Things to Do in Baguio in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Baguio
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect morning weather for hiking - temperatures between 15-18°C (59-64°F) from 6am-9am mean you can tackle Baguio's steep trails without overheating. The cool mornings are ideal for Mount Ulap or Akiki Trail before humidity builds after 10am.
- Panagbenga Festival preparation season brings surprisingly good deals - hotels drop rates 20-30% compared to December-February peak season, and you'll see local vendors setting up flower displays early. Book accommodations 3-4 weeks ahead instead of the usual 8-week requirement for high season.
- Strawberry picking season kicks off properly - farms like those along Strawberry Road in La Trinidad are in full harvest mode. You'll pay ₱150-250 per kilogram (2.2 pounds) for pick-your-own, and the fruit is actually sweeter in November compared to the waterlogged berries you get during rainy season.
- Fewer tour buses at Mines View Park and Burnham Park - November sits in that sweet spot after the October holiday rush but before Christmas crowds. You'll actually get decent photos without 50 people in the background, particularly on weekdays when local school groups aren't visiting.
Considerations
- Unpredictable afternoon weather makes planning tricky - those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly throughout the month, and you might get 20-30 minute drizzles that turn into 2-hour downpours. Locals have learned to just carry umbrellas everywhere, and you should too.
- Morning fog can be thick enough to cancel mountain activities - visibility drops to 10-20 meters (33-66 feet) some mornings, particularly in the first two weeks of November. This occasionally forces trail closures for safety reasons, so always have indoor backup plans.
- Not quite peak flower season yet - if you're coming specifically for the famous Baguio blooms, you're about 6-8 weeks early. The gardens look decent but not spectacular, and you'll miss the coordinated mass plantings that make February-March so photogenic.
Best Activities in November
Early Morning Trail Hiking
November mornings in Baguio are genuinely perfect for hiking - that 15-18°C (59-64°F) temperature range means you can tackle elevation gains without feeling like you're melting. Mount Ulap and the Akiki Trail to Mount Pulag are both accessible, though you'll want to start by 6am before the fog rolls in thick around 8am. The trails are drier than September-October but not yet dusty like March-April. Humidity at 70% is manageable at altitude, and you'll often break through cloud cover around 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) to get those Instagram-worthy sunrise shots.
Strawberry Farm Tours and Picking
La Trinidad's strawberry farms are in full production mode by November, and the fruit quality is actually better than later in the season. The berries are sweeter because November's variable weather creates ideal sugar concentration - warm days and cool nights do something good to the fruit chemistry. You'll see mostly local families doing this on weekends, which tells you it's the right time. The farms along Strawberry Road let you pick your own for ₱150-250 per kilogram (2.2 pounds), and you can usually sample before committing. Go on weekday mornings (8am-10am) to avoid the weekend rush from Manila.
Indoor Market and Food Tours
Those 10 rainy days mean you need solid indoor options, and Baguio's public markets are genuinely interesting in November. Baguio City Public Market gets fresh vegetable deliveries from Benguet farms every morning, and you'll see produce you won't find in Manila - things like sayote shoots, camote tops, and about 12 varieties of beans. The Good Shepherd Convent is the move for ube jam (₱180-220 per jar), and November means fresh stock before the Christmas rush depletes inventory. The market's covered sections mean you can browse even during afternoon downpours.
Cafe Hopping in Session Road Area
Baguio's coffee culture is legitimately good, and November's cool-but-not-cold weather makes cafe hopping actually pleasant. The city has maybe 40-50 specialty coffee shops now, many roasting their own Benguet-grown beans. Session Road and the side streets have the highest concentration. November afternoons when the drizzle starts are perfect for posting up with a pour-over (₱120-180) and watching the fog roll through the pine trees. The local roasters do single-origin stuff from Atok and Tublay that's worth trying.
BenCab Museum and Art Gallery Visits
November's variable weather makes indoor cultural activities smart planning, and BenCab Museum in Tuba is worth the 20-minute drive from Baguio proper. The collection focuses on Cordillera indigenous art and contemporary Filipino work. The museum gardens are actually nice in November - not peak bloom but decent enough for photos. Entry is ₱120 for adults, and you'll need 2-3 hours to see everything properly. The on-site cafe does good lunch (₱250-400 per person) with mountain views when the fog clears.
Night Market Shopping and Street Food
Harrison Road Night Market runs every evening and November weather is actually perfect for this - cool enough that you're not sweating through your shirt but not cold enough to be uncomfortable standing around eating. The market stretches about 500 meters (1,640 feet) and sells everything from knockoff jackets to grilled street food. The real move is the food section - try the strawberry taho (₱30-50), grilled sweet potato (₱40-60), and whatever looks busy with locals. November means you'll see early ukay-ukay (secondhand clothing) stalls stocking up for Christmas season, so decent deals on jackets.
November Events & Festivals
Adivay Festival
This Benguet province festival typically runs in late November and celebrates Cordillera indigenous culture. You'll see street dancing, traditional music performances, and a trade fair featuring local products like woven textiles and coffee. The main events happen in La Trinidad (about 15 minutes from Baguio proper), and it's worth catching if your dates align. The festival showcases Kankanaey, Ibaloi, and other indigenous group traditions - much more authentic than the tourist-focused stuff you'll see other times of year.