Lykkers, StoBoSa is a hillside community in La Trinidad, Benguet, where hundreds of homes come together to form a giant outdoor artwork. Brightly painted walls and roofs create a striking composition that can be seen from viewpoints across the road.

The name StoBoSa combines three sitios in Barangay Balili: Stonehill, Botiwtiw, and Sadjap. Created as a community tourism project, the artwork brought together residents, artists, volunteers, government agencies, and private organizations. Today, it is one of the most recognizable sights in La Trinidad and an easy stop for travelers exploring Benguet.

What Is StoBoSa?

StoBoSa is different from a traditional mural because there is no single wall or canvas. Instead, the hillside neighborhood itself became the artwork.

Rows of homes climb the slope, with colorful façades and roofs forming a larger visual composition when viewed from a distance. The original project covered around 18,000 square meters and involved approximately 150–200 houses.

The project was launched in 2016 under a tourism and urban redevelopment initiative. Artists from Tam-awan Village helped develop the design, while residents and volunteers participated in transforming the neighborhood.

The result is a colorful community artwork that blends into the natural mountain landscape rather than standing apart from it.

Why Is It Called StoBoSa?

The unusual name is simply a combination of the three communities where the artwork is located:

STOnehill

BOtiwtiw

SAdjap

All three sitios are part of Barangay Balili in La Trinidad. You may also see the attraction referred to as the Colors of StoBoSa or StoBoSa Hillside Homes Artwork.

What Can You See?

The main attraction is the hillside itself. From the best viewing points, separate houses visually merge into a huge composition of bright colors and patterns.

The original designs incorporated elements such as sunflowers and rainbows, with the sunflower carrying local significance because the area was once associated with sunflower cultivation before becoming more densely developed.

Because the buildings are exposed to rain, wind, and changing mountain weather, the artwork requires maintenance and repainting. Newer sections may therefore look different from older photographs online. This is worth keeping in mind if you are visiting specifically to recreate a photo you have seen.

Best Views and Photography

StoBoSa is primarily a viewing and photography attraction. The best way to appreciate its scale is to stand across the road or at another open viewpoint where you can see a large portion of the hillside at once.

A wide-angle lens or your phone's panoramic mode can help capture the full composition. Close-up photographs are also possible, but they do not show how the individual houses combine to create the larger artwork.

Morning and late afternoon are good times for photography and walking because temperatures are generally more comfortable. Cloudy conditions can also provide softer light and reduce strong shadows across the hillside.

Allow around 30–60 minutes for the stop unless you are combining it with other La Trinidad attractions.

Visiting Respectfully

One important thing to remember is that StoBoSa is a real residential community, not a theme park or open-air museum.

Visitors should stay on public roads and viewing areas, avoid blocking driveways and entrances, and never enter private property without permission. If you want to photograph residents, ask first, particularly when taking close-up portraits.

Keeping noise and litter to a minimum also helps preserve the neighborhood's character. The colorful houses are the attraction, but they are also people's homes.

Estimated Costs

Visiting StoBoSa itself is free, making it an easy addition to a La Trinidad itinerary.

Local transportation from Baguio: Approximately ₱20–₱50 per person, depending on the route and vehicle

Taxi or ride-hailing service from Baguio: Around ₱150–₱300 one way, depending on traffic and pickup point

Guided La Trinidad tours: Approximately ₱1,000–₱2,500+ per person, depending on the itinerary and inclusions

Transportation and tour prices can vary, so confirm current rates before traveling.

Combine StoBoSa with La Trinidad

StoBoSa is best treated as one stop on a broader La Trinidad day trip. The municipality is known for its highland farms, strawberries, vegetable production, markets, and mountain scenery.

After photographing the colorful hillside, travelers can continue to nearby strawberry-related attractions, shop for local produce, or explore other sights around La Trinidad. Visitors staying in Baguio can also include StoBoSa as part of a day trip to the municipality.

Why Visit StoBoSa?

StoBoSa offers a different experience from the usual mountain viewpoints and agricultural attractions of Benguet. Its appeal comes from seeing an entire neighborhood transformed into a large-scale piece of public art.

The combination of colorful houses, mountain scenery, community participation, and free access makes it an easy and distinctive stop for travelers exploring La Trinidad. You do not need several hours to experience it, but the hillside is memorable enough to deserve a place on a Benguet itinerary.