Dinosaurs Island and Holy Land in Baguio
Dinosaurs Island didn’t really make it on top of my list when I was planning our Baguio trip. I was prioritizing places that can only be found in Baguio and thought that if we run out of time, it’s one of those we can set aside for another trip.
But the kids expressed interest in seeing the place, especially Pablo who learned that animatronics are involved. So we decided to go when we couldn’t find a ride to Ben Cab from Tam-Awan.
Baguio Eco Park rates
We were informed beforehand that it would be difficult to get a ride back from Dinosaurs Island since it’s located at Baguio Eco Park along Marcos Highway in Tuba. It’s where the buses pass on your way up to the Pine city. So we made a deal with the cab driver to wait for us to bring us back to our hotel afterwards.
The driver gave us a rate of Php 300 which turned out to be a much better deal because cab drivers are given a 20% discount at any of the packages in Baguio Eco Park which he used for us. We were supposed to pay Php 3,000 for all five of us to see both Dinosaurs Island and Holy Land, but we only paid Php 2,400.
The rate per head is Php 350 for both Dinosaurs Island and Holy Land. (We thought to include Holy Land since it was already there at the Eco Park). You pay the package rate of Php 600 per head.
Gene and the tour
We were assigned a tour guide named Gene. Another group joined us, but they didn’t seem to be as interested in the tour as we were. They mostly just trudged along as we went from one model to another.
The kids were very excited about the moving Dinosaurs. We climbed a high flight of steps before we reached them. Gene discussed each type of Dinosaur and “fossil” at each stop which was generally very interesting.
It helped that Gene is actually an educated guide. Well, he’s a SPED teacher, but he has a clear fascination for Ancient history and Paleontology.
Do you know that male T-Rex’s are smaller than their female counterparts because after they mate, the females have to eat the male? It’s their cycle of life.
Learned that from Gene.
Met a few new Dinosaurs, too. Like that that had wings but doesn’t fly, among others. I’m sorry, I can remember how they look but I can’t remember their exact names, haha! There were too many of them to remember and I wasn’t taking notes.
Only the big Dinosaurs moved and made sounds. That disappointed Pablo a little, but the Dinosaur Island is still his favorite among all the attractions we visited in Baguio.
We came in mid-afternoon and we caught the fog setting in near dusk, and it gave our pictures a Jurassic park effect. We had so much fun with our photos!
And the animatronics, though limited to the bigger Dinosaurs, is still pretty awesome. Check this out!
The tour ended with a dancing Dinosaur which was actually a woman in costume. I know because of the shape of the hips, haha!
You know those Japanese Dinosaur pranks you see on YouTube? Something like that, although this one didn’t impress. We could see the human legs beside the Dinosaur legs and there was no effort to disguise them.
There were supposed to be two dancing dinos, I don’t know why only one came out. That part of the tour sucks. They can make do without it.
Holy Land
I have mixed emotions about Holy Land.
On one hand, I like the life-sized dioramas they set up, like the Israelites’ houses and Christ’s tomb (with the dead Jesus in it, haha! That part was creepy, but the tomb structure was super cool). The kids wanted to go into the tomb, but I was afraid that there might be a snake in there. The place is grassy and stands beside a virgin forest, after all.
Some of my other favorites were mostly in the Old Testament, such as the Egyptian Tomb, Moses at Mount Sinai and the scene from Exodus.
On the other hand, Gene didn’t accompany us in all stops. He left us to ourselves right before the dioramas on Jesus’ sufferings. I think the purpose was for reflection. I get that, but I didn’t like the idea of being left to ourselves with our kids to find our way out of the park that side of the mountain, if you know what I mean.
Plus, being the only living ones surrounded by so many life-sized statues on a lonely mountainside as the sun was going down and as the fog gathered was downright eerie.
Anyway, Jay and I filled in the kids on every stop. Jay knows more about the culture of the times which he discussed with his sons. For example, he told them that the crosses during those times were within eye level so the people crucified could be spat on.
I noticed that our 6-year old Judah was looking at each one of Jesus’ intently. He knows Jesus died for us, he just had a better picture of his suffering at the Holy Land. And I could sense in his silence his shock but also that his very young heart was moved.
Coffee Shop
Since we had a cab driver waiting for us and the fog has really thickened, so we no longer stayed after we finished making the rounds of the Holy Land, even if I wanted to sit at the humble coffee shop near the entrance. Would’ve been nice.
We may not revisit the place for a while since I think we’ve gotten everything we could from the place. They do have the Renaissance and Era museums that we didn’t go to anymore, but I think we can let that pass for now.
I find the rates a bit high especially if you have to pay for 5 people, like we did.
Gene said they’re planning to transfer the park at the city proper for better tourist access, which is also why some of the dioramas were no longer completed or repaired. I was anxious for my kids with so many nails sticking out of wood lying around.
Moving would be a good idea because it’s current location is really far and inaccessible, and risky for those who aren’t used to driving back to the city through thick fogs.
I think that the place has a lot of potential. I hope that when they finally move locations, they will have smoothen the rough edges to make the park one of the most must-see attractions in Baguio.
For more on rates and other details, you may check out https://www.facebook.com/DinoBEPI.
Update: Sadly, the management of Dinosaur Island and Holy Land in Baguio announced the permanent closure of the park in 2018 due to the damage caused by the super typhoon Ompong. If you want to take your kids to see Dinosaurs on Animatronics, I suggest that you check out Clarkland in Pampanga.
27 Comments
Cel
We missed this, but definitely on our next trip list. Hopefully haha. We only went to a few places.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
I didn’t want to go here sana but the kids insisted. 🙂
Celerhina Aubrey
Ni-feature yung Dino island sa Meant To Beh! 🙂 Gusto ni Kakay magpunta!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
better to take her to the one in Pampanga, sis. 🙂 May bugs life din dun.
Edel
We saw this during our last visit to Baguio but since my kid is already “teenage-y,” it was crossed off our list of places to visit. Love your photos though especially the dinos in foggy land, super realistic! I’m sure your kids had a wonderful time.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
they did. 🙂 thanks Edel.
EINz
Nice! We also visited Dinosaur Island but in Clark, Pampanga. My then preschooler enjoyed the dino and the train ride, it was indeed an unforgettable experience! Sana makabalik kami with my youngest.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Awww…this one doesn’t have a train. I think the one in Pampanga is better presented.
Joy
Looks exciting, I’ve been to Baguio several times when I was a kid and once with my kids a few years back, but I haven’t heard of the place. Next time we visit we’ll check it out. 🙂 I would love to see the moving dinosaurs too! 🙂
Juvy Ann
I have visited Dinosaur Island in Clark as part of my son’s fieldtrip a few years back (I wonder if i is still open). I was interested to know if this one in Baguio is any different, but from your post pareho lang (even the dancing dinos). Would love to see Holy Land though.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
the one in Pampanga is better, I think, judging on the photos.
Michi
We’ve visited Dinosaurs Island in Clark and we don’t have a guide. I also find it expensive, especially may additional fee pa dun sa ibang attractions. I wanted to visit this branch pero mukhang same lang din. Ang dami ko tawa sa mga dancing dinosaurs.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oo, namahalan din ako.
Janice
I didn’t know about these attractions in Baguio. I thought the only Dinosaur attraction we had is in Pampanga, which is where I was planning on taking our kids. I showed your photos to Ziggy and he got jealous. Haha! Will definitely have to go there soon.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Take him to the one in Pampanga. 🙂 I think it’s more suited for kids his age.
Angel Caronongan-Enero
We’ve been to Baguio last 2016 but this was not of my itinerary list since my daughter was just turning 2 then and she might be scared at the Dinosaur land. Ang layo pala kaya it is quite expensive too. I think there is Dinosaur Land in Pampanga too.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes, same company daw.
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Teresa Dumadag
We didn’t go here during the last 2 times we were in Baguio. Our stay was already packed even with just touring Baguio proper. I hope they would maintain, improve or relocate the attractions. That would be beneficial for them and the tourists.
grace
The dinosaur island looks fun! I would love to bring my kids there 😀 Well, we haven’t been to Baguio before, so I will put this in our itinerary and hopefully tick it from my bucket list!
Maan
Sayang I had no idea this park existed when we went to Baguio back in 2015! I agree that being on your own in the Holy Land part of the park feels eerie – reminds me of the time when I was all by myself at the Children’s Museum in Vigan hehe – but I’m sure it’s a must-visit. We’ll definitely go there if we find ourselves back in Baguio.
tweenselmom
Planning to go to Baguio this summer, thanks for this trip idea!
Ramona Jessica
Never thought those attraction existed in Baguio. We need to go back to Baguio and experience this. I’m sure my mom would have fun most especially the Holy Land.
– mhownai.com
Shalene R
May ganito pala sa Baguio! Been there a few times pero my kids and my husband, hindi pa. We’re planning to go sana this summer kaso baka sobrang dami ng tao.
Louisa
We visited Dinosaurs Island in Clark. It was worth the visit but could have been improved. I know what you mean about the dancing dinos. You could see it was people under there though my youngest who was 3 or 4 at the time was still scared. We haven’t been to Baguio in quite awhile. Planning on a trip soon though.
Ayi
I grew up in Baguio, but how come I didn’t know about these places? LOL. I have to include this in our next itinerary, especially the Dinosaur’s Island. My kids will definitely love it 🙂
Berlin | Momi Berlin
Hey, I enjoyed reading this. I wasnt aware that a Dinosaurs island exist. I remember my second son when he was such a small boy. He loves dinosaurs very much. I guess when I bring them there, they would be thrilled. Question is, when.