Baler

The birthplace of Philippine surfing, with Sabang Beach on the Pacific, Mother Falls and a millennium-old tree, plus hidden coves and sites from the Siege of Baler nearby.

Baler is the capital of Aurora province on the east coast of Luzon in the Philippines, facing the Pacific Ocean with the Sierra Madre at its back. It is about a 5–6 hour drive from Manila (via Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija and over the mountain road), or you can take a direct Genesis/Joy Bus coach. This is the birthplace of Philippine surfing: in 1979, Apocalypse Now was filmed at Sabang Beach, and the surfboards left behind by the crew launched the local surf culture. The town is also the hometown of former president Manuel Quezon, and the Siege of Baler, when Spanish troops held out in Baler Church for 337 days in 1898–1899, is the origin of Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day. The sights fall into three parts: the walkable town centre (Baler Church, Museo de Baler, the Doña Aurora Quezon house and Quezon Memorial Park) and surfing at Sabang Beach; a half day along the east coast (Ermita Hill, the Cemento Reef break, the Digisit rocky coast and a boat trip to Dicasalarin Cove); and a half day inland (Ditumabo Mother Falls in San Luis and the Millennium Tree in Maria Aurora). With more time, head north to Dinadiawan's white-sand beach in Dipaculao, or south to Dingalan for its lighthouse coast. Best time to visit: from October to February the northeast monsoon brings the best waves, and surf festivals are mostly held in this period; March to May is sunny with calm seas, ideal for the coves and waterfalls; July to November is typhoon season, when landslides are common on the mountain road. Tricycles get you around town, and hiring one for the day makes visiting nearby sights easy. Plan on 2–3 days.

Top sights

• Sabang Beach – The birthplace of surfing in the Philippines, with several kilometers of gray-sand beach lined with surf schools and seaside restaurants.
• Ditumabo Mother Falls – Baler's most popular waterfall. After about 40 minutes of wading upstream, you'll see a roughly 40-meter white cascade plunging into a deep…
• Dicasalarin Cove – A secluded white-sand cove surrounded by mountains, reached by boat. A lighthouse and viewing deck on the hilltop overlook the Pacific.
• Millennium Tree (Balete Park) – Said to be the largest balete (strangler fig) tree in Asia, with a hollow trunk that visitors can climb through.
• Diguisit Beach & Rock Formations – A rocky coastline on the east side of Baler, with reefs and islets that look especially striking at sunrise and rock pools exposed at low t…
• Ermita Hill – A small hill where, according to legend, residents took refuge during a tsunami in 1735. From the summit you can see the full panorama of B…
• Baler Church (San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish) – The site of the 1898–1899 Siege of Baler, where a Spanish garrison held out for 337 days.
• Museo de Baler – A small museum covering the history of Aurora Province, the Siege of Baler and surfing culture, located in front of the Quezon Memorial Pla…
• Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon House – A reconstructed wooden house of Aurora Aragon-Quezon, former First Lady of the Philippines, displaying her life story and personal belongin…
• Cemento Beach – A reef surf break beside Baler Port with powerful waves, known to experienced surfers as “Charlie's Point.”
• Dinadiawan Beach – A long stretch of white sand north of Baler, with much clearer water than Sabang, known as “the Boracay of Aurora.”
• Ampere Beach – A rocky beach beside the Dipaculao coastal road, where waves breaking on the reefs and the roadside viewing platform make up a classic Paci…
• Dingalan Lighthouse – A cape lighthouse in Dingalan, southern Aurora Province, where mountains meet the sea. The coastline is called “the Batanes of the East.”

Where to eat

• Kusina Luntian – A budget eatery favored by surfers, where rice is served on banana leaves to eat by hand. Known for its fern salad and…
• Yellow Fin Bar & Grill – A two-story barbecue bar on Sabang Beach, serving grilled pork belly and squid with beer. It's liveliest in the evening.
• Bay-ler View Hotel Restaurant – The open-air restaurant at one of Sabang Beach's oldest hotels. Enjoy the sea view with the signature deboned crispy po…