ATOK, BENGUET’s 10 Best Tourist Spots & Things to Do 2022

For the longest time, it was rare to hear about side trips from Baguio or La Trinidad. Given the sheer number of Baguio tourist attractions that can easily fill any given traveler’s itinerary, it was difficult to imagine needing to go out in search for more places to visit. Along came Atok.

This rustic town has been a favorite day trip destination among many Baguio locals but barely noticed by tourists. Suddenly, when the buzz surrounding its flower parks resonated on social media, this bucolic town was suddenly catapulted into fame.

Located about 48 kilometers north of Baguio, Atok can be reached after a two-hour drive. Getting here, the road is paved all the way but the drive isn’t always easy. It zigzags consistently and, because of the altitude, visibility is sometimes an issue. But those who brave the winding road and steep cliffs get rewarded with an idyllic, often unforgettable, escape.

If you are planning to visit Atok soon, here are some of the must-see places and must-do activities (in no particular order).

And when we say glorious, we mean gloooorious! This has got to be one of the most spectacular sunrises we have seen. You see, Atok is perched atop naturally forested or manually terraced mountains, putting you at a pretty magnificent vantage point. All you need to do — although easier said than done — is wake up early and wait for the sun’s rays to slowly burst out of the ridges of the distant peaks.

You’ll find numerous viewpoints in Atok, but our lookout of choice was Sunrise Cabin, a tiny inn atop a cliff, perfect for sunrise watching, hence the name. If you’re lucky, you also get treated to a view of a sea of clouds slowly drifting below.

Another favorite sunrise viewing spot is Northern Blossom Flower Farm. Speaking of…

This intricately designed flower farm played a huge role in putting Atok on the mainstream tourist map. It’s usually photos of their cabbage roses (rose cabbages?) bathing in the faint morning glow that make the rounds on Instagram and Facebook, attracting more and more visitors.

As for me, I just adore flowers. To me, it means happiness, success, and good times. The various beautiful blooms in season add colors and life to our surroundings, eliciting sighs of wonder and awe from admiring spectators. Imagine how delighted I was to be at the Northern Blossom farm, walking in between towering stalks of blooms. The sight of flower terraces overlooking the silhouette of the mountains in the distance is permanently tattooed on my mind.

Aside from its signature rose cabbages, you’ll also find different types of annual and perennial blossoms like lilies, hydrangeas, larkspurs, and sunflowers.

It’s best to visit early in the morning for two reasons. One, to avoid the crowd. Two, to avoid the sun. It’s easy to get sunburnt at higher places when it’s cold, just because we don’t feel it right away. But if you can’t help visiting between 10 AM and 3:00 PM, just bring protection from the sun like a hat, shades, and umbrella.

The ticket rate is inclusive of coffee and bread/snack. If you are planning to stay overnight in Atok, the flower farm also offers accommodations — both house and room options.

Address: Northern Blossom Flower Farm, KM50, Sayangan, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Monday – Saturday); CLOSED (Sundays). This might change, so check the official Facebook page for updates and announcements.
Entrance Fee: P250 (11-59 y/o); P200 (Senior & PWD with ID); P50 (6-10 y/o); FREE (o-5 y/o)

Another flowery attraction in Atok is Haight’s Place, tucked in one of the municipality’s coldest corners. Just like Northern Blossom, it is home a to countless rows of flowering plants like snapdragons, alstroemeria, and cosmos, painting the area in various colors. A few photo spots are also installed throughout the place.

Aside from its flowers, Haight’s Place is also open for camping and pre-nuptial shoots. It also has accommodation options (cabins) for overnight stay. And if you get hungry exploring the place, there’s a cafe inside the main building.

Address: Haight’s Place, Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Daily). The schedule may change, depending on special event or private gathering reservations, so check the official Facebook page of Haight’s Place for the announcements.
Entrance Fee: P150 (Regular); P100 (Senior); P50 (8-12 y/o); FREE (7 y/o and below). Note that these rates include entrance to Sakura Park, Environmental Fee, and Maintenance Fee.

Did you know that the Philippines has its own cherry blossom park? It’s situated just next to Haight’s Place! According to our guides, the Sakura Park is a completely separate entity. Haight’s Place is privately owned, charging an entrance fee, while the Sakura Park is public and is accessible for FREE. But because they’re so close to each other, most visitors mistake the two as a single attraction.

Located in Barangay Paoay, the Sakura Park is where they planted the cherry trees gifted in 2016 by Japan’s Kochi Prefecture and the Japanese Embassy to the Province of Benguet. They gave a total of 40 trees in celebration of their 40 years of friendship, but only 34 blossomed.

Why here? The local government of Atok chose this spot because it meets the environmental conditions needed for sakura to bloom. But of course, it is seasonal.

If you wish to see them in full bloom, it can get tricky because it’s all about timing it right. When we visited in early March, the trees were bare. Our guides said they should bloom in late March to April, depending on the rain. And when they do, they usually just last for a week or two, just like other varieties of sakura. Regardless, the park has other flowering plants scattered around the site.

By the way, to manage your expectations, these trees are a bit small (more like big shrubs than trees).

Address: Sakura Park, Barangay Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Daily). The schedule may change, depending on special event or private gathering reservations, so check the official Facebook page of Haight’s Place for the announcements.
Entrance Fee: FREE.

Located along Halsema Highway in Barangay Paoay, Atok used to hold the title of the highest point in the Philippine Highway System at the altitude of 7,400 feet (2,255 meters) above sea level. It clung to that record from World War II until 2019, when a new highest point was proclaimed. Today that distinction is held by a spot at about 7,968 feet (2,429 meters) along the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road in the municipality of Tinoc in Ifugao.

Although the crown has been snatched, it still remains a worthy stop; thanks to stunning view of the craggy landscape below. Tourists (presumably on the way to or from Sagada and Bontoc) still drop by to take photos with the old signage.

Location: KM52, Halsema Highway, Paoay, Atok, Benguet

Sticking out in the middle of a vast area of vegetable terraces, the Wagangan Rock Formations safeguard the Lourdes Grotto, also known as the Bosleng Grotto. Concealed atop a peculiar stack of giant rocks, it is hard to miss if you’re coming from Haight’s Place or Sakura Park.

From the jump off point or parking area, you’ll need to take a short hike, past gardens and vegetable fields. But don’t worry, the trail isn’t that long or that steep.

Fronting the entrance of the grotto is a humble open-air chapel adorned with a simple rock altar and a cross. Inside is a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is a functioning chapel and Mass is held here regularly, according to our guide.

The rock formations also cradle two viewpoints, one at the very top and and another just below it. Tourists can climb the rocks to appreciate the breathtaking views of the fields and the mountains beyond. But we found the lower lookout to be much better. If you decide to go all the way to the top, be careful on the steep way down.

Address: Our Lady of Lourdes Bosleng Grotto, Paoay, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: Wayangan Rock Formation 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Daily); Lourdes Grotto Gates 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Saturdays). The schedule may change without prior notice. You may contact the Atok Tourism Office for the latest announcements.
Entrance Fee: P120/head

Along the winding Halsema Highway (Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Road), a 50-meter half-tunnel (with 3.8 meters height clearance) has become one of Atok’s popular attractions. After Typhoon Trining devastated the region, washing out the road in the area, the only viable option for road construction was to carve out this huge rocky outcrop creating a natural half-tunnel.

Coming from Baguio, you will pass through the half tunnel just before reaching Atok Municipal Hall and Atok Tourist Center in Sayangan. A few feet away from the half tunnel, there’s a restroom and some shops. You can park here if you want to stop for photos.

Location: Halsema Half Tunnel, Halsema Highway, Atok, Benguet

The Osocan Spanish Trail (or sometimes simply Spanish Trail) was part of the complex network of horse and foot trails used by the Spaniards centuries ago. Also called the Salt Trail, this was the route used to transport salt throughout the region. Back in the day, here in the highlands, salt is very precious.

According to our guide, the trail stretches for 2-3 kilometers, featuring three man-made tunnels or caves carved through huge rocks.

There are actually two trailheads — the easier downward path and the upward path. The descending route’s trailhead is located near the Sakura Park area, while the ascending route’s trailhead is located between KM46 and KM47 (Landmark: JNB Diesel Station).

Located along Halsema Highway, somewhere between the Half Tunnel and the Northern Blossom Flower Farm, Loyung’s Restaurant is a popular roadside rest and dining stop for travelers, especially those heading to or coming from Sagada or Bontoc. It has a huge parking lot and a spacious dining area.

It serves affordable Filipino dishes with relatively bigger servings compared to the typical roadside eateries. We tried sinigang na ulo ng baboy (pig’s head in sour soup), chopseuy, and fried liempo (pork belly).

For desserts, we had custard cake and egg pie. According to them, the bestseller is the custard cake, but the team liked the egg pie better.

Address: KM49, Halsema Highway, Atok, Benguet
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Monday – Friday, Sunday); 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Saturdays)

At over 2700 meters above sea level, Mt Timbak is the third highest mountain in Luzon. (Nearby Mt. Pulag and Mt. Tabayoc are first and second respectively.) And yes, you can access it from Atok. (You can see its summit from the Second Highest Point.)

When we were exploring the town, our driver Kuya Bobby highly recommended it to us for our future trip. We didn’t get to climb it then because we didn’t have time, it wasn’t in our itinerary, and we weren’t even sure if it was open. (The town was just starting to reopen when we visited.)

The trail to the top, they say, is punctuated by the Stations of the Cross. Needless to say, the summit affords a majestic view. Also nearby is the site of the Cave Mummies of Timbak.

While many tourists go straight to attractions, we highly encourage you to drop by the Atok Tourism Office (within the Municipal Hall complex) to register, pay the ecological fees, and hire a tour guide. This way, not only do you earn a better understanding of every stop, you also get to help the local tour guides and drivers.

If you are interested in booking a guided tour, here are your options. The rates are inclusive of guide and transportation within Atok, but exclusive of entrance fees.

• PACKAGE 1
  P1,500 (Good for 5 pax)
  – Sakura Park
  – Lourdes Grotto
  – 2nd Highest Point
• PACKAGE 2
  P2,200 (Good for 6 pax)
  Sakura Park
  – Lourdes Grotto
  – 2nd Highest Point
  – Spanish Trail

Co-written with Yosh Dimen
Photos by Yosh Dimen & Asta Alvarez

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