Captivating colors, cold breeze, pine trees, and up and down roads. There is so much more to expect going up north to Baguio City. One of these is the “StoBoSa Hillside Homes Artwork” famously known as Valley of Colors. We visited this once boring and now colorful village to see its majestic beauty. Here’s our experience and travel guide to Valley of Colors.
This post is updated on November 15, 2020. We added the current travel status in Benguet. Information came from the local government. Please follow the rules and guidelines of a specific place.
As of November 15, 2020: Valley of Colors is open only for the residents of Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay. We’ll keep this post updated once we receive news from the local government. For now, feel free to read this post and add it to your travel bucket list!
If you want to travel to Baguio City, please check out our Baguio Itinerary Update and see the local government’s requirements and procedures before visiting this amazing place. https://lostandwonder.com/baguio-itinerary
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 actually a few kilometers away from the city. Travel time from Manila to Benguet is estimated from 4-5 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 at 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 9.00 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 actually an abridged term for 3 localities namely 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 made by 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 that it was completed more than a year ago, it still shows the beauty of an artwork in big sizes.
There are two spots we recommend for you to view the StoBoSa Artwork up-close. The first is the waiting shed which also serve as the drop off point. The other one is the hanging bridge connecting to the colorful houses. In this position, you can take time on capturing photos and videos which are totally instagrammable.
Another Viewing Option: Sitio Upper Cogcoga
We discovered a not-so-popular place around the area which provides 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 local residents of Sitio Cogcoga. Here, you’ll see an astonishing perspective of the hillside community offering 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 sunflower in it.
From this point of view, the chromatic houses are more visible. It may not show the sunflower, but to see the hues of the hill is truly satisfying. If you are allured by the photos online and decided to go here, then try this view deck!
Always remember, keep your trash disposed on proper bins. The residents are dedicated in preserving the area for all of us to enjoy the place.
In Summary
The Valley of Colors in Baguio is a definite example of “bayanihan” spirit of Filipinos. All the locals’ efforts and sacrifices make it more vibrant complimented by the paint visible in the eye.
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7 Comments. Leave new
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!