Barely a year after Costa Pacifica officially opened in August 2013, it has now be come a destination resort in Baler, Aurora. Surfing at Sabang Beach was and is still the main tourism attraction of the town, but nowadays, many tourists visit Baler just to experience Costa Pacifica. Here are some of the ongoing promos at Costa Pacifica that you shouldn't miss! This list will be constantly updated so make sure that you bookmark this artcle.
Trivia: September to December are some of the best months to visit Baler for surfing. These months are ideal for beginner and intermediate levels. October is the start of the surfing season and so are the competitions.
There's no better way to treat Dad on his special day than by giving him a pleasurable gastutory experience. The Raintree Restaurants Group has prepared these special meals that only the best Dads in the world deserve.
Costa Pacifica is the newest beachfront resort along Baler's top surfing destination, Sabang Beach. It has 106 well-appointed rooms and suites classified into nine room categories, each having its own character and charm.
Beach House is Costa Pacifica's in-house casual fine dining restaurant serving savory international and local cuisines. The restaurant features wide open spaces with high ceiling and furniture in vibrant pastel colors, giving a laid back, cozy yet classy ambiance. Beach House is open from morning to evening and serves brekfast, lunch, snacks and dinner to both checked-in and walk-in guests of the resort.
Gala Tropicale: December 26, 2013 til January 2, 2014
Spend the New Year's weekend in Style at Costa Pacifica, an active-sports lifestyle resort located along one of Baler's top surfing beaches, the Sabang Beach. Gala Tropicale is a weekend of party with DJs, Live Acts, Sunset Sessions and Feasts happening from December 26, 2013 until January 2, 2014.
I am a big fan of sunrise and the beach is one of the best spots to capture such moments. Sabang Beach in Baler is one of my favorite places to watch the sunrise: blue sky, golden reflection on ocean waves, and black sand.
For dinner, we sampled dishes at the Bahia de Baler Bar & Grill. We ordered Chicken Adobo sa Gata and Beef Salpicao. Both went well with plain rice. After dinner, we had some drinks at the cocktail bar. Here is a link to Bahia Bar and Grill Menu.
Prior to our trip to Baler, I read online that the ensaladang paco (fern salad) is a "must-try" in Baler. As soon as we got seated at Bay's Inn restaurant, I immediately searched for the said salad on the menu. It was served with tomatoes and onions. We also ordered for pancit and fried chicken. The pancit tasted it was prepared with coconut milk, which made it a little creamy and sweet. The fried chicken was deliciously crispy and perfectly paired with the ensaladang paco.
After a 5 minute tricycle ride from Baler bus terminal, we finally arrived at Sabang beach. We checked-in at Aliya Surf Camp, left our stuff in our room, and went straight to the beach area.
Though not blessed with white sand, Baler's Sabang beach still has a lot to offer than most white sand beaches. The constant waves coming in from the Pacific Ocean are perfect for surfing, which in fact made Baler a favorite destination for surfers.
Baler's wide shoreline offers endless opportunities for beach sand activities and sports; from jogging or cycling, to kite flying or volleyball.
Or you can just simply relax and enjoy the cool Pacific breeze. You can have a refreshing drink in one of the restaurants along the beach, or go for a leisurely walk.
You don't need to become a surfer to fall in love with Baler. Sabang beach is truly unique and has become one of my favorite destinations for a weekend beach escape.
Genesis Transport is currently the only bus company that serves the Manila-Baler route. It is a 6-7 hour trip with two short stops in Nueva Ecija. Genesis has two type of buses, the Joy Bus, a 2x1 seater deluxe bus, and the regular 2x2 seater air-conditioned bus. For a more comfortable ride, we highly recommend the Joy Bus as it has reclining seats and spacious leg room.
www.genesistransport.com.ph
If you are planning to take the first trip, make sure to be at the terminal at least one hour before the scheduled departure time as the first trip bus can easily get full, as early as 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
We got the chance to take a nap while the bus plied the NLEX and SCTEX. The bus took the Tarlac Exit at the northern end of SCTEX and turned right along the Tarlac-Santa Rosa Road heading to the direction of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The bus will make its first short 15-minute stop at the Cabanatuan Central Terminal, allowing the passengers to use the restrooms and grab some snacks.
Genesis Bus parked at the Cabanatuan Bus Terminal
Back on the road, the bus then headed to the direction of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija where it would ascend the Sierra Madre, a mountain range that separates the plains of Central Luzon to the coastal Province of Aurora. Though sleepy, we tried to stay awake during this ascend as it offered a unique opportunity to view the Pantabangan Lake. The lake is a man-made lake which resulted from the construction of the Pantabangan Dam, flooding the Pampanga River. We will definitely plan a future trip to the Pantabangan Lake where we heard is a good place for freshwater fishing.
ascending the Sierra Madre with a view over Pantabangan Lake
The bus made its second and final stop in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. This stop is longer in duration compared to the first stop in Cabanatuan City. There's clean toilet available for passengers (no fee). There's also a small canteen that serves home-cooked meals. We bought grilled hotdogs on stick. There's also a lady that sells tupig (a must try).
Genesis Bus stopover at Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
From Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, the bus entered the municipality of Alfonso Castañeda, in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. This was the last municipality before we reached the province of Aurora. One remarkable sight in Alfonso Castañeda was the Canili-Diayo Dam. The Canili-Diayo Dam bypass road was originally constructed as a two-lane road, but access was restricted to one vehicle at a time to protect the dam from deterioration. A number of humps were also placed on the road to prevent vehicles from speeding.
bus crossing the Canili-Diayo Dam bypass road
After Alfonso Castañeda, we were finally in the province of Aurora. The bus passed through the municipality of Maria Aurora before reaching Baler. Tricycles were lined up at the Baler Bus Terminal to transport passengers around the town. Tricycle fare ranges between Php20.00 to Php30.00 per trip depending on your destination.
Genesis Transport: Trip Schedule and Fare
Updated as of: May 1, 2013
Cubao to Baler (departure time)
Joy Bus Deluxe (P700.00)
Air-conditioned Bus (P450.00)
12:30 AM
01:30 AM
02:30 AM
02:30 AM
04:00 AM
05:00 AM
06:00 AM
07:00 AM last trip
Genesis Transport
704 EDSA Corner New York St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109
Tel: 421-1425, 421-1422, 421-1413 www.genesistransport.com.ph
