Balatoc Mines & Crosby Park
Baguio started out as a mining town. Yup, there was gold in "dem dar hills" -- and there still is 100 years later.
Right outside Baguio City, about 30 minutes away, is the mining town of Itogon, Benguet. Once a hub of mining activity, Balatoc Mines has been offering since 1997 an exciting opportunity for visitors to become miners for a day.
Visitors get to ride the under-ground locomotive train to the famous Vegas Tunnel, learn about the different stages of the process of gold mining, all while wearing complete outfits with the proper safety gear.
I have said enough -- I don't want to spoil your experience by giving away too much.
Suffice it to say that the Balatoc Mines Tour is a great experience for families,* office outings and for school excursions. If you're traveling with the "barkada" (teenage or young adult group), it will be especially fun, too.
The cut-off time for the well-organized. 1.5 to 2 hour tour is 2:00 p.m. so please make sure you leave the city early to get there before operations close for the day. The distance from from the heart of Baguio City is 16 kilometers and travel time is approximately 30 minutes.
Crosby Park
Also in Balatoc,Itogon, Benguet is a 6-hectare pine forest that is at 1,150 meters above sea level (Baguio is at 1,500 meters, which means you are actually descending) with a scenic view of mountains, deep valleys, gorges and rolling slopes.
This area is suitable for hiking, camping, meditation, photography, picnics, sports exercises, walking, and other nature-based experiences. Crosby Park is also a camp site, with an obstacle course, where one can spend the night in the great outdoors
How to Get There
From Session Road, proceed to Loakan Road and keep going, past the Camp John Hay main entrance heading toward the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). After PMA, turn left at Kias Junction and head on to Balatoc.
Public jeepneys are also available using the Plaza-Balatoc-Acupan line. Or you may hire one of our many taxis cabs to take you there and contract the driver by the hour or for the day. If your group is large, it may be better to hire a jeepney instead.
For more information on these tours, please visit the Tourist Information Center at Burnham Park.
Is the Balatoc Mines Tour Safe for Young Children?
* The Balatoc Mines experience is not recommended for infants, toddlers and very young children. Please realize that you will be going deep into a tunnel and "be a miner for the day" thus, while the tour ensures the safety of all visitors, the tunnel is definitely not a place for children too young to appreciate it.
Crosby Park, on the other hand, is great for kids but not is not recommended for handicapped or very old folk as vehicles can only reach the base of the hill, after which one climbs on foot to get to the top.
Quick Links
- Travel & Transportation@ Baguio Directory
Disclaimer:
GoBaguio! Your Complete Guide to Baguio City, Philippines is not in anyway connected with the owners or operators of the Underground Tour and Crosby Park, nor has it received any payment for the inclusion of the information on this page.
These attractions are included herein for the sole purpose of providing site visitors with optional activities within the area of Benguet province, of which Itogon is a part.
Interactive Map of Baguio
Getting to Balatoc Mines has just gotten easier. Click the image above to view the interactive map of Baguio City and neighboring areas. Just keep zooming and scrolling, using the directions detailed in "How to Get There" until you find the marker for the Balatoc
Mines Tour.
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