Driving to Baler Aurora

[monty_GTV]

kung mahilig ka sa gulay, you may want to try also the ensaladang talbos ng "pak-pako" o "pako" (fern). everytime na mapasyal ako ng Baler, yan ang request ko sa mga cousins ko. then paguwi, may talbos ng pako pa rin akong dala

[kai s.]

I was there last week, roads are all good

I didn't get to swim or do the other touristy things this time, though, because I was there for a wake and a funeral. However, from my many, many visits, I can recommend these:

(random, as they pop up in my head haha)

Hotel: Costa, The Cube or Aliya
Dicasalarin Cove, about 15 mins from Sabang beach, 300/head entrance, or 150/head if you're a guest at Costa Pacifica
Dinadiawan, as said above
Casapsapan beach, in Casiguran -- amazing untouched white beach
Surfing lessons from Charlies Does or Aliya


Food recos along Sabang:
The Good Food - try the quesadillas
Kubli
Hungry Surfer - try the crispy squid heads
Kusina Luntian
Dialyn's Bakeshop, good also for pasalubong
Pako salad, pako pizza, lumpiang pako anywhere

Food recos sa bayan:
Rolling store
Gerry Shan's eat all you can

Pasalubong suggestions:
Fresh pako from the market: 10-15php per bundle, wrapped in newspaper. To prepare, blanch, mix with sliced onions, tomato, salted egg with fish bagoong + calamansi as dressing
Aling Pacing's peanut butter
Suman (the purple one), around 60php per bundle

[vinj]

Great to have all the suggestions, gents.

I'm also bringing my cooler to buy fish. Hope the weather will be cooperative too as we're ushering in the rainy season soon.

[Egan101]

We stayed at Costa Pacifica when we went to Baler last year. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the drive going there. I could have done a much faster pace but I was afraid my passengers might puke their breakfast.

[jut703]

I'm more of a San Juan LU fan than Baler, but Baler has a more laid back (i.e. rural) vibe than San Juan because it has less restaurants and people.

If going with family, Costa Pacifica is your best bet although it's really overpriced for what you get. It's just that the other hotels are more geared to the backpacker market than families. Nice pool though in Costa though.



The road to Baler is full of corners in Pantabangan but the quality of the cement is a bit shoddy.



Beach is *meh*, greyer sand than San Juan. Waves are good though and perfect for beginners.





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[vinj]

We stayed at Costa Pacifica when we went to Baler last year. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the drive going there. I could have done a much faster pace but I was afraid my passengers might puke their breakfast.

My family is used to such drives thankfully; my youngest still prefers using the child car seat as it has good lumbar support while my elder child knows well enough to take some motion meds and eat light to keep nausea in check.

I'm more of a San Juan LU fan than Baler, but Baler has a more laid back (i.e. rural) vibe than San Juan because it has less restaurants and people.

If going with family, Costa Pacifica is your best bet although it's really overpriced for what you get. It's just that the other hotels are more geared to the backpacker market than families. Nice pool though in Costa though.

The road to Baler is full of corners in Pantabangan but the quality of the cement is a bit shoddy.

Beach is *meh*, greyer sand than San Juan. Waves are good though and perfect for beginners.

Right now we usually choose to spend one day going around then one day lounging around which is why getting a good resort or hotel is always a priority even if it costs more. Ten years ago when we were just about starting off, we'd find the cheapest and most fun accommodations then hack it out anywhere. Age

My pickup ride gets rough on poorly cemented roads though (not bouncy... but you get rattled).

[Ry_Tower]

My family is used to such drives thankfully; my youngest still prefers using the child car seat as it has good lumbar support while my elder child knows well enough to take some motion meds and eat light to keep nausea in check.



Right now we usually choose to spend one day going around then one day lounging around which is why getting a good resort or hotel is always a priority even if it costs more. Ten years ago when we were just about starting off, we'd find the cheapest and most fun accommodations then hack it out anywhere. Age

My pickup ride gets rough on poorly cemented roads though (not bouncy... but you get rattled).

Lagyan mo ng addt'l load sa likod mga 100kgs. Gaganda ang play ng suspension ng pick-up mo. Promise.

[vinj]

Lagyan mo ng addt'l load sa likod mga 100kgs. Gaganda ang play ng suspension ng pick-up mo. Promise.

Actually with my current set-up (Bilstein shocks and 20" tyres) the ride is not bouncy, it's just rough on poorly finished surfaces. The firmer suspension set-up (and my preference for higher tyre pressures) that makes the ride rough on crummy surfaces but on dirt roads it actually glides through dips and the like.

[JohnM]

Drove to Baler via the Pantabangan route yesterday. Masaya ang mga curves in the mountains although there were 3 short rough and unpaved sections. Ongoing din ang improvement ng kalsada dahil may mga affected ng landslides na ginagawa pa. They are also doing road reblocking in Cabanatuan so may stop and go in some sections.

Sarap pumunta pag weekday walang kalaban

Tailed a surfer dude/dudette in a Fortuner (may board sa roof rack) all the way through the mountains. Tambay siguro ng Baler kaya sanay sa kalsada. Di tuloy ako maka-ihi dahil I didn't want to get left behind. We parted ways before Baler proper.

Kaya ang kalsada ng sedan pero it has to be careful on the unpaved sections. Short lang naman mga 10 meters each pero since may broken pavement sections may chance na sumayad. Medyo hirap lang siguro on uphills ang 1.3 or 1.5 especially if fully loaded.

[sirkosero]

Drove to Baler via the Pantabangan route yesterday. Masaya ang mga curves in the mountains although there were 3 short rough and unpaved sections. Ongoing din ang improvement ng kalsada dahil may mga affected ng landslides na ginagawa pa. They are also doing road reblocking in Cabanatuan so may stop and go in some sections.

Sarap pumunta pag weekday walang kalaban

Tailed a surfer dude/dudette in a Fortuner (may board sa roof rack) all the way through the mountains. Tambay siguro ng Baler kaya sanay sa kalsada. Di tuloy ako maka-ihi dahil I didn't want to get left behind. We parted ways before Baler proper.

Kaya ang kalsada ng sedan pero it has to be careful on the unpaved sections. Short lang naman mga 10 meters each pero since may broken pavement sections may chance na sumayad. Medyo hirap lang siguro on uphills ang 1.3 or 1.5 especially if fully loaded.

Di pa rin pala nila ginagawa yung road repairs dyan. Nung magpunta ako ng october dyan same 3 rough roads pa din.

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