Explore Baguio's Cultural Gem: Our Journey Through the Majestic Igorot Stone Kingdom – Baguio Bliss

Hello Worldmappin fam! 💖 It's me again @wanderelle! ☺️ I hope you enjoyed hearing about our peaceful visit to Good Shepherd Convent Part 4 of our Baguio trip. After a restful night, the next morning brought a new adventure. It was quite cloudy that day, but that didn't stop our excitement for our next unique destination: the Igorot Stone Kingdom!

We hopped in a taxi to get to the Igorot Stone Kingdom. As we arrived, my first thought was that it looked quite small from the outside. Once you get in, you’ll realize it's actually a large area inside, with so much to explore.

Even in the morning, there were many tourists coming here already, and the queue to get in stretched out quite a bit. But the entrance was so picture-worthy! ✨

As you enter, there's a friendly photographer who offers a cool service: taking free pictures with your own phone! ☺️ The background for these photos is a wonderful statue of an Ifugao man and woman, dressed in their traditional attire. Our photographer was super funny and entertaining, and she knew exactly how to take good shots real quick, so people wouldn't get easily tired or bored from waiting. She was great at suggesting different poses, and she'd snap about 5-6 photos, giving us plenty of options. You can also choose to pay for their printed photos later, but it’s not mandatory.

Once we got past the entrance, before you start climbing through each layer of the stone kingdom, you'll see the Igorot people right in the middle wearing their beautiful traditional attire. The Igorot are the indigenous groups of the Cordillera mountains, known for their rich culture and deep connection to the land. Their lively presence immediately catches your attention as they perform their dancing rituals. It was a wonderful way to see and appreciate their culture firsthand, from their clothes to their movements. You could even take pictures with them. This adds so much to the vibrant energy of the place.

Walking through this place is definitely a mini-hiking adventure because it's quite uphill, with many layers to explore. I was trying to get a good angle of the entire place from the bottom layers, but the best view, the truly stunning whole view of the Igorot Stone Kingdom, came when we reached the very top.

The stone kingdom view was truly stunning! 😍 It has a very unique design, and it felt like it was inspired by the famous Banaue Rice Terraces with its layered stone structures. That was the reward for the climb! Don't get tired until you reach the top; it's absolutely worth it for that breathtaking perspective. I took the best photos from up there! 🥰

The overall feeling of the place was very cultural and traditional. Despite the cloudy weather, the atmosphere was lively because there were so many people around. We learned a bit about Igorot culture just by observing their traditional attire and the dancing rituals. It's truly a place that brings history and tradition to life. We took many family pictures at the Ifugao statues and with the performers, capturing those cultural moments. And of course, we captured the stunning view of the whole Igorot Stone Castle itself, especially from the top! Simply seeing this famous tourist attraction with my family and sharing those moments was a big highlight and a truly memorable part of our trip.

This visit to the Igorot Stone Kingdom was such a unique and cultural experience, truly a standout memory from our Baguio trip.

📍Tips for Your Visit

If you're planning to visit Igorot Stone Kingdom, here are some helpful tips:

• Wear comfortable shoes. As I mentioned, it's quite uphill with many layers, so good footwear is a must for your mini-hiking adventure.
• Be careful. Some areas can be slippery when wet, so watch your step and hold the handrails while walking, especially on cloudy days.
• Check the weather forecast. It's an open area, and while it was only misting when we arrived (and luckily the rain stopped), heavy rain could affect your experience.
• Go in the morning. We went in the morning, and while there were already people, the queues got much longer in the afternoon. When we finished our trip, we saw the entrance queue was much, much longer than when we first arrived.
• Don't give up until you reach the top! The very best and most stunning view of the entire Stone Kingdom is waiting for you there, it's truly the reward for your climb.

Check out my previous posts about Baguio:

[1] Baguio Bliss: Our Family Return to the City of Pines (Part 1)
[2] Baguio Bliss: Discovering The Mansion's Peaceful Beauty (Part 2)
[3] Beyond the Overlook: Embracing Local Culture and Breathtaking Scenery of Mines View Park – Baguio Bliss (Part 3)
[4] A Peaceful Pause: Our Meaningful Visit to Good Shepherd Convent – Baguio Bliss (Part 4)