Travel Guide: Baler, Aurora

Baler, the capital town of the province of Aurora, is a haven for surfers and bikers. This laid-back coastal town is known primarily for its waves. Numerous surf shops are situated along Sabang beach catering to novice and the seasoned surfers. 

Baler is also a great destination for motorcyclists and road-trippers, as getting here involves a scenic ride passing roads that zigzags through the mountains. But for those who want to skip the long ride and just enjoy explore on two wheels once they get there, it’s easy enough to hop on a bus from Manila, then just rent bicycles or motorcycles from town.

Baler offers a mix of that cool surfer vibe similar to towns like San Juan in La Union and Siargao while still retaining the laid-back provincial appeal and local hospitality. It’s not as crowded, but still has the facilities to accommodate different types of travelers. This makes it an appealing destination for solo travelers or groups those who want to explore off-the-beaten path destinations in the rest of Aurora province. 

Baler also offers an interesting historical and cultural destination, being the backdrop of the infamous Siege of Baler, a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War.

The 1979 war film Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvali and Martin Sheen, was filmed in Baler and actually gave birth to the surfing culture here. When filming finished, crew members left their surfboards behind, and locals learned to ride the waves.

Where exactly is Baler?

Baler is a second-class municipality and capital of the province of Aurora in the Philippines. It is located around 230 kilometers northeast of Manila via a mountain pass accessible by bus and private vehicles. Aurora is a long province facing the Philippine Sea, and bordered by the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.

How to get to Baler

From Manila, travel time to Baler is roughly 5 to 6 hours. If you’re taking public transportation, the most direct way to get there is via the Joy Bus of Genesis Transport. You can also reach Baler via Victory Liner bus to Cabanatuan. From there, you’ll have to transfer to a van or another bus to bring you to Baler.

By bus:

Genesis Transport Inc. provides a direct route from Metro Manila to Baler. The bus ride can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours depending on traffic with the fare costs about P500. Their terminal is located along EDSA in Pasay City and Cubao with first trip departing 3:00 AM leaving at hourly intervals. Alternatively, you can take buses like Victory Liner which go to Cabanatuan and than transfer to a public utility van heading for Baler at the terminal. Last trip of vans depends on numbers of passengers. Van travel time is 2.5 hours. 

Genesis Transport has a more comfortable option via their executive coach Joy Bus. For a fare of P700+, you get to travel in style and with NO STOPOVERS. The Joy Bus has an onboard comfort room, free snacks served by a bus stewardess, free wifi, blanket & pillow and a good morning kit. Schedule is 12MN and 4:30AM. Travel Time: 5-6 hours Non-Stop, To book, you can call Genesis at (02) 709-0545 / (02) 709-0544 / (02) 441-6834. The terminal to Baler is along the Northbound lane of Edsa near Cubao. For latest bus schedules & fares, check here.

By car or private vehicle:

From Manila, enter the North Expressway at Balintawak and exit at SCTEX (entry at LaPaz, Tarlac toll gate). From there, follow the highway leading to Aliaga and to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. From Cabanatuan City Proper, take the Nueva Ecija-Aurora highway, passing thru the towns of Talavera, Rizal, and Pantabangan until you reach the Aurora border, then through the towns of Maria Aurora, San Luis, and finally, Baler.

Note: For those traveling on small displacement motorcycles that can’t pass the Expressway, open the route on Googlemaps and click “Avoid tolls and highways” option. 

Getting around in Baler

Bicycle: Baler is a great destination for cyclists. Mountain bikes can be rented in shops and guesthouses for P300/day. You can easily go around the main tourist sights around town on bikes.

Motorbike: If you want to cover more ground and explore further destinations (like the Millennium Tree and Dicasalarin Cove), it’s better to rent a motorbike. Motorbikes (mostly semi-automatic XRMs and full manual motorbikes) are widely available in Sabang beach, costing P500-P800/day depending on the model. There are also a few automatic scooters for rent. Both bicycles and motorbikes are available for rent at Pajaroja Lodge along Sabang Beach.

As of 2019, some establishments offer motorbike rentals with surf racks, which is the easiest way you can check out surf spots in the area. BALER RENT A BIKE: 0919-5299751 / 0905-53960094

Tricycle: Tricycle drivers double as tour guides in Baler and offer trike tours to the main destinations around Baler including: Baler Church, Dona Aurora House, Museo de Baler, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, Aniao Islet on Diguisit Beach, Hanging Bridge, Millennium Tree, and Mother Falls. Trike tours cost P500 (half day) – P800/whole day (good for up to 3 people) depending on the destinations to be visited.

TIP: If you want a shortcut from Sabang Beach to Cemento Beach, you can ride a boat at T. Molina Street. From there, you will emerge at Castillo, a road leading out to Ermita Hill. Boat ride takes less than 5 minutes and fare costs P5 per person. This cuts travel time by 30-45 mins.

Where to go / What to do in Baler

Learn to surf at Sabang beach

With its long stretch of sandy shoreline and soft and shallow oceanbed, Sabang Beach in Baler is an ideal place for those who want to learn to surf. There are lots of surf shops along the beach including Charlie Does Surf School, Michael’s Surf Shop & Nalu Surf Camp where you can hire surfing instructors and rent surf boards. While the waves are best during peak surfing season from September to February, you can still catch some baby waves right near the shore all year around.

Surfing lessons with instructors cost P350-400/hour. If you don’t need an instructor, surf board rentals cost just P200/hour, P400/half-day and P800-1000 for whole day rentals. If you want bigger waves, you’ll need to rent a motorized banca to reach different surfing spots.

Hike and swim at Ditumabo Falls

San Luis, a neighboring town of Baler is the jump off point for a hike to the Mother Falls, also known as Ditumabo Waterfalls. To get here, one must hike up a trail of rocks and pebbles, muddy footpaths, wade through streams, and clamber over slippery rocks passing multiple knee-deep river crossings. 

The 1.3 km hike can take about 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. Because of a typhoon that hit in 2015, the trail and basin pool has changed a bit since my first visit. Taking a dip here is like an ice bucket challenge.

Cruise to Dicasalarin Cove

Enjoy a scenic boat ride to Dicasalarin Cove, a secluded beach cove with light brown colored sand about 30 minutes from the main surfing area of Sabang. Seasta Beach Resort offers packaged boat tours. 

This cove has access to a trail leading up to Baler Lighthouse. If you’re not up to hiking, you can just admire the view of the lighthouse from the boat as you cruise along.

Enjoy water sports

Visitors can now enjoy water-based activities in Baler. Have a fun ride on the banana boats, UFO couch and flying fish rides in Baler offered by Buoyancy Water Sports. Each activity is good for 15-minutes.

  • Banana Boat – P250 per person (min 6, max 10)
  • UFO Couch – P350 per person (min 6, max 7)
  • Flying Fish – P550 per person (min 4, max 5)
  • Torpedo – P1000 per ride (2-3 persons)
  • Jumbo – P1000 per ride (2-3 person)

Commune with nature

Nature Green Forest Resort in Sitio Zabali past Cemento Beach offers a nice secluded getaway with natural attractions like bamboo rafting, kayak riding and floating cottages.

Play mini-golf

If you’re looking for something else to do other than surfing, you might want to check out Joker’s Hideaway, a resort that offers a swimming pool and mini golf area.

  • Address: Purok 7 Brgy 2 Maria Aurora Aurora
  • For inquiries, contact: 09198582974
  • Swimming pool open on Fri Sat Sun 
  • Entrance fee adult 50p, Child 25p
  • Mini golf open Mon to Sun
  • Golf balls/golf clubs provided

Explore Baler by bike

For short tours around Baler, you can easily bike to the main tourist spots around town. For a more scenic ride, check out the road from Sabang to Diguisit Beach, where you can pass Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, and a nice coastal road along Cemento Beach with good views. The road going up to the PAG-ASA Weather Station and Dicasalarin Cove is a sheer test of endurance.

baler aurora bicycle dicasalarin cove from pag-asa station

Go on a walking tour 

There are lots of historic places of interest around Baler that you can easily walk around in a couple of hours. This includes the Baler Church, the Quezon Memorial Park (the birthplace of the late president Manuel L. Quezon), the Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon House, a house rebuilt in honor of the wife of the late Commonwealth president, the Baler icon and the Museo de Baler.

Learn more about the local art scene

Speaking of museums, if you want to get a glimpse of the local art scene, the Vincent Gonzales Art Museum, along the highway before reaching the town proper of Baler, is a good place to visit. This contemporary art museum houses the works of Baler-born artist Vincent Gonzales. Budding artists can also paint on shirts in an adjacent cafe. The museum is open from Sunday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (closed on Saturdays)

Hike up Ermita Hill

Ermita Hill is situated in Mt. Dibudalan at Sitio Dicaloyungan, Barangay Zabali. From the top of the hill, you can get a view of Baler Bay, Dima-Dimalangat and Aniao Islets.

Visit Diguisit Beach & rock formations

Aside from Sabang Beach, Diguisit Beach is another surf spot in Baler. Diguisit is situated on the Baler Bay along Cemento Beach. The beach here features a lot of rock formations including Aniao islets.

Climb up a gigantic Balete tree

The “Millennium Tree” in the town of Maria Aurora is a gigantic balete tree towering more than five stories high. Said to be 600-years old, this tree is the largest tree of its kind in Asia. Through the years, the trees roots have grown above ground and in various sections of the trunk. Locals and visitors can easily climb inside through a hollow opening and up the tree’s massive roots.

Where to eat in Baler

  • Charlie Does Cafe
  • Myrtle Park
  • Bike Kings Kitchen
  • Kubli Bistro
  • The Port Tavern
  • The Boardwalk Restaurant at Bay’s Inn
  • Beach House
  • Yellow Fin Bar & Grill
  • Mumunsi Chocolate Cafe
  • Budget-Friendly Options: Gerry Shan’s Picnic Bay, La Patricia Hotel & Restaurant

Where to stay in Baler

  • CUBE by Costa
  • Bay’s Inn Resort
  • Costa Pacifica Resort
  • 18 on Buton
  • Bayler View Hotel
  • Endless Summer Hotel
  • Nature Green Forest Resort
  • Casa Moorea
  • La Patricia de Baler
  • Nalu Surf Camp
  • Balud Camp Beach Resort
  • Azbahein Leisure Farm Resort
  • Seasta Beach Resort
  • Cobra Reef Resort
  • Hotel Motel Charlie Does Inn

NOTE: This travel guide was compiled from three separate trips to Baler, Aurora in July 2013, March 2016 & January 2019 (#LakbayNorte8).

70 thoughts on “Travel Guide: Baler, Aurora”

  11. Hi kara. I want to visit baler on saturday, Apr. 12 with my friends and my son, Can I ask if there are hotels in Sabang or near towns that offer or accomodates few hours of stay only? 🙂

  12. Hi Jean. I only stayed at Baywalk Tent City, where we camped out. They prob allow short stays at a cheaper rate. Please check this post for a list of places to stay in Sabang and contact the hotels directly.

  13. Hi guys! transient house in baler aurora where you, your family and/or friends can stay near sabang beach. lots of rooms! from 300 to 500 per pax. non aircon and air conditioned rooms are available. family rooms, king size, queen size, single or double size bed, WI-FI , dining area , cable t.v, videoke , kitchen , grill area , very spacious and safe parking area , etc .. we also have tour packages. call or text 0922-9-771-772 / 099999-07-688 / 0918-256-91-11 / 02-710-01-79 for inquiries or room reservation !

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  20. hi kara.. me and my wife are plannin’ to go to baler this coming holy week.. will it be better if we’ll bring our own car or take the bus? i just want to figure out if we’ll be able to visit all the tourist sites if we’ll take the public transpo from manila to baler. i was just concern about the distance of each tourist sites for one another. and last thing, is it advisable to bring our son aged 7?

  21. Hi Ryan, we took a hired van when we went there and the roads were a bit rough on the vehicle. I heard they’ve been improved though. If you do take the bus, here’s a useful post on public transpo and getting around in Baler. As for bringing your son, why not? I know lots of families who travel with much younger kids. It depends on the kind of activities they like to do. Here’s a family-friendly IT of Baler by Our Awesome Planet. Enjoy your Holy Week trip! 🙂

  22. hi pwede ba mag isa mag stay sa tent city?baka kasi may minimum.na persons…taaka may dala ako na tent magkano per night kailangan ba reservations baka.kasi mainusan ng space thnx po

  28. Good day Kara, how much was your all in all cost? And whom did you contact to for reservations? It’s a really nice place I was looking for Tourist Spot and I found this page. I must consider Baler for the holy week. Thank you! God Bless!

  29. Hello Josh, my recent visit was part of a sponsored media event and the first trip was part of a package tour, so I can’t give you an exact budget breakdown. How much you spend will depend on the activities you do, your transpo, accommodations, how big your group is, etc. You might find this DIY budget breakdown and itinerary useful.

  30. Hi Kara! This post is very timely. We’re planning to go to Baler after Holy Week and I’m still searching for tips when I found this. 🙂 Have you seen the S.M.A.R.T. Beach House in Sabang? We’ll be staying there kasi. Is it nice? Also, if we wanna tour the historical places in Baler by bike, are we able to do it for just 1 whole day? What’s the best time to do surfing lessons? Thank you in advance! 🙂

  31. Hi Daenielle. Didn’t notice SMART Beach in Sabang as I stayed in Costa Pacifica, but they have a website: http://www.smartbeachhouse.com/ You can check out their reviews on TripAdvisor. Except for Ermita Hill, all the historical places (Church, park, museum and Dona Aurora House) are very near each other around town and easy to bike to. Kahit half-day lang, kaya na. Surfing can be done either mornings or afternoons. It depends on the weather conditions that day.

  32. Hi Kara,
    We’re planning to go to Baler this Holy Week. Hindi po kaya punuan sa Baywalk Tent City & Cottages? Meron po kaming tent na dala..Unattended kasi yung phone ng baywalk.Thanks..

  37. “Alternatively, you can take any bus which goes to Cabanatuan and than transfer to a public utility van heading for Baler at the terminal. Last trip of vans depends on numbers of passengers. Van travel time is 2.5 hours.”

    Just wanna check, since I’m coming from Cabanatuan, it’s around 2.5 hours Nalang to baler? I’ve been reading around and I see some that says it’s around 3-4 hours. Hmm. Or that maybe an old post, how are the roads?

  38. Hi, will it be best to go to Baler on December either before or after Christmas since I heard a lot of people are going there during summer break and most specially during Holy Week. Can you suggest a good and comfy but budgeted accommodation for a family of 5? Do hotels/hostel/inns there accept Philippine major credit cards?

    Thanks

  39. Hi Mira, I think December before Christmas is a good time since most Pinoys are busy with Christmas preparations and parties 🙂 I’ve only stayed in Costa Pacifica and Bawyalk Tent City. The details are all listed here. I would recommend Costa Pacifica for families if you want good accommodations, since they have a nice pool and restaurant. Usually, only the bigger hotels like Costa Pacifica accept credit cards.

  40. Good pm po.pwde po ba malaman magkno budget na need going to baler 2 lan kame .ano po mairerecommend nyong accommodation n mura at mga kainan po ..

  44. Hi we’re planning to visit Baler in Dec. I have a child who uses a wheelchair? Accessible ba yung mga tourist spot sa wheelchair ?

  45. Hi Jo. The hotels and historic spots like museum, churches, ancestral house, etc. are accessible. The balete tree is along the highway, so pwede puntahan if you have a vehicle. There were stairs going down from the resorts to the beach in Costa Pacifica. I’m not sure if they had ramp access, but you could probably carry down wheelchair to the beach since maikli lang stairs. Ditumabo Falls requires a challenging hike through the forest, so I wouldn’t recommend that. Enjoy your trip in December! 🙂

  47. Meron bang free entrance na pwedeng paliguan na dagat sa baler? or lahat bah my entrance free? pwede rin ba doon ang latag latag lang ng tela or banig style? few hours alng kasi ang i consume sa dagat din more on ikot na sa buong baler…
    1 day trip lang kasi pwede sa amin…

    please advice naman sa mga nakapunta na doon or sa mga taga doon…

    thanks. 09952766958 number ko… thanks

  48. Hi, this is a very informative post about Baler. You covered almost every spots and attractions! I would like to ask how long did you stay there to cover up everything? We’ll be there for the whole weekend but I think it is not enough if ever we’ll try to visit each places there.

    Thank you!

  49. Hi Georwyn. This was based on 2 separate trips to Baler. The first was 2 days and the second was 2.5 days (but with a whole day trip to another area of Aurora which I didn’t include here). Checked your blog and you bike, right? You can do everything in this guide in 2 days if you maximize your time. Day 1: Surfing in the morning and hike to Waterfalls in the afternoon. Day 2: Rent a bike (P150 half day or P300 whole day). Start with the Millennium Tree and then go back and just bike around town or going to Diguisit beach etc. 🙂 Or if you’re with companions, you can just hire the trike, but Baler is pretty compact and it’s very nice to bike around there. Medyo steep lang yung going to Pag-ASA weather station.

  50. Hi! thank you so much for all the datails and information you have given me here. I like to go and travel in that place and riding my own vehicle. aside from toll gates and gas i will consume. what would be the best pocket money i can bring so that i can enjoy my vacation.

  52. hi, tanong lang sana. dalawa lang kami ng kasama ko and both kami new sa pag travel. plan namin first puntahan is baler. tanong ko lang sana kung pano kaya pwedeng gawin sa mga gamit namin habang nasa beach na pwede kaming sabay nasa tubig? pasensya na at salamat

  53. Hi Lean, when I travel solo at walang magbabantay ng gamit, these are my options:
    – Swim only sa shallow area where you can still see your belongings. Minsan tinatali ko sa bangka na malapit or tinatakpan ng towel. Usually only do this kung konti lang tao. Kung maraming tao, pwedeng mawalan pa rin ng gamit.
    – Only bring essentials. After picture-taking, ibalik muna lahat ng gamit sa hotel room and then go swimming. Or just bring a waterproof camera.
    – Bumili ng drinks or pagkain sa carinderia or sari-sari store na malapit sa beach tapos kausapin yung tindera kung pwede iwan lang yung gamit for a while.

  54. pwede naman yon… meron don sa may tabi ng dagat… ung nag ooffer ng surfing… rent kayo ng surfing. 300 ata yon for 1 hour na then meron na kayo table s ilalim noon… tapos keep on your eyes lng ang gmit…
    di rin kasi natin masabi eh…

  55. salamat sa mga sagot ^_^

    kung ba ibabaon ko ung mga importanteng gamit sa lupa tapos sa taas takpan ko ng towel/payong? pwede na kaya yun? tapos kagaya ng sabi niyo, essentials lang tsaka bantay.

    tapos my mga public cr ba na malapit mismo sa sabang beach na pwedeng pagbanlawan o kahit pagpalitan man lang ng damit?

    mejo malayo kasi sa sabang beach yung gusto naming lodging, tapos hindi rin kami magsesurf

    tsaka, madami kayang tao sa baler around mid april-early may?(basically pagtapos ng holy week)

    salamat uli, napakalaking tulong nito, di lang sakin kundi pati sa mga future readers mo ^_^

  56. hello
    do you have a tour package for 4pax,planning to go in baler this coming september.
    from bayombong nueva vizcaya to baler
    thank you.

  60. i went in sabang beach last july! id say, i want to go back! ?, love the place, specialy the foods! try sisig at yellow fin bar! tinalo ang gerrys grill!

  62. It was so much fun you should go there. I rented a motorcycle in Manila 250cc through book2wheel. Only thing it took me 10 hours to drive. 250cc motorbike can not be use for express road. I had to take small street.
    The Google map was not help full. When I arrive it was worth it. Took me 10 hour but so much fun. There are small bars and nice places to eat food…

    Small wave but fun

  63. Sulit po ang pagod sir… balak nga rin namin bumalik dyan eh… dahil so very nice place talaga… heheheee

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  67. Hi Kara,
    Please update your blog. I had a recent call with the Victory Liner and they told me that they don’t have a trip to Cabanatuan and the info provided on their site is incorrect.

  68. Been there last holy Thursday and Friday. I really enjoyed Baler most especially the surfing! gonna come back soon to explore other parts of Baler. We stayed at Azbahaen Farm and Resort.

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