Baguio Botanical Garden

Background

Baguio Botanical Garden is one of the well-known gardens in the Philippines. It is located between Wright Park and Teacher’s Camp along Leonard Wood Road in Baguio City. Baguio Botanical Garden provides tourists with a serene and laid-back environment with tall pine trees, vivid flowers, art galleries (Baguio Arts Guild) and sculptures portraying the different ceremonial of the Cordillera ethnic group can be seen. For this reason, the garden is visited by almost one hundred thousand tourists and local parkgoers every month.

In accordance with its past history, Baguio Botanical Garden was once known to the locals as the Igorot Village because of the diverse Cordillera carving and huts garnish around the park. Moreover, in the past decades, it is widely known to the locals as Centennial Park in commemoration of one hundred years of Baguio City. However, in the year 2021, Baguio Botanical Garden was temporarily closed to the public because of the ongoing pandemic and the rehabilitation of the park. Even so after ten months of closure, Baguio Botanical Garden is now open to all visitors and tourists coming from different parts of the country.

In addition, the 150-meter historic Japanese tunnel walkway which was constructed by the Japanese soldiers during the Second World War has been reopened to the public inside the Baguio Botanical Garden. The Japanese tunnel walkway is like a dark maze that serves as a bunker in the 1940s. Presently, Baguio Botanical Garden is divided into different sections. There are gardens showcasing the friendship of Baguio City with other countries like the United States of America, China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Each garden has a trademark identical to each country. To give you an idea you can find inside the garden the replica of temples and pavilions of Korea and China. Also, you can see statues of elephants and mini-Buddha. So if you want to see the newly renovated and much larger Baguio Botanical Garden then include it in your next travel itinerary.

Name: Baguio Botanical Garden
Address: 37 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, Benguet
Features: sunflower farm, Centennial Park, Dahlia Garden, orchidarium, friendship park, cactus, and succulents garden, Cordillera Village, and Japanese Tunnel

My trip to Baguio Botanical Garden

It was Wednesday afternoon when our group decided to go to Baguio Botanical Garden after exploring Wright Park. Later our trip going to the Baguio Botanical Garden was a bit hard because during that time there was heavy traffic. Even so, our group has long patience and after thirty minutes we finally arrived at the main gate of the garden. Then we wait for several minutes because at that time there was a group of senior women and their grandchildren in traditional costumes taking a selfie and group photos.

Afterward, we have our group picture taken at the cemented signage of the garden. Then we began touring inside the impressive garden and I have a nice walking tour through stone steps and paths. After a few minutes, I noticed that Baguio Botanical Garden is a great place for family bonding moments because of the cool and relaxing ambiance. Also, I noticed that the garden is good for wedding proposals and a wonderful place to connect with nature by having meditation and nice short walks.

Then I have a short conversation with one of my group members and she told me that the renovated Baguio Botanical Garden is much more delightful now compared to the past years. She visited the garden four times already and it’s very akin to going to a new park for the first time because we can see a variety of native trees, plants, and flowers which are all organized. The garden is divided into smaller segments to classify the trees and plants. Crystal-clear pools and streams can be spotted together with the tall lush pine trees.

Also, the garden unveils new attractions and beautifies the existing ones, making the garden worthy of its name. The newly added Centennial Park showcases the alluring bronze structure made by art educator and sculptor Ben Hur Villanueva. The sculpture represents the builders of Baguio City such as the indigenous Cordilleran, Americans, Chinese and Japanese who are constantly working together. Moreover, we found out that their restroom is very clean and spacious. I said to myself that the botanical garden is a symbol of why Baguio City celebrates the flower festival every year.

From my perspective, the garden is a very peaceful place that connects everyone to nature. Also, our group admires the ramps that were strategically placed inside the garden which makes the site more convenient and it’s good for Persons with Disabilities (PWD). As we continue to explore, we discern that the design of the garden was handy and it’s satisfying to the human eye. The blooming plants and trees are mesmerizing. I would definitely recommend it to my friends and loved ones.

Later our group rent an Igorot costume for a minimal amount and we have a nice picture taking. After that, we decided to go inside the coffee shop and sip a native coffee. A few moments later, I marvel at the finest landscape architectural project I have ever seen. Baguio Botanical Garden is composed of cultural gardens and it has an imposing tunnel that brings visitors deep inside the garden. Also, the tunnel is surrounded by lush plants with white roots and yellow bell-like flowers hanging upside down creating a canopy that looks like delicate flowers.

I enjoy the tunnel cave and feel the complexion of a true cave but at the same time, I feel creepy. For the most part, we breathed fresh air and feel the breeze in the middle of Baguio City and we cherish every minute that passes by inside the beautiful theme Korean Garden, Japanese Garden, Canadian Garden, Chinese Garden, and Thailand Garden. Then I locate new species of plants and flowers along with native huts that I rarely see in Metro Manila.

Our tour coordinator said that this place is the best garden he visited and he jokingly said to us that it’s very much similar to the Garden of Eden but it’s more like a comfy version of it. Moreover, he told us that we don’t need to go to Denmark in Europe to witness the greeny botanical gardens because Baguio Botanical Garden is a fine substitute for a tourist with a very tight budget. We hope the place will be properly maintained for future generations to see.

Undoubtedly, I enjoy every minute I spend inside the Baguio Botanical Garden. The garden is so quiet and so beautiful because of the cultivation, collection, and exhibit of a wide range of plants labeled with their botanical names. For this reason, all my stress and worries in life just pass away instantly. Our group stays at the Baguio Botanical Garden for nearly two hours. Before we leave the place we purchase some souvenirs such as shirts, handicrafts, woodwork stuff, and plants and seeds. All in all my trip to Baguio Botanical Garden sums up this fascinating quote “good things take time”.

How to Go to Baguio Botanical Garden

By commute

Option 1:

1. From Genesis Transport bus station in Baguio City, walk for a few meters going to the jeepney station at Lower Session Road near the Jollibee. 
2. Then at the jeepney station at Lower Session Road, ride a passenger jeep going to Mines View Park and tell the driver to alight you near the Baguio Botanical Garden. The jeepney fare is ten pesos. 

Option 2:

1. From Victory Liner bus station in Baguio City, ride a Grab car or taxi going to Baguio Botanical Garden. The travel time is approximately ten minutes and the taxi fare is around 100 pesos. 

By private car

1. Open your Waze app on your mobile phone and pin Baguio Botanical Garden. 
2. From Session Road, drive your car going to Leonard Wood Road. Then once you pass by the Teacher’s Camp continue driving for 300 meters and you can easily see the main entrance and cemented signage of the Baguio Botanical Garden on the right side. Afterward, park your car along the roadside near the main gate.
   
   
   
   

Reminders and Tips:

• As of December 2022, Baguio Botanical Garden’s operating hours are from 7 am in the morning up to 12 am at the midnight daily.

• The best time to visit Baguio Botanical Garden is during the Christmas season which starts from November up to January. At night the garden turns into a bright and glowing garden with lots of Christmas lights.

• The parking fee for light vehicles at Baguio Botanical Garden is 35 pesos for the first two hours and 10 pesos per hour for the additional hours. On the other hand, the parking fee for motorcycles is 10 pesos for the first two hours and 5 pesos per hour for the additional hours. 

• Using of toilet around the park cost five pesos per head.

• The entrance fee to Baguio Botanical Garden is 10 pesos per head for adults. Meanwhile, a kid below two years old has no entrance fee.

• Visitors are not required to present a full vaccination card.

• Smoking, littering, vandalism, and picking any kind of flower are not allowed inside the garden premises. Respect the flowers and plants and don’t do any damage in any way.

• Picture-taking with native Igorots around the garden cost twenty pesos per person for each photo. 

• There are many hotels where you can stay overnight in Baguio City but I highly recommend the Citylight Hotel in Upper General Luna Road because of its spacious rooms and breakfast buffet.

• If you want to buy a cheap and wonderful assortment of plants in Baguio City then I highly suggest you visit Baguio Orchidarium inside Burnham Park or you may visit BSU Orchidarium and Ornamental in the municipality of La Trinidad.

• Bring an umbrella during the rainy season. Also, bring bottled water and some snacks to lessen your expense.

• Ask the staff inside the garden if you don’t know the exact place you are looking for.

• A souvenir shop that sells potted flowers and custom-made shirts and keychains is located near the entrance of the garden.

• Bringing pets is allowed inside the botanical garden but make sure to clean up if they’re not wearing any diapers.
  
  
  

There you have it, garden lovers. Train your mind to see the good in everything because all big things come from small beginnings. For the most part, I hope this Baguio Botanical Garden blog has been favorable to you and make you visit this charming garden in the near future. Thank you for reading my blog and have a pleasant day to you.