Ermita Hill
Ermita Hill
4
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4.0
26 reviews
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Jun
Baguio, Philippines205 contributions
Dec 2023 • Business
Ermita Hill is famous as the place where some families went for a refuge during a tsunami that struck Baler in the 1700s.
Entrance fee is ₱15/person and parking spaces are provided. There are also stalls where you can buy some souvenirs, dine and drink.
The multiple view decks offer a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains. This is a must visit when you are in Baler.
Entrance fee is ₱15/person and parking spaces are provided. There are also stalls where you can buy some souvenirs, dine and drink.
The multiple view decks offer a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains. This is a must visit when you are in Baler.
Written December 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irenevff
Dasmarinas City, Philippines5,885 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
it was here that we got a cove view of sabang and a segment of the pacific ocean. entrance and parking are free and you can choose which view deck is most apt to your liking.
ermita hill has stalls/shops that sell all sorts of souvenir items. some are priced more expensively compared with those found in the town center. but it is still within a reasonable range.
get the best of baler's shoreline, sky and sea in this place.
ermita hill has stalls/shops that sell all sorts of souvenir items. some are priced more expensively compared with those found in the town center. but it is still within a reasonable range.
get the best of baler's shoreline, sky and sea in this place.
Written May 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leah
Mandaluyong, Philippines746 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Our guide told us that the people of Baler fled up this hill during the tsunami in the 1700s that nearly wiped off Baler from the face of the earth.
Today though it's a haven for tourists looking for some great views of the bay. And we did find some fantastic views of Baler Bay framed by natural foliage.
We also found some wonderful souvenirs in the form of local crafts like key chains and ref magnets to add to our collection. I also found a bamboo piggy bank (alkansya) that I have not seen for a long time in the city - most are now made of tin can or plastic. There were also some light snacks for sale.
And they have these giant letters that spelled "Ermita Hill" like those found in other places for photo ops. But this one is the most colorful version I've seen so far. There were also some colorful umbrellas that I first saw arranged creatively in some streets in Taipei years ago. The umbrellas though have seen better days - time to replace them LGU and DOT people!
There is a minimal entrance fee collected to maintain the place.
Today though it's a haven for tourists looking for some great views of the bay. And we did find some fantastic views of Baler Bay framed by natural foliage.
We also found some wonderful souvenirs in the form of local crafts like key chains and ref magnets to add to our collection. I also found a bamboo piggy bank (alkansya) that I have not seen for a long time in the city - most are now made of tin can or plastic. There were also some light snacks for sale.
And they have these giant letters that spelled "Ermita Hill" like those found in other places for photo ops. But this one is the most colorful version I've seen so far. There were also some colorful umbrellas that I first saw arranged creatively in some streets in Taipei years ago. The umbrellas though have seen better days - time to replace them LGU and DOT people!
There is a minimal entrance fee collected to maintain the place.
Written June 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
igmegalingan
Quezon City, Philippines111 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
Ermita Hill reminds me of Kamay ni Hesus in Quezon Province; long flight of stairs to a big cross. Problem is, I only thought of the similarities more than a day after my visit. If people knew what to expect then they’ll visit and make more effort enjoying the sites features.
Kamay ni Hesus has already marketed or made itself known as a religious retreat. Going up the hill with a giant Jesus statue carries a religious significance for believers and the top of hill has a view. Ermita Hill looks like it is trying the same in that there is a religious statue on top: a full statue for Kamay ni Hesus and a big cross for Ermita Hill.
When I took my picture beside the ‘I love Ermita Hill’ sign up front I immediately saw the cross. The cross was so loud and black that I only took it for a cross and not a T. Being a black cross, the first thing that came to my mind was a cemetery and I wondered where the other graves were. It was a while before I saw the long flight of stairs to the cross and understood what the cross for a T meant.
Since I did not see any graves I was thinking this place looks good for a picnic. Ermita Hill at least has two levels. What I would call as the middle (first would be the foot of the hill) level is where all the cars can park. It is a big circular flat space on a hill with huts surrounding the open area meant for cars. There are signs that declare it a tsunami safe zone.
Not that I consider trees to be a bad thing there were only select spots that still had an open view of the sea down below. If there was a view here in the past the foliage has already hidden it except for a few selected huts.
After straining the outer perimeter of this middle ground for a line of sight to the sea only did I notice stairs going deeper and it turns out higher. Compared to the stairs in Kamay ni Hesus I like this one. The steps were longer which meant the angle of incline was gradual, it grew steeper in some points. Although the angle looks easier it felt hotter, I was sweating quite a flood out of me. It is refreshing that the stairway was thick full of trees distracting me somewhat that I was indeed climbing a mountain.
Reaching the summit and the cross was underwhelming because what does anyone want to see out of the top but unrestricted view. I was dreaming of a 360 degree unrestricted view deck but it was the opposite. Search a little and there is open space among the trees with an angle of Sabang Beach, the area of June’s Homestay where we stayed.
I am agnostic and religious symbols mean nothing to me but it made the trip more underwhelming to see a plain old giant and dirty cross.
Compared to Kamay ni Hesus the way up (and down) was not a straight line. When you climb a place as high as this it zaps the energy out of your legs. Going up is murder on the heart and lungs but going down with tired legs feels like you’re one step from rolling down like a landslide.
Let me put it this way, the fact that Ermita Hill has longer steps and the climb up has turns, gives you a chance at least that if you fall and roll, it won’t be straight down.
Kamay ni Hesus has already marketed or made itself known as a religious retreat. Going up the hill with a giant Jesus statue carries a religious significance for believers and the top of hill has a view. Ermita Hill looks like it is trying the same in that there is a religious statue on top: a full statue for Kamay ni Hesus and a big cross for Ermita Hill.
When I took my picture beside the ‘I love Ermita Hill’ sign up front I immediately saw the cross. The cross was so loud and black that I only took it for a cross and not a T. Being a black cross, the first thing that came to my mind was a cemetery and I wondered where the other graves were. It was a while before I saw the long flight of stairs to the cross and understood what the cross for a T meant.
Since I did not see any graves I was thinking this place looks good for a picnic. Ermita Hill at least has two levels. What I would call as the middle (first would be the foot of the hill) level is where all the cars can park. It is a big circular flat space on a hill with huts surrounding the open area meant for cars. There are signs that declare it a tsunami safe zone.
Not that I consider trees to be a bad thing there were only select spots that still had an open view of the sea down below. If there was a view here in the past the foliage has already hidden it except for a few selected huts.
After straining the outer perimeter of this middle ground for a line of sight to the sea only did I notice stairs going deeper and it turns out higher. Compared to the stairs in Kamay ni Hesus I like this one. The steps were longer which meant the angle of incline was gradual, it grew steeper in some points. Although the angle looks easier it felt hotter, I was sweating quite a flood out of me. It is refreshing that the stairway was thick full of trees distracting me somewhat that I was indeed climbing a mountain.
Reaching the summit and the cross was underwhelming because what does anyone want to see out of the top but unrestricted view. I was dreaming of a 360 degree unrestricted view deck but it was the opposite. Search a little and there is open space among the trees with an angle of Sabang Beach, the area of June’s Homestay where we stayed.
I am agnostic and religious symbols mean nothing to me but it made the trip more underwhelming to see a plain old giant and dirty cross.
Compared to Kamay ni Hesus the way up (and down) was not a straight line. When you climb a place as high as this it zaps the energy out of your legs. Going up is murder on the heart and lungs but going down with tired legs feels like you’re one step from rolling down like a landslide.
Let me put it this way, the fact that Ermita Hill has longer steps and the climb up has turns, gives you a chance at least that if you fall and roll, it won’t be straight down.
Written July 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FootDot
Philippines164 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
History says that the old Baler was wiped out by a tsunami leaving only 4 families who saved themselves by quickly running up to safety to Ermita Hill. Two of those families who were saved were the Ferreras and Angara families which now have streets named after them in Baler.
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna May V
Pasig, Philippines2,999 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Come here for the jaw-dropping views - take pictures or just sit and be amazed by God's work. The story behind the hill being a refuge for seven families that survived a tsunami centuries ago was also interesting.
Not much else here except a few stalls for pasalubong, or snacks.
It was raining when we went, but on sunny days, it would also be a good place for families to picnic.
Not much else here except a few stalls for pasalubong, or snacks.
It was raining when we went, but on sunny days, it would also be a good place for families to picnic.
Written June 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz M
Antipolo City, Philippines352 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
It was a fair bit of stairs to start with. Short climb yeah but kinda steep which made it seem to be more exhausting. Once you have reached the “second plane”, u get to see the beautiful view of the sky and sea.
Then head off to the gift shops (they have quite a few finds I couldn’t locate in town), have your photos taken by the signage before battling the 278 steps further up to the cross ✝️.
Then head off to the gift shops (they have quite a few finds I couldn’t locate in town), have your photos taken by the signage before battling the 278 steps further up to the cross ✝️.
Written April 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennilyn S
Sohar, Oman127 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
When we had a vacation in the Philippines last August, my husband brought me to Ermita Hill. It was my first time to see a view something like this. It feels refreshing and relaxing. We also climbed a 267 steps of stairs to reach the White Cross. On our way to Tromba Marina at the base of the hill, we stopped for a while to buy some turon malagkit (glutinous rice in shanghai roll wrapper) and buko juice. The Tromba Marina sculpture serves as a reminder when Baler was almost wiped out by a tsunami in 1735.
Written November 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LSSantos
Quezon City, Philippines384 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Ermita Hill is one of the highest places in Baler. There, you will be treated to a fabulous panoramic view of Baler’s lengthy and pristine coastline, the bay itself, and the Pacific Ocean farther on, with its crystal clear blue water seemingly enticing you to come take a dip. The cool wind is relentless, and you almost wouldn’t want to leave, except that there are other things to explore in this 2-hectare plateau.
Written May 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hannahjenina
27 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Ermita Hill was historically the place of settlement of the people in Baler when “Tromba Marina” devastated the whole municipality last December 27, 1735. Beside from its interesting history, it provides a magnificent view of Baler Bay, Diguisit Beach and Aniao Islets.
Written January 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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