- Camp site: HD Mountainville
- Location: Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HDMountainville
We traveled to Tuba, Benguet via Marcos Highway to go camping at HD Mountainville.
Here is our short review.
What we liked:
- It’s easy to get there. From Manila, the fastest way to get there is to take NLEX, SCTEX, and TPLEX then exit to Rosario, La Union.
You can then take Marcos Highway until you reach Taloy Sur in Tuba, Benguet. Waze will point you directly to the campsite. Travel time may vary, but for us, the trip took about four hours. - The view is stunning. You can get an almost 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. One of the highlights of our trip was watching the fog roll down the campsite.
We were also able to set up a nice bonfire, while the fog blanketed our campsite. And for a fee, you can have dry wood for the bonfire. The staff will also help you light it up. - The campsite is vehicle-friendly. The final one or two kilometers of road leading to the campsite can be a bit high and narrow, but other than that, the drive was a breeze.
Once you reach the campsite, you can park your car, pitch your tent, and you’re ready. - You have a choice of campgrounds. You can book the campground of your choice in advance. We were a convoy of three vehicles, so we had the first campsite all to ourselves.
Here’s how it works: The first campsite can accommodate up to four vehicles (or four small groups?). The second can accommodate about six vehicles and is a bit more spacious than the first camp.
The third camp is the closest thing you can get to “real” camping as you need to go on a short uphill hike to reach it. You just need to leave your car in the parking lot.
- The place is clean. It is not exactly glamping, but the place is well-kept with clean toilets and baths.
For many, the dealbreaker in going on a camping trip is the lack of a clean toilet.
Fortunately, HD Mountainville has a separate toilet facility which is a short walk away from the campsites.
- Prices are budget-friendly. You can pay per head and pay another fee for your car.
You can check out their FB page for prices. So far, HDMountainville is one of the most budget-friendly campsites we’ve ever visited.
- The campsite is near Baguio City. You can take a 20 to 30-minute drive to the city for a quick supply run or to buy the obligatory “pasalubong” before heading back to your campsite.
- There is Internet access. The campsite has decent Internet access for those who cannot wait to upload or share photos or videos or go “live” while camping.
What we didn’t like:
- There are stray cats. There are a bunch of friendly felines in the campground who love to hang out with visitors. They can be a bit stubborn, so be prepared for some feline company.
Just a heads up: One of the cats is quite bold and might even hop onto your lap. And keep an eye on your food, because these hungry kitties might try to steal a snack. - The steep roads. The last few kilometers going to the camp might be a bit steep for small cars. It is not that a small car won’t be able to negotiate the short uphill climb; you’ll just need to press the pedal a bit harder.
- Some areas are muddy. It is the rainy season when we went there so it is perhaps natural that some areas in the campsite are muddy. An additional layer of small pebbles might do wonders.
- For some, the cellular tower near the campsite can be an eyesore, as well as the rundown vehicle which is seen near the campsite parking lot.
So there. Overall, the trip was enjoyable and probably worth a second (or a third) visit.
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