Baler is a small town in Aurora Province on the east coast of Luzon in the Philippines. It is situated between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, in the vast plain at the mouth of Baler's Bay.
Understand
Founded in 1609 by Franciscan missionaries, Baler is also the last place held by the Spaniards until they were kicked off in 1899. In 1951, Baler became the capital town of the new province of Aurora, then part of Quezon until it was separated officially in 1978.
Get in
For general info on getting into Baler, see "Get in" in the Aurora article.
By bus
- Baler Central Terminal (Around the public market), Bonifacio St, Barangay III Poblacion. Baler's central bus station, also used by UV Express. Most bus companies base their operations here.
- Aurora Bus Line. Operates the Cabanatuan-Baler bus line with air-conditioned services.
- D'Liner. Ordinary buses run the Cabanatuan-Casiguran route, with a layover at Baler.
- Genesis Transport, (depot) Recto St, Barangay III Poblacion (In front of Moreno's Lodge). A/C and luxury services depart from Bocaue, stopping at Angeles, Tarlac City and Cabanatuan. Trip takes 6 hours (including stopovers) ₱218.75-681.75.
By plane
- 1 Dr. Juan C. Angara Airport (Baler Airport, BQA IATA), Brgy. San Isidro, San Luis. Air Juan flies from Manila using amphibious planes.
Get around
See
- Baler's Museum
- Bahia de Baler/Sabang Beach on Baler's bay
- Rainforest
- Ermita Hill - where locals took refuge from a tsunami. Now a pleasant small park with a view of the bay and a large cross at the top.
- Waterfalls - Ditumabo Falls and the smaller Culayan Falls. The latter is a nice and clean, good for a picnic and a dip. Both are in San Luis, slightly inland from Baler.
Do
- Surfing: there is many surfboard rental around the beach access.
Buy
- China Bank has a 24-hour Visa/Mastercard ATM.
- RCBC Bank has a 24-hour Visa/Mastercard ATM, and will exchange U.S. dollars at a good rate.
- N E Mall & NE Supermarket, on Nueva Ecija-Baler Road (westside of town: kitty-corner to Premiere General Hospital). 9AM-8PM.
Eat
- Gerry's Chinese and seafood restaurant: a good value, popular among locals in the center of the city.
- Bay's Inn: has a restaurant by the beach, good value Filipino-western style meals.
- Bahia de Baler: more expensive than its neighbor, Day's Inn, but a bit more classy too.
- Eat All You Can Buffet, N E mall brgy suklayin (inside the Ne mall in Baler). An all-you-can-eat with drinks. p120.
Drink
Sleep
- Kahea's Lodge: at Sabang beach, offers ₱500 fan rooms.
- Little Girl's Surfer Lodge: next to Kahea's, offers ₱600 fan rooms and surfboard rental.
- MM Lodge: after the two first ones at Sabang Beach, ₱600 fan rooms.
- Carlito's Inn: though it is far from the coast at the eastern tip of the city, Carlito's offers nice air-con/fan rooms with bathroom, cable TV for ₱500-900.
- Amihan Hotel: in the center, this old hotel offers the most low cost rooms in Baler, most with outside bathrooms for (₱400).
- Penny Lane Transient, Sabang baler (behide Emerila inn), ☏ 63 9399071271. Fan double rooms with outside bathrooms and TV. ₱500.
- Passilyo Lodge, Sabang. Fan double room with outside bathroom. From ₱500.
- La Flor Lodge, Sabang Beach, ☏ 63 9998441185. A/C double rooms. Has a swimming pool. ₱800-1000.
- Circle Hostel, Sabang Beach. Hammock or dorm bed. ₱450/₱550.
Stay healthy
- Hospital: there is a reliable hospital facility at the east of town (on the way in/out).
Connect
- The post office is in the bus station area.