Transportation

Going to Baguio City

Baguio City is approximately 250 km from the Philippine capital city of Manila. It is about 4900 feet above sea level and it is located on the Grand Cordillera mountain range of the Northern Philippines. There are three main roads going to Baguio City: Marcos Highway, Kennon Road, and Naguillan Road. Kenon Road is technically the fastest route to the city but it's kinda dangerous way to take especially if you're not that familiar with such kinds of road. Meanwhile, Marcos Highway is a much safer way and this is the route taken by most bus companies going to Baguio City. On the other hand, Naguillan Road is also a safe route but it's commonly used by travelers or buses coming from the provinces of  La Union, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

Getting to Baguio City by bus travel will take about 4-6 hours on the average and it normally depends on the time of the day. Baguio City has an airport called Loakan Airport which is near the Philippine Military Academy and is about 15 minutes from the center of the city. The Loakan Airport had been inactive for quite a long time because the airline companies offering domestic flights to the city decided to end their operations due to low passenger turnout.

On May 21, 2010, a local airline company called "Sky Pasada" began to offer domestic flights from Baguio City to Tuguegarao, Cagayan and Cauayan, Isabela. Sky Pasada later expanded its routes and included the Manila/Palanan, Isabela/Maconacon, Isabela to Baguio City route and vice versa. On July 3, 2010, SunStar Baguio reported that "Sky Pasada has temporarily suspended operations in all its routes while it corrects safety issues of its aircrafts as ordered by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines".

Here's the route map of Sky Pasada:

Here's their website for more info: SkyPasada: A WCC Aviation Company

Several bus cohmpanies are serving the city and here's some information and opinion on these bus companies:

 

1.) Victory Liner

•  Locations/Stations:
• 713 Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan City
• EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City
• EDSA, Pasay City

• Website: http://www.victoryliner.com/   

Every time I go back to Manila or Baguio City, Victory Liner is always my first choice since since for me it's the best and safest. They offer trips to Baguio City for 24 hours and  the trips are usually every hour. The good thing about Victory Liner is that there is a compulsory insurance when you buy your tickets. It's just an additional of P5 and it's quite worth the price. In addition, aside from regular air-conditioned bus trips, Victory Liner also offers deluxe trips to the city and actually they're the only bus company with such. I haven't tried the deluxe trips since the fare is more expensive compared to regular air-conditioned trips. But I have observed that deluxe trips only accommodate I think about 30 passenger since it has comfortable and wide seats. Another advantage of deluxe trips is that it has a comfort room and the trip will be faster (just about four hours!).  

2.) Genesis Transport Services

•  Locations/Stations
• 101 Giselle Park Plaza, EDSA corner H. Taft Ave. Rotunda, Pasay City
• EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City
• Avenida, Manila (near Doroteo Jose Station of LRT Yellow Lane)

• Website: http://gtsi.profusehost.net/ or http://mnlgenesis.com/

The first time I went to Baguio City, which was for a conference of high school students, the bus company that brought us there was Genesis Transport Services. For the next two years that I joined that conference, it was also the same bus company that took us to Baguio City. So Genesis is definitely my second choice. The good thing about Genesis is that the fare is quite cheaper than Victory Liner and they give student discount even if it's the summer vacation of student. Victory Liner don't give student discount if there is no proof that you are enrolled for the summer term.

3.) Dagupan Bus Company

• Location/Station: 
• New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City

I haven't tried Dagupan Bus Company yet but the fare here is cheaper. But I have been hearing bad comments about Dagupan Bus. As I remember, their Cagayan Valleys trip have been suspended last year because of an accident.

*Philippine Rabbit and Saulog Transit also has daily trips to Baguio City.