The Valley of Colors is a vibrant village on a mountain slope along Halsema Highway in La Trinidad. It was once a dull, bland mountain village filled with rusty iron sheets and unpainted cement. However, everything changed when a group of artists decided to make this place a wonderful tourist attraction. The project was successful with the support of the local tourism department, and the once boring mountain slope has turned into a giant canvas known as the Colors of StoBoSa.
Post Updated: September 24, 2023. We updated the travel fares and removed the travel restrictions due to the pandemic. Baguio City and other regional tourist destinations are now open to all tourists.
How to get to the Valley of Colors
The Valley of Colors is located along Halsema Highway in La Trinidad, Benguet. Most people think it’s located in Baguio City, but it’s a few kilometers away from the city. Travel time from Manila to Benguet is estimated from 4 to 5 hours, depending on departure time. The following are the options on how to go to La Trinidad Benguet from Baguio City:
- Private Car –Waze up Valley of Colors Baguio as the location you’re heading to. The welcome arch of La Trinidad is the landmark that you are near. After a few meters, the colorful houses will be on your right side. Travel time is more or less 30 minutes.
- Taxi – This is the best way to get there. Prepare around PHP 100.00 for the fare.
- Jeepney: Go to La Trinidad Jeepney Terminal station. Ask for the jeepney route passing by the “Valley of Colors.” Pay the amount of PHP 12.00 for the fare.
About the Place
The Meaning of Stobosa
“StoBoSa” is usually mistaken as the name of the place or barangay where Valley of Colors can be found. It is an abridged term for three localities: Stonehill, Botiwtiw, and Sadjap. All of them are situated in Barangay Balili at La Trinidad, Benguet.
The Artwork: Valley of Colors
It is a massive canvas made from houses on a hillside in Benguet, an attractive project created by the Department of Tourism – CAR in cooperation with the residents and artists of Tam-Awan Village.
The Valley of Colors never failed to amaze the happy kid in me. Even though it was completed more than a year ago, it still shows the beauty of artwork in big sizes. We recommend three spots for you to view the StoBoSa Artwork up close. The first is the waiting shed, which also serves as the drop-off point. The other one is the hanging bridge connecting the colorful houses. In this position, you can take time to capture photos and videos which are totally Instagrammable.
Another Viewing Option: Sitio Upper Cogcoga
We also discovered a not-so-popular place around the area, providing a different perspective of the gigantic mural.
We climbed the Sitio Cogcoga Stairway located just across the Valley of Colors. This pathway is made for the residents of Sitio Cogcoga. Here, you’ll see an astonishing perspective of the hillside community, offering the vibrant charm of colorful houses.
The place is rich in foliage like this sunflower, which relieves your exhaustion from the climb. They are ubiquitous since Stobosa depicts the image of a sunflower in it.
From this point of view, the chromatic houses are more visible. It may not show the sunflower, but seeing the hill’s hues is satisfying. If you are allured by the photos online and decided to go here, try this view deck!
Always remember to keep your trash disposed of in proper bins. The residents are dedicated to preserving the area for all of us to enjoy the place.
In Summary
With the help of different artists, the local government, and the residents, the people displayed the spirit of “Bayanihan,” which reflects the Valley of Colors. It is not just a colorful hillside village but also an exhibition of community support and strength. After you visit the strawberry farm, see this wonderful tourist attraction. Don’t forget to snap a photo and share it with your friends and family. Lastly, if you need help building your itinerary around Baguio City, you can check our ultimate travel guide on our website.
This post was originally published on March 11, 2018, and updated on September 24, 2023.
9 Comments. Leave new
thank you, I’ll use this for my assignment
You’re welcome!
why did they paint it with many colors?
I just want to clarify that the Valley of Colors is located at the Municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet. 🙂
Hey Val! I’m sorry for the late reply. Yes Valley of Colors is located in La Trinidad, Benguet. 😀
i don’t mind the size of your photos , it actually helpful and nice! You’re blog is really helpful, by the way, as a first timer marami na kong ideas agad na gagawin naming mag kakaibigan pagdating dun. The tips and recommendation are very much appreciated ! Keep it up guys!
Hey Jea, I apologize for the late reply. Thank you for the kind and encouraging words. We felt more motivated to do better for the blog. God bless ^_^
Hi. I really love your vlog and how creative it was. I just have one comment, the photos are too big. It would be more awesome if its all in uniform size. Other than that, I really enjoy exploring every article. I will be in baguio this saturday and this is really helpful. 🙂
Hello Tet! Thank you for visiting our blog. I’m happy to know that you find our articles helpful and informative. We’ll take note your comment about the photo size. The photo size varies depending on the device you are using, and we think your suggestion is substantial. Thank you and have a safe trip to Baguio City!