Baguio
Botanical Garden
The Baguio Botanical Garden is located east
of Baguio's downtown area. You will find it between Teacher's
Camp and the Pacdal Circle. Its main entrance is along Leonard
Wood Road and just across the street from Gilberto's Hotel
and Baguio Vacation Hotel. It is quite a large park and about
the same size as Burnham Park.
Also known as the Igorot Village, the Botanical
Garden features native huts typical of the type of Igorot
dwellings found in the Cordilleras. The village is said to
capture the ethnic spirit and cultural legacy of the Igorots
and being tranquil and quiet, it is a nice place to just sit
down and relax, take a leisurely stroll along its narrow and
winding pathways and also enjoy the landscape where you will
find numerous plants and trees.
Some years back Igorot dances and rituals
were held in an improvised outdoor stage within the village.
Local students go to the Botanical Garden for a day of retreat
or just enjoy the outdoor environment. When visiting the Botanical
Garden, you will usually find a group of Igorots at the main
entrance who are dressed in their authentic native attire
and regalia. They will be more than happy to pose with visitors
for a souvenir picture ... of course, for a fee.
There are plants that are also sold at the
Botanical Garden, however, before you decide to buy any, be
aware that some of these plants may not be suitable for replanting
in lowland areas where the climate is much more humid and
warmer than that of Baguio. Just bear in mind that the city
has an average elevation of about 5,000 feet (1,524 meters)
above sea level with a temperature a number of degrees lower
than that of Manila and the nearby provinces in northern Luzon.
It will probably be best to just admire or take a photograph
of the beautiful plants and colorful flowers that are abundantly
seen and grown in Baguio.
