Ermita Hill is both a viewpoint and a memory site for Baler. Local history connects it with the 1735 tsunami that destroyed the old settlement, when survivors are said to have fled uphill and rebuilt their lives from there.
Today the hill gives wide views over Baler Bay, the river mouth, and the surrounding coast. It is a short, worthwhile stop if you have transport, especially when paired with the town's museum and surfing beach. The view is pleasant, but the story is what gives the place weight.