Burnham Lake Is Open Again: Boat Rental Prices and Guide

Burnham Lake in Baguio is open for boating again. After a year-long rehabilitation funded by TIEZA, the lake reopened on 1 September 2026, Baguio's 117th Charter Day, with a new wooden boardwalk around the water, reinforced embankments that double as benches, an improved view deck and new boats. The city set the boat rental rate at ₱250 per boat for a 30-minute ride, and it has warned operators against charging more.

That last point matters. On reopening day, some visitors were charged ₱400 or more for half an hour, and the city responded within a day with an investigation, inspections of all concessionaires and a final warning to operators. If you are planning a ride, knowing the official rate and asking for a receipt are the two simplest ways to avoid a bad surprise.

There is one more thing to know: within weeks of the reopening, parts of the new walkway were already being repaired, and in late October the city refused to accept the contractor's work until defects are fixed. This guide covers what changed at the lake, the repair situation, what a boat ride costs, how to avoid overcharging and the best times to go.

What Changed at Burnham Lake

Burnham Lake sits at the centre of Burnham Park, the city's main park, named after the American planner Daniel Burnham who laid out Baguio in the early 1900s. Over the decades, the lake became one of the most photographed spots in the city, known for its swan-shaped paddle boats and the willow trees along its edge.

The rehabilitation closed the lake for about a year. Steel barriers went up around it while work was done, and the reopened lake now has:

• A wooden boardwalk running around the water, so you can walk the full loop at the lake's edge
• Concrete benches built into reinforced embankments
• An improved view deck
• New boats, with concessionaires required to replace or upgrade older watercraft

The lake covers about four hectares and is around ten metres deep at its deepest. The city has asked operators to move away from the old swan boats toward newer, safer models, so the fleet you see now looks different from older photos.

The Walkway Repairs

Residents noticed wear on the new walkway within weeks of the September reopening, and repair work started in early October. On 24 October, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city would not accept the rehabilitation until the contractor fixes it properly, and both the city and TIEZA are withholding payment on the contract. No list of defects or repair timeline has been published.

For visitors, that means some sections of the boardwalk may be fenced off while crews work. Check the City Environment and Parks Management Office or the city's public information page before you go if walking the full loop matters to you, and follow any barriers on site.

Boat Rental Prices

The rate the city has set is ₱250 per boat for 30 minutes. That is per boat, not per person, so a family or group sharing a boat pays the same.

For comparison, rides before the rehabilitation were about ₱150 to ₱200 an hour. Reports after reopening found operators asking ₱350 to ₱450 for 30 minutes and up to ₱900 an hour, which prompted the crackdown. The city has said that any change to the rate has to be approved by the city council and tied to boat upgrades, so if you see a different posted rate, it should come with an official basis.

How to Avoid Being Overcharged

• Agree on the price and time before you board, and confirm it is per boat.
• Ask for an official receipt. The city requires concessionaires to issue one, and those who do not face violation notices.
• Check that the boat is one of the new or upgraded units and that life vests are on board for everyone.
• If you are charged more than the set rate, note the operator's name or stall and report it to the City Environment and Parks Management Office, which manages the park.

Only some of the park's nine concessionaires had met the city's upgrade requirements by early September, and boats that were not upgraded were barred from public use. Expect the number of boats on the water to change as more operators comply.

Best Time for a Boat Ride

Weekday mornings are the calmest, with shorter queues and cooler air. Weekends, holidays, Panagbenga in February and the Christmas season bring long lines at the boat stations, and the lake can get crowded by midday.

Late afternoon has softer light for photos, but the air cools quickly once the sun drops, especially from December to February. Bring a light jacket. Avoid going out in heavy rain or strong wind; operators may pause rides in bad weather, and that is the right call.

Is the Rest of Burnham Park Open?

Not all of it. At the reopening, some park facilities were still undergoing safety assessments, and the next phase of work covers the Children's Park, the skating rink and the Rose Garden. Check what is open before you plan a full day around them. The lake loop, the boardwalk and the paths around the water are the main draw for now.

Fitting a Boat Ride Into Your Day

Burnham Park sits at the foot of Session Road, so a boat ride fits easily between meals and shopping. A morning on the lake, lunch nearby and an evening at the Harrison Road night market makes a simple, walkable day. For where to eat, our Baguio food guide covers strawberry taho stalls, local favourites and pasalubong.

For a broader look at how crowds and prices in the city have shifted this year, read is Baguio quieter and cheaper right now, and if you are visiting in the colder months, our guide to the coldest months in Baguio covers what to pack.

A year without boats on Burnham Lake felt long to many regular visitors. With the boardwalk finished and the city keeping a close eye on rates, it is a good time to go back, as long as you agree on the price before you push off.

Sources

Baguio's Burnham Lake reopens after yearlong closure – Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1 September 2026
Unauthorized Burnham Lake boat fee hikes probed – Daily Tribune, 2 September 2026
Burnham Lake boat operators warned over high rental rates – Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 September 2026
Burnham Lake walkway under repair weeks after reopening – Daily Tribune, 5 October 2026
Baguio City, TIEZA withhold payment over defective Burnham Lake repairs – GMA News, 24 October 2026