Baler is a laid-back coastal town in the province of Aurora that’s known mostly as a surfing destination. But it’s also an amazing  base for riders and bikers to explore.  In 2019, we took a road trip from Manila to Dingalan, Baler, Dipaculao and back by motorcycles and loved the vibe, so we decided to return and ride at a slower pace on bicycles in April 2022 as soon as travel restrictions eased.

From Baler, you can enjoy the long traffic-free coastal road that stretches on to the less explored towns of Dipaculao, Dinadiawan, Dinalugan, Casiguran, Dilasag, etc. and camp there. After all the urban rides and having to deal with city traffic the past 2 years due to the pandemic, biking with views like this feels like pure freedom. 

There may not be a lot of touristy spots along this route yet, but every biker knows that just riding with the view of the sea and nature is the reward in itself. 

Where exactly is Baler?

Baler 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.

Driving here by car, motorcycles, or bus, usually takes about 6 hours through the expressways and steep roads (depending on the traffic).

While you could bike all the way from Metro Manila to Baler if you really wanted to, if you have limited time and just want to enjoy the place for the weekend, you can just rent bikes from Baler, bring your own bikes by private vehicle, or load your bikes on a bus and sleep on the way, so it’s not so tiring. 

Yes, it’s possible to just load your bicycles on a bus as long as they fit in the cargo compartment. We’ve done this for several trips to provinces like Bicol and Marinduque, you just have to disassemble and take off wheels to fit in cargo hold. 

How to get to Baler

It’s easy to reserve bus tickets to Baler online on Joybus, the comfy coach class of Genesis Transport. For this trip, I booked our tickets on IWantSeats.com. You can also book bus trips via PinoyTravel.com.ph.

You can pick the seats and easily pay online via GCash. They’ll send out a confirmation by email, which you need to print out and show at ticket counter to claim actual bus tickets on the day of your trip. The bus itself is spacious and new, with a comfort room on board. 

The Genesis Transport Bus Station in Cubao is located at 704 EDSA corner New York St., Cubao, Quezon City. It is on the Northbound side of EDSA, near other bus stations like Baliwag Transit and Bataan Transit.

Bus schedule

As of April 2022, there are 3 trips daily, with 2 on the JoyBus coaches (2×1 seats with CR available on board) and 1 trip with regular seats. We picked the 2am sked going to Baler, so we would arrive at 8am for a full day of biking. For the return trip, I picked the 1pm (timed after hotel check out), which will take you back to Manila by 7pm the same day. Travel time to Baler by bus is 6 hours. 

The fare on the Genesis Joybus costs P850/person one way. The regular 2×2 – fare costs P590 /person one way. There’s no cargo fee for bicycles.

Cubao to Baler

• 2:00 AM – JOYBUS
• 4:30 AM – JOYBUS
• 6:00 AM – REGULAR

Baler to Cubao

• 5:00 AM – JOYBUS
• 9:00 AM – REGULAR
• 1:00 PM – JOYBUS

Cabanatuan to Baler

• 8:00 AM – REGULAR
• 2:00 PM – REGULAR

Baler to Cabanatuan

• 7:00 AM – REGULAR
• 2:00 PM – REGULAR

The Genesis Bus station in Baler is located in 117 Recto, Poblacion, Baler. This is centrally located near Sabang beach. Hotels and the beach are about a kilometer away by bike.

Possible routes for bikers

Our recent bike-cation covers 100 kms  from Baler to Dinadiawan (Dipaculao) and back in 2 days. Elevation wise, this is about 30 km of a nice long stretch of flat coastal road. The last 20kms involve passing through mountainous areas with some steep climbs and hairpin turns. It can be tiring passing here especially if you’re carrying a lot of stuff and if you get here around noontime.

• Day 1: Baler – Dinadiawan (54 km)
• Day 2: Dinadiawan – Baler (54 km)

Going back is easier since you can tackle the uphill sections first when you have energy and it’s not so hot in the day yet, and can just cruise the rest of the way.

If you only have one night to spare and you start early, it’s possible to bike from Baler to Dinadiawan and back the same day for a Century ride. You can leave your stuff in Baler at your chosen hotel, and enjoy a full day of riding wherever you want and then go back to check-in and enjoy the beach at night and the next day.

Road bikers and those with thinner tires will have an advantage in terms of speed and ascents in the mountainous areas near Dinadiawan since the roads are all paved. As an MTB user, I found the ascents to be a bit tiring because my bike felt very heavy and I was carrying stuff, but I loved the long downhill portions. Just be careful biking and slow down on blind curves, as vans and SUVs who overtake bikers or those going in the opposite direction tend to speed a lot.

For those who want a shorter and mainly flat route, Ampere Beach and Rock Formations, almost 20 km away from Sabang Beach is a good ride destination in itself. Going back and forth will be a chill 40 km.

From Sabang Beach in Baler, bikers can also head to Dicasalarin Cove, less than 20km away. Getting up to Pag-Asa station involves a steep climb, but the road itself before that is relatively flat and easy. You can pass a scenic pier area, Diguisit Beach and Ermita Hill here for relaxed bike touring.

You could also take a leisurely bike ride to visit the famed Millennium Balete Tree in the neighboring town of Maria Aurora. It’s roughly 14.6 km one-way through the Pantabangan-Baler Road and you can do a bike loop to get back for another chill 30 km ride.

Really, choosing where to bike in Baler is really up to you and how much time you have to spare.

Top sights to see in Baler and beyond

• Sabang Beach, Baler
• Museo de Baler
• Ampere Beach and Rock Formations
• Millennium Tree in Maria Aurora
• Baler Hanging Bridge
• Ermita Hill
• Diguisit Beach
• Dicasalarin Cove

READ MORE: Travel Guide: Baler

Our itinerary

Day 1: Baler to Dinadiawan

• 2:00 am – Bus trip from Cubao to Baler 
• 6:30  am – Arrival in Baler (ETA was 8:00 am, but bus arrived early)
• 7:00 am – Breakfast at The Boardwalk Restaurant by Bay’s Inn

• 8:00 am – Start biking
• 9:00 am – Welcome to Baler arch
• 10:00 am – Ampere Bridge and Rock Formations

• 11:00 am – Random stops to eat and rest along the road
• 2:00 pm – Arrival in Dinadiawan, check in

• 3:00 pm – Late lunch
• 5:00 pm – Bike around Dinadiawan town proper / explore town proper

• 7:00 pm – Dinner & beer

Where to stay & eat in Dinadiawan:

There are lots of beachfront resorts along Dinadiawan. For this trip, we stayed in Porto Novo Dinadiawan, which has a private beach front area with a great view. The rooms here are spacious and you can actually bring your bikes inside the room for added security.

As of our visit, there was no food at the resort (they only hire a cook on weekends), but you can cook and prepare your own food, or just go to town or other nearby resorts to eat. Room rates start at P2,500.00 for 2 pax. I had to pay a deposit for the room reservation, but you can easily send payment by GCash or bank transfer.

• Facebook page: Porto Novo Hotel Dinadiawan
• Contact numbers: 0925-877-3322 or 0969-190-6642
• Standard Nipa (2 pax) for PHP 2,500.00
• Superior (2 pax) for PHP 3,500.00
• Deluxe (4 pax) for PHP 4,300.00
• Family Room (10 pax) for PHP 7,500.00

Another option you can stay in is La Sunshine Resort, a few minutes away. This resort caters more to families and has a secure parking area for vehicles, swimming pool, and has a nice airy restaurant that serves all-day breakfast meals. The service here was very nice and friendly.

• Facebook Page: La Sunshine Resort
• Contact numbers: Globe: 09176618802, 09179962618. Smart: 09286945976
• Hotel: P2,000 (2 pax), P3,000 (4 pax), 7,000 (8 pax)
• Apartelle: P2,000 (2 pax), P8,000 (8 pax)
• Small Villa (7 pax): P6,000
• Big Villa (15 pax): P8,000

If you’re riding to the Dipaculao town proper, there are small eateries along the road, including Lily’s Restaurant, where you can stock up on supplies and snacks as well. There are several vulcanizing shops along the road in the town proper in case you need bike repairs done.

Day 2: Dinadiawan to Baler

• 7:30 am – Breakfast
• 8:30 am – Enjoy the beach, swim, pack up stuff
• 10:30 am – Check out, start biking back to Baler

• 10:30 am – Check-out, start biking back to Baler
• 1:00 pm – Lunch/snacks along the road
• 2:30 pm – Stream and river crossings

• 3:00 pm – Ampere Rock Formations

• 4:30 pm- Arrival in Baler, Check in
• 5:30 pm – Chill out on beach
• 7:00 pm – Dinner and drinks

Where to stay and eat in Baler:

There are lots of places to stay in Baler, but some resorts have been affected by the pandemic and may no longer be operational. For this trip, we stayed at Nalu Surf Camp, a well-designed resort with modern and deluxe beachfront cottages ideal for groups and families.

They also have air-conditioned Ifugao Huts with garden views ideal for just 2 pax. I picked this because the resort is within a gated complex, with a secure parking area. The hut also has railings that we could lock bikes to when we went to the beach.

• Facebook page: Nalu Surf Camp
• Contact numbers: Smart: (0961) 595 0466Globe: (0935) 257 2990
• Summer rates (April 1- June 15, 2022)
• Deluxe Nipa Hut (2 pax) – Php 5,500
• Premier Nipa Hut(4 pax) – Php 5,500
• Premier Nipa Hut – Garden View (4 pax) – Php 4,500
• Modern Nipa Hut – Garden View (2 pax) Php 2,500
• Ifugao Nipa Hut – Garden View (2 pax) Php 2,500
• Traditonal Nipa Hut – Garden View (2 pax) Php 1,500

There are a lot of new old and new resorts and restaurants along the beach that are still operational, including Costa Pacifica, Bay’s View Inn, Bay-ler View, Aliya Surf Resort and Playa Azul, but most of the parking areas here are open. Those who want to camp can try Balud or Balituk Beach.

If you want to chill out on the beach at night, you can dine at The Boardwalk Restaurant, Aliya Surf Resort, Yellowfin Grill, or at Nalu Surf Resort.

READ MORE: Hotel Guide: Where to stay in Baler, Food Trip: Baler

Day 3: Baler

• 7:00 am – Breakfast
• 8:00 am- *Optional: Bike to Museo de Baler, Hanging Bridge, Diguisit Beach & Dicasalarin Cove area (or enjoy beach)

• 10:30 am – Back to hotel, prep to leave
• 11:00 am – Early lunch, check out, buy pasalubong

• 1:00 pm – Bus trip from Baler to Cubao 
• 7:00 pm – Arrival in Cubao 
• 8:00 pm – Home sweet home

(Depending on your sked, you can always opt to stay longer to maximize the trip or leave early the next morning)

What to bring

The roads in and around Baler are all paved and are suitable for road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes and folding bikes. Since you’re carrying everything while biking, it’s best to pack light. 

There are some bike rentals available in Baler itself, but these may not be in the best condition for long rides.

We just brought clothes in handlebar bags, and had a small hydration bag with snacks, a raincoat, spare bike parts, tools etc. The less you are carrying, the better.

You could also opt to camp, but there are a lot of secure beach resorts and camping areas you can stay overnight in the Dinadiawan area, some of which offer tent rentals. You can also buy food, water and supplies or eat in the eateries in the different towns there. I suggest you bring a water bottle and refill it every time you stop for a meal to reduce plastic wastage.

Bring enough cash, especially small bills for the smaller towns, where mobile signals and WiFi are intermittent. GCash may not always work.

Budget & total expenses (for 2)

• Joybus Cubao to Baler (inc. online reservation): P900 x 2 = P1,800 
• Overnight stay in Dinadiawan – Porto Novo: P3,500
• Overnight stay in Baler – Nalu Surf Camp: P2,500
• Joybus Baler to Cubao: P900 x 2 = P1,800 
• Food, drinks, souvenirs, miscellaneous, etc.: P800/day x 3 = P2,400
• TOTAL: P12,000

BUDGET: You can cut down your expenses if you camp out in a tent or find cheaper rooms instead of staying in a resort, eat in carinderias instead of the nicer restaurants and if you don’t drink beer. Refill your water bottles when you eat in restaurants so you don’t have to keep buying bottled water. For a 3D/2N trip, I think a budget of P6,000 person will be enough.

Travel tips & useful info

• Many resorts and restaurants in Baler were affected by the pandemic, and others are just starting to get back on their feet.
• Food and supplies may be limited or out of stock. Some resorts expect you to bring your own food supply for cooking. Some amenities (like towels, or free breakfast) may not be available
• Delays in bus trips can be expected depending on the traffic (esp. going back to Manila), weather conditions, road construction, and other factors. Adjust your IT to fit the time you have.
• Bring a windbreaker or cloth for the bus ride. 
• If you’re bringing your own bikes on a bus, it’s better to travel on weekdays, when buses aren’t full to ensure that there’s enough space in the cargo compartment. It helps that there are just 2 of us when we ride, but it might be harder for large groups bringing multiple bikes. Bring bungee cords/string to secure bikes.

• We traveled on a weekday and enjoyed our trip a lot. It wasn’t crowded whatsoever. However, many resorts in Baler are expecting a lot of tourists and are already fully booked for Holy Week, so plan your trip accordingly. Long weekends and holidays can get more crowded in all destinations that have reopened to tourism.
• The weather in Baler changes a lot. It can be hot and sunny one moment and then suddenly rain. 
• Bring easy to eat snacks and water for the bus ride and bike ride. Refill every time you have the chance.

• Wear swimwear under your cycling jerseys, because the route passes through rivers and streams where you can take a dip and cool down.
• Baler surfing season is September to February, but waves were still good in late March to early April. It was very windy, and the breeze helps a lot while biking. 
• Gas stations and vulcanizing shops can only be found in towns.
• Bring lights and blinkers in case you end up riding into the night as some stretches of roads have no lights whatsoever, and towns are far from each other.