Discover Baguio’s New Tourist Spots: Igorot Stone Kingdom & Mirador Park
From Vigan, we headed up to Baguio city for the second leg of our post-Christmas vacation trip in December of 2021.
To be honest, we felt like we’ve run out of places to see in Baguio having visited it several times in the past. But luckily, our hired driver knew the city well enough and suggested two new tourist spots in Baguio– the Igorot Stone Kingdom and the Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park.
The Igorot Stone Kingdom
How we got to the Igorot Stone Kingdom
The Igorot Stone Kingdom was about 15 minutes away by driving from where my relatives stayed, El Cielito Baguio, a hotel 10 minutes away by walk from a mall called SM City Baguio.
We immediately noticed upon arriving that the parking space was limited. Luckily, we had a driver who took care of parking our privately rented van after dropping us off at the entrance gate.
About the Igorot Stone Kingdom
The Igorot Stone Kingdom is a large, man-made and privately owned park situated at the top of a mountain. It is open to the public with an entrance fee of P100 per person.
Going around and Climbing up to a View
It was already mid-morning when we arrived at the park; the heat made walking around and climbing up the park uncomfortable. Thankfully, at the top, we were greeted by a cool breeze and more importantly, an amazing overlooking view of the whole Igorot Stone Kingdom and of Baguio. Those two things made the climb all worth-it.
Machu Pichu and the Igorot Stone Kingdom
While we were climbing up, I remember my aunt’s comment about the park’s resemblance to Machu Pichu, a famous tourist spot located in Peru. But I think their difference lies in their significance: Machu Pichu now stands as a reminder of Peru’s ancient history and civilization, meanwhile the Igorot Stone Kingdom was built — and continues to be developed– in honor of the owner’s mother, an Igorot. For those who are not familiar with the term, Igorot is an indigenous tribe found in the Cordillera mountains of the Philippines. And this explains why there were many Igorot symbols scattered around the park.
We spent a few minutes at the topmost spot, taking pictures with the view and of the view.
After that, we then went down, then left the park satisfied to have seen a new and meaningful tourist attraction in Baguio.
Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park
After our tour of the Igorot Stone Kingdom, we then went to Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park, another new tourist attraction in Baguio.
Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park is a nine-hectare wide area owned and managed by the Philippine Jesuits. It is open to the public but with an entrance fee of P100 per person. There is a wide and free parking space for visitors’ private vehicles, which is convenient as in our group’s case.
This park features many different areas. These include a Marian Grotto, a retreat house, and a cafe where we had our quick lunch. There were several other attractions, but the park is most famous for its Japanese-inspired, Instagram-worthy torii gate and its Arashimaya Bamboo Grove.
The Torii Gate in Mirador Park
Our group first went to where the torii gate stood. The red and black painted torii gate with a hanging golden bell looked striking, both in actual and in photos. But personally, what I liked most about this area was its stillness, and its overlooking view of Baguio city. Its calming scenery lived up to its name being called an eco-spirituality park.
The Arashimaya Bamboo Grove in Mirador Park
From the torii gates we then walked down a cement paved stairway. The path going down was a bit long and steep that we had to take some pauses in between to catch our breaths.
We were all busy looking down at our paths as we continued our descent when we began to notice our surroundings slowly becoming shaded. The air a little cooler. When we paused to look around, we realized we were surrounded by bamboos plants. We have reached the Arashimaya Bamboo Grove.
In the area, we found a spot a-washed in the gentle mid-afternoon sunlight. It was perfect place to take photos, we thought. And took photos we did, which lasted for about half-an-hour.
A Tip for Visitors
To explore Mirador Park in an unhurried and leisurely pace, I suggest budgeting at least 2 hours for the stop. This will give you time to explore, take plenty of photos, and appreciate the views. Just remember that this place is an eco-spirituality park so, it is best to be respectful and avoid creating noise.
The Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park has an official website. You can learn more about the park’s policies, history, and contact details there. They also have a downloadable map of the whole park available on their website.
After our visit at the Mirador Park, we then went back to our hotels to prepare for dinner.
So, these are the new tourist attractions in Baguio— the Igorot Stone Kingdom, and the Mirador Heritage and Eco-Spirituality Park. Both tourist spots are Instagram-worthy and meaningfully built. Visiting these places made me think how great it was to revisit Baguio.
