Location: Mirador Hills, Baguio City, Philippines
The entrance fee to this park varies: Regular Adults - P150; Students/Seniors/PWDs - P100; Children under 12 years old/7 and below are free. There is a parking fee for P25. It is open daily from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. There is no reservations needed, but outside food and pets are generally not allowed inside the park grounds.
This specific blog post is a compilation of my different visits in this park. The photo above is my companion, Allan, after our twin-dayhike in La Trinidad for Mounts Kalugong and Yangbew. In our second day in Baguio, we had a city tour and this one is included.
Touring around the park will depend on the visitors' choice, since there are a lot of attractions to choose from. There are times that the park is crowded with visitors.
This rock gardens honors Our Lady of Montserrat or the Virgin of Montserrat, a Roman Catholic image of the Blessed Virgin associated with an enthroned statue of the Madonna and Child enshrined at the monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain. She is the patroness saint of Catalonia, an honour she shares with Saint George, where she had some miracles as a saint.
Maybe, you are wondering why this park has been marked with so much religiosity. Let me tell you why? According to its history, Mirador Heritage and Eco Park was once a branch of the Manila Observatory in Baguio in 1901. A few years later, it became a villa house where Jesuits of the Ateneo de Manila took a break during the summer season.
The photo above shows another visit of mine where I toured my three Grade 6 Boy Scouts after their Baguio Camporee. From left is Joseph Mission, Mixter Floyd P. Borja (middle standing) and Robin Wayne Fernandez (seated right). In my first visit in this park, Allan and I did not pursue this bamboo grove since this was crowded with visitors.
I served as the tourist guide of these three kids in our day tour around Baguio City and also their photographer.
That is why, when I went to Japan for my 7th trip there, I opted to include this attraction in Japan to be a part of my Kyoto tours as you will read it in this "Savoring Cherry Blossom in Japan" blogpost.
There is always a long line when visitors are already at the Mirador Peace Memorial. In my three visits here in different dates, the average waiting time is more than 30 minutes. There are some visitors who bring with them costumes and it takes time for them to give turn to others. There was one time when in our line, a couple did their prenup here, where they even hired photographer. Just imagine, how we waited for them to be finished.
When the visitors exit near the Mirador Peace Memorial, they will be heading to Jesus the Redeemer attraction. However, even if you will not enter the Mirador entrance gate with a fee, you can visit this one without an entrance because this is just along the stairs heading to Lourdes Grotto.
The same with this Cordillera Heritage Garden, this is outside the perimeter fence of Mirador Ecopark with an entrance fee but still a part of the Mirador Heritage site. This can be found at the sides of the stairs heading to Lourdes Grotto. On this attraction, visitors can rent native costume and buy some products and souvenir items of the Cordilleran culture.
Ate Rose with the backdrop of Marian Salubong view deck
