How to Get to Baguio: What are my options?
Baguio is just one short bus ride away from Manila. There are two major bus companies that ply the Manila-Baguio route: Genesis Transport and Victory Liner. Now let me help you choose which is one’s the best for you.
| Bus Company | Service Class | Terminal | Trip Duration | Fare (PHP/USD) |
| Genesis | Joybus (Deluxe) |
| 6 hours | PHP 675 / USD 16 |
| Standard A/C | 6 to 8 hours | PHP 445 / USD 11 | ||
| Victory Liner | First Class |
| 5 to 6 hours | PHP 750 / USD 18 |
| Standard A/C |
| 6 to 7 hours | PHP 445 / USD 11 |
How to Get to Baguio: What’s the difference between Joybus/First Class and Standard A/C?
First, Joybus/First Class buses offer greater comfort.
Aside the obvious differences in pricing, Joybus/First Class seats are bigger and more comfortable than Standard A/C seats. Standard A/C buses usually have around 50 seats with 2 seats on each side of the aisle. Meanwhile, Joybus/First Class buses have three seats per row (two on one side of the aisle, one on the other) and there are just around 30-ish seats in the entire bus.
First Class seats have wide leg rests and are very generously spaced – you can literally lie down without worrying about hitting the passenger at the back. Even the seats on the two-seat side of aisle have individual arm rests.
Second, Joybus/First Class buses have built-in restrooms.
Joybus/First Class buses also have restrooms while Standard A/C buses do not. Enough said.
Third, Joybus/First Class buses offer a drastically shorter travel time.
Because Joybus/First Class buses have built-in restrooms, there’s very little need for scheduled stops along the way. Consequently, the bus can take advantage of all the expressways: the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) cutting the travel time from the usual eight hours to as low as four.
Personally, I prefer the Victory’s First Class buses because it’s the most stress-
free. That way, I was able to just hop off the bus at their Baguio Terminal and start sightseeing (and pigging out) right away.
How to Go to Baguio: What’s the bus schedule?
Standard A/C buses leave terminals every hour. However, Joybus/First Class buses have specific schedules. The earliest trip for Genesis Joybuses is at 4:00 am while the last trip is at half past midnight (12:30 am). Meanwhile, the first trip for Victory Liner First Class buses start at 6:00 AM and the last trip is at 12:15 am.
For a complete list of bus schedules, check the section “How do I book a trip”?
How to Go to Baguio: What’s the best time/schedule to leave Metro Manila?
The length of the journey heavily depends on how much traffic there is from the TPLEx exit up to Baguio. Last trips are usually the best option because there’s virtually zero traffic, because everyone’s asleep. Besides, it’s easier to sleep on the way when everything’s dark.
How to Go to Baguio: How do I book a trip?
PinoyTravel offers the easiest way to book a trip to Baguio. The site lists down all the trips for any given day and it lets you purchase tickets on the spot. Note, however, that you can only purchase tickets up to three days from the date of departure.
Should you decide to go to Baguio at the spur of the moment, you always have to option to buy Joybus/First Class tickets as a chance passenger (i.e. walk-in passenger). While there are no guarantees as to whether you’ll get to have a seat or not, some of the people I’ve talked to said it’s best to try your luck on the last trip (the midnight schedule). But worry not: these limited seat availability applies only to Joybus/First Class buses. There are a lot of standard A/C buses so you won’t have to cancel your travel plans, even if worse comes to worst.
How to Go to Baguio: Which is better, Genesis or Victory?
I’ve tried both buses and it’s quite clear that Victory is victorious because they have newer buses and there are fewer stops in general.
How to Go to Baguio: Which is the right terminal for me?
All Manila-Baguio buses offer reserved seating, so you don’t have to worry much if you’ve booked a seat in advance. If you’re a chance passenger, however, the best choice would be the Cubao because both Victory and Genesis have terminals are just across each other. If you’re leaving in the wee hours of the morning, then the northern Avenida/Caloocan Terminals are advisable because they have Baguio-bound buses round-the-clock. Now, if you’re coming from the airport (NAIA terminals), the best choice would be Victory’s Pasay Terminal, as it’s just going to be a few short minutes away.
If you have other questions about this post, please leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you at the earliest!
How to Go to Baguio: Frequently Asked Questions
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