam-awan. If you get tired of waiting, you can walk back to the ‘turning point’ of the other jeepney route, the one we took. As you exit Tam-awan, walk on the left until you reach a sari-sari store on the right side of the road. That’s also a mini terminal / stop over of jeepneys going back to city center. Typically these jeepneys whose route end there wait for 10 minutes or so for passenger then goes back to their terminal in the public market.
For convenience, you can take a taxi. But if you want to save and have a cheap Baguio City DIY tour, the jeepneys are there for you. =)
Baguio city center to La Trinidad Strawberry Field
Again, you have to make your way to the city proper to find jeepneys that goes to La Trinidad. Head out to Magsaysay Avenue until you reach La Trinidad Jeepney Terminal. Fare from terminal to Strawberry Farm is only P11. See Map of location below:
Request the driver to drop you off in the corner of the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. There are directions pointing to the farm and it’s also a straight road so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
If you find strawberry picking expensive, no worries as you can still take pics on the farm for free.
On the main entrance of La Trinidad Farm, you will see a kubo that also serves as weighing station and selling area of fresh produce, there are staff there who oversees the strawberry picking activities. Request permission from them to explore the farm and take pics like what we did. ^_^
Strawberry Field to Bell Church, Border of Baguio City and La Trinindad
After getting your fill of strawberry picking and exploring the farm, have a sidetrip in nearby Bell Church. This Church for Taoism is at the border of Baguio City and La Trinidad. Get on any passing jeepney bound for Baguio, fare is P8.50.
Get off just before or right after the Welcome Arch / Border of Baguio and La Trinidad Benguet. Visible from the road is the very distinct and brightly colored Chinese Taoist Church. No entrance fee.
Bell Church is a religious site so please observe proper decorum as you explore the pagodas and shrines. Yes, you can take as much pics as you like except on the altars, they are strictly off-limits. Please respect that and don’t go shooting in designated ‘no shoot’ areas.
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Bell Church Going Back to Baguio Proper Commuting Tips
Retrace your steps and walk back to the main road. Hail any passing jeepney bound for Baguio City. If traffic is light, then you’d be back in the city proper in less than 30 minutes. We got off the jeepney beside Rizal Park and crossed the park to get to the Burnham complex.
If you follow our Day 2 Baguio IT, at this point, your feet would probably be begging for some rest time hehe. I would suggest that you go boating in Burnham Lake to relax and to enjoy the wonderful weather that Baguio offers. 
Look for affodable Baguio Hotels. Enjoy Baguio!
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