Barefoot Travels Baler Surf and Trek Adventure

Baler Adventure

Hey gais! I'm still here in Cebu, in Oslob in particular. I've been traveling non-stop so to speak since last year and now that I'n resting a bit here at my bessy's place (my flight back to Manila is early tomorrow at 3am), I decided to make time for another blog post, this time about Baler. I was just there last Jan. 11-12 when I joined Barefoot Travels in their surfing adventure. I'm going back there for a longer vacation this time, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, for a surfcation as they call it. Two more slots are still available so if you want to join, contact Barefoot now at +63923-5610062; +63917-3589716. So yeah, as soon as I go home tomorrow, I'll have to pack again for another  surfing trip. Just look at some of the surfing videos my new friends took last time. Who wouldn't want to go back there, right? Whew! What a life! ^_^

 

Going back to this surfcation, instead of having a jam-packed overnight schedule like what we had last time, we'll have two nights to chill, relax and just simply enjoy the waters of Baler. We'll be going around the many tourist spots Baler has to offer as well. Hoping to blog more about these beautiful spots come February when my travel schedule won't be as full.

This is my 2nd ID with Barefoot Travels. I got my first one when I joined their Sagada trip last month. ^_^

But first things first. For those of you who want to join Barefoot Travels in their upcoming surfcation, you can take a look at this itinerary they sent me before to at least give you have an idea of what this trip will have to offer. 

STANDARD PACKAGE: Php3,200/pax (less Php600 if no surfing) - for an overnight stay; Php4,200/pax (less Php600 if not surfing) for a two-night stay

ADD ONS: Php300/hour (for extra surf lessons with instructor and board rental) Php400/half day board rental 

Because of this trip, I got to make new gorgeous friends...

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:

 Overnight accommodation at Baler, Aurora (Mahdox Backdoor Villa, Bayler View Hotel, Bay’s Inn or similar)

At Mahdox Backdoor where I stayed with three roommates

 Round trip van transfers from Manila-Baler-Manila

 Breakfast

 2 hours surfing lessons (board rental and instructor fee; c/o Mahdox Surf School)

 ID/bag tag

 Baler country side and town tour:

• Ditumabo Falls
• Baler Museum
• Ermita Hill
• Baler Church
• Balete Tree
• Doña Aurora House
• Pasalubong Center

At Ermita Hill, our first stop upon reaching Baler. From there, I got to see a nice view of the Sabang Beach below. 

Day 0, Saturday 

11:30 PM Meeting time at Pick-up Point 1: Shell Gas Station, McKinley Ave. corner EDSA 

Day 1, Saturday 

12:00 AM Meeting time at Pick-up Point 2: McDonald’s Panay Ave. corner EDSA (near Quezon Ave MRT Station) 12:30 AM ETD from Quezon City to Baler, Aurora 

06:30 AM ETA at Baler; stop-over at Ermita Hill breakfast (on pax account) 

09:00 AM Start of 1st surfing lessons or Tour to Ditumabo Falls; bring water and expect to get wet 

12:00 PM Lunch (on pax account) 

03:00 PM 2nd Surfing Lessons 

07:00 PM Dinner (on pax account – optional Php185 buffet) 

Day 2, Sunday 

05:00 AM Wake up and catch the sunrise along the beach of Sabang* 

08:00 AM Breakfast (c/o Barefoot) 

09:00 AM Optional extra surfing lessons (on pax account) 

12:00 PM Check Out and lunch (on pax account) | Town Tour : Baler Museum, Baler Church, Dona Aurora House, Pasalubong Center 

03:00 PM ETD for Quezon City (drop by Balete Tree – if time and weather permits) 

10:00 PM ETA at McDonald’s Quezon Ave., cor. EDSA

Bundok Bakery stopover at 4 in the morning... they sell yummy and affordable breads and noodles.

at Museo de Baler

Have you ever been inside a Balete Tree? I did and I even climbed it!

 The now famous Ryzza Mae and Bimbi Adult Edition ... thanks to my new friends at Barefoot! (LOL!)

WHAT TO EXPECT (and not to expect)

o TRIP

 Baler town is in Aurora, and not Quezon.

 The trip from QC to Baler, Aurora is around 5-6 hours long. Sleep if you can. If you can’t, please let others sleep . For “wiwi” moments, just inform the Tour Coordinator.

 Expect winding and some bumpy roads from Cabanatuan to Baler

 During the country side tour, expect to get wet as we will cross streams and other bodies of water. And to get to the falls, we will do a lot of trekking 

 We will use a local van/trike when we do the country side tour.

 Note that this is primarily a surfing trip. Surf lessons will be on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

 Surfing lessons will be conducted by Mahdox Surf School and will be on a one-on-one basis. Listen to your instructors carefully. They are seasoned local surfers who know what they are doing.

 If at first you can’t ride the waves, that’s ok. Just keep on trying.

 Falling off the board is normal. If you’re lucky, you can even have a souvenir photo from us 

o FOOD

 Food is relatively cheap in Baler. Sharing is highly recommended.

o AMBIANCE and WEATHER

 Let’s hope and pray that it won’t rain as hard this weekend  Otherwise, if there is a typhoon, we might have to postpone our trip.

 Moderate rain is ok. It means larger and better waves! Trekking will just be a slight problem since it will be more difficult.

o HOTEL

 Hotels and resorts in Baler are relatively affordable. Just don’t be choosy and you’ll be fine.

 Room assignments will be given this Saturday.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO BRING (and not to bring)

o Luggage and bags.

Pack light. Bring a bag (back pack is highly recommended) that can fit your clothes for the overnight trip. Zip lock plastic bags are highly suggested for cameras, video cams and cell phones. Plastic bags for trash (don’t leave your trash behind) and soiled clothes and an empty foldable bag for “pasalubongs” for your friends left behind 

o Clothing, Shoes, Weather gear

 Trekking attire – long sleeved shirts, shorts, sandals/slippers

 Arm covers if you don’t want to get dark while trekking, sun glasses or shades,

 light raincoat (although not really needed) in case it rains (though walking in the rain is much lovelier)

 A “malong” will come in handy as well

 Hats/caps to protect you from the sun

 Rash guard for surfing

o Toiletries and medical supplies.

 Medicine for motion-sickness, diarrhea, gas pain, fever, ALAXAN, Salon pass or mentholated ointment, sun block, insect repellent

o Miscellaneous

 Cameras, video cams

 Bring water all the time specially during trekking

 Sense of humor and lots of smiles

For further details and clarifications, feel free to email Barefoot Travels at barefoottravels@yahoo.com or contact us at +63923-5610062; +63917-3589716. Go Travel. Be Practical. Have Fun. Go Barefoot. Work Shoes: OFF LIMITS!

Read more: 

SURFING – A HISTORY OF CONQUERING LOVE AND FEAR