Circle Hostel, Baler
If you’ve been following this blog for a while now, you already know that I fell in love with surfing one stormy day in January of 2013. That day, I decided to take a bus and go on my first Baler adventure. Lately, I have been conquering mountains but I miss the calling of my first love, the beach, so when I was invited to go to Baler and stay at the Circle Hostel, I had no doubts and immediately said “yes”.
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Arts and Expression
If you are gifted in the arts, then you would definitely enjoy Circle Hostel. Grab a paint brush and express yourself however way you want. Paint the walls, the stairs, the floor, the bathroom ———take your pick, there is a spot for you to express yourself.
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Draw inspiration.
If you are like me, who can’t paint to save her life, then you can draw inspiration from the writings on their walls. I particularly loved that the mirror said “Hey Good Looking” reminding one that you are beautiful, no matter what. The paintings and the colors provide a “feel good” atmosphere.
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3.Good Location + Affordable Price
Tucked in a small alley just a few meters from Aliya Hotel, Circle Hostel provides that quiet ambiance away from the busy surf waters, and yet near enough when you do decide to hit it and surf. On some days, you may have to bear with the people having their karaoke session next door. Better yet, just join them.
For a price of 450php to 550php, you get either a hammock or a bunk bed depending on the season. There are also private rooms that cost Php 1200-1300, again depending on when you go. Bathrooms are shared but there is a separate one for males and females, each with 3 toilets (with bidets) and 3 showers ( with hot water). There is also space for you to hang your wet clothes.
4. Awesome Surf Instructor with their partner, El Dawn.
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Though I had had some surf instruction before, many of those I shared this trip with had never done so. The instructors of El Dawn were very patient, cheering us on and giving us the mojo to go on. At the end of the hour, all the instructors made a bet that the one who falls off his/her surf first treats everyone to “tapsilog”. This motivated us and at the count of three, we all stood up and did our best to stay up on our boards for as long as we could. The result: a long ride—-terrific ending.
There is never a last wave; you’d always want more when you’ve done a long ride. No one wants to end on a “bad” ride; hence it took forever dragging us out of that water.
A photo posted by karlaroundtheworld (@karlaroundtheworld) on
5. Skateboard
I am not good at skateboarding, but I sure did try to learn it a lot that weekend. Circle Hostel Baler has a colorful half pipe in their common area where real skaters can either show off their skills or teach beginners like myself how to skate. What a perfect bonding experience right there.
Lying on a half pipe. Amazing weekend skate+surf +passion weekend. Thank you @circlehostel for having us. #circlehostel #baler #travelph #lostinph #the_ph #freespiritsph A photo posted by karlaroundtheworld (@karlaroundtheworld) on
6. Healthy Breakfast + Provisions to cook your OWN food.
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For breakfast, Circle Hostel serves fruit and bread. Raf Dionisio, one of the owners, says that this is a good jump start for surfing. It’s healthy and it doesn’t get you too heavy for the ride. If it’s not enough for you, then there is also a mini kitchen where you are allowed to cook your own food.
7. Tours
During our stay, Circle Hostel took us to Ditumabo Falls. They also offer tours to the Balete Tree, Diguisit Falls ( click to read a past article about it ) and more. Ask the reception where they are headed to during your stay; this will be a good way for you to see Baler and make new friends.
8. Cozy Common Area
Oh, the common area! Yes, the common area. So relaxing and so cozy, I find myself willing to fall asleep there every time. It has lots of colorful bean bags, a hammock, and an annex with a view. It’s a good place to bond, chill, and get to know other people. Look around, there are also cards, a chess board, and a ukelele.
As for me, I spent the whole night chatting with my new found friends.
9. Passion Workshop
Some of us are in jobs we like, and love their work. Some of us are in our jobs for the money, and just live with it. Our generation now tends to go where the money is, yet, isn’t it better if you do something that you are passionate about? Yeah, passion….we all use the word loosely, mainly because most of us don’t know what ours is, hence making it difficult to pursue.
That’s exactly what Circle Hostel’s Passion Weekend is there for——to help you figure out your passion. I was initially confused as to how the program would unfold. “Hello, of course, I know what I am passionate about” was the thought running through my head. Given that I was there, I decided to keep an open mind and give it a try.
The workshop is so simple and yet so difficult at the same time. You are forced to make decisions about your priorities and jot them down. We started by listing the things we think will be important to us or will make our lives ideal, and we had to rank them. (Lest I spoil its mystery, I shall stop here.)
Most of us enjoyed the activity, it taught us how to use simple steps to be able to determine our passions and focus in life. Much more, we ended up having goals and detailed steps as to how we can reach those goals. Of course, nothing is set in black and white, but the fact remains that after the workshop, you realize a lot about yourself, and learn how to live a life more directed towards your passions.
The Circle Hostel Baler is holding a Passion seminar on October 2- 4, 2015. The whole weekend is devoted to learning about yourself, surfing, yoga, health and relaxation. There is no better way to spend a weekend. Go ahead and give it a try. I assure you, you definitely won’t go home empty handed.
This was one of my favorites during our weekend stay there. The Passion Workshop, hosted by Raf, is a 5-part workshop that helps you visualize your priorities in life, your goals, and determine ways and concrete steps to achieve it. I personally loved the workshop. It made me reflect on a lot of things in my life. Faced between 2 difficult choices, I now know what my priorities are.
10. Amazing New Found Friends
Best of all, at the Circle Hostel Baler, “There are no strangers, just friends.”
I started the weekend not knowing anyone, and I ended it with a good group of crazy, adventurous, new found friends: Dani , Ave, Jenny, Chessika, Phya, Cesar, and Aldous,
What more can I ask for? Would I stay here again? Most definitely.
Okay, this place looks awesome! Love all of the colorful art and the wide variety of things to do…skateboarding, tours, etc!
oh my goodness I want to shed 30 years and be where you are, this all looks so much fun
ps hit return to soon wanted to say what fabulous pictures too
You’re too sweet. Thank you very much for the compliment.
Looks like a fun, creative vibe. I love all the colors!
That looks amazing! I love how adventurous you are!
What a fun place! I love your photos, and so many! It captures the essence of the place.
Thank you very much. The place is really filled with colors and the vibrance just adds magic to the place.
Wow, what a cool looking hostel! Is the crowd young and raucous, or is it pretty chilled (I’m getting older these days) 😉
It’s pretty chilled like people aren’t really partying. I guess, tired from surfing. Some would have a beer or two. Mostly, people are playing cards, chess, bonding, or entertaining themselves with musical instruments 🙂 You’ll manage
What an amazingly fun place! Once upon a time, when I wasn’t travelling with three children (one of whom is 6 months) then this would have been THE place for me. Maybe when the baby is skateboard-ready then we’ll book a bed 🙂
Katja, how times change… even your travel style changes when you have a family. They have private rooms by the way but perhaps not for a 6 months old baby.
Karina this looks awesome! I just checked it out on Google Maps. How long would it take to get there from Manila?
I will be in the Philippines for 3 weeks in December so it’d be great if I could go there for a couple of nights 😀
Hi, its really easy to get to. If you book in advance you can get there riding a really comfy night bus. It takes 5 hours but since you travel at night you wont feel it. Message me or leave email… I’ll gladly help you 😉
Super!! Thanks Karla, I’m still planning my Philippines itinerary so I’ll let you know how I get on 😀
I’ll be willing to help. Drop me an email karlaroundtheworld@gmail.com or add me in facebook, I’m always eager to help when it comes to touring the Philippines 🙂
I love that you took a waterfall tour. I would have done that one too. There’s a really cool relaxed vibe about that hostel!
This sounds like a really cool idea! Love all the pictures. Sounds like it was really affordable yet incredibly fun. We used to travel a lot more before kids. With little ones things are a little more compacted. Lol
Looks like you made a super find at the Circle Hostel, Karla. I love how they have a workshop helping you find your passion. In my opinion, fulfilling your passion equates to stoking your happiness factor.
This place looks like so much fun! I love places with a chilled, eclectic vibe!
http://www.thetechgypsy.com
Ok you sure convinced me! This hostel looks awesome and I am already feeling positive vibes! I think it’s great that they offered many things including workshops.
Aww boo! I never knew they had Circle hostel at Baler! i do wanna go back to surf again though!
http://girlunspotted.com
It’s relatively new. It’s always good to go back, surfing can get so addicting 🙂
This place looks amazing!
Loks like you had a great time! I love all the colors and art. Although I’ve yet to stay in a hostel, I’m not opposed to giving one a try someday…
I love this place! The colorful art all around sure gives it character and a spot for skate boarding right in the middle of things is so awesome. I always travel with the family. Are kids and families welcome here?
Looks like a great adventure! I never knew that they had circle hostels in Baler.. I should have known, was there last mach! Awwww!
They opened this January, no worries, you can pay it a visit next time.
AHhh yes, its amazing when you find a hostel that just is PERFECT for you.. I have run into a couple of these over the years and ended up staying for just a few extra days than expected ahah! Love the hammocks, and the hot water…and love the cozy common area, it looks rad. I also love surfing so this could only work out for me as a solid stay 🙂
Exactly my definition of it, a solid stay 🙂
Oh my goodness I want to stay here! This place looks fantastic Karla and it sounds like you had a blast :). I love the idea of just grabbing a paint brush and getting creative. That passion workshop also sounds right up my street. Your line: ‘Our generation now tends to go where the money is, yet, isn’t it better if you do something that you are passionate about?’ is SO on point. I can relate to that so much…. there’s too much focus on careers, money and material things these days… whatever happened to just doing what makes you happy? Really enjoyed this. Your photos are fantastic and this hostel is definitely on my list. Not sure i’d be so good at the surfing though… I’m extremely non-graceful ;).
Gabby
Also, scheduled this to go out on our Facebook page tomorrow. Needed to share the colourful love! 🙂
Thank you very much for doing so, I appreciate it.
Looks like a great place.
I’ve stayed in Circle Hostel in San Felipe, Zambales and what I loved most is the hostel’s character made more special by the inspirational artwork and quotes! And the cool community as well!:) It seems the Baler counterpart has so much more to offer. I can’t wait to go there!
Glad you enjoyed your travels! Looks like a fun place. I like that they encourage you to put art wherever you want. That is cool.
I just noticed we are like bowling balls in the 2nd to last pic. Haha!
This place looks fantastic!! We aren’t going to be in the Philippines for nearly long enough to see everything we want but we’re definitely hoping to come back now that we’ve fallen in love with the country! We’ll be looking into this place when we do!
The hostel looks like it has it all! I love colourful places. One of the best hostels we’ve stayed in for artwork was probably Kokopeli in Cusco, Peru!
I know the girl in the #5 Skateboard picture! I used to go to Baler a lot but I haven’t been to this hostel. Looks like fun! Xx
You mean Ave ? Yeah! Met her there 🙂 Circle in Baler is relatively new, it opened this January. It’s their third branch, they have in Zambales and La Union.
What a fun and unique place! Loved the pictures!
The colors make it look so fun and inviting. It’s great they partner with surf and tour options! Even better that you made great friends!
I’ve never stayed in a hostel, but this one looks pretty cool!
Hi Karla, you write well and I’m tempted to stay at the circle hostel after reading this.I will definitely try to stay here when I visit Philippines in Feb 2016 😀
It seems a perfect accomodation for young people
I love the idea of painting (even if I would definitely skip this part since I’m not good at it ) but I would take some photos there for sure 🙂
I also appreciate the idea of a healthy breakfast!!that’s nice.
Hostels are the best.. cheap and a great way for solo travelers to meet new people.
I love hostels. I think they are the best way to meet fellow travelers and some of them have brilliant in-house events too. Circle Hostel Baler looks like a fantastic place too. Loved the decor – particularly the hammocks. Wow. I could just lounge about in one all day long.
I love these hammocks!
It really looks like a good place to stay in Baler – good vibes. I am a big fan of hostels over hotels – they are way more personable, interesting and cozier!
Baler was never on my to visit place. But huge thanks for this post! Showed me what’s I’m missing <3
Looks like a colourful and fun place to stay in a really beautiful part of the world. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great work Karla! I love the positive vibes and graffiti of this hostels. I will check it out when i come back to the Philippines. 🙂
It does have a good vibe and great art. Maybe you can even contribute to it yourself.
I’m a sucker for cosy common areas! if the common area is good, then I’ll most likely love the place. I recently stayed at a really cool place in London – the room sucked but the common room was awesome so i’d definitely stay there again.
That Place looks awesome, I love the half pipe and the artwork. I’ll have to dust off the ok skateboard! Keep up the great work!
I haven’t been to Baler, but we’re planning to this December with the family. I’ll definitely check out Circle Hostel! Thanks!
Just spent this weekend at the Circle Hostel Zambales and I can honestly say i miss the place already! No strangers indeed as my wife and i met the sweetest and down to earth #karlaroundtheworld and other great friends! Thank you Circle Hostel and Karla!