Balatoc Mines & Crosby Park

Balatoc Mines & Crosby Park Baguio started out as a mining town. Yup, there was gold in "dem dar hills" -- and there still gold a century 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 is Nearby 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) 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.