HOW TO GET TO THE VENUE

Kayapa (1,121 masl) is a small, quaint and peaceful town in the vast Cordillera mountain range of Luzon Island in the northern part of the Philippines. Temperatures range from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, with cooler weather expected from December to February, especially around the Mount Pulag area. Warmer weather is experienced between the months of March and May. Light rains in the late afternoons or evenings are a common occurrence.

Situated at the boundary of the provinces of Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya, the vegetable-producing town is 80 kilometers or a comfortable two-hour drive away from Baguio City through the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road, also known as Ambuklao Road. This zigzag road is completely paved and offers spectacular views of Ambuklao and Binga dams.

If you are flying to the Philippines, the main entry point is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. From there, you may take regular or deluxe (non-stop) air-conditioned buses with terminals in Pasay, Cubao, Caloocan and Sampaloc in Metro Manila. Take those bound for Baguio or Nueva Vizcaya. Buses are available on a 24-hour basis.

Alternatively, you may fly in via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga and take a bus bound for Baguio at the Dau Terminal. This option (compared to NAIA/Manila) will save you at least two hours in travel time.

From Baguio, you may take the buses and vans that regularly pass the Ambuklao Road. Old-school type buses (Bambang/Belance/Dupax-bound) and vans are located at the Dangwa Bus Terminal and the Slaughter House compound. Bus trips usually start from 7:00 a.m. onwards, though it is common for drivers to wait until the bus is full before they depart.  Fares vary from 120php to 150php.

Should you miss the regular bus trips, you may hire a van or taxi to Kayapa.

Car rentals are also available from NAIA/DMIA to Baguio/Kayapa and from Baguio to Kayapa.

If you are travelling by private vehicle from Manila to Baguio, take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to get to Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), then Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). Take the Rosario Exit then proceed to Baguio. The drive will take four to five hours in total.

You may choose to spend a night in Baguio or drive another two hours (eighty kilometers) directly to Kayapa.

If you want to avoid a stopover in Baguio City, you can drive to Kayapa using the NLEX / SCTEX / TPLEX route but take the earlier exit in Pura. Proceed to San Jose City via the Maharlika Highway. Follow the main road till the historic Dalton Pass in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, before making a left turn at the junction in Aritao. Kayapa is a 29-kilometer zigzag drive up from Aritao via the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road. Ample road directions guide the travellers.

If you are taking a bus bound for Cagayan/Isabela/Nueva Vizcaya, alight in Bambang where you will take another van/bus ride to Kayapa which is about one hour away.