How To Commute To Tam-Awan Village From Baguio City

Tam-Awan Village is good for those who want to experience cultural travel with a bit of adventure on the side. Also known as Garden in the Sky, the model village is where you get to have a glimpse of traditional lives of Cordillera people. A major attraction outside the city proper of Baguio, this destination showcases Ifugao and Kalinga houses with an aim of promoting awareness for Ifugao Tribe's indigenous customs, traditions and their exquisite craftsmanship.

Luccong is an upper class Kalinga Hut in Tam-Awan Village

Ifugao and Kalinga houses as well as different native materials and instruments are perched apart from each other on various sides of the mountain. You need to climb stepped uphill trails and weedy paths that snake through dense forest to get to them.

In some areas, trail is precarious to take. Opposite the main entrance is an art gallery called Arko ni Apo. As you climb from the entrance, another gallery called Bugnay is perched on the landing adjacent to a craft and souvenir shop, and then there's the Sketching area where you can have yourself sketched by an artist. A cafe is conveniently located on a flat part of the mountain.

A Cafe located next to Sketching Area of Tam-Awan Village

As you penetrate the wild uphill forest guided by common trails, you will be taken to these traditional houses that stationed in strategic locations. You get to see cottage accommodations that looked more like pigeon houses.

A typical lodging house in Tam-Awan Village

Yes, you heard me right. You can have an overnight stay here. It's quite an experience to live the life of our indigenous brothers and sisters, right? Well, here is your chance.

Interior of Luccong Hut

Up in the Viewing Deck, the magnificent sunset over tropical mountains can be seen. Another trail will take you to "Dream Catcher", "Gazebo 2", "Agape" and "Dukligan".

Sunset in Tam-Awan Village aka Garden in the Sky

Back to the entrance, you have the option to take first the stepped path going to the "Spirit House", "Wishing Pond", "Kinakin" and "Gazebo 1" or the one which will take you to the "Bugnay Gallery", "Village Gallery", "Craft Shop" which are all connected to the "Cafe" and "Sketching" area. Restrooms are also located here.

Stepped access to different attractions inside Tam-Awan Village

Aside from cultural experience, the wild travelers' destination which is also aptly called Garden in the Sky exhibits a broad diversity of flora and fauna. So, if you are into plant and flower photography, you might like it here while enjoying cultural trip.

Trail within forest of Tam-Awan Village

As of this writing, here's the costs of having an escapade in Tam-Awan Village. By that, I mean - to enjoy your time but make sure you're not doing things that would tarnish the highly revered cultural destination.

Entrance Fees: Children - Php 20. Students - Php 30. Adults - Php 50. You can get in even if you're not going to spend the night. But if you want to stay a little bit longer, here are the rates:

Lodging: 1 Person - Php 500. 2 Persons - Php 1000. Additional Person - Php 300 each. Group of 10 or more - Php 350/pax.

Picnic Fee: Available from 9am to 6pm. Php 200 for a group of 10. Additional pax - Php 20.

Use of a Hut w/o Bedding: Php 500 per day.

Big Events

Function Fee: Php 8,000. Maximum of 40 pax.

Cultural Show: Php 5,000.

Workshop: Php 450 per module per person.

How To Get To Tam-Awan Village From Baguio City Proper?

The sign in front of jeepney that you must ride should read: "Baguio Long-Long Tacay Tam-Awan Vice Versa". The terminal of these jeepneys is located at Hilltop St in Market area. Here's the walking direction. To make it more comprehensible this direction starts from Burnham Park. I also created map which you can see below this post.

Jeepney bound for Tam-Awan Village

Walk towards the only interconnected pedestrian bridges of Baguio City which is right beside the tall building of Hotel Veniz. Climb the pedestrian overpass and walk towards Hotel Veniz. You should be seeing the big mall of Abanao Square located to the right of Abanao St which continued Harrison Rd, the street below the pedestrian bridge. Go down the other side of the road and head to Abanao Square.

Abanao Square

Abanao Square is exactly located at the corner of Abanao St and Zandueta St. Turn right onto Zandueta St and walk all the way up the other corner which is Kayang St. Turn left onto Kayang St and walk to the right of the road past the small market street. Hilltop Street is the wide road to the right of Kayang Street in which to the other side of it jeepney terminal is located. Turn right onto Hilltop St and walk up to where it bends to the right. There you'll see a jeepney with "Baguio Long-Long Tacay Tam-Awan Vice Versa" wordings on its front and on its both sides. Get aboard the jeepney. See map at the end of this post.

Tam-Awan Village exterior

You don't need to ask the driver to drop you off at Tam-Awan Village. You just need to look to the right of the uphill bending road until you see the mammoth concrete fencing on the steep side of the mountain with "TAM-AWAN VILLAGE" wordings engraved on it. Get off the jeep right there. Now I need to remind you that you wouldn't wait for the same jeepney at the opposite lane of that road in going back to the city proper. It will take you forever.

How To Return To Baguio City Proper From Tam-Awan Village

Once back outside Tam-Awan Village, walk back towards the direction of Baguio City Proper. The road bends to the left. Soon you'll reach the point in which a small sloping road runs to the right of this main road. A sari-sari store is situated right at that junction. Wait for a jeepney to arrive from city proper which will make a U-Turn right there to get back to the city. There are other passengers waiting because this is exactly a loading area. Now, go take a look of the map below for bird's eye view of the direction that I have mentioned. Scroll down to see the map.

Arko ni Apo Art Gallery

A traditional hut in the forest of Tam-Awan Village

Some kind of music instrument used by Ifugao tribe

A Bontoc rice granary in Tam-Awan Village

Tam-Awan Village's trail are precarious to take in some areas

Location Map of Terminal of jeepneys bound for Tam-Awan Village