Things to Do in Baguio in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Baguio
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak strawberry season brings the Strawberry Festival (Baguio Strawberry Taho Festival) with fresh-picked strawberries at their sweetest. You'll pay ₱150-250 ($3-5) per kilo at La Trinidad farms versus ₱400+ ($8+) in Manila markets, and the picking experience itself is worth the trip.
- Panagbenga Festival preparation season means you catch the city before the massive February crowds arrive. Hotels run 30-40% cheaper than February rates (₱2,500-4,000 or $45-75 for mid-range versus ₱4,000-6,500 or $75-120 in peak festival weeks), and you can actually walk Session Road without shoulder-to-shoulder tourists.
- The cool, dry weather sits in that perfect zone where you need a light jacket mornings and evenings but can wear a t-shirt by midday. Temperatures of 13-23°C (55-73°F) mean comfortable hiking without the bone-chilling cold of December or the occasional rain that disrupts March visits.
- January brings clear mountain air with visibility stretching 15-20 km (9-12 miles) on good days. The post-Christmas tourist exodus means popular spots like Mines View Park and Botanical Garden are actually enjoyable between 7-9am before day-trippers arrive from Manila around 10am.
Considerations
- Those 10 rainy days listed in the data are a bit misleading - January actually sits in Baguio's dry season, but you'll get sudden fog banks rolling in that cut visibility to 10 m (33 ft) within minutes. This happens mostly 4-7am and again around 5-8pm, which can make driving treacherous and cancel sunrise viewing plans.
- The 70% humidity combined with that 18°C (64°F) average temperature creates what locals call 'sticky cold' - you're simultaneously chilly and clammy. First-time visitors often pack wrong, bringing either heavy winter gear (too much) or just hoodies (not quite enough for early mornings).
- School holidays run through early January, so the first week sees Filipino families on extended Christmas breaks. Burnham Park paddle boats get fully booked by 10am, and popular restaurants like Good Taste and Hill Station have 45-60 minute waits during lunch and dinner rushes until around January 8-10 when school resumes.
Best Activities in January
La Trinidad Strawberry Farm Picking
January hits peak strawberry season when the berries are actually sweet instead of the sour specimens you get in off-months. The farms in La Trinidad valley, just 15 minutes (6 km or 3.7 miles) from Baguio center, let you pick your own for ₱150-250 ($3-5) per kilo. The cool January mornings mean the berries haven't been sitting in afternoon heat, and you're picking alongside locals who know exactly which rows the farmers harvested most recently. The Strawberry Festival typically runs mid-to-late January with farm tours, taho tastings, and that distinctly Filipino festival vibe that tour groups don't really capture.
Mountain Province Day Trips to Sagada
The dry January weather makes the 5-6 hour drive north to Sagada and the Cordillera rice terraces actually manageable. You're looking at 150 km (93 miles) of mountain roads that become genuinely dangerous in wet months, but January's clear conditions mean you can do the Sumaguing Cave connection (spelunking through underground rivers) without worrying about flash floods. The rice terraces sit in their golden-harvest phase in January, and morning temperatures around 10-15°C (50-59°F) make the 2-3 hour hikes comfortable rather than sweaty ordeals. Book these trips to see traditional Cordillera villages, hanging coffins, and cave systems that are legitimately challenging - not the sanitized tourist caves with handrails.
Pine Forest Trail Running and Hiking
Baguio's network of pine forest trails around Camp John Hay, Botanical Garden, and the lesser-known Teacher's Camp area hit peak conditions in January. The ground is dry enough for trail running without mud-slicked roots, but the morning fog creates that moody atmosphere through the pine canopy. Trails range from easy 3 km (1.9 mile) loops to challenging 12 km (7.5 mile) ridge walks gaining 300 m (984 ft) elevation. The UV index of 8 means you need sun protection despite the cool air - that mountain altitude intensifies UV exposure. Local running clubs do group runs Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 6:30am if you want company and route guidance.
Baguio Public Market and Igorot Craft Shopping
January brings fresh harvests to the Baguio Public Market - you'll find vegetables that don't exist in Manila markets, plus strawberries, flowers, and Cordillera handicrafts at their most abundant. The market operates 5am-7pm but hits peak energy 6-9am when vendors are setting up and locals are doing their shopping. This is where you buy authentic Igorot woven textiles, wood carvings from Mountain Province, and coffee from Benguet farms at actual local prices (₱300-600 or $6-12 for quality pieces versus ₱1,000+ or $20+ at Session Road tourist shops). The humidity makes the market's covered sections feel stuffy by 11am, so go early.
Tam-Awan Village Cultural Immersion
This reconstructed Ifugao village 10 minutes (3 km or 1.9 miles) from Baguio center offers the most authentic introduction to Cordillera indigenous culture without driving 6 hours to actual mountain villages. January's dry weather means you can walk the outdoor exhibits and traditional huts comfortably, and the village hosts occasional workshops in traditional weaving, wood carving, and rice wine making. The art galleries showcase contemporary Cordillera artists working in traditional styles. It's touristy, yes, but operated by actual indigenous communities and the entrance fee of ₱60 ($1.20) supports cultural preservation work.
Cafe Circuit and Baguio Coffee Culture
Baguio's cafe scene explodes in January as the cool weather makes sitting outdoors with hot coffee actually appealing. The city produces its own Benguet coffee (arabica grown at 1,200-1,500 m or 3,937-4,921 ft elevation), and local roasters like Kapi Tako and Cafe by the Ruins serve it fresh. The cafe circuit along Session Road, Leonard Wood Road, and around Burnham Park offers everything from third-wave coffee shops to old-school Filipino cafes serving brewed coffee with pandesal. January mornings around 8-10am see locals lingering over coffee in a way that doesn't happen in warmer months - it's the social scene, not just caffeine.
January Events & Festivals
Baguio Strawberry Taho Festival
This mid-January festival celebrates peak strawberry season with farm tours, taho (silken tofu dessert) competitions using fresh strawberries, and cultural performances at La Trinidad valley. It's genuinely local rather than tourist-focused, which means you're experiencing how Baguio residents celebrate their agricultural heritage. Expect street food stalls, strawberry wine tastings, and that chaotic Filipino festival energy with live bands and beauty pageants. The festival coincides with the actual strawberry harvest, so the berries you're eating were picked that morning.