taal batangas travel guide

Taal, Batangas Tourist Spots and Travel Guide

by thepinay solobackpacker | Feb 13, 2014 | Batangas , Philippines , Travel Guide | 2 comments

The unassuming town of Taal in Batangas province draped by well-preserved colonial-era houses exudes a timeless beauty and a graciously chilled atmosphere.  Dubbed as the Balisong and Barong Tagalog Capital of the country, it has long been a magnet for pleasure seekers.  Originally founded in 1572 along the bank of the Pansipit River which traverses to Balayan Bay (now known as San Nicolas town), Taal was moved to higher ground to its now current site in 1754 when Taal volcano erupted. It was once one of the most powerful municipalities during the Spanish colonial era.

Here’s a list of interesting tourist attractions you can find in Taal, Batangas. I suggest dropping by at the tourism office near the Taal Cathedral and request for a map for easier navigation:

Old House of the Agoncillo Family  – You can start your Taal Batangas walking tour along Agoncillo Street after the Taal welcome arch. Nearby is the elegant heritage house of Agoncillo Family. Catch a glimpse of the bronze statue of Felipe Agoncillo, the husband of Marcela Agoncillo proudly standing at the garden.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal Cathedral) – Walk towards the main road leading to Taal town square crowned by the massive Basilica de San Martin de Tours. Hailed as the largest Catholic Church in Asia, for a minimal fee, you can also scale the bell tower housing one of the largest bells in the country. Nearby, you can also find other historical edifices such as Casa Real (Taal Municipal Hall) and Escuela Pia.

Doña Marcela Agoncillo Museum  – From Taal Cathedral, continue walking towards M.Agoncillo Street dappled by gorgeous heritage houses.  The eponymous seamstress of the first Philippine flag was raised in Taal and today, her house serves as a museum.  Entrance fee is free but donations are encouraged for its upkeep.

Casa Gahol  – It houses an interesting art gallery but unfortunately it was closed during my visit.

Villa Tortuga – You can arrange a private dinner in full colonial ambiance by booking through Camp suki website. Visitors are provided Spanish inspired costumes and take home personal antiqued sepia photos as souvenirs.

Don Leon Apacible Museum – This is the dwelling of General Emilio Aguinaldo’s finance officer- Don Leon Apacible. Open hours is from Tuesday to Sunday at 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Galleria de Taal  – A heritage house turned into a museum, admission fee is Php 50.  Daguerreotype cameras dating back to the 18 th  century as well as a collection of old photographs are proudly showcased here.

Chona’s Embroidery – Witness the art of handmade embroidery at this place. You can also find barong tagalog and hand-embroidered wedding gowns at Taal market.

Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine  – This modest chapel is the sanctuary of one of the earliest Marian images in the Philippines. Based on anecdotes, it was found by a fisherman named Juan Manicad at the nearby Pansipit River.

San Lorenzo Steps – At the back of the church you will stumble on  San Lorenzo Steps  named after the first Filipino saint.

Miraculous Spring – Can be quite hard to find as it is tucked at the backyard of the houses in the area.  Ask the locals for directions, it is located at the left side of San Lorenzo Steps (take only a few steps and look for a small mango tree with a dog house below) and follow the path. Ruins of an age-old chapel sit next to the miraculous spring where Our Lady of Caysasay is believed to have appeared.

Balisong Shops – Ride a jeepney from the town center and get off at Brgy. Balisong where balisong shops fringed the highway.

How to get to Taal, Batangas by bus from Manila:

There are several buses along Taft Avenue bound for Lipa City.  If coming from Alabang, you can ride a Lipa-bound bus with Derecho AC Tex signboard at South Bus Station.  Travel time is 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. Alight at Tambo exit and cross the road. Board a jeep bound for Taal town. Travel time is about 1 hour.

How to get to Manila from Taal, Batangas:

Ride the jeepney back to Lipa and tell the driver to drop you off at Star Tollway. Take note that once you alight, you need to cross to the other side of the road and wait for the bus en route to Manila at the waiting shed.

Taal, Batangas Accommodations:

Villavicencio Wedding Gift House  room rates starts at   at Php 3,000.

Casa Punzalan – A colonial house turned into a hotel, room rates starts at Php 600.

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Hi I just want to ask if you can explore those taal tourist spots without tour guides?

Hi Jhella, you can inquire at Taal Tourism office, it’s near the church. 🙂

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Taal Heritage Town Batangas (Vigan of the South) Travel Guide

When I first heard of the Taal Heritage Town, I thought it was about the volcano. Little did I know, Taal has the largest Catholic church in Asia, rows of ancestral homes, and rich history. Traveling here feels like a trip back in time especially when you hear the stories of the past.

Our visit here was a spontaneous one. My friend and I were only supposed to go to Lipa to buy a wireless mouse when I saw a picture of Taal Heritage Town online. I asked my friend if we could go check the place. She said yes and off we went. Wohooo!

Having gone to Vigan before, I was excited to see what the so-called ‘Vigan of the South’ Taal Heritage Town would be like.

Table of Contents

Taal Heritage Town

Where to go.

Upon arrival, we immediately noticed the ancestral homes around the Taal Heritage Town. Seeing the buildings up close, we had that I wonder what it was like living-in-the-past moment. Unlike Vigan, all ancestral homes here are in top shape, and most of the houses even allow overnight stays, dining and touching of furniture.

Despite not having  kalesas  like in Vigan,   the tourist spots are a walk away from each other. You don’t need any transportation when going from one spot to the other.

Here is a list of the must-see places in Taal Heritage Town.

Basilica of St. Martin of Tours

Entrance Fee to the Upper Part of the Church: 50 pesos

Holding the title of being “Asia’s Largest Catholic Church”, the Basilica is a beauty to see. Despite being reconstructed, the church still stands tall by the town.

Going inside, you’ll get a view of the marvelous architecture only old churches can provide. It was a bit hard to take a decent photo since we went there on a Sunday and there were a lot of people.

For 50 pesos, you can further explore the upper part of the church. You can go to the top, check out the bells and get a view of the town.

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Galleria Taal

Entrance Fee: 100 pesos

Known for being the camera museum, Galleria Taal is a must visit if you are a camera fanatic. For 100 pesos, you will see different types and brands of cameras from different times.

The best part? It is knowing that all these cameras are still working. According to our guide, they are not being used because of the lack of films sold in the market for these old cameras.

We also saw a collection of photos here in the Galleria. Most are in black and white featuring the home owners, old Manila and some various pictures. My favorite photo is of this girl.

Apacible Museum

Entrance Fee: None

The Apacible Museum contains the life story of the Apacible brothers Leon and Galicano and how they fought for Philippine Independence.

Inside the house, you will see antique collections, old furniture and paintings. Despite being old, the house is well taken care of. It is still in top shape.

There is no entrance fee but donations are accepted.

Casa Villavicencio

Entrance Fee: 100 pesos (with snacks)

Upon entering, you will be shown a short video about the Godmother of the Revolutionary Forces, Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio.  When we went up the second floor, we immediately noticed the tin ceilings. In the past, tin ceilings were considered to be a symbol of wealth since only a few could afford such.

Beautiful hand-painted wallpapers covered the walls. Exuding luxury and wealth, the place is a must see when you get the chance to visit the Taal Heritage Town.

If you like antiques, you will love this place. We saw the dining area with its long tables and the secret door where the Katipuneros used to hold their meetings during the revolution.

For only 100 pesos, you can tour around the house and dine at the garden. Snacks include suman , hot choco, and some bread. My favorite was the choco. If you want to bring home some, you can buy the cocoa used in making the hot choco.

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Wedding Gift House

Entrance Fee: 80 pesos

My favorite house, the wedding gift house is located right beside the Casa Villavicencio. One of  the reasons why I find this house intriguing is its past. Eulalio  Villavicencio, a ship captain, gave the house to his soon to be bride Gliceria Marella. Imagine having a man give you a house as a gift? Who still does that?

On the first floor, you can see a copy of the original English translated books of Jose Rizal. As a ship captain, Eulalio once gave Jose Rizal 18,000 pesos for the publication of his works. As a thank you, the Villavicencio family were given the books.

What makes it more unique is the wallpapers. Being the most colorful among all the ancestral homes in Taal, it was easy to fall in love with the place.

From what our guide told us, the place was based on Victorian houses.

On the second floor, you will find a lot of mirrors designed to the very last detail. What I love about this place is that you can sit on the furniture and even sleep on the beds.

Yes, the house was converted into a bed and breakfast.  You can contact Ate Joyce at 09178970363 for accommodations.

Check out my review of the place: Taal Villavicencio Wedding Gift House

Marcela Agoncillo Museum

As the second ancestral home turned into a museum, Marcela Agoncillo Museum was once the home of Felipe Agoncillo and wife Marcela Agoncillo.

Sewing of the very first Philippine flag was done in this house by Marcela, her daughter, and Rizal’s niece. The house features the life of Marcela and Felipe as they fought for Philippine Independence, and the symbols of the Philippine Flag.

Despite being turned into a museum, the house is still in a good shape where one can find the typical elements of a Filipino ancestral house.

White House

Entrance Fee: 70 pesos

When entering the Welcome To Taal arch, the first house you’ll see is the so-called White House because of its color.

Unfortunately it was already closed by the time we got there since this was the last house we went to. We only had a glimpse of the outside. Having been born in this house, Felipe Agoncillo’s statue can be seen outside the house.

Escuela Pia

Just a few meters away from the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours is this sturdy looking structure. Escuela Pia is a school supervised by the church. During the American regime, the place was made into a central school.

When we tried to enter the building, there was an ongoing birthday party. I guess you can book this place for events.

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Villa Tortuga

Entrance Fee: 50pesos

Tortuga meaning turtles, Villa Tortuga is our next stop after walking around the Taal Heritage Town.

Established by the prominent fashion designer Lito Perez, Villa Tortuga offers a once in a lifetime chance to try on some Filipino traditional costumes including a photo session for 250 pesos.

Since visiting Taal was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, we didn’t bring enough money with us to pay for the rentals so we opted to pay the 50 pesos entrance fee and tour the house.

On the second floor, there are rooms for rent where you can stay for the night and experience what it’s like living in an ancestral house. The place also offers a dining experience. I’ll be sure to go back to this place and eat while wearing costumes.

Our Lady of Casaysay Shrine

At the end of the 125 steps of San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps is the Casaysay Shrine. It was built to honor the 17th century image of the Virgin Mary.

Unlike the Taal Church, the shrine isn’t as big and as old but it is still beautiful.

Sta Lucia Well

Known for being miraculous, the well is a must visit. Built in the early 1600, the well is marked by an arch with a bas-relief image of the Virgin. Going there is a bit tricky. While going down the San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps, look for some smaller steps on the right that lead to the well. If your lost, just ask some locals on how to get there.

Where to Stay

Book Taal Airbnbs Here

Here’s a P1600 discount for your first booking when you sign up on Airbnb.

Where to Eat in Taal Heritage Town

Before checking out the ancestral homes, we first stopped by the Ala Eh Taal Lomi Sa Plaza for a lomi. The place is only a few meters away from the Taal Church, just beside the road.

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For 35 pesos, you can have a taste of the famous Batangas lomi. When our order was served, it was a shock to see how full the bowl was. It was overflowing with toppings namely chicharon, liver, and kikiam. For just one bowl of lomi, we were stuffed.

How To Get There

From Manila, ride a bus heading to Lemery. You can take the JAM Bus Liner from either Cubao or  Buendia. The fare is around 180 to 190. Next, ask the driver to drop you off at Taal Heritage Town. Viola! Welcome to the past.

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Top 12 Things to do and Places to Visit in Taal, Batangas

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Travel Guide: Things to do and Places to Visit in Taal, Batangas

Table of Contents

T aal is a small municipality in Batangas province. Contrary to common belief, the internationally renowned Taal Volcano and Taal Crater Lake are not actually located in Taal, Batangas, but in the neighboring town of San Nicolas. Despite this, Taal town is a hidden gem that is known for its well-preserved culture and buildings.

In fact, the central business district has been designated as a National Historical Landmark by the National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines. Aside from the peaceful streets and ancestral houses, here are the top things to do and places to visit in Taal:

Minor Basilica of St. Martin of Tours

More known as Taal Basilica, this is the largest church in the country and in the whole of Asia, with a height of almost 90 meters and a span of 48 m. The construction of this old church began in 1575 and was renovated several times within the span of 1642 to 1990. It had been damaged by natural calamities through time, but it continues to stand proudly.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay

The coralline arches of this shrine that houses the Our Lady of Casaysay have been around since the early 1600s. Aside from the bright, intricate designs of the shrine, the San Lorenzo Ruiz steps, which total to 125, are also a must-see. They lead to the church from the center part of town and vice versa.

Galleria Taal

The Galleria Taal is the first vintage camera museum to open in the country. The collection is owned by a local named Manny Inumerable, who started out as a simple camera enthusiast. Also in the museum are photos of the winners of the Ginoong & Binibining Taal, an annual pageant held in the municipality.

Buy Balisong

The Balisong is a weapon that resembles a butterfly knife. It is invented by a local during the early 1900s. If you can’t buy one for fear of being apprehended in the airport on your way back, then you can always watch the locals craft one instead. After all, Taal is the Balisong Capital of the Philippines and the authentic ones are produced here.

If the Ilocos Region has the pinakbet, Batangas has its Lomi. And you can get the best of the best only in Taal. Lomi is a noodle dish that has Chinese roots, which the locals have modified to create a whole new dish. The noodles are flavorful because they are sautéed with meat and vegetables, and the broth is thickened with cassava flour.

Eat Tawilis

Tawilis is the only species of sardines that lives in freshwater environments, and it can only be harvested from the nearby Taal Lake! This is why it is a delicacy in most parts of Batangas, including Taal. Locals like to eat this whole with tomatoes, onions, and unripe mangoes.

Try Tapang Batangas

We’re not done with breakfast meals yet. Taal has more to offer for this one. Tapang Batangas, interchangeably called Tapang Taal, is an oh-so tender pork tapa that is loaded with garlic, soy sauce, and a bunch of other ingredients. Not having this while in Taal is equivalent to not visiting Taal at all!

San Nicolas Ruins

This church goes by several names, including the “First Taal Church” and the “Old Taal Church Ruins”. In 1754, the nearby Taal Volcano erupted, damaging the nearby towns, including Taal’s St. Martin of Tours Church. Although the basilica is still intact today, much of the original parts of the church, such as these, remain, and they serve as memorable tourist destinations.

Casa VillaVicencio

This house, which was built in 1850 during the Spanish era, is located in Gliceria Marella Street. It is owned by Don Eulalio Villavicencio, and has been the location of secret meetings of nationalists during the social unrest. Today, it stands as a heritage house.

Villavicencio Wedding Gift House

Located next to the Casa Villavicencio is the Wedding Gift House, which visitors can stay in. Like its neighbor, this house dates back to the same era, and its interior is decorated with heritage.

Agoncillo-Mariño Ancestral House

Another must-see museum is the Agoncillo-Mariño Ancestral House, which was also built during the Spanish Colonial Era. It is one of the oldest houses in Taal and serves to commemorate the contributions of Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, the wife of Felipe Agoncillo, a significant figure in Philippine history.

Healing Wells of Sta. Lucia

A huge earthquake struck Taal, Batangas in the 18th century, and severely damaged a church so that it sank halfway, and has rendered renovation or reconstruction impossible. However, after a while, spring water gushed out of the two doors of the sunken church. Since then, it was called a well, and this miracle is believed to be caused by the Virgin of Caysasay, whom the church was dedicated to.

How to Get to Taal, Batangas from Manila

Taal is just at least three to four hours away from Manila.

Public transportation

If you plan to commute, JAM Liner is one example of a bus line that has stations in Cubao and Buendia. These trips can take up to 3 and a half hours long and costs Php 200 per head. Ask the driver to drop you off at “Taal Town” or “Taal Municipality”. Make sure to clarify that you are going to the town, not to the volcano or the lake.

Via the SLEX

On the other hand, if you plan to drive to get there, you can take the shortest route via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

1. At the end of SLEX, turn to the “Lipa Exit” lane. Turn left when you see the Taal National Highway and drive straight. 2. Turn right before the road where the Phoenix Gas Station is. 3. Follow the road until you see Alitagtag’s welcome arch. There will be another gas station on the left, where you should turn right. 4. Drive for approximately 3 km straight until you see Sta. Terisita’s welcome arch. Drive straight until you reach the National High way Junction. Turn right. 5. You will see another gas station after 5 km. Keep left, the town proper is just 2 km away.

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Written by Melo Villareal

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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The Taal Town of Batangas, Philippines: A Complete Travel Guide

Taal is a peaceful town about two hours away from Manila. The city has a lot of historical sites that you can visit. This is the best travel guide to Taal.

If you try translating Taal from the Filipino language to English in Google Translate, it will be translated into many words, including the main translated word: “language.”

This fact is closely related to Taal’s history as it is considered the origin and center of the Tagalog language. 

How to Get There and Where to Stay?

Taal is a popular tourist destination, and renting a car is the best way to get there. You can either use a taxi from the airport or from a hotel, or you can use the online taxi application.

If you want to stay for a night or two, there are many great accommodations in the area that you can choose from. The Vinewoods Resort by Cocotel and Taal Maranan Farmville Resort by Cocotel are two of them.

It’s easy to book a room there. As simple as going to our resorts destination page , searching the resorts or destination places, and booking it from the resorts’ booking form.

You can also download our mobile apps by clicking here for the easiest way to book. This is the best travel guide to Taal.

What and Where to Eat in Taal, Batangas

Tapsilog and Longanisa

In the Philippines, tapsilog is the most widely consumed “silog” breakfast. Tapsilog is a combination of the Filipino terms tapa, sinangag (fried rice), and itlog (seafood) (egg). It comes with cucumbers, tomatoes, and atchara (pickled green papaya). Sawsawan, a vinegar-and-chili sauce, is nearly required.

This “silog” style of breakfast may be seen in Filipino cuisine. Longsilog is used for longganisa (sausages), tocilog (sweet cured pork) is used for tocino, and bangsilog is used for bangus (milkfish).

Although the accompanying meat differs; they always come with fried rice (sinangag) and an egg (itlog).

Longanisa/longganisa is a Filipino chorizo or sausage. It’s usually eaten with fried rice and a fried egg for breakfast, and the combination is known as ‘longsilog.’

Longganisa is a native Filipino sausage variant of the Spanish sausage longaniza. It comes in a variety of flavors. These varieties are named for the town or province from where they originate. They are divided into two types: sweet longganisa (hamonado) and garlicky/sour/salty longganisa (hamonado) (derecado).

Tampuhan Cafe and Gerry and Lheen Special Tapa and Longganisa is the best place to eat these delicious cuisines. This is the best travel guide to Taal.

Baby Back Ribs (Filipino Style)

To better understand this food, baby back ribs are the sections of the ribs that are attached to the backbone, beneath the loin muscle, and are curled where they meet the spine. They’re called “baby” because they’re smaller than spare ribs; they’re around 6 inches long on the longest and 3 inches on the shorter end.

They may have roughly half an inch of loin meat connected to the top, depending on how they’re butchered. Spare ribs are more tender and slimmer than baby back ribs, but they’re also more costly. Each rack weighs around two pounds, including the bone as half its total weight.

One of the best places for baby back ribs in Taal is at Johanna’s Grill.

Daing na Bangus

Milkfish marinated in a combination of vinegar, crushed peppercorn, garlic, and salt is known as Daing na Bangus. Hot pepper powder, such as cayenne pepper powder, is added to make it spicy. It is marinated overnight and then fried till crispy for the finest results.

Unlike the usual daing, which requires the fish to be salted and then dried in the sun for one or two days, this daing na bangus dish does not require to be dried off under the sun to prevent the fish from becoming tough.

Breakfast and lunch are the best times to eat daing na bangus. It’s also good with plain warm white rice.

LZM restaurant in the Taal, Batangas area is one of the recommended restaurants.

Halo-Halo and Mango Bravo Cake

Do you need a sweet Filipino dessert recommendation? Worry not; we have picked Halo-Halo and Mango Bravo Cake for your food craving desire.

Halo-Halo literally translates to “mix-mix” in Tagalog/Filipino. Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert or snack because it is cool and refreshing, ideal for combating the tropical heat that prevails in the Philippines virtually all year.

Mango Bravo Cake is a dessert created with layers of soft butter cake and meringue wafers, then topped with golden mangoes and smothered in delectable cream. This sweet and delicious cake recipe is finished with a sprinkling of chocolate syrup.

You can go to Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant in Nuvail, which is a little bit far from Taal, but it’s worth it as both delicious desserts are available there.

The Best Things to See and Do

Discover Taal’s illustrious history, heroes, and involvement in the Philippine Revolution. 

Explore Taal’s restored Bahay na Batos, 19th-century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone dwellings, and travel through time. Admire the architectural splendor, such as the traditional capiz windows, beautiful Philippine hardwoods, and one-of-a-kind antique furnishings.

Taal Heritage Town

In Batangas, the Taal Heritage Town is a renowned tourist site. Natural attractions and heritage sites are well-known in the town. The town has a lot to offer regarding things to do and see.

The Taal Heritage Town of Batangas is an old town with rich history, culture, and heritage. It is a perfect destination for travelers who want to experience the rich culture and history of the Philippines.

Taal Heritage Town has many attractions worth exploring, such as museums, churches, historic houses, and parks. These attractions are all within walking distance, so you can explore them easily on foot or by bike. Let’s see the other best guide to Taal.

Other Historical Places

Visit the Casa Villavicencio, Marcella Agoncillo Museum, Villavicencio Wedding Gift House, Galleria Taal, Agoncillo White House, and Apacible Museum, among many more that dot the picturesque town.

Learn about the magic of Sta. Lucia Well and the Our Lady of Caysasay Church’s exceptional views. The magnificent Church of St. Martin de Tours, supposedly Asia’s most extraordinary Catholic basilica, will leave you speechless. Let’s deep dive into this best travel guide to Taal.

Taal Volcano

A visit to Taal Heritage Town would be incomplete without visiting the Taal Volcano. The volcano has a perfect cone shape resulting from its last eruption in 1754.

It is located in the middle of Lake Taal, making it even more beautiful.

Around one hour’s drive from the center of Taal, The Taal Volcano is a popular tourist attraction in the province of Batangas, Philippines.

It is an active volcano declared inactive in 1948 but erupted again in 1990. There are many things to do there, and it is a popular spot for hikers. It has been explored by mountaineers and scientists, who have also set up camp there for many years.

The Balete Tree & Mt. Malarayat

Those looking for a relaxing day can visit the Balete Tree, one of the most iconic landmarks in Batangas. It is also a popular spot for weddings.

If you looking for something more adventurous, you can hike up to Mt. Malarayat and enjoy the view of Taal Volcano from there.

Shop for Souvenirs

Shop for the world’s famed balisong (fan knife), delicately embroidered Taal barong (local fabric made of pineapple, abaca, or silk fiber mixed components), antiques, and unique handicrafts at the artisan’s personal stores, the Municipal Market, and in-house bazaars. You can find so many souvernirs as we highly recommend in this best travel guide to Taal.

Cultural Events in Taal, Batangas

The luwa (also spelled lua).

According to the city’s official website, the Lua tradition is a vernacular declamation recited by a woman in honor of the Virgin Mary or by a boy in honor of a male saint such as St. Martin of Tours.

The young girls and ladies in their lovely gowns and ternos who make up the hila provide a delightful image during the march. “To pull,” as the word hila implies.

The participants draw the cordon of electric lights that originates from the Virgin’s carrosa (carriage), which is bedecked with flowers, using this procession terminology.

The EL PASUBAT Festival

In April, this town will celebrate a festival called the EL PASUBAT Festival. EL PASUBAT is an abbreviation of Empanada, Longanisa, PAnutsa, SUman, BArong, BAlisong, Tapa, Tawillis, Tamalis, Tulingan, Tsokolate.

The acronym in the festival’s name provides you with a sneak peek at some of the delicious local foods and crafts available during the festival. These local foods and crafts have become the town’s identity and feature.

Holy Week is a religious practice celebrated by most Filipinos throughout the country, a nation with a majority of Roman Catholics. 

Some males do the Penitensiya, which is customary during Holy Week, on Holy Wednesday, notably in Batangas. It is a kind of self-punishment in which a penitent lashes himself as a form of penance. Alternatively, someone might be shown bearing a wooden cross, reenacting Jesus’ agony. These acts will continue until Good Friday.

Flores de Mayo

Flores de Mayo (Spanish for “flowers of May”) is a cultural festival held in May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month. 

The Feast of St. Martin of Tours

On November 11, the Feast of St. Martin of Tours is celebrated every year. Prayers, songs, proclamations, flower offerings, and prominent religious processions mark the occasion. Following that, most families host a party with food and beverages for their guests.

The Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay

Every December 8, the Feast of Our Lady of Caysasay, the well-known miraculous image of the Immaculate Conception, is commemorated. While on December 9, a joint town fiesta is celebrated honoring both Our Lady of Caysasay and Saint Martin of Tours.

Hopefully, you have learned something new about the Taal Batangas region. If you want to explore other areas in the Philippines and learn more about the country, check out other articles in our blog section.

You may also bookmark our website and follow our Facebook and Instagram account for more best travel guide to Taal. about the best place to stay in the Philippines.

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Cocotel is a technology hotel and property management aggregator company aiming to empower tourism in the Philippines by partnering with local hotels and resort owners by offering quality and affordable three-star accommodation at a fraction of a cost. From overnight stays to long weekends, enjoy the scent of salty sea air and the comfort of a cozy beach haven paradise.

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Epic Full Day Tour – Taal Heritage Town

Join me on an epic full day tour to Taal Heritage Town in Batangas – a journey that will leave you breathless with wonder and amazement. Imagine setting off on an impromptu adventure to the unknown. You have no idea where to go or what to do, but the thrill of the unexpected fuels your excitement. But don’t let the unknown leave you lost in a sea of uncertainty!

Allow me to guide you through the town’s rich history, soak up the culture, and witness traditional Filipino demonstrations that will have you on the edge of your seat. With each stop, you’ll discover the beauty and charm of this hidden gem, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Taal , a charming town in Batangas, is known for its well-preserved historic homes and centuries-old churches dating back to the Spanish colonial era. Its architecture is a blend of Baroque, Art Deco, and Bahay na Bato styles. Visitors can stroll through the town and enjoy its nostalgic atmosphere, try the delicious local cuisine, and discover the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. Taal is a great day trip or weekend escape destination from Manila.

Are you ready to explore the charming town of Taal in Batangas, Philippines? With its rich history, cultural heritage, and scenic beauty, Taal is an ideal destination for a DIY tour. In this itinerary, we’ll take you through some of the must-visit spots in Taal, where you can indulge in local delicacies, learn about the town’s fascinating past, and enjoy its natural splendor. So pack your bags, put on your walking shoes, and get ready to discover the best of Taal.

Discover Taal

Taal Basilica

Also known as the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, Taal Basilica is a shining example of the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage. The basilica’s construction began in 1755 and was completed in the mid-1800s in Baroque style. It has since undergone several renovations and expansions, which have added to its majesty.

The Taal Basilica boasts an intriguing feature with its connection to an underground tunnel system. It is said that the tunnel links to neighboring cities of Taal, such as Lemery, San Nicolas and Santa teresita. This network of tunnels dates back to the Spanish colonial period, where it served as an escape route during times of conflict. Some believe that the tunnels were also used to smuggle goods and people out of town.

From its use as a wartime escape route to its possible use in smuggling, the tunnels offer a glimpse into a bygone era and the challenges faced by those who lived through it.

Our Lady of Casaysay Academy

Our Lady of Casaysay Academy is a private Catholic school located in Taal, Batangas. While the academy is primarily a school for students, it is also home to the Caysasay Shrine, which is open to the public for tours.

Casaysay Shrine

Casaysay Shrine is a popular religious destination located in the town of Taal, Batangas. The shrine houses a small chapel and a well, both of which are said to have miraculous healing powers. It is believed that the well was discovered in 1603 by a group of fishermen who saw an image of the Virgin Mary floating on its surface. Since then, the shrine has become a place of pilgrimage for many Catholics seeking healing and spiritual renewal. Visitors can explore the chapel and the grounds of the shrine, and even take a dip in the well’s holy water for a chance at healing and blessings. While the academy itself may not be open for public tours, the Casaysay Shrine is open to visitors.

Villavicencio Wedding Gift House

Upon stepping inside the Villavicencio Wedding Gift House , I was instantly transported to a world of old-world charm and sophistication. The mansion’s intricate details and classic design were simply breathtaking, evoking a sense of refined elegance and style. From the grand staircase to the ornate carvings and sumptuous furnishings, every aspect of the mansion was a true masterpiece. As I wandered through the rooms, I felt as though I was experiencing a slice of history firsthand, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty and craftsmanship of the artifacts on display. It was a truly unforgettable journey into a world of timeless grace and sophistication.

Casa Villavicencio

Casa Villavicencio is one of the most well-known and well-preserved heritage houses in Taal, Batangas. This beautiful mansion, built in the 1850s, showcases a unique blend of Filipino, Chinese, and European architectural styles, making it a true masterpiece of colonial-era design. It was once home to Gliceria Marella Villavicencio, a prominent figure in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule, and her husband Eulalio Villavicencio, a wealthy businessman and revolutionary.

Agoncillo Mansion

The Agoncillo Mansion in Taal, Batangas, is another well-preserved heritage house that provides visitors with a glimpse into the town’s rich history and culture. This impressive mansion was built in the early 1900s and is named after its most famous resident, Felipe Agoncillo, a prominent diplomat who served as the Philippines’ first representative to the United States.

The beautifully landscaped garden, which includes a gazebo, a fountain, and a collection of exotic plants and flowers, is one of the highlights of the Agoncillo Mansion. The garden is an excellent place to unwind and take in the mansion’s old-world charm.

Galleria Taal

Galleria Taal is a treasure trove of Philippine history and culture, housed in a charming heritage building that’ll take you back in time. The old-world ambience is the perfect backdrop for the extensive collection of antique cameras, photographs, and memorabilia, giving visitors a peek into the town’s past. It’s a must-visit for history buffs and photography enthusiasts alike. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Taal, Batangas at Galleria Taal.

Paradores del Castillo

Now a hotel, Paradores del Castillo is a dream come true for those seeking a fairytale escape. As you enter the main hall, you’re enveloped by a warm and welcoming atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at ease. The cozy rooms are decorated with charming details and evoke a sense of homey comfort that’s hard to come by. But the real magic lies in the rooftop terrace, where you can soak in the breathtaking views of the town below and be swept away by the romance of it all. Whether you’re savoring a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening, every moment spent here feels like a fairytale. It’s no surprise that Paradores del Castillo captured my heart, and I’m already planning my next visit.

Marcela Agoncillo Museum

Take a step into the past and discover the incredible story of Marcela Agoncillo, the talented seamstress who designed the Philippine national flag. At the Marcela Agoncillo Museum and Monument in Taal, Batangas, you’ll immerse yourself in her world and get a glimpse of her life through a vast collection of her personal belongings. From her beloved sewing machine to a replica of the iconic flag, each item tells a story of her unwavering dedication to her craft and her country. It’s an awe-inspiring experience that will leave you feeling humbled and inspired by this remarkable woman’s legacy.

Goco Ancestral House

Apacible Ancestral House

The Apacible Ancestral House is a stunning example of Taal’s architectural heritage, with its grand facade and beautifully landscaped garden. The spacious interiors are adorned with vintage decor, taking visitors on a journey through time. A visit here is a chance to step back in time and experience the grandeur of Taal’s past.

Other places to explore:

1. Escuela Pia : Explore the history of one of the oldest schools in the Philippines at Escuela Pia in Taal, Batangas. This beautifully restored building now serves as a museum showcasing the school’s impact on education in the country. Discover the stories of the poor children who received an education here thanks to the Dominican friars and learn about the importance of education in the early 19th century.

2. Villa Tortuga : Get a taste of the grandeur and elegance of the Spanish colonial period at Villa Tortuga in Taal, Batangas. This heritage house, built in the early 1900s, boasts intricate wood carvings, ornate furniture, and well-preserved architecture. Take a guided tour of the house and learn about the lavish lifestyle of the affluent families who lived there.

3. Basilica Heritage Museum : Explore the fascinating history of the Taal Basilica at the Basilica Heritage Museum. This museum, located within the basilica, features a collection of religious artifacts, vestments, and paintings dating back to the early 16th century. Discover the role the basilica played in the town’s history and culture and marvel at the stunning artwork on display.

4. Balisong-making demonstration : Experience the excitement of watching skilled craftsmen create the iconic Filipino folding knife, the balisong. In Taal, Batangas, visitors can witness a balisong-making demonstration and learn about the history and cultural significance of this traditional Filipino weapon.

5. Tapa-making demonstration : Foodies unite and get a chance to learn how to make a traditional Filipino breakfast dish, tapa. In Taal, Batangas, visitors can witness a tapa-making demonstration and learn about the unique methods of preparing and cooking the dish.

6. Barong Tagalog-making demonstration : Be in awe of the intricate embroidery and craftsmanship that goes into making the national costume of the Philippines, the Barong Tagalog. In Taal, visitors can witness a Barong Tagalog-making demonstration and learn about the history and cultural significance of this stunning garment.

As our full day tour of Taal, Batangas draws to a close, you can’t help but feel a sense of enchantment and amazement. You embarked on a journey of the senses, where every step of the way was a feast for your eyes, ears, and palate. The history of the town came to life before your eyes, and you were transported to another time, another place. You immersed yourself in the local culture and were left breathless by traditional Filipino demonstrations that showcased the talents of the people. Every turn revealed new layers of beauty and charm, leaving you in awe of the hidden gem that is Taal. So hold on to these memories, and let them inspire you to seek out new adventures and experiences.

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Taal Heritage Town, Batangas | Through the Looking Glass

If you are looking for a whole new adventure, head down further south to the heritage town of Taal in Batangas and be beguiled by colonial houses of a now bygone era.

Tagaytay will always leave you both recharged and drained after visiting it. Albeit its cool climate, sumptuous food, and scenic views; it also offers horrendous traffic, long queue lines just to eat at that restaurant, and the rapid commercialization of its districts.

Through the Looking Glass

Table of Contents

Founded in 1572, the town of Taal was once built on the shores of Taal Volcano and its lake. Moreover, it once was the capital of Batangas, it used to be located in the present-day San Nicolas. But due to the seven-month eruption of Taal Volcano in 1754, the most devastating eruption in recorded history, the town was destroyed and forced locals to relocate near Balayan Bay.

Over centuries, after every calamity and war, Taal has always found a way to rebuild their beloved town and rise up after every adversity.

During the Spanish Era, the prosperous town once cradled several national heroes particularly: Marcela Agoncillo, the woman who was the seamstress and the Mother of the Philippine Flag, Gen. Ananias Diokno, or the General of the Seas, was the only Philippine Revolutionary Army General who led a full-scale military expedition to the Visayas against the Spanish forces.

Today Taal is a vibrant town rich in culture and heritage. Further, it is as if looking through a looking glass only to find as if it is still stranded on the shores of the past.

Time Travel to the Olden Days

What excited me the most about going around the town proper of Taal is having to see for myself the heritage houses along the cobblestone streets. It is as if traveling back in time as their unique architecture gives us a glimpse of the olden days.

These perfectly preserved houses are in close proximity to each other and can all be visited on foot. Further, this gives the present generation a chance to catch a glimpse of how the seemingly “ Forbes Park of the South ” once was for the rich and influential families.

Commercialization may have invaded the town center as it is inevitable, but the quaint rustic charm of the town is still retained up to this day.

Taal Basilica

Sitting on top of a small hill is the Taal Basilica or known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours.

This is the largest Roman Catholic church not just in the Philippines but in Asia. Moreover, it stands 88.6 meters (291ft) long and 48 meters (157ft). Full article here:  Taal Basilica, Batangas | Asia’s Largest Roman Catholic Church

Galleria Taal Camera Museum

“ This camera needs a minimum of five (5) minutes of exposure to fully capture a photo” as my guide pointed over a large box-type apparatus with large lenses on both sides. No wonder people from the past are all not smiling in their photos.

Galleria Taal Camera Museum was once their family’s ancestral home that was restored by Manny Barrion Inumerable. Here, he showcased all the family camera heirlooms, from the large box-type camera up to the present compact DSLR cameras.

Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine

From the Taal Basilica, you will walk down the San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps or Spanish Steps made of granite stones before reaching the Our Lady of Caysasay.

The wooden image of the miraculous lady was said to be found by a fisherman along the Pansipit River in 1603. During my visit, the shrine was undergoing a restoration project.

Not far from the Spanish steps, you will find a golden poso which will lead you to the Well of Sta. Lucia.

The water from the well is said to be potent in curing diseases and devotees usually wash their faces and drink from it. As of writing, the stone arch and well are also undergoing restoration.

Lamenting a Bygone Era

Once dubbed as the Paris of Asia, the Philippines is now a heaping entangled mess of skyscrapers, poor urban planning, and shanty towns. Cobblestones where Katipuneros once walked are now turned into a never-ending concrete road that is easily demolished every time the elections are coming.

It is true that modernization is an inescapable reality in moving forward, but there is no denying that it poses risks to our heritage structures and sites.

May it be because of the lack of financial support or loose national laws in preserving them, or just plain ignorance of everyone; the grandeur brought about by these houses is now disappearing into thin air.

What is good about the town of Taal is the concern of its people in preserving their homes. In turn, these structures still give us a coup d’oeil of our once abundant past that will remind us of our identity as a Filipino.

“So much with the recollections. As a mere voiceless spectator now from a senior’s rocking chair. I can only watch the world as it moves on until I shall have freed myself from it, to face the unknown.” – Gerry T. Maglaya

How To Get There

• Taal Heritage Town is located in Taal, Batangas

• Take any Lemery, Batangas bound bus from Manila and ask the driver to drop you off at the Taal-Lemery Bypass Junction. (105 kilometers, 2-3hours travel time, depending on the traffic condition)
• From the junction, rent a tricycle or jeep to take you to the Taal Basilica. You can start your walking tour there or you can follow this route from www.baratpacker.com

Extend Your Trip

• Taal Basilica, Batangas | Asia’s Largest Roman Catholic Church
• Mt. Talamitam (630 MASL), Batangas | A Merrell PH Sunrise Mission
• Taal Volcano | Inside the Third Order Volcanic Wonder

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• ← Taal Basilica, Batangas | Asia’s Largest Roman Catholic Church
• Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur | A Far Cry from Richness and Vibrancy →

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Taal Volcano Guide – Explore Batangas’ Gem

Welcome to our ultimate guide to Taal Volcano and the stunning attractions of Batangas! Located in the Philippines , Batangas is renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. One of the must-see sights in this province is Taal Volcano , an active volcano nestled within Taal Lake .

Taal Volcano is a true gem, attracting tourists from all over the world. Its unique feature of being a volcano within a volcano makes it a fascinating natural wonder. The picturesque scenery created by Taal Lake surrounding the volcano is a sight to behold.

As you explore Batangas, you’ll also discover other captivating attractions such as Taal Heritage Town , which showcases traditional Filipino -Spanish architecture and offers a glimpse into the province’s history. The Anilao Marine Reserve , known for its diverse marine life , provides excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Batangas, make sure to include Taal Volcano and these other amazing tourist spots in your itinerary. Our guide will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your visit!

Key Takeaways:

• Taal Volcano is a popular tourist spot in Batangas, known for its unique features and stunning beauty.
• Batangas offers a variety of attractions , including Taal Heritage Town and the Anilao Marine Reserve .
• Taal Volcano is located within Taal Lake , creating a picturesque and memorable view.
• Exploring Taal Volcano involves a boat ride and a hike to the main crater rim, offering a close-up look at its crater lake and sulfur streaks.
• When visiting Batangas, don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the province.

Overview of Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano is an active volcano located in Batangas, Philippines. It is known for its unique feature of being a volcano within a volcano. Taal is situated within Taal Lake, creating a picturesque view.

The volcano is famous for its historical eruptions and has been a subject of scientific study. These eruptions have shaped the landscape and formed the crater lake that is nestled within the volcano’s crater. Taal Volcano’s activity and natural beauty make it an intriguing destination for both tourists and researchers.

“Taal Volcano stands as a testament to the immense power of nature. Its complex formation and active status continue to captivate scientists and visitors alike, providing valuable insights into the Earth’s geological processes.”

Despite its beauty, Taal Volcano’s past eruptions have had devastating effects on the surrounding areas. The most notable eruption occurred in 2020, resulting in significant damage to nearby towns and the displacement of thousands of residents.

Scientists closely monitor Taal Volcano’s activity , keeping a vigilant eye on its seismic signals, gas emissions, and other indicators. This monitoring helps to ensure the safety of nearby communities and provides valuable data for scientific research.

Exploring Taal Volcano

Exploring Taal Volcano is an exciting adventure that allows you to witness the majestic beauty of nature up close. This unique experience involves a boat ride across tranquil Taal Lake, followed by a hike up to the volcano’s main crater rim.

As you embark on the hike, you’ll be captivated by the stunning views and breathtaking landscapes that surround you. The trail offers a closer look at Taal Volcano’s impressive crater lake, showcasing its vibrant colors and pristine waters. The sulfur streaks and fumaroles found along the trail add to the volcano’s mystique, providing a glimpse into its volcanic activity .

Safety precautions should always be a top priority when exploring Taal Volcano. Due to its volcanic nature and occasional volcanic activity , it’s essential to stay informed about the latest updates and follow any guidelines or restrictions set by local authorities.

Key Highlights of Exploring Taal Volcano:

• A boat ride across Taal Lake, offering serene views of the surrounding landscape
• A captivating hike up to the volcano’s main crater rim, providing a closer look at the crater lake, sulfur streaks, and fumaroles
• An opportunity to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of Taal Volcano firsthand

Whether you’re a nature lover, adventure enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique experience, exploring Taal Volcano promises to be an unforgettable journey filled with awe-inspiring sights and natural wonders.

Taal Heritage Town

Taal Heritage Town is a historical town in Batangas, established in 1572. It showcases the rich history and culture of the province, making it a must-visit destination for travelers . The town is renowned for its traditional Filipino -Spanish architecture , which reflects the influences of the Spanish colonial era.

One of the highlights of Taal Heritage Town is the imposing Basilica de San Martin de Tours , which is considered Asia’s biggest Catholic church. Its grandeur and intricate design are a testament to the town’s strong Catholic heritage. Visitors can explore the church’s interiors, adorned with religious art and sculptures.

The town is also home to a collection of well-preserved ancestral houses that showcase the grandeur and elegance of the past. These houses feature traditional architectural elements, such as wide windows, capiz shell panels, and wooden balconies. Walking through the streets of Taal Heritage Town is like stepping back in time, immersing yourself in the charm of the bygone era.

Aside from its architectural wonders, Taal Heritage Town played a significant role in the country’s history. It was one of the strongholds of the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonizers. The town’s historical importance and the stories of valor and resilience from that era add depth to the visitor’s experience.

Another interesting fact about Taal Heritage Town is its association with the barong, a traditional formal men’s attire. The town is known for producing some of the finest barongs in the country, showcasing exquisite handiwork and attention to detail. Visitors can witness the skilled artisans at work and even purchase a custom-made barong as a souvenir.

Taal Heritage Town is also the birthplace of the balisong or butterfly knife, a unique Filipino weapon known for its intricate design and practicality. The town holds a balisong festival, celebrating the craftsmanship and cultural significance of this iconic tool.

Visiting Taal Heritage Town is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the history, culture, and architecture of Batangas. It is a place where the past comes alive, allowing travelers to appreciate and understand the rich heritage of the Philippines.

Anilao Marine Reserve

Anilao Marine Reserve is a breathtaking underwater paradise located in Batangas, Philippines. Situated in Balayan Bay, this marine reserve is a haven for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. With its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, Anilao Marine Reserve offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the diverse marine life of the region.

Snorkeling and diving in Anilao Marine Reserve provide unique opportunities to explore the underwater world and witness the beauty of nature firsthand. With over 40 different dive sites, there is an abundance of marine wonders to discover. From colorful coral gardens to impressive underwater caves, the reserve never fails to amaze.

Snorkeling in Anilao Marine Reserve

Snorkeling in Anilao Marine Reserve is an enriching experience for nature lovers. With just a mask , snorkel , and fins , you can immerse yourself in the vibrant ecosystem beneath the waves. Swim alongside colorful tropical fish, graceful sea turtles, and fascinating sea creatures as you explore the coral reefs.

The reserve’s shallow waters make it an ideal spot for snorkeling , even for beginners. Just a few meters from the shore, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a kaleidoscope of marine life . Be sure to keep an eye out for the flourishing coral formations and the spectacular variety of fish species that call this underwater paradise home .

Diving in Anilao Marine Reserve

Diving enthusiasts flock to Anilao Marine Reserve for its exceptional dive sites and unparalleled underwater biodiversity. Whether you’re a novice diver or an experienced one, the reserve offers something for everyone. Explore captivating walls, enchanting drop-offs, and stunning seascapes as you descend into the depths.

The marine reserve’s rich marine ecosystem is home to an impressive array of marine life. From schools of colorful fish to intriguing macro creatures, there is always something fascinating to discover. Dive into a world where vibrant coral gardens thrive, and pelagic species cruise through the clear waters.

“Anilao Marine Reserve is a treasure trove of marine wonders, offering an unforgettable snorkeling and diving experience. Its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life make it a must-visit destination for underwater enthusiasts.” – Snorkel and Dive Magazine

Discover the wonders of Anilao Marine Reserve and embark on an unforgettable underwater adventure . Immerse yourself in the beauty of the ocean, explore vibrant coral reefs, and encounter fascinating marine creatures. Whether you choose to snorkel or dive, Anilao Marine Reserve guarantees an experience that will leave you in awe of the breathtaking marine world.

Fortune Island

Fortune Island is a hidden gem in Batangas, Philippines, that offers a unique and enchanting experience for visitors. This picturesque island is known for its stunning Greek-inspired architecture and breathtaking views, making it a popular tourist spot for those seeking beauty and tranquility.

The island’s Greek-inspired architectural ruins, including a replica of the Parthenon, add a touch of ancient history and charm to the surroundings. Wander through the ruins and imagine yourself transported to ancient Greece as you take in the captivating coastal scenery.

Fortune Island is not only a feast for the eyes but also a paradise for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Its crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life make it an ideal destination for underwater exploration. Dive into the depths and discover a vibrant world of colorful coral reefs, exotic fish, and other fascinating sea creatures. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, Fortune Island offers an unforgettable underwater adventure .

Photography enthusiasts will find endless opportunities to capture stunning shots on Fortune Island. The combination of the island’s dramatic cliffs, azure waters, and picturesque ruins creates a backdrop that is sure to inspire creativity. Don’t miss the chance to capture the breathtaking sunset views, as the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors.

“Fortune Island is a hidden gem in Batangas, offering a unique blend of ancient Greek charm and natural beauty. Snorkeling and diving enthusiasts will be captivated by the clear waters and vibrant marine life, while photographers will find endless inspiration in the island’s breathtaking vistas. Get ready for an unforgettable experience that combines history, adventure , and awe-inspiring views.”

Sepoc Beach

Sepoc Beach is a hidden gem located in Maricaban Island , offering a peaceful and relaxing getaway surrounded by natural beauty. With its pristine white sand, clear waters, and serene ambiance, Sepoc Beach is the perfect destination for those seeking tranquility. Unlike crowded tourist hotspots, this privately owned beach provides a quieter and more exclusive experience, allowing visitors to fully unwind and enjoy the peacefulness of their surroundings.

One of the highlights of a visit to Sepoc Beach is the opportunity for snorkeling and diving in the nearby Sombrero Island . As its name suggests, Sombrero Island is known for its unique shape resembling a hat. Exploring the underwater world around Sombrero Island reveals a vibrant marine ecosystem teeming with colorful fish, exotic corals, and other fascinating marine life.

The peacefulness, natural beauty, and abundance of outdoor activities make Sepoc Beach and its surrounding area a true paradise for nature enthusiasts, beach lovers, and anyone looking for a serene and rejuvenating experience.

Key Highlights

• White sand beach
• Clear and calm waters
• Private and less crowded
• Sombrero Island for snorkeling and diving

Snorkeling and Diving Information

Masasa beach.

Located in Tingloy , Batangas, Masasa Beach is a hidden gem offering unspoiled beauty and tranquility. This secluded beach is a paradise for nature lovers seeking a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The beach boasts a stretch of pristine white sand that meets the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Batangas coast. It’s the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and bask in the serenity of your surroundings. Masasa Beach is less commercialized compared to other popular beaches in Batangas, making it a favorite among backpackers and budget travelers .

One of the highlights of Masasa Beach is its stunning rock formations that dot the shoreline. These natural wonders add to the beach’s charm and provide a picturesque backdrop for memorable photos. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore these unique rock formations up close and marvel at their fascinating shapes, carved over time by the forces of nature.

“Masasa Beach offers a pristine white sand beach , clear turquoise waters, and stunning rock formations .” – Traveler’s Review

Laiya , located in San Juan , Batangas, is a sought-after beach destination renowned for its expansive stretch of glistening white sand beach and pristine azure waters. Visitors can indulge in a variety of water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, making it a paradise for beach enthusiasts.

Aside from its natural beauty, Laiya offers diverse accommodations to suit the preferences of different travelers . From luxurious beach resorts to cozy cottages, there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.

However, Laiya is not just about sun, sand, and sea. It is also an opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture . Take a stroll along the beach and discover the vibrant atmosphere as you encounter friendly locals who are eager to share their traditions and customs. Don’t miss the chance to savor fresh seafood caught by local fishermen, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.

One of the must-try dishes in the area is Batangas Lomi, a hearty noodle soup that showcases the rich flavors of the region. Indulge in this local delicacy and let your taste buds be delighted by its savory goodness.

Local Culture in Laiya

“Laiya is not only a breathtaking beach destination but also a window to the vibrant local culture of Batangas. From interacting with welcoming locals to indulging in traditional dishes, Laiya offers a memorable experience for travelers seeking both relaxation and cultural immersion.”

Laiya truly offers an unforgettable escape, where you can bask in the sun, explore the stunning underwater world, and embrace the warmth of the local culture . So pack your bags and get ready to create lasting memories in this idyllic beach paradise!

Mt. Maculot

Embark on an exciting hiking adventure at Mt. Maculot , one of Batangas’ most popular destinations. This mountain offers a moderately challenging trek that is suitable for both experienced hikers and beginners looking for an exhilarating challenge. Lace up your boots, pack your backpack, and get ready to discover the natural beauty of this remarkable trail.

The trek up Mt. Maculot provides not only a physical challenge but also breathtaking scenic views along the way. As you make your way up, take advantage of the rest stops strategically placed throughout the trail. Catch your breath and capture stunning photos of the surrounding landscapes, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

At the summit of Mt. Maculot , you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Taal Lake and Volcano. The sight of the tranquil lake surrounded by volcanic terrain is truly awe-inspiring. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of nature and appreciate this spectacular vantage point. Immortalize the view with your camera or simply gaze in wonder at the majesty of Taal.

When embarking on the Mt. Maculot hike, safety should be a top priority. Wear appropriate hiking gear, including sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing. Stay hydrated throughout the journey and bring snacks to keep your energy levels up. It is also advisable to hike with a group or a local guide who is familiar with the trail and can ensure your safety.

“The view from Mt. Maculot’s summit is simply breathtaking. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment as you gaze out at the panoramic vista of Taal Lake and Volcano.”

If you’re an adventure seeker looking for a thrilling hiking experience and the chance to witness the stunning beauty of Taal Lake and Volcano, Mt. Maculot is the perfect destination. Challenge yourself, embrace the great outdoors, and marvel at the captivating landscapes that await you on this unforgettable journey.

Mt. Batulao

Mt. Batulao is a favorite among hikers in Batangas. It offers a unique hiking experience with its rolling slopes, open trails, and cool breeze. The trail includes both easy and challenging parts, with a rocky cliff at the summit offering stunning views of Batangas and Cavite. Mt. Batulao is a perfect day hike destination, easily accessible from Manila .

Hiking Trails at Mt. Batulao

There are two main hiking trails at Mt. Batulao , the Old Trail and the New Trail. The Old Trail is known for its steep slopes and rocky terrain, providing a more challenging hike. The New Trail, on the other hand, offers a more gradual ascent with well-maintained paths. Both trails provide scenic views of the surrounding mountains and lush greenery.

Regardless of which trail you choose, be prepared for a day of adventure and breathtaking vistas. Mt. Batulao’s open trails allow hikers to immerse themselves in nature as they hike through the picturesque landscape.

Scenic Views from the Summit

Reaching the summit of Mt. Batulao rewards hikers with panoramic views of Batangas and Cavite. The rocky cliff offers a vantage point to appreciate the natural beauty of the surrounding areas. On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of the neighboring mountains and the distant Mt. Maculot.

Amidst the scenic views , take a moment to breathe in the fresh mountain air and marvel at the incredible landscapes laid out before you. Mt. Batulao’s summit is a perfect spot to capture stunning photographs or simply soak in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.

Planning Your Day Hike

If you’re planning a day hike to Mt. Batulao, it’s essential to come prepared. Here are some tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable hiking experience:

• Wear comfortable and sturdy footwear to navigate the varied terrain.
• Bring enough water to stay hydrated throughout the hike.
• Apply sunscreen and wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.
• Pack some snacks or a packed lunch to fuel your energy levels.
• Start your hike early in the morning to avoid midday heat.
• Observe Leave No Trace principles by cleaning up after yourself and respecting the environment.

By following these guidelines, you can make the most of your day hike at Mt. Batulao and have an unforgettable adventure in the scenic landscapes of Batangas.

Batangas, a beautiful province in the Philippines, is a treasure trove of tourist spots and attractions . From the majestic Taal Volcano to the charming Taal Heritage Town, Batangas offers a diverse range of experiences for travelers . Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, this province has it all.

One of the highlights of Batangas is the iconic Taal Volcano, known for its stunning beauty and intriguing history. A visit to this active volcano offers a chance to witness its unique feature as a volcano within a volcano. The hike up to the main crater rim provides breathtaking views of the surrounding Taal Lake, making it an unforgettable experience.

Aside from Taal Volcano, Batangas is also home to beautiful beaches like Anilao and Laiya. These coastal gems boast crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and picturesque landscapes. Snorkeling and diving enthusiasts will be captivated by the underwater wonders found in Anilao Marine Reserve, while those looking for a peaceful getaway will find serenity in the secluded Sepoc Beach.

For adventurous souls, Batangas offers renowned hiking destinations such as Mt. Maculot and Mt. Batulao. These mountains provide not only challenging trails but also panoramic vistas of Batangas’ natural beauty. The breathtaking views from their peaks are well worth the effort.

With its abundance of tourist spots, Batangas is undeniably a must-visit destination. Whether you’re exploring Taal Volcano, immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Taal Heritage Town, or enjoying the tranquil beaches and thrilling hikes, Batangas has something to offer every type of traveler. Plan your trip to Batangas and create unforgettable memories in this captivating province.

Is Taal Volcano still active?

Yes, Taal Volcano is an active volcano located in Batangas, Philippines.

Where is Taal Volcano located?

Taal Volcano is situated within Taal Lake in Batangas, Philippines.

What can I do to explore Taal Volcano?

Exploring Taal Volcano involves taking a boat ride across Taal Lake and hiking up to the volcano’s main crater rim.

What attractions are there in Taal Heritage Town?

Taal Heritage Town is known for its traditional Filipino -Spanish architecture , including Asia’s biggest Catholic church and a collection of old houses .

What can I expect to see and do at Anilao Marine Reserve?

Anilao Marine Reserve offers a rich and diverse marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkeling and diving.

What is unique about Fortune Island?

Fortune Island is known for its Greek-inspired architecture and stunning views, as well as its snorkeling and diving opportunities.

What makes Sepoc Beach a popular destination?

Sepoc Beach offers a peaceful and relaxing getaway, with white sand, clear waters, and a serene ambiance.

What can I expect to see at Masasa Beach?

Masasa Beach offers an unspoiled white sand beach, clear turquoise waters, and stunning rock formations.

What activities can I do in Laiya?

In Laiya, you can enjoy the long stretch of white sand beach, partake in water activities , try local cuisine, and immerse yourself in the local culture.

What is the view like from Mt. Maculot?

Hiking Mt. Maculot offers a breathtaking view of Taal Lake and Volcano, making it a rewarding hiking experience.

What can I expect during a hike to Mt. Batulao?

Mt. Batulao offers a unique hiking experience with its rolling slopes, open trails, and stunning views of Batangas and Cavite.

Source Links

• https://staycations.ph/unveiling-the-beauty-of-batangas-your-ultimate-guide-to-batangas-tourist-spots/
• https://www.unchartedphilippines.com/en/adventures/best-of-batangas-taal-volcano-taal-heritage-town-and-anilao-marine-reserve/
• https://www.awanderfulsole.com/taal-volcano-day-hike-guide-budget-itinerary-useful-tips/

Hello! I'm Wise, a Filipina with a deep love for my country and a passion for sharing its beauty with the world. As a writer, blogger, and videographer, I capture the essence of the Philippines through my eyes, hoping to give foreign visitors a true taste of what makes these islands so special.

From the vibrant streets of Manila to the tranquil beaches of Palawan, my journey is about uncovering the hidden gems and everyday wonders that define the Filipino spirit. My articles and blogs are not just travel guides; they are invitations to explore, to feel, and to fall in love with the Philippines, just as I have.

Through my videos, I strive to bring the sights, sounds, and stories of my homeland to life. Whether it's the local cuisine, the colorful festivals, or the warm smiles of the people, I aim to prepare visitors for an authentic experience.

For those seeking more than just a vacation, the Philippines can be a place of discovery and, perhaps, even love. My goal is to be your guide, not just to the places you'll visit, but to the experiences and connections that await in this beautiful corner of the world. Welcome to the Philippines, through my eyes. Let's explore together!

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TAAL VOLCANO: Day Hike Guide, Budget, Itinerary & Why It’s Worth It

Taal Volcano is one of nature’s greatest wonders nearest to Manila. An hour drive to Tagaytay will showcase the remarkably gorgeous view of this jewel situated in the middle of Taal Lake. Arguably the country’s 2nd most popular volcano next to Mt. Mayon of Legaspi, this little stunner’s beauty, however, is not about to settle for second best. While many would content themselves merely seeing this stunner from afar, we thought of witnessing it up close. We decided to delight ourselves with a little adventure by hiking to its crater.  Allow me to show what it’s like up there.

Gaining an elevation of 311++ MASL, the hike to this volcano’s crater doesn’t seem too challenging. However, it is no longer my habit to underestimate any mountain so I expected everything from the best to the worst. Starting the adventure in Tagaytay, we rode a tricycle going to Talisay in Batangas. From there, we hired a boat to take us to Taal Island. The boat ride lasted around 25 minutes. Arriving at the docks, we immediately walked to the registration area to pay the entrance fees then soon after, we started the hike.

From the registration area, we walked along a grass-covered land for about 2 minutes. We then went on to walk on a concrete path, passing by some locals and their horses offering us a ride. We continued to walk on the concreted road for about 5 minutes before, turning left to a dirt path. The flat dirt road stretched to about 2KM before finally reaching the junction. There we had our tickets inspected by some staff from the Tourism Office then we went on to a more grueling part of the hike.

The trail past the junction is gradually ascending. It was badly beaten and hikers will need to also share it with horses. We trekked along with other hikers consisted mostly of Koreans and Taiwanese. Horses going down are some obstacles we needed to be careful with but this part of the hike, in general, is pretty easy. After probably 15 minutes, we reached the first resting camp.

We continued the hike after taking a 5-minute breather along the gradually ascending trail. This hike should pretty much be easy but the sun was slowing me down. One thing to always keep in mind if you don’t wanna have a hard time in the mountains is to start early. That way you wouldn’t have to battle your way against the scorching heat of the sun. Although the trail from the first resting camp to the next is shaded, we just happen to have hiked during an extremely hot day.

The trail from the first resting station to the next stretched to about 2KM but you wouldn’t mind the long hike as you will be entertained with the panoramic view of Mt. Tabaro and Taal Lake the moment you finish it. From the 2nd resting hut, the trek that follows is pretty easy. Probably the easiest part of the trail as it will be along a flat, soft earth that would stretch for about another 1KM. You will find another resting hut before finally taking the last stretch of the hike to the viewing deck.

From the final resting hut, the trail that follows is comprised of steep ascents coupled with the hot sulfur steam emitted from the ground. If you happen to be hiking under the midday sun then this would be your greatest challenge. It will take about 15-25 minutes to finish the final stretch before reaching the resting stations just a few meters under the viewing deck. It seems pretty short of time but if the sun has always been your weakness then just like me, you’ll find the final stretch taking for as long as forever.

We skipped the viewing deck as it was too crowded with tourists and other hikers. Instead, we went straight to the so-called Red Lava which promises an unobstructed view of the crater lake. From the resting camp we walked to the right for about five minutes. We arrived at a gated entrance to the Red Lava. We paid an additional P50 each to be allowed entry. A couple of muddy slopes along with overgrown bushes later, we arrived in Red Lava.

As promised, Red Lava offers breathtaking 360-degree scenery of Taal Lake and the faraway mountains of Maculot and Batulao . The crater looked so immaculate in a pool of emerald green water. Another factor that made the scene so dramatic was the crimson red color of earth and the hot sulfuric fumes it emitted. Red Lava gave us all the best things this gem of a volcano can offer. It made the additional P50 totally worth it.

HOW TO GO THERE

From Buendia Bus Terminal, ride a Nasugbu bound DLTB bus going to Tagaytay (1.5Hrs ; P82.50) . Alight the bus in Olivares or in Rotunda just in front of the Police Station. From there hire a tricycle going to Talisay or to your contacted boat station  (30Min ; P150/tric/3pax) . Pay the fees then ride a boat going to Taal Volcano Island (20Min ; P2000/boat/7pax) .

USEFUL TIPS TO HIKING TAAL VOLCANO

• The hike to the crater in general is easy although visitors are encouraged to get a guide for their tour.
• The tourism office is open as early as 4AM to accommodate visitors.
• Hiking to the crater of this magnificent volcano isn’t just for hikers and adventure seekers. Those who wish to witness the beguiling beauty of this little mountain but dreads the arduous task of hiking can simply get a horse and ride their way up for a fee of P500.
• The trail going up the crater is mostly bare so start your hike early in the day to avoid the sun on extremely hot days.
• The last stretch of the hike is the toughest as the temperature tend to rise due to sulfuric steams from the ground.
• Bring enough water and hydration packs as those sold in the volcano island are really expensive. Bet you wouldn’t wanna pay P100 for a bottle of Gatorade.
• Going all the way down to the crater is no longer allowed.
• The tricycle ride back from Talisay to Tagaytay can cost double the price of you going there. Say P150 to take you to Talisay but going back can cost P300-P500.

INTERESTING PLACES TO STAY AT AFTER YOUR HIKE

CLUB BALAI ISABEL

Address: Fairways Drive, Talisay, Batangas Phone: (02) 895 7230

Check Rates & Availability

ESCALA TAGAYTAY

Address:  Purok 102, Poblete Street, Barangay Maharlika West,, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite Phone: (02) 519 4444

NURTURE WELLNESS VILLAGE

Address:  Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II West Luzon 4120,, Tagaytay, Cavite Phone: (02) 710 9786

BUGDET & OTHER ESSENTIALS TO HIKING TAAL VOLCANO

This adventure simply justified the fascination both locals and foreign tourist has for her extraordinary beauty. She is absolutely stunning that a visit would never be a time wasted. So there you go! For questions, comments, suggestions and/or violent reactions, just leave them below.

Don’t forget to share! Until next time. Ciao!

BULALACAO ISLANDS: DIY Travel Guide, Budget + Itinerary To The Precious Gems Of Oriental Mindoro

Mt. binacayan: day hike guide, budget, itinerary & why it’s more than just the sea of clouds, related posts, nangkaan ridge: travel guide + budget & useful tips, mt. arayat (south peak): day hike/overnight guide, budget, itinerary & useful tips, mt. tagapo: diy day hike/overnight guide, budget + itinerary, 26 comments.

Is it open even during Christmas?

Hi. I’m not sure whether hiking activities are allowed due the recent volcanic activity.

Thanks for providing great tips. Nice and very helpful information .

Hi, is there any suggestion where to stay for overnight for a group of at 7. thanks! hope I get a response even the post is posted last year!

sorry for the exclamation point. 🙂

There are a lot of hotels nman in Tagaytay that you can stay at. Try checking out Agoda

Hi, ask ko lang, what hotel si nearest to taal lake? thanks! hope I get a response asap. 🙂

May Club Balai Isabel po jan sa malapiy lang ms. Rosa.

Thank you for your informative blog. May I know if hikes are allowed at sunset? Until what time are hikes allowed?

Hi Cristina. Im not sure about the time. You might wanna check with the boat station. The number is on the blog. Thanks

Hi Keza thanks for your blog.We visit last July 14 and we used your guide how to get there.Some changes on the trike payment for group of 3 it’s 300 and 350 for group of 4 (V.v).

Hi Mar! Thanks for taking the time to update me with the prices. 😊

hi, good morning… I’m from Davao and I can’t picture out the scenario because your starting point is from Manila, but in my case is that from airport we are going to stay at LAGUNA. So, I’m asking for any help to set my itinerary from LAGUNA to TAAL Volcano trekking… thank you so much in advance for your help. have a good day!

Hi Richelle! Whre exactly in Laguna are you staying?

Me and my friend’s planning to trek here on Feb 4, i hope makahanap kami ng makakasama sa bangka para makamura. Is it possible na meron nga kaming mahagilap na makasama from there? Just wondering… thanks

Hi Dianne! Yeah there’s a chance naman na makahanap kayo.. Good Luck and Have fun

Thank you so much for your blogging. It’s so useful. 🙂

hello! i wanna hike alone but wondering if i did, would there be a group willing to take me to their boat ride so i can share it with them? hehe what do you think? 🙂 i’d be shelling out of course! just so it’s cheaper 🙂

Hi Yeng. There will always be people who will be needing an extra head to share the cost but also expect that this might be risky as there is a possibility that you might find yourself with no one on your visit.

Hello. THANK YOU for this post. Planning to spend my birthday in Tagaytay next month and was already wondering how to go about a Taal Volcano trek so this post is soooo timely for me.

Just one question: we do have a car so is it better to drive from Tagaytay to Talisay or better take a tricycle?

If you know the way then it’s better to drive your car to Talisay. 😊

Hi madam, is there area where we can leave/park our vehicle? If yes, with parking fee? Thanks 🙂

Hi Jessica. Yes. The resort should have a parking space there. Not sure about the fee though.

Just wanted to check, with regards to the boat rental, does it include the boat driver? So the price of the boat rental is per boat and not per person, am I right?

Hi Jay. Yes it already has a driver and the cost is per boat. 😊

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TAAL HERITAGE TOWN, BATANGAS: A DIY Sightseeing Walking Tour

Taal used the be the capital of the province of Batangas. It used to be located in present day San Nicolas but the whole town was forced to move to a safer elevated location, farther from the Taal Volcano after the disastrous 200-day 1754 eruption (May 15-December 1, 1754), the biggest eruption of this small volcano in recorded history.

The town continued to prosper during the Spanish era and produced some of the country’s bravest national heroes including Don Felipe Agoncillo , a revolutionary hero and a diplomat; his wife Doña Marcela Marino Agoncillo , best known for making the Philippine Flag; Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio , known as the Godmother of the Revolution and a major supporter of the revolt against the Spanish forces; and Gen. Ananias Diokno , the only Tagalog general to have headed an all-out military expedition to the Visayan region.

Their well-preserved ancestral houses remain standing up to this date and offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the rich and famous at the time.

At the center of Taal Park stands the towering Basilica de San Martin de Tours, the biggest church in the orient, surrounded by other cultural landmarks including the Hall of the Municipal Government of Taal and a number of ancestral houses.

While commercialization has penetrated the old heritage town center, the overall character of the city remains. The 7-Eleven store located near the plaza is housed in an old structure while Don Juan BBQ , a popular restaurant, serves some of Batangas’ signature dishes such as Tapang Taal, pork and sweeter than usual, and Taal Longganisa, the fatty, garlic type. The Taal Market is also around the area where you will find several stores selling Barong Tagalog and other products made from piña and Taal delicacies like panutsa, Batangas’ version of peanut brittle, suman and empanada. Taal is also the balisong and Barong Tagalog capital of the Philippines.

The Town of Taal was founded in 1572 and this year, the people will be celebrating the town’s 440th founding anniversary with the El Pasubat Festival .

Here are some of the photos that I took while walking briskly (because we were running short of time) from the Taal Basilica all the way to the San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps. At the time (November), the streets of the town center were filled with several caravan makeshift stores selling everything from toys to clothes.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

Top Hotels and Resorts in Batangas

According to Agoda review scores.

• Acuaverde Beach Resort & Hotel Inc. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Virgin Beach Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• NDN Grand Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Palm Beach Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Cintai – Coritos Garden Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Batangas Accommodations!

How to get there:  From Manila, take a Lemery-bound bus (P150++). Ask the driver whether it will pass through Taal Town Proper or simply ask whether it will stop at Taal Basilica. If it does, get off at the Taal Basilica.  If it not, get off at Taal Lemery Bypass Junction and take the jeepney to the Basilica (minimum fare).

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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How I miss my place. My parents have business in Taal Public Market. They sell one of the most known specialty of taal, and they call it Tapa.

you should have tried climbing at the Tore.. :)) We tried it, scary but the view from the top of the church is breathtaking..

Yes, yes, I’ll try it next time. I actually went back last weekend but the tower was closed when I was there :(

Nice blog! Dexter, what stall do your parents have in the market? How can you distinguish it? I went took the climb too maydee! It is breathtaking indeed! Hey, check out the Official Tourism Website of Taal! Lots of wonderful things and events happening! Thanks have a great one! http://www.taal.ph

@Dianne, Thanks, the name of our store is Gerry and Lheen, actually you just go there at Taal Public Market and look for Gerry and Lheen. You can see the pictures at my site :) Hope you could visit and try our product in Taal

Thanks Dianne! :)

Instead of walking, can we hire a tricycle to bring us around the town? Would you know how much to pay the tricycle driver? Thanks.

Around P10 per person from one spot to another if hindi nakapila ung trike. Di ko alam magkano if maghihire ng for the afternoon.

But di talaga needed. Super lapit lang sa isa’t isa ng mga attractions, as in halos magkakatabi lang. One short block lang from each other.

Maybe you can offer tour guide services ? Receuiting senior high school sfudent fornhe task bug mjst be trained and knowlegable. It would help a lot of balikbayan who travel on their own. But please do not take advantage with exorbitant fees or prices. A fair price is a long lasting memory.

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TAAL HERITAGE VILLAGE CULTURE TOUR: A Journey Through Time in Batangas

Taal Heritage Village, often referred to simply as “Taal,” is a beautifully preserved town that echoes the grandeur of the Spanish colonial era. This charming destination is a testament to the resilience of the Filipino people and their commitment to preserving their cultural heritage.

Taal, a town known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, invites you to step back in time. If you like streets with old-house vibes, this is the best place to be. Imagine the famous Calle Crisologo of Vigan City but on a larger and grander scale. The tight labyrinth and town grid are dotted with even more historical Spanish Colonial Architecture. The majority of the accommodations and major establishments have maintained the original external design and structure, which altogether creates this massive and immersive historical walk experience you can ever have in the region, or in the country.

Historical Significance

The roots of Taal can be traced back to the early Spanish colonial period, making it one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. It has witnessed centuries of history, including the climactic eruption of the infamous active Taal Volcano, the country’s struggle for independence, and its eventual sovereignty. Today, Taal stands as a living and breathing sprawling open-air museum, allowing visitors to meander through its streets and experience history, culture, food, and heritage firsthand.

Architectural Wonders and Feats

One of the highlights of the Taal Heritage Village Culture Tour is its stunning colonial-era architecture ubiquitous in its central downtown area. The town is now renowned for its well-preserved ancestral houses, which showcase a blend of architectural styles, including Spanish, Bahay na Bato (stone houses), and Filipino colonial. The intricate wooden carvings, capiz shell windows, and imposing stone facades are a testament to the craftsmanship of the era and locals love of preserving such feats of craftsmanship.

The Walking Heritage Tour

As you saunter through the tight grid, you will encounter a number of ancestral homes that have been converted into museums, allowing you to explore their interiors and discover the stories behind these architectural marvels. Some notable houses to visit include the Gregorio Agoncillo Mansion, the Villavicencio Wedding Gift House, and the Galleria Taal, which houses a vast collection of vintage photographs.

We are able to visit the Casa Recuerdos. Being one of the superfluous numbers of picturesque houses, this particular structure is now converted into a photo studio. Entering its gates, you would be welcomed by two charming antique cars at their parking bay. Grace its halls through the concrete staircase and its spacious balcony. The Interiors are illuminated by many intricately designed chandeliers. Altogether, they exude a romantic warm glow that could be reminiscent during those years. The large room is converted to the photo studio complete with lighting paraphernalia and hordes of traditional Filipiniana dresses that you can don and have photoshoots with.

Right in front of Casa Recuerdos is the Paradores del Castillo. It is one of the iconic bed & breakfasts in Taal Heritage town and one of its significant amenities is their infinity pool. Its Reception Hall features an open-air space with a picturesque woodcarving installation, antique displays, and classic furniture that completes the theme.

It was a brief walking tour and we did have not enough time to truly immerse ourselves around. This makes me want to be back and explore more of Taal town.

Cultural Immersion

The Taal Heritage Village Culture Tour goes beyond architecture; it provides a comprehensive cultural experience and historical feel. You can have the opportunity to engage with locals who are passionate about sharing their traditions and learn firsthand from the people who believe in them. Marvel the streets that truly kept the memories of the centuries intact, and you could truly imagine how things ran during those days. I could imagine horse-drawn carriages clacking on the streets and maidens in traditional Filipiniana attire roaming streets as they went about with their daily errands.

The Taal Heritage Products

Piña Fibre Barong and Embroidery: Be amazed at intricate works of making traditional Barongs with their mastery of hand embroidery. Watching the experts’ magical flicks of their hand and testament of grit, slowly, patterns form into one of the best.

The Balisong: this is one of the tools crafted and designed in Batangas. This sharp knife tool comes in different sizes and designs which makes it a heritage gift from Taal.

Panutsa : a sweet treat made of sugary syrup and whole toasted formed into pancake sizes shapes perfect for afternoon snacks and capping hearty meals. We are able to witness how to prepare and make Panutsa using traditional wooden paddles and banana leaves.

The Biggest Catholic in the Philippines

A visit to the Taal Basilica, one of the oldest churches in Asia, is a spiritual and historical experience. The church’s baroque architecture and intricate details are awe-inspiring, and the church has played a significant role in the town’s history. Its massive size would truly make your jaw drop. You could truly stare at the grandeur of its facade. As you enter its main hall, you will see the restorative paintings done on the ceilings which depict various Biblical stories. Its retablo equates to the magnanimous size and its intricate details would truly amaze Catholic devotees. The Minor Basilica de San Martin de Tours of Taal is truly one of the icons of Batangas tourismscape and its grand status speaks to the synergistic efforts of the locals and the government authorities on its preservation.

A Journey Through Time

The Taal Heritage Village Culture Tour is a certainly unique journey through time, offering a window into the Philippines’ rich history, artistry, and traditions. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a tourist in search of authentic cultural experiences, Taal Heritage Village invites you to explore its streets, engage with its lovely people, and leave with a profound appreciation for the enduring spirit of Batangueño culture. As you walk through its storied lanes, you’ll find that Taal is more than just a destination; it’s a living testament, a breathing musuem, to the beauty of heritage and the resilience of a proud province, region and ultimately, the Nation.

Visiting Taal Heritage Town is part of the flagship Philippine Experience Program of the Department of Tourism participated by the top officials, LGUs, diplomatic corps, and media.

TWIN LAKES HOTEL EXPERIENCE

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Published by KapampanganTraveller

I travel and promote local tourism through my amateur photography and meager resources. Hopefully, I would be able to set foot all the 81 provinces of our blessed country, Philippines. A Solo Traveler at times. View all posts by KapampanganTraveller

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Taal Travel Guide

The former capital of Batangas Province, the municipality of Taal is a heritage town that is famous for its barong tagalog , an embroidered formal garment, as well as for the well-known balisong, a folding pocket knife that is also recognized as a ‘butterfly knife’.

The town’s main landmark is the imposing Taal Basilica of Saint Martin, the biggest church in the country and the largest Catholic church in Asia , standing 315 feet long and 148 feet wide. Built between 1858 and 1878, it is renowned for its ornate chandeliers and unusual Spanish-style neo-classical façade. Atop its bell tower, you can enjoy a panoramic vista of the town plaza and distant Taal Lake.

Behind the basilica, you will find the sanctuary of Our Lady of Casaysay, which dates back to the 1600s and attracts pilgrims from all over the area. It contains priceless relics of the colonial era, while several other sacred shrines are also placed here.

A most rewarding daytrip leads to the nearby Taal Volcano, the world’s smallest of its kind set between the towns of San Nicolas and Talisay . It comprises an island in Lake Taal that is placed within a caldera created by a previous most powerful eruption. Situated around 50kms from Manila , this is one of the country’s still-active volcanoes and belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Getting There & Away

From Manila and its international airport, you can easily access Taal by car using the National Road; the journey takes about 2 hours, 30 minutes. Buses from Manila heading to Lemery pass by the basilica.

Things to Do

Taal attractions.

Asia’s largest catholic church features an extraordinary façade.

Dating from the 17th century, this site draws pilgrims from throughout the region.

Side trips from Taal

This active volcano is just one of many in the pacific ring of fire.

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Batangas Travel Guide: Best Resorts + Diving + Hiking

Best Time to Go

• Dry and Summer Season | November to May

How to Get to Batangas

Getting around batangas, where to stay in batangas, accommodation highlights in batangas, what to see and do in batangas, go island hopping and lounge on beaches, explore diving spots, hike the mountains of batangas, set out on a heritage tour in taal town, do a visita iglesia tour, visit malabrigo lighthouse, marvel at cape santiago lighthouse, where to eat and drink in batangas, practical information and tips, sample itinerary in batangas: hiking, island hopping, heritage tour.

• Day 1: Arrival + Day-hike at Mt. Gulugod Baboy + Island hopping in Anilao

Day 2: Island hopping

Day 3: heritage tour of taal town.

Enjoy the best of what Batangas province can offer from its white sandy beaches and islands to scenic mountain hiking trails to diving destinations, heritage towns, and rich local cuisine. Plan your Batangas getaway with this travel guide. 

The province of Batangas, about 2 hours drive from  Manila (around 100km) is a favorite weekend getaway for locals because of its beaches and islands, beach resorts , incredible diving spots, mountains, and more that you can explore in just one destination. 

Add to the many natural attractions, Batangas also has heritage towns, quaint coastal municipalities, and a gastronomic culture that serves a feast to the taste buds.

See our popular Batangas Vacation Packages

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Batangas is more than just one of the top weekend road trip destinations from Manila . With the many activities and attractions to do and visit, planning a longer stay or multiple returns to fully explore all the wonderful offerings of this province is a must-do. 

Explore the best of Batangas with this travel guide to help you plan all aspects of your trip from going there to plotting all your activities in the province. 

Batangas tourist spots are mostly outdoor attractions, that's why it's best to plan your trip around the months where there is less chance of rainfall. 

Dry and Summer Season | November to May 

While you can still find enough window during the monsoon months to enjoy a vacation in Batangas, the best time to visit falls on the months from November to May when the weather is mostly clear and sunny. Please take note that on some major tourist destinations, the crowd may thicken during the summer months of March until May. 

There are several Philippine festivals of note that are celebrated in the province of Batangas every year. Some of the most popular include the following:

Parada ng Lechon

Held every Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24. On this festival, a procession of roasted pigs ( lechon ) is paraded through the streets. Come nighttime, after a vibrant ceremony, townsfolks and visitors from other places will then feast on the lechon.

Sublian Festival

Held in Batangas City, this is a two-week revelry that starts every 2nd of May. Street dancing and ceremonial worships accompany the celebration honoring the Sto Nino. 

Balsa Festival

A parade of bamboo rafts on the waters of Matabungkay Beach graces the Balsa Festival every 18th of May. 

Ala-Eh Festival

Ala-Eh Festival happens every December 8th and lasts for a week. This festivity commemorates the founding of the province. All cities and towns participate in a colorful street dance competition.

Other noteworthy festivals include:

Calacatchara Festival (held in the town of Calaca every October)

Anihan Festival (held in Lobo town every September 27)

Sigpawan Festival (celebrated in Lemery every August 15)

Kambingan Festival (in the town of Tuy every August 12)

There are a dozen more festivals that are held in the smaller towns of Batangas every year, making the province one of the best destinations for cultural experiences in the Philippines .

The main jump-off point to Batangas is Manila in Luzon, which is around 100km away by land travel. Here are your options on how to go to Batangas. 

By Land: Private Vehicles and Public Bus

Traveling by land is the most preferred way of going to Batangas. For private vehicles, you need to pass through the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) going to STAR Tollway before exiting at various towns and cities in Batangas.

For commuters, there are many bus companies bound for Batangas via major terminals in Pasay (Buendia-Taft) and Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City . 

The Batangas Port is one of the biggest in the country and is the terminal for RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) services to and from Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro and ferry services to Romblon and Caticlan Port (gateway to Boracay ). 

By Air (Outside of Manila)

The nearest airport to Batangas is the Philippines’ main airport hub of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)  in Metro Manila. The airport’s terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the Domestic Airport Terminal 3 are in Pasay City. Upon arriving at these airports, you will then take a three-hour land trip to Batangas. 

See our popular Manila Transfers

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As a big province spanning several cities and municipalities, the main mode of transportation in Batangas are buses and jeepneys while tricycles serve as secondary transportation in every city and town. 

By Jeepneys and Buses

Jeepneys and buses are the most affordable and convenient way of traveling around Batangas. Bus routes serve all cities and major municipalities while jeepney routes can stretch from one to two neighboring cities or municipalities. All jeepney and buses give senior and student discounts.

By Tricycle

When traveling around a municipality or city, the most common mode of transportation is the tricycle. Tricycle terminals are usually found in downtown areas near the marketplace, churches, residential areas, schools, commercial and government districts. 

By Private and Shared Tours

By availing of private or shared tours, you will have the most hassle-free mode of transportation in the province. You can check Batangas tours that include an all-in package with transfers to and from all the places you want to visit in Batangas.

See our popular Batangas Tours and Activities

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There are plenty of accommodation choices in the Batangas province. As a major tourism hub and a business and industrial haven, finding a place where to stay in Batangas for your staycation in the Philippines won’t be a problem because of the presence of decent lodgings in every city and municipality in the province.

• Read our article on the best beach resorts near Manila
• Check our article on the best private resorts near Manila
• See our list of the top affordable resorts near Manila

Types of Accommodations

You can find a variety of accommodations in the province of Batangas ranging from high-end resorts to mid-range hotels, budget inns, and vacation house rentals. It is important to choose your place of accommodation before your scheduled trip to Batangas to better plan your travel budget.

Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Since Batangas isn’t only known as a vacation destination, it is also a hub for business travelers, there are many hotels and resorts catering to the high-end market that are located all over the province. This luxury hotels and resorts are good options for those who are planning their honeymoon in the Philippines .

Mid-range Hotels

There are also several bed and breakfast inns, boutique hotels, and other cozy properties offering mid-range options for travelers in Batangas province. 

Budget Accommodations

Backpackers and other travelers on a budget need not worry. There are plenty of affordable Batangas beach resorts and accommodations that fit within a tight budget. 

Vacation Home Rentals

You can also find small and modest vacation home rentals around the province. Vacation home rentals can be rented from a few days to a week or even on a monthly term.

Here is a listing of some of the highly recommended hotels and beach resorts in Batangas province as grouped by their categories of luxury, mid-range, and budget. 

Luxury Accommodations 

If you're willing to splurge, here are some of the best accommodations in Batangas that are perfect for rest and relaxation. 

The Farm at San Benito

The Farm at San Benito is one of the  wellness resorts in the Philippines that offer an array of services aimed at providing a Zen state of mind to its guests. Modern tropical villas, tree houses, and loft-styled rooms are among its accommodation choices.

Set in the middle of a forest, this resort screaming of countryside vibe is the perfect location to escape and relax. The Farm’s Alive! restaurant serves a wide selection of vegan dishes. 

See our popular The Farm at San Benito Tours & Packages

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• Check out our list of the best farm stay resorts in the Philippines

Nayomi Sanctuary Resort

A secluded hideaway that has earned raves from celebrity guests, Nayomi Sanctuary Resort is every bit of its name—a real sanctuary—thanks to stylish bungalows set in the middle of Batangas' lush tropical palms.

They can also be considered one of the glamping resorts , providing glamping-style accommodations through their spacious tents that come with a veranda and an en-suite bathroom. All that plus an outdoor swimming pool with Taal Lakeside view and more. 

Camp Netanya

Influenced by Greek architecture, this Batangas resort with pool  summons a sea-side vibrant Santorini look. Overlooking Balayan Bay and a short distance away from Aiyanar Beach, Camp Netanya provides accommodation with all the amenities one would look for in a luxury property.

• See other  Santorini-inspired resorts in the Philippines

Also, Camp Netanya’s Greeka Restaurant is a foodie place you mustn’t miss. It serves a medley of Greek, Mediterranean, and Filipino cuisine.  

Casa Laiya is a hacienda mansion-type private resort nestled in a 1-hectare property that offers 7 spacious rooms for a very limited number of guests. 

AniSiam House

AniSiam House is a favorite retreat place of both scuba divers and non-divers because of its location tucked away in an isolated part of Anilao. A private resort accepting up to 12 guests only, AniSiam provides 5-star service in an intimate setting. 

A boutique hotel showcasing Spanish colonial architecture, Hotel 1925 features a nicely decorated set of rooms: Balcony Suite King, Suite King, and Suite Twin—all adorned with eye-popping interior design and patterns. 

Mid-Range Accommodations

For the best comfort and value for money, here are some mid-range accommodations that you can stay in:

Club Balai Isabel

Featuring spacious rooms and cozy suites, Club Balai Isabel situates at Taal Lake side in Talisay and is a short 10 km away from Tagaytay Picnic Grove, this is a good place to unwind and get closer to nature.

• Book a Tagaytay Taal Lake boat ride

Other amenities of the resort include the inflatable Aqua Water Park—a highly recommended day-trip destination in itself, an obstacle course, and a wedding chapel.

Villas by Eco Hotel

Priding itself for its environment-friendly and other sustainable practices, Villas by Eco Hotel offers cozy rooms with a view of the Taal Lake.

Located at the foot of the rolling hills of Batangas and enveloped by lush greens of the countryside, this resort is the ideal place to experience a relaxing escape. 

Paradiso Rito

Paradiso Rito is an isolated hideaway with 8 suites to choose from in the resort's Art House by the beach and two dorm rooms with 18 beds for sharing. The property situates between a forested part and a shore overlooking the coral-rich waters of Batangas Bay. 

Lima Park Hotel

Offering luxurious rooms perfect for both leisure and business travelers, Lima Park Hotel is housed inside the Lima industrial estate and comprises a total of 136 four-star rooms. 

Aquaria Waterpark and Crusoe Cabins

This twin property features a water park with giant slides and stylish cabins built-in container vans but comes with a front wooden porch overlooking Calatagan Beach.

Eagle Point Resort

Arguably the most popular dive resort in Batangas, Eagle Point is considered as a one-stop dive resort in the province. Just check-in and bring your scuba diving gear and they will take care of the rest of bringing you to the best dive spots in Batangas. 

From beaches, mountain trails, diving spots, to gastronomic adventures, Batangas has so much to offer that its attractions can easily fill up your travel itinerary. Here are some of the best tourists spots and activities that you shouldn't miss: 

Batangas is gifted with an abundance of swimmable beaches and islands laden with scenic backgrounds. From white sandy islands to diving spots and quaint coastal towns, there are a myriad of options to choose from if you want to spend your holiday frolicking in the sea waters in Batangas. 

Laiya Beach

One of the most well-known beaches in Batangas is Laiya. Activities here includes swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and other water sports. People come here to relax and enjoy nature thanks to many amenities and  Batangas beach resorts that cater to mid-range and leisure travelers.

Verde Island

Witness and experience the simple island living on this island bare of modern structures. From the rustic and charming setting of the island to the underwater gem of the water surrounding it—the Verde Passage—Verde Island is also a diver's haven.

Calatagan Beach

Another coastal town dotted with cozy Batangas beach resorts  and a long shoreline with fine sand, Calatagan Beach is a favorite getaway destination for the weekend, a company outing or a simple family trip. Don’t miss the Calatagan Sandbar which appears during low-tide.

• Book a  Little Boracay Calatagan Batangas beach day tour
• Enjoy a Batangas Canyon Cove day tour
• Check out this Stilts Calatagan day tour

If you come here in the morning, you’ll be able to walk through the entirety of its almost 500-meter long sandbar and swim in the surrounding crystal-clear waters. There is another sandbar you can visit near Calatagan called Starfish Island. 

Masasa Beach

On the foot of Mt. Mag-Asawang Bato in Tingloy, one can find the fine sandy beach of Masasa. There's a lot of budget accommodations found on the long stretch of the beach.

Many travelers go here after taking a day-hike at the nearby peak of Mag-Asawang Bato. Activities include beach bumming, island hopping, snorkeling, banana boat, and beach volleyball.

Sombrero Island

Named as such because it is shaped like a sombrero (Spanish word for 'hat') from afar, Sombrero Island is known for its white sandy beach and towering coconut trees.

• Book a  Batangas island-hopping tour to Sombrero Island, Portales Beach, & Sepoc Beach

There are plentiful of colorful corals under the waters off Sombrero Island, so make sure you bring your snorkeling gears—or even better, your diving equipment. The island can be reached by a 30-minute boat ride from Masasa Beach.

Sepoc Beach in Maricaban Island

Seen from Sombrero Island is the northwestern tip of Maricaban Island known as Sepoc Beach. This beach located in the municipality of Tingloy is highlighted by rocky cliffs hiding four spectacular coves with caves and white sand beaches .

The four coves are known as Apat na Lagusan. Masasa Beach is also the island-hopping jump-off point for Sepoc Beach.

Fortune Island

Fortune Island off the coast of Nasugbu features replicas of the columns of the Parthenon in Greece overlooking the deep blue waters of Nasugbu Bay.

The structures were the remains of an old private resort on the island. Today, visitors can go to Fortune Island by paying an entrance fee. To go here, you can rent a boat at Fortune Island Resort in Nasugbu or book a tour. 

• Book a Papaya Island Cove Batangas beach day tour

See our popular Island Hopping Tours

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Batangas is blessed with diving spots that are considered among the best in the world. The many dive-shops and resorts cater to both experienced and beginner divers. 

Surrounded by a body of water teeming with marine resources, underwater caves, shipwrecks and more — specifically the Verde Island Passage— Batangas is a known diving hub not only among divers from the Philippines but also all throughout the world.

Short-listed by many travel magazines in numerous best diving spots in the planet listicles, Batangas is the perfect place to go on a diving holiday.

There are many resorts in the province, especially the one located near the beach, that offers diving trips and even diving certifications. To help you plan your diving trip to Batangas, here are some of the popular dive spots in the province.

See our popular Diving Tours

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Verde Passage

The Verde Passage is a strait separating the island of Luzon in Batangas and Mindoro. It is said to be the "center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity in the world".

In 2005, marine biologists recorded an astonishing 1,736 marine species flourishing in a 10-kilometer stretch of Verde Passage—making it the site of the highest concentration of marine life in the world.

One of the main diving spots in the Philippines and is also renowned throughout the world, Anilao is where you can find many dive resorts and diving schools.

• Book an introductory dive in Anilao, Batangas

The waters off the coast of Anilao teems with colorful coral reef and a healthy underwater eco-system, making the area as one of the best scuba diving spots in the planet. The beaches in Anilao are located at the foot of Mt. Gulugod-Baboy.

Aside from lounging in beaches, visitors to Calatagan can also experience scuba diving thanks to the many dive resorts and diving schools in the area. Dotted with amazing diving spots, you won’t have a problem choosing where to go scuba diving here. 

Culebra Island

Also known as Bonito Island, it is found near Marikaban Island. This small island is surrounded by underwater walls teeming with colorful corals inhabited by plentiful species of fish making it another ideal diving spot. 

Mabalahibong Manok Island

Situated a few kilometers away from Culebra Island also in Batangas Bay, this tiny island is also surrounded by a healthy set of marine life.

Other diving spots in Batangas includes Cathedral Rock, Twin Rocks, Sepok Wall, Mapating Rock, Devil’s Point, Arthur’s Rock, Merriel’s Rock, Secret Bay in Sombrero Island, Beatrice Rock, Pinnacle Island, and Layag-Layag Reef just to name a few. 

Gifted with a geographical terrain surrounded by a long shoreline and rugged mountains—said to be a total of 70 mountains—Batangas has become a popular destination for hiking in the Philippines . 

See our popular Hiking Tours

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To help you plan a hiking trip to the province, here are some must-hike destinations in Batangas:

Mount Maculot (Cuenca)

One of the most popular hiking spots in the country, Mount Maculot is an easy climb that gifts hikers with a jaw-dropping view of Taal volcano and lake from the "rockies", a ridge part on the side of the mountain.

A spacious campsite is located a few hundred meters from the rockies. Hiking time to the rockies takes an hour or two and another couple of hours going to the peak.

Height: Rockies / Summit: 706 / 930 MASL

Mount Batulao (Nasugbu)

Featuring a wide grassy meadow leading to rolling slopes and surrounded by majestic landscape, the hiking trail of Mount Batulao screams of Instagram-worthy images.

A relaxed hike of 2-3 hours will lead you to its pointed peaks that open to a more breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside of Batangas.

Height: 811 MASL

Taal Volcano (Talisay)

Currently closed for any tourism activities due to the volcano's latest eruption in January 2020, it remains to be seen how the explosion changed the terrain of the volcano.

Prior to its eruption, Taal Volcano is one of the best-hiking destinations in Luzon because of its easy trail that leads hikers to a magnificent view of the crater lake.

Height: 311 MASL

Mount Gulugod Baboy (Anilao)

Named as such because the peak resembles a pig's spine and not because there's a pig farm here. The easy to moderate hiking trail of Gulugod Baboy is perfect for beginners and offers a scenic view of the ocean.

It is one of the many peaks in Batangas where you can also enjoy a side trip to the beach after a day of hiking.

Height: 470 MASL

Mount Talamitam (Nasugbu)

This mountain requires a little harder trek compared to other peaks in Batangas but the view along the trail is worth it. The favorite part of most hikers is the rocky sections of Mt. Talamitan where the ascent takes notches more adventurous.

Height: 630 MASL

Mount Manabu (Sto. Tomas)

At the top of this mountain stands a giant white cross surrounded by a flat meadow resembling a garden in the sky.

Mount Manabu is one of the trio of peaks known as the Malipunyo range—the other two: Malipunyo and Susong Dalaga are also good hiking spots. 

Height: 760 MASL

Mount Daguldol (San Juan)

This mountain seems to have it all: ocean views, mossy and wooden forests, plain meadows, and side trip options to nearby Naambon Falls and Laiya Beach. The trail of Mt. Daguldol is moderate to light difficult requiring 4-5 hours of continuous hiking.

Height: 670 MASL

Mount Masalakot and Nalayag Monolith (Lobo)

How about experiencing forest trekking and rock scrambling in one hiking trip? If the thick woodland of Mount Masalakot isn’t enough to make you fall in love with this great outdoor destination, then the steep ascent to Nalayag Monolith will surely awe you to no end. 

Height: 668 MASL

The town of Taal is where you can find old houses dating back to the Spanish period. The great thing is, you can enter some of the heritage houses here as some are operating as mini-museums and bed and breakfast inns.

Also found in the town are the two old churches of Taal Basilica and the Our Lady of Caysasay Church. Taal Town is also a popular place to buy locally-crafted Barong Tagalog and other Filipiniana dresses.  Another heritage town can also be found in the municipality of Balayan. 

See our popular History Tours

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Even if it isn't Holy Week season, you can still go on a Visita Iglesia tour around Batangas so as not to miss the opportunity of regaling at the marvelous architecture of the many old churches in the province.

Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours (Taal Basilica), San Sebastian Cathedral in Taal, Padre Pio Shrine in Tanuan, Parish of the Immaculate Concepcion in Balayan, Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Mount Carmel Church in Lipa and Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion in Batangas City are just a few of the many churches you can visit.

See our popular Pilgrimage Tours

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One of Batangas' two Spanish-era lighthouses, the Malabrigo Lighthouse stands on the cliffs of Lobo. It was built in 1891 and designed by Guillermo Brockman.

Like other Spanish-constructed lighthouses in the Philippines, it was made of bricks and has a circling metal stair leading to the top. Declared as a National Historical Landmark, it overlooks the stunning scenery of the ocean and the lush countryside.

Cape Santiago Lighthouse is the other Spanish-era lighthouse in Batangas. It towers over a cliff in the coastal town of Calatagan.

It was constructed in 1890 and designed again by Guillermo Brockman. Overlooking Burot beach and the many diving spots surrounding the shores of Calatagan, the lighthouse is a perfect place to chill and wait for the sunset.

From refreshing drinks in charming hole-in-a-wall places to feasting over plates of local dishes served in beach boardwalks, quaint towns, and big cities, there’s much to explore and taste in Batangas.

Local Cuisine

Batangas' versions of the bulalo and lomi are what it's known for, but did you know that there's more to Batangas local cuisine than these two? The province's culinary culture is a savory fusion of Filipino cuisine and Chinese influence but is made more sumptuous by a unique local method of cooking. 

Gotong Batangas

Gotong Batangas is a bowl of goodness filled with mouth-watering toppings of tender innards, beef tripe, beef tendons, toasted garlic, chopped green onions and other spices.

While a common dish available everywhere in the Philippines, the Batangas version of the Kilawin—fresh fish cooked by soaking it in vinegar—taste refreshingly good with added tang courtesy of added ingredients.

Kapeng Barako

Never leave Batangas without starting your day with their local Philippine coffee known as Kapeng Barako. Popular in Lipa, a cup of this should give you the extra kick you need to have enough energy to experience all your planned things-to-do in Batangas.

Tapang Taal

Other than the beautiful Basilica, heritage houses and colorful Filipiniana dresses in Taal, the town is also known for its own version of the Tapa. Known as Tapang Taal, it isn't made of beef but of pork.

Marinated with calamansi, soy sauce, ground pepper, garlic and a tangy sauce, the Tapang Taal is fried and served with garlic rice and dipping of vinegar and chili peppers.

Sinaing na Tulingan

This dish cooked inside a clay pot is composed of the main ingredient, the bullet Tuna (Tulingan), kamias, ground pepper, salt, and garlic. It may sound like a simple dish, but it pops a flavorful taste especially its sour soup and tender fish meat when served.

Adobo sa Dilaw

An elevated version of the Filipino dish adobo made more flavorful because instead of using soy sauce, it comes with the additional ingredient of yellow ginger (turmeric)—which also make the dish appear color yellow.

Batangas Lomi

Known for its bowl-full of toppings consisting of boiled egg, lechon kawali, chopped scallions, squid balls, onion leeks, fresh vegetables, chicken meat and pork liver, Batangas Lomi also comes with tender noodles and tasty sauce. One bowl of this Filipino noodle dish is more than enough to fuel you for a day.

Tamales ng Ibaan

While Tamales is prepared in many ways all over the country, the Tamales in Batangas is made of sticky rice (malagkit) wrapped in banana leaves and filled with shredded chicken, eggs, mixed peanuts and annatto (atsuete).

Recommended Best Restaurants and Bars

It's no wonder why there are many fiestas or festivals being celebrated all over the province. This is simply because Batanguenos are fond of cooking the same way they like to revel in their traditions. The result is a culinary-rich culture that gave birth to several food places that adds to the tourism appeal of the province.

Many people visit the province just to go on food tours . Therefore, visiting the province will give you the best of both worlds: of bounteous nature and a satisfying choice of delicious cookery.

To help you fuel up for the many tiring yet thrilling activities in the province, here are some highly-recommended restaurants for you to get a taste of local Batangas cuisine. 

See our popular Food Tours

Manila binondo & intramuros full-day tour with guide & transfers, iloilo city food tour & sightseeing with transfers | la paz batchoy, pancit molo, jaro church, bohol loboc river cruise lunch with private transfers from panglao.

Café de Lipa Origins

Kick-off your day by passing by this cafe in Lipa where you can have a cup of Batangas' Kape Barako. For variety, you can also try one of their Mood Coffee selection. Pair it with something from their pastry collection.

Jorjhane’s House of Special Bulalo

Jorjhane's has three branches in Batangas, this one and the ones in Lemery and Bolbok. A local favorite since it opened many years ago, Jorjhane's has become a food institution frequented by visitors to the province because of its satisfying bowl of bulalo. Other must-tries include: lapu-lapu, tanigue fish and samara. 

Don Juan Boodle House

Serving a family feast the Filipino boodle way—on banana leaves—Don Juan Boodle House lets their guests bond over a variety of dishes that include local favorites adobo sa dilaw, tapang Taal, Fried tawilis, longanisang taal, fresh seafood, liempo and more. 

Kainan sa Dalampasigan

Featuring a dining area in a garden, Kainan sa Dalampasigan teems with Instagrammable corners. But what makes it a must-visit dining place is its menu consisting of house favorites like Kare-kare, Bilao sa Dalampasigan, variety of fresh seafood dishes, binalot chicken and pork adobo and local desserts . 

Abadi Restaurant at Cintai Corito's Garden

This restaurant in one of the Bali-inspired resorts in the Philippines serves local favorites such as nilasing na hipon, pork sisig, Batangas bulalo and lomi among many other Filipino fare. 

For a hassle-free and convenient trip to Batangas province, it's important to read up on these practical tips. These will be very useful especially if it’s your first time in in the province:

Batangas province is generally safe and the people are nice and friendly. If you’re going on a hiking trip it is best to hire a local guide, not for security purposes but to avoid getting lost and to help the local economy.

There are police stations located in every city and municipality and almost every barangay has a tourist office where you can go to report any security concerns. 

The main currency used in Batangas is the Philippine Peso (PHP). There are many banks and ATM machines located in all cities and municipalities in the province. Many establishments accept credit card payments as well. 

Batangas Tagalog is the dialect spoken in Batangas. It is basically Tagalog but spoken with a strong accent and a grammar construction associated with phrases from old Tagalog ( malalim na tagalog ).

Here are some samples of old Tagalog words still widely used in Batangas Tagalog:

Old Tagalog - Modern Tagalog - English

Asbag - Mayabang - Arrogant

Dine - Diyan - There

Harot - Landi - Flirt

Kakaunin - Susunduin - Fetch

Gahaman - Mataka - Gluttony

Litar - Pasyal - Stroll

Atungal - Iyak - Cry

Ka-pulong - Kausap - Talking to

And here are some common Batangueño expressions and their meaning:

Anlaa! - an expression of disbelief "Anlaa naman"

A-re - Usually denotes the word "this". 

Damusak - expressing a situation that has gone bad "Damusak naman oh"

Gay-on - "Like that"

Ganire - "Like this"

Sya na - "Alright"

With so much to do, places to see, and food to eat in Batangas, it can be challenging to plan an itinerary to cover everything—unless you will have a week at the least to explore the province.

Here is a sample 3-day itinerary that covers a little bit of everything: hiking, scuba diving, island hopping, and heritage tour. 

Day 1: Arrival + Day-hike at Mt. Gulugod Baboy + Island hopping in Anilao 

7:00 AM: Start of hike at jump-off

10:00 AM: Reach the peak of Mt. Gulugod Baboy

11:00 AM: Start descent

1:00 PM: Reach the foot of Mt. Gulugod Baboy

2:00 PM: Start island-hopping tour in Anilao (you have the option to check out some of the dive sites in Anilao )

6:00 PM: Return to hotel / free time

7:00 AM: Breakfast

8:00 AM: travel to Masasa Beach

11:00 AM: Island hopping to Sepoc Beach in Maricaban Island and Sombrero Island

6:00 PM: Finish island hopping tour / free time

8:00 AM: Travel to Taal Town

10:00 AM: Start heritage tour of Taal (heritage houses, Taal Basilica, Our Lady of Caysasay, food trip, and shopping)

3:00 PM: Depart Taal Town and return to Manila

Start Planning Your Batangas Trip!

From summit to sea, there is almost a never-ending choice of places to go when exploring the province of Batangas. Add to the bounteous set of nature existing in the province, are the heritage towns, quaint coastal municipalities and a gastronomic culture that serves a feast to the taste buds.

If you are looking for a place to travel where you will learn more about local culture, experience great nature, and try mouth-watering local dishes, then Batangas province should be on top of your list. Start planning your trip now by checking Batangas tours to add to your itinerary!

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Road Trip Guide: Taal Lake Loop

Taal Lake is the third-largest lake in the Philippines. Within the lake, you can find Taal Volcano, one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world. Most people admire panoramic views of the lake from Tagaytay City in Cavite, the most popular (and usually crowded) weekend tourist destination near Manila. Those who want to enjoy a more peaceful and serene trip can visit the towns of Batangas surrounding the lake.

Though I’ve been to Tagaytay loads of times, I’ve been wanting to explore more of the lakeside towns on two wheels. The Taal Lake Loop involves riding around the towns of Batangas surrounding Taal Lake. This can be challenging for cyclists because getting there and back involves a lot of uphill climbs and fun (but sometimes dangerous) downhills, but it’s a relatively easy route if you’re on a motorcycle.

Table of Contents

Where exactly is Taal Lake?

Though visible from Tagaytay City in Cavite, which has greatly benefited from tourism because of it, Taal Lake and Taal Volcano are actually located in the neighboring province of Batangas, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Taal used to be a much larger volcano, rising to 5800 meters, before volcanic activity reduced it to a lake. Present-day Tagaytay and surrounding mountains were part of the original rim. The lake now fills Taal Caldera, a large volcanic caldera formed by very large eruptions between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago.

Depending on where you’re coming from, you can start your ride in any of the lakeside towns: Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, Alitagytag, Cuenca, Lipa, Mataas ba Kahoy, Balete or Tanauan. I read that there was a Taal Circumferential Road , but apparently that’s still in the planning phase. Coming from Tagaytay, Talisay is the nearest jump-off point. As of September 2019, not all towns are linked around the coastline yet. Here’s my suggested route.

Why it’s great for riders

For riders based in Manila looking for a destination for day trips and weekend rides, this is relatively near. In a way, riding around Taal Lake feels a bit like looping a small island because of the coastal feel of the roads, scenic views and provincial vibe. There are a lot of interesting historical sites to visit in the area. The roads are all paved. Because of the mountainous terrain of the area, you have to pass some challenging portions and twisties which always appeals to riders. Trips to the lake can also be combined with staycations in lakeside resorts, visits to Tagaytay or other top tourist activities like hiking to the crater lake.

In terms of distance, the Taal Lake loop is just roughly over 100 km. By motorcycle, you can circle the lake in about 3-4 hours depending on your route, detours, length of stopovers and traffic. However, that doesn’t include the travel time getting to and from the area from Manila yet, which is a whole different story (see last section below).

Our start and endpoint for the Taal Lake loop was The Lake Park / Wakim Lake Resort in Talisay, Batangas. After driving from Manila with a stopover in Laguna for lunch, we arrived in Talisay around 2 pm.

We just checked-in and left our bags, then started the loop ride at around 3 pm. I suggest you leave earlier or do this ride in the morning to maximize time and good light.

From Talisay, we took a counter-clockwise route towards Laurel and Agoncillo, where I found the roads to be very nice and scenic. We stopped at a newly built fishport in Laurel. There was a helipad and small docking area with unobstructed views of the lake where we parked the bikes.

It was a very pleasant and scenic drive through parts of the Taal Circumferential Road with a peaceful view of fishing boats and fish pens. I didn’t notice a lot of restaurants or eateries by the lake though, there’s still not yet a lot of development on this side as the road here is fairly new (about 2 years old).

From the Circumferential Road, we could have bypassed the main Taal town proper and gone straight on to San Nicolas and Sta. Teresita through a diversion road, but I wanted to pass by the Taal Church, which is a major landmark of the town, so we had to deal with some light traffic getting in and out. We got to Taal town at around 4:30 pm.

The Basilica de San Martin de Tours, or Taal Basilica, is said to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 meters long and 48 meters wide. The facade of the church was undergoing renovation during our visit as part of the church was damaged during an earthquake in 2017.

There’s a landmark spelling out name in town in front of the church by a small plaza area. Some helpful vendors selling tawilis told us we could bring our motorcycles up just for photo ops and offered to take our picture, so we did just that.

Taal Heritage Town has that old-world charm similar to Vigan and Intramuros. The church is right across the Hall of the Municipal Government of Taal. There’s a row of ancestral houses, cafes and restaurants. Even the 7-Eleven convenience store near the plaza fits the vibe of the old houses.

There are lots of places to museums and heritage houses to visit around the Taal Heritage Town that will appeal to history buffs. This includes the Galeria Taal Camera Museum, Apacible Museum, Casa Villavicencio, Wedding Gift House, Marcella Agoncillo Museum, White House and more.

Taal is known as the “Balisong and Barong Tagalog Capital of the Philippines.” You can spot roadside shops selling balisong (Filipino butterfly knife) in Barangay Balisong.

From the Taal town proper, Googlemaps suggested we pass through Alitagtag, Cuenca and straight to high-traffic cities like Lipa, Malvar and Tanauan, but to be honest, there’s not much to see there in terms of scenery. It’s much better if you pass Mataas na Kahoy and Balete and then loop back to Talisay via Tanauan.

If you have more time, you can visit the Pusod Taal Lake Conservation Center  near the shore of Taal Lake in Mataas Na Kahoy, which offers activities like kayaking and has a treehouse for overnight stays. We decided to skip it because it was getting dark and we’d been to these towns before and have biked around the towns of Balete from Malvar.

We got back to Talisay around 7:30 pm right in time for dinner. Restaurants in the area close relatively early (around 9:00 pm).

Hike to Taal Crater Lake

One of the reasons I wanted to base overnight in Talisay was the accessibility to the jump-off point for boat tours to the Taal Crater Lake. Hiking up to the crater lake on Volcano island in the middle of Taal Lake is one of the most popular/touristy things to do coming from Tagaytay. It’s been bugging me for ages that I’ve never been there. It’s a nice easy hike with rewarding views.

TRIVIA: Most people confuse Binintiang Malaki for Taal Volcano, because that’s what’s most visible from various vantage points. The picture above is what you usually see in postcards, history textbooks, and Philippine currency. But according to local tour guides who offer boat tours, the real Taal Volcano actually looks something like this. The dormant Binintiang Malaki cone was the center of the 1707 and 1715 eruptions.

The whole island that lies near the center of the lake is called Volcano Island. There are actually several different peaks and hiking trails on the island, including Mt. Taal, Mt. Balantoc and Binitiang Malaki.

The trail to the crater lake via Talisay is very established, easy to hike and family-friendly. The hike is just 4km and takes most people about 45 mins. Seniors & children can even ride horses going all the way up to view deck if they get tired.

The actual crater lake on Volcano Island contains its own tiny island called Vulcan Point. This makes it an island in the middle of a lake, in the middle of a volcano, in the middle of a bigger lake, in the middle of a bigger island (Luzon), in an archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean.

Volcano Island is inhabited, with most of the tour guides and their families settling there. Our assigned guide Charie said she’d been living there for 14 years. Apparently, when there’s a volcano warning, all the residents evacuate. I just hope they take the horses with them.

We were told people could hike to the base of the crater lake itself from jump-off points in other lakeside towns. Those who want a challenge can hike via Balete (8km) or Alitagtag (18km). Those trails usually attract students or mountaineers. But for casual weekend travelers (especially those coming from Tagaytay) who just want to enjoy the view, the Talisay trail is the most convenient option.

Overall, it’s a scenic 30 min boat ride + 45-minute hike + 30 min boat ride back for a total of 2-3 hours. It’s a good half-day trip if you have the time to spare. It’s best to start early (around 7:00 -8:00 am) so it won’t be so hot during the hike up. Boat trips may be canceled if the waves are too strong (usually afternoons) if there’s a typhoon and if there are gale warnings.

We availed of this tour from Precious Boat Station (The Gateway to Taal Volcano) in Talisay. There’s a barangay ordinance with fixed rates for the boats, which can be a bit expensive if there’s just two of you. It’s better if you go in a group to share costs.

• Roundtrip boat ride – P2,000.00 (good for 2-7 pax)
• Horseback riding fee – P500.00/person
• Tourism entrance fee – P100.00/person
• Local tour guide’s fee – P500.00 per group
• Docking fee – P50.00/boat

Contact: Bryan Malvataan. 0917-2032792 / Leolyn Malvataan. 09173631251.

Precious Boat Station offers complimentary items like bottled water, buri hats, face masks (because there are sulfuric fumes), raincoats (you can return it if you don’t use it), free parking and fresh buko juice when you return.

Where to Stay

For this ride, we stayed at The Lake Park, Wakim Lake Resort in Santa Maria, Talisay, Batangas (8 km from Tagaytay). There are several lakeside resorts in the area, but I got attracted to the place because of the secure lakeside parking and price range. It’s good for those with private vehicles including motorcycles and bicycles who want lakeside parking with scenic views.

The rooms are basic but decent and it’s a nice and quiet area. Check-in and check-out time is flexible. The data signal is a bit weak in the area (Smart was just Edge), but the resort has WiFi.

They don’t have a restaurant, but there’s a common kitchenette where you can cook food, making it a good option for families and barkadas. You can buy water, sofdrinks and beer there by just getting these from their ref in the lounge area and listing it down (honesty system). Beer na beer!

Their published rate for a room with private CR is P1,350 for 2, but they charge extra for use of electricity, so it came out to about P1,400+. They have bigger rooms for groups and families and you can rent out a whole weekend apartment.

Other options in the area include Balai Isabel or Oyo Balai Sofia across a gas station and near the junction to Tagaytay. You could also opt to stay along the lake in Mataas na Kahoy in Balete. If you want a quiet and unique place to stay, Taal Pusod Heritage Center has a treehouse by the lake. But it’s much quieter there and there are not a lot of places to eat nearby, so you may have to bring your own food.

Where to Eat

From Talisay, Tagaytay is just pretty near via the Ligaya Road. Tagaytay is a popular food trip destination for weekend travelers and families. Specialties include bulalo , tawilis, farm fresh food. Restaurants there can be more expensive and there are a lot of fast-food chains and big-name cafes like Starbucks that you regularly see in the city.

If you just want to enjoy local eats and simpler fare, I’d say skip Tagaytay and sample the homegrown restos or smaller eatiers instead. There are several small eateries along the main road in Talisay serving bulalo, seafood, kambing, etc. Leonidas along the road is good for those on a budget.

Cafe Diem is a pleasant cafe that serves rice meals, pasta, breakfast dishes, artisanal breads, vegetarian options and homemade ice cream. It’s across the road from a gas station. Good for couples and families.

Terrraza Filipino Dining at Club Balai Isabel is a good choice for families and groups. Their servings are generous, but a bit on the expensive side. You can eat here even if you aren’t checked in.

How to get to Taal Lake from Manila (small displacement bikes)

Word of warning, the main deterrent for making this ride really enjoyable is having to go through the traffic-choked towns in and out of Manila to Talisay. While you can do this as a day ride, the traffic going there and back through the most direct route is the pits. Since small bikes aren’t allowed on Expressways, these are your options.

The “shortest” & most direct route

There are several suggested routes on Googlemaps when you click the “avoid highways and tolls” option. The most direct route involves passing through either Manila or C5 and Taguig to get to Imus, Dasmarinas and Silang going to Tagaytay, then go down to Talisay on Ligaya Road from there. Small bikes can also pass the service roads of Alabang, Muntinlupa, Sta. Rosa and Calamba to get to Talisay. If you’re coming from towns in the South like Paranaque, this is nearer. There are some alternative routes like C6 from Taytay and Daang Hari that can make the ride slightly better.

Based just on Googlemaps, that’s just between 80-100 kms. It sounds near, but the estimated travel time is over 4 hours. What the map does not show you is the horrendous traffic and terrible road conditions in highly urbanized areas like Manila, Las Pinas, Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas and all the service roads. Seriously, the majority of your ride will be weaving in between trucks and buses, which sucks out the joy of road-tripping. We took this route going back to Manila and I regretted most of it. The only interesting part was going up Ligaya Drive. Tagaytay and Silang were ok but it got worse and worse the nearer to Manila we got.

Ligaya Drive

From Talisay, we passed Ligaya Drive going up to Tagaytay. This is an 11.7 km long mountain road that’s listed as one of the most Dangerous Roads in the Philipines. It’s pretty narrow, with some very steep sections and about 15 hairpin turns.

I wish I could have stopped to take photos here, but I didn’t want to lose momentum. Please be careful if you’re riding here during the rainy season. There’s a view deck at the halfway point.

The longer but more scenic route

Going there, we took a longer but much more scenic route through Marilaque, Pagsanjan, Tanauan, Bay and Laguna. This adds +1 hour of travel time, but I did not feel tired at all. If you’re after a nice long ride with scenic views, this route is much better. Since I live in the North area (Quezon City), I prefer passing this route just so I can avoid passing Edsa, C5 and Manila.

If I were to do this again. I would pass the backroads going back. Yeah, I know it’s longer, but at least you enjoy the ride instead of being stuck in mind-numbing traffic with buses, slow-moving jeepney, swerving cars, and having to navigate through gutters and sidewalks. We had a nice lunchstop in Pagsanjan, and I thought the Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal Power Plant in Bay was just bizarre with all the pipes lining the road.

While I know most riders would probably be satisfied with the loop ride itself, I highly recommend you stay overnight in Talisay, so you have more time for other activities and have more time for sightseeing.

Trip Summary

The distance according to Googlemaps estimate is lower, but based on my odometer reading, we traveled 429 km during this ride because we took the “long cut” / scenic route via Pagsanjan and Tanauan to get to Talisay and the shorter Tagaytay, Silang and Imus route back to Manila. Here’s the map route. It doesn’t seem right, but when I calculated distances, this is actually longer than Manila to Naga City (390 km).

• STARTING ODOMETER: 7,164  km
• END ODOMETER:  7,593 km
• TOTAL:  429 kilometers

Some lessons learned during the ride: shorter travel time on the map doesn’t mean it’s the best or most enjoyable. If you can take detours through barangay or diversion roads, take them. Getting to Taal from Manila and back takes a lot more effort than the actual Taal Lake loop itself. Traffic and bad road conditions can make driving in Manila feel like a battlefield. Ride safe!

P.S. Thank you to Motoworld for the IXON Cool Air Ladies Riding Jacket and EVO Assault riding shoes. It’s nice to have proper gear made for women that fits me! Will review items separately soon. 😀

Share this:

9 thoughts on “road trip guide: taal lake loop”.

Aah, but TAHAL VOLCANO is actally a super volcano. What you see in the middle of the lake is actually a venting cone. As soon as you ride down the quite sharp descent you enter into the depression and set foot into the crater itself. So big and so near to Manila it is. It is more like Yellowstone plus the monkeys…

Hi Ms. Kara,

This is a very nice adventure. Travelling for 429 kms. I am from Tanauan, Batangas and your feature is very detailed and very useful. My relatives read it and they would like to thank you for featuring Batangas as a whole in Taal you can try Adobo sa Dilaw which was also a favorite of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Since your using motorcycle you also turn right at Waltermart Darasa which will lead you to Padre Pio Shrine in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and go directly to Makban Power Plant. Hope you feature more of Batangas in the future. God bless.

Actually the tawilis which can only be caught at Taal Lake. According to my Lolo, Taal lake were once salt water as it is connected to Balayan Bay however prolonged volcanic activity causes spilled of tawilis to the lake and it also closes the channel that connects Taal Lake’s to Balayan Bay after a long time the lake became fresh water as we know today. Inevitably, there were marine fish species trapped inside the lake when the channel was blocked and reduced to what we know today as the Pansipit River. The tawilis was one of these. Rather than die out because of the changing properties of the waters it had to swim in, the tawilis instead adapted to the increasingly – again, over time – desalinated waters.

Really enjoy reading your adventure, very informative with lots of helpful tips.

Beautiful!! Great great job guys!! 🙂

This is soooo cool! The roads around Taal Lake, passable for Innova?

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Batangas itinerary: 30 best batangas tourist spots, things to do & places to visit (travel guide blog for first-timers).

Searching for Batangas Tourist Spots and Things to Do? To help you fill your Batangas Itinerary, I listed here some of the top things to do in Batangas, best tourist spots and places to visit for a quick trip from Metro Manila.

Batangas tourist spots, things to do & best places to visit.

1. Laiya Beach and Resorts

Top resorts in laiya.

• Acuatico Beach Resort & Hotel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• La Luz Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Acuaverde Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Palm Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Virgin Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

2. Verde Island

Related posts.

• Isla Verde Experience

3. Taal Heritage Town

• Caysasay Shrine and the Sacred Well of Sta. Lucia
• The Heritage Houses of Taal

HOTELS & RESORTS IN TAAL

• Paradores Del Castillo - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Plantacion Isabelle - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Residencia Leonor - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Taal Imperial Hotel and Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Vine Woods Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

4. Nasugbu Beaches and Resorts

Top resorts in nasugbu.

• Pico Sands Hotel Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Club Punta Fuego Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Pico de Loro Hamilo Coast - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Canyon Cove Resort and Spa - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Calayo Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

5. Cintai Corito's Garden

Discounted rates.

• Day Tour - √ See Rates and Photos
• Overnight Stay - √ See Rates and Availability

6. Anilao Beaches and Resorts

Top best things to do in anilao, batangas.

• Scuba Diving Experience in Anilao
• Sepoc Beach with Sombrero Island Tour in Batangas
• Fun Dive Session in Batangas
• Anilao Awari Bay 2-Day Freedive Experience
• Island Hopping at Masasa Beach in Tingloy, Batangas

TOP RESORTS IN ANILAO

• Vivere Azure - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Eagle Point Beach and Dive Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Bentrina Diving Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Altamare Dive and Leisure Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

7. Caleruega Church

8. Lipa City

9. Matabungkay Beach

Recommended resorts in lian.

• Matabungkay Beach Hotel
• Sylvia's Matabungkay Beach Resort
• Coral Beach Club
• COCOTEL El Pueblo de Hermano
• Stardust Beach Hotel

10. The Marian Orchard

11. Masasa Beach in Tingloy

Where to stay in masasa beach.

• SeaLovers' Place Masasa Beach - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Tres Marias Transient House - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

12. Bauan Beaches and Resorts

Recommended things to do in bauan, batangas.

• Discover Scuba Diving in Bauan, Batangas (Boat Dive)
• Bauan Batangas Island Hopping with Discovery Scuba Diving
• Bauan Batangas Island Hopping with Korean BBQ Lunch

WHERE TO STAY IN BAUAN?

• The Bauan Plaza Hotel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Seascape Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Bauan Divers Sanctuary Resort and Hotel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

13. Milea Bee Farm

14. Taal Volcano and Lake

• Villas by Eco Hotel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Club Balai Isabel Hotel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Nayomi Sanctuary Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Noni's Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Casita Ysabel - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

15. Cape Santiago Lighthouse

Top resorts in calatagan.

• Crusoe Cabins - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Sunrise Cove - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
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16. Balayan

Where to stay in balayan.

• Hotel Casa Ilustre - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Star Cove Bed and Breakfast - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Espineli's Balayan - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

17. The Old Grove Farmstead

18. Mt. Batulao and Mt. Talamitam

Read more here:.

• Mt. Batulao Climb
• Mt. Talamitam Climb

WHERE TO STAY IN LOBO?

• Cerca Parola Beach Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Campo Canueza Farmstead & Campsite - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Sun-kissed Beach front Villa - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

20. Fortune Island

For ease and convenience, you may avail a fortune island day tour from klook, recommended resorts in nasugbu:.

• Pico Sands Hotel Resort
• Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa
• Club Punta Fuego
• Pico de Loro Hamilo Coast
• Palm Hill Resort Nasugbu

21. Calatagan Beach Resorts

More hotels & resorts in calatagan.

• The Batangas Beach House Calatagan - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Seaweeds Farm Calatagan - √ Check Room Rates and Photos
• Calatagan Private Resort - √ Check Room Rates and Photos

22. The Farm at San Benito

23. Mt. Maculot

24. Bituin Cove

25. Villa Jovita

26. Sepoc Beach and Sombrero Island

27. Villas by Eco Hotel

You may visit villas by eco hotel on a day tour or overnight stay and enjoy the resort's amazing amenities and facilities..

• DAY TOUR: √ See rates and availability
• OVERNIGHT STAY: √ See rates and availability

28. Aquaria Water Park

29. El Jardin de Zaida

30. La Virginia Hotel and Resort

Batangas is definitely one of the best road trip destinations near metro manila that anyone can enjoy. don't miss visiting these top things to do and tourist spots in batangas that you should include in your itinerary have fun, enjoy, and explore beautiful batangas.

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Looking for Budget Travel Guide Blogs, Hotel Reviews, and Sample DIY Itineraries? Welcome to Pinoy Adventurista, "Your Next Ultimate Adventure Starts Here!" Pinoy Adventurista is one of the Top Travel Blogs in the Philippines and the World. In 2013, he visited all the 81 provinces in the Philippines.

Taal Volcano

• 1 Cities and towns
• 2.1 History
• 2.2 Landscape
• 2.3 Flora and fauna
• 3.1.1 By car
• 3.1.2 By bus or jeepney
• 3.2 To Volcano Island
• 4 Fees and permits
• 5 Get around
• 11.1.1 Budget
• 11.1.2 Mid-range and splurge
• 11.2 At Volcano Island
• 12 Stay safe

Taal Volcano is an active complex stratovolcano in the province of Batangas , Philippines , on an island in Taal Lake . It is one of the provincial symbols of Batangas, appearing on the new provincial seal and flag.

The scenic historic town of Taal is covered in a separate article; it was built some distance away after a volcanic eruption wiped out an older town in 1755.

Cities and towns [ edit ]

The Taal Volcano Natural Park , officially the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), includes the volcano, the lake, and surrounding territory to about a 20 km (12 mi) radius. It includes some towns and cities:

• Talisay — The main gateway to Volcano Island. It is a small town, with few sights, except for the volcano.
• Laurel — Another town to the west of Talisay, again with a few sights
• Tanauan — A smaller city, with a medium-sized downtown with an old church at its middle. Tanauan's designated tourism zone has the original town that was destroyed by the 1755 eruption, and some lakeside resorts.
• Mataasnakahoy — Rural municipality with a town center bordering Lipa. Northward towards the lake are some inland resorts, some with views of the lake. The original town of Lipa used to be in here until the 1755 eruption.
• Balete — A lakeside town, with some resorts, and a park at the lakefront. To the east of the town is Marian Orchard, a serene religious site in the middle of the jungle running down the slopes to the lakeshore.
• Cuenca — Has Mount Maculot, a 400-metre (1,300 ft) peak popular with hikers and easy enough for beginners. The upper reaches of that mountain give a fine view of the lake and volcano. The town is small, and not much to see, but it has plenty of inland resorts.

The nearest moderately large town, and the usual base for trips to the volcano, is Tagaytay in Cavite province. However this guide only covers the park area within Batangas province and the two towns where the boats depart, Talisay and Laurel, which are too small to have their own guides.

Another common way to view and photograph the volcano is by climbing Mount Maculot near the south shore of the lake, outside the town of Cuenca .

Understand [ edit ]

Taal Volcano is sometimes described as the world's smallest volcano , or as "a lake within a volcano within a lake". It is an active volcano, with 34 recorded eruptions since 1572. It is the second most active volcano in the Philippines, after Mount Mayon , and is the country's only decade volcano , one of a group that scientists consider particularly dangerous because they are both quite active and quite close to cities.

• The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is the authority responsible for issuing warnings.

Taal Volcano is part of a chain of volcanoes that have existed since prehistoric times, resulting from the subduction of the Eurasian Plate and Pacific Plate. The lake is formed by the calderas of several other volcanoes, none of which have erupted for several thousand years. The last eruption of one of them was a VEI 6 event in 3580 BCE.

Trips to the volcano usually start from Tagaytay , a highland city in Cavite with other picturesque landscapes nearby. In the satellite image, it is in the mountainous area north of the lake. Package tours to Taal Volcano are available from the city, but they no longer land on the volcano island.

History [ edit ]

Taal Volcano's most destructive eruptions occurred in 1755 and 1910.

The 1755 eruption destroyed the original downtown of Taal , now part of the little town of San Nicolas, as well as the original town center of Lipa , now part of the town of Mataasnakahoy, and Tanauan , and is well recorded in an account by a Spanish priest. Ash and mud from the 1755 eruption were also carried by storms into the village of Caysasay (present-day Taal) and as far as Balayan. The eruption lasted over a month, depositing volcanic material that separated the lake from the sea and created new land where Lemery town is now, along the bay on the lower left corner of the image.

The second deadliest eruption occurred in 1910, killing over 1,300. Taal erupted again in 1965 and 1977, causing pyroclastic flows destroying lakeside villages and killing hundreds. Since those events, the volcano has continued to show signs of unrest, culminating with the 2020 eruption.

The volcano began erupting in January 2020, a VEI 4 event. The alert level, on 5-point scale, was at 4 for a few weeks and several towns were evacuated. From March 2020 to mid-2022 it was mostly at 2, occasionally 3. Eventually it went down to 1, and it remained there through 2023. However 1 is not 0 ; there were still fumes and earth tremors, and warnings about "vog", volcanic smog, which is highly acidic and can cause serious irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract.

In September 2023, the volcano became restless again. The volume of gasses and the temperature of the lake rose, and there were many small earthquakes and a few blasts of ash and steam. Nearby towns such as Taal and Lemery got ashfall and air quality warnings due to vog were issued for some areas, including parts of Metro Manila about 100 km distant. By October it had calmed down considerably, but not completely. The warning level still remained at 1.

Landscape [ edit ]

The volcano proper forms the Volcano Island , composed of seven volcanic cones and the caldera lake. Taal Lake is also a volcanic caldera, so the system is quite complex; some locals speak of underwater craters in the larger lake. Volcanic activity can be noticed through changes in Taal Lake; some fish kill incidents on the lake are blamed on volcanic activity, though overcrowded fish pens ( baklad ) are often the cause.

From Tagaytay, Taal Volcano and Taal Lake dominate the landscape, with the dormant cone Binintiang Malaki being the most prominent. The volcano island was covered by vegetation until the 2020 eruption buried it all in ash. On the base are some villages relying on fishing in Taal Lake and agriculture in the fertile soil of Volcano Island.

Flora and fauna [ edit ]

Taal Lake is home to the tawilis ( Sardinella tawilis ), a species of sardine endemic to the lake. It is often served as a local dish in the surrounding area, but overfishing is threatening the tawilis population, so it was designated an endangered species in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and a closed season is implemented to allow the fish to increase in number.

Get in [ edit ]

Taal Volcano is one of the most accessible in Luzon island, and many tourists, local and foreign, go here, usually in package tours from Tagaytay. Peak season traffic can be high, and tours can get fully booked. It is possible to just see the volcano and the lake without getting further into Volcano Island, or have a do-it-yourself tour, avoiding Tagaytay where the package tour providers are based and getting directly into the boats in Talisay or Laurel.

The nearest airport is in Manila , and the closest seaport is in Batangas City . From either, there is public transportation to the jump-off points.

To Talisay and Laurel [ edit ]

By car [ edit ].

Most visitors will come to Tagaytay by car, and there they will purchase the tour packages to Taal, but it's possible to get into the towns directly without dealing with the tour operators.

Talisay can be reached directly via Talisay-Tanauan Road , which can be accessed from STAR Tollway at Tanauan. From Tagaytay, Talisay-Tagaytay Road runs through jungle at the mountain slopes down to the lakeside, where it joins Talisay-Tanauan and Talisay-Laurel roads. Talisay-Tagaytay and Talisay-Tanauan roads are both numbered as Route 421, but the route number signs don't say where you should turn to Talisay town proper, so from Tagaytay, watch for signs that point to Tanauan.

By bus or jeepney [ edit ]

There are no buses serving Talisay or Laurel. The nearest points with bus service are Tanauan to the east, and Tagaytay to the north. Tagaytay sees buses between Manila and Western Batangas, while Tanauan has frequent buses plying the Manila-Batangas corridor.

From Tanauan, there are jeepneys headed for Talisay or Laurel from their terminal near the public market, but it is hard to find until you ask the barkers at the terminal.

From Tagaytay, jeepneys are infrequent, but if you can catch one, ask the driver if they head for Talisay.

Most of the jeepneys to both towns will be unfranchised ( colorum ) services, unfortunately, they are the only way to there without a car. Despite that, you can still find a few jeepneys which are franchised.

To Volcano Island [ edit ]

The city of Tagaytay nearby is used as the starting point, but some may travel directly to the boat launching point in Talisay . Another launching point can be found to the west of the volcano, in barangay Buso-Buso in Laurel town.

Access to the actual volcanic area is by boat. Boats leave anywhere from the lakeside, and competition is fierce. The prices are fixed at ₱2000 per boat, for up to 6 people but you can reduce it to ₱1200-1500 if you bargain . Operators may tell you that you are not allowed to share with other travellers, but this is not true.

You can take a 15-min outrigger boat ride to the volcano that is within the lake. As you head from Tagaytay city toward the lake, many touts may jump in front of your vehicle offering boat rides - they take a commission. If you know where to go, however, you can catch a boat directly from the boat owners.

Fees and permits [ edit ]

Get around [ edit ].

Once on the island, the boat guides will herd you to a point where you can go horseback riding to the volcano. It takes about 30-45 minutes and is quite bumpy. The guides with the horses take you to the top which is very spectacular and you can explore the top for as long as you want.

Another option is hiking which will take 50 to 90 minutes, though the hills and terrain may put some people off.

When up at the volcano, watch out for guides trying to show groups of tourists heating tricks. These consist of getting a can of soft drink or water, cutting the can or bottle in half and watching the ground heat boil the water or liquid which is pretty cool to see, and you can boil an egg if you bring one with you!

There is also a "secret trail" leading to the crater lake.

See [ edit ]

The lake and volcano are the main attractions, but there is also some rather nice mountain scenery north of the lake around Tagatay and lesser hills to the south around Cuenca . Both areas, plus various lakeside ones, have some resorts. There are quite a few resorts on the Lemery-Tagatay road along the north side of the lake, mostly upmarket and many with a fine view.

Do [ edit ]

Buy [ edit ], eat [ edit ], drink [ edit ], sleep [ edit ].

Accommodations within Taal Volcano Natural Park's boundaries tend to be upmarket, so less expensive options are around cities and towns outside the park.

Talisay [ edit ]

Talisay, the little town and surrounding area that serves as the main entry point to the volcano proper, has upmarket resorts, starting from ₱1750 depending on seasonal demand, and two budget options, starting from ₱900 .

Budget [ edit ]

• Balai Sofia , Talisay-Tanauan Road . All rooms have air conditioning, beds are comfortable, and bathrooms have shower heaters available, but there are no free meals or an in-house restaurant. Official rate is ₱1300 , though it is possible to pay just ₱900 (including taxes and fees). . ( updated Aug 2019 )
• TDM Space Rental . Units have a single bed, living room and sink, but are fan-only. ₱950 . ( updated Aug 2019 )

Mid-range and splurge [ edit ]

• Club Balai Isabel . Rooms also have good views of Taal Lake and the volcano. All rooms air-conditioned. There is a swimming pool, buffet, pizzeria and bar. There are some problems however, with the trash-filled lakefront and bathroom cleanliness. ₱4600 (inclusive of fees and taxes) . ( updated Aug 2019 )
• Villa Khristalene , Talisay-Laurel Road, Leynes , ☏ +63 908 867-0038 . All rooms have air-conditioning and terraces providing views of Volcano Island and the lake. Better rooms have tubs and a small refrigerator. One suite has a balcony overlooking the volcano and lake. In-house restaurant serves Filipino cuisine, including Batangas regional specialties. They also have a bar, a swimming pool, karaoke rental, and a kids' playground. Parking is free. From ₱1750 . ( updated Aug 2019 )

At Volcano Island [ edit ]

There is a lone homestay in Volcano Island, at the starting point of Daang Kastila:

• Talisay Lakeside Villa , ☏ +63 917 103-0101 . A two-storey house converted into a homestay for overnight visitors to Volcano Island. A part of the lakefront is turned into a swimming pool with inflatable slides. ₱4500 . ( updated Aug 2019 )

As Volcano Island is a permanent danger zone, backcountry camping is not allowed for any reason.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Taal Volcano is an active volcano: volcano safety advice applies when visiting.

The volcano releases at least a few hundred tons of sulphur dioxide gas a day, sometimes as much as 15,000 tons. This combines with water to make volcanic smog (vog) which is seriously irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Visitors should try to stay upwind of the volcano and should bring facemasks (N95), which offer some protection, and a good supply of water to soothe irritated throats.

Go next [ edit ]

Anywhere in Batangas or Cavite is easily reached. Tourist destinations nearby include the heritage town of Taal and beach resort area Mabini .

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TAAL VOLCANO TOUR

Taal Volcano Tour

Our Taal volcano tour brings an awe-inspiring view of the worlds smallest volcano. A perfect trip for the family enjoying a scenic adventure with a 360 view of the famous lake. A 90-minute ride from Manila brings you to the city of Tagaytay and its cool climate. A city filled with landmarks, Cafes and attractions packed for a weekend getaway. The tour starts with a quick pump boat ride going to the crater. The pristine and calm water gives a smooth sailing experience viewing the city from afar. Tourist will get to ride a horse throughout their hike to the crater. This quick tour from Manila will give you a unique trip with a thrill of adventure on the side.

• TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Tagaytay City

Tagaytay city is a popular tourist destination near Manila. Known for its cool climates, high altitude and a wonderful view of Taal Lake, The place has been a tourist spot for both local and foreign. The city offers a unique selection of restaurants and cafes overviewing the nearby islands of Taal. A great place for a quick getaway from the busy streets of Manila. Enjoy their iconic landmarks such as the “Sky Eye” at Sky Ranch Tagaytay and their famous Bulalo selections.

Taal lake boat ride, photo by shankar s. on visualhunt.com / cc by, a 30-minute boat ride from the end rifts of batangas gives you a better perspective of how big the lake actually is. taal lake is rich with sulfur and friendly for swimming. huge mineral deposit from the lake is good for your skin and harbors a healthy ecosystem for the locals. the lake also provides a good tasting fish called “tilapia”, an inexpensive yet rich local find. this quick pump boat ride to the island is a mandatory feature of the tour going to the crater. enjoy a peaceful stream of waves as you venture off to the crate of the lake., horseback riding in taal, photo by stefan munder on visualhunt.com / cc by, the horseback riding experience sets you on a steep trail going to the crater of the lake. learn how to maneuver different obstacles with your trusty horse companion. the scenic climb is full of active volcano cracks, and huge boulders nestled on the main route. horses of different height and sizes are available for each family member. an interesting attraction packed in your taal volcano tour package., taal volcano crater, photo by sherpas428 on visual hunt / cc by, the peak rewards you with a magnificent view of the island and its crater. the place offers quick snacks after a long day and fun activities such as hitting golf balls to the crater. get a family photo with their local photographer and have it framed with one of their handmade frames. you could also pop some beers and feed the local livestock surrounding the premises. the taal lake tour offers a unique experience outside the urban jungle of manila worth the visit..

• INFORMATION

Travel Time : 1 hour and 50 minutes (One-way)

Distance : 75 km from pickup point or hotel, package completion : 11 – 12 hours, package inclusions:, roundtrip van transfers (manila-taal-manila), roundtrip boat transfers, water bottles are provided (one bottle per person), cooler is provided for beverages, entrance and terminal fees, gas and toll payment, local tour guide, horseback riding, lake boat ride, optional tours in tagaytay :, puzzle museum – biggest puzzle collection in the world, tagaytay highlands – a prestigious country club located at the tip of tagaytay, tagaytay sky rand – location of the highest ferris wheel in the philippines, people’s park in the sky – popular tourist destination that allows you to view the whole area of tagaytay, bag of beans – popular restaurant in tagaytay known for their bbq baby back ribs, terms and conditions :, the rate is per person and a minimum of 2 persons per booking., price is inclusive of taxes, strictly by reservation. the itinerary is subject to change based on the weather and traffic conditions., expectant mothers are strictly not allowed to travel for safety purposes., 3-day re-booking policy (change of dates/schedule) once the booking has been confirmed and guaranteed., please be reminded that this trip is in a 10-seater van., no mandatory tipping for the driver (gratuity is appreciated)., cancellation should be made 3 days before the actual activity for a full refund of purchase., please e-mail us at [email protected] for tailor-made packages., what to wear :, light clothing is recommended. a jacket will come in handy during the rainy season., comfortable shoes for taal volcano trekking., hat or glasses to protect yourself from the sunlight., what to bring :, digital camera for some picture taking, food and beverages to keep yourself hydrated and full during the trip., spare change to buy souvenirs., change of clothes for the humid weather., hotels near the area :, taal vista hotel (4.5 / 5 stars), hotel kimberly tagaytay (4.5 / 5 stars), view park hotel tagaytay (4 / 5 stars), hospitals near the area :, tagaytay medical center, ospital ng tagaytay, metropolitan medical center, establishments around the area :, josephine restaurant tagaytay, antonio’s restaurant, concha’s garden cafe, ayala malls serin.

• OTHER PACKAGES

PAGSANJAN FALLS TOUR

Thrill-seekers rejoice and take part in this awe-inspiring tour to the Everglades of Laguna!. Located in the town of Cavinti, lies a great waterfall called “Pagsanjan Falls”. A secluded place filled with rocky terrains and a river joining different cliffs. Enjoy the rapids of the riverboat ride, and visit the “Devils Cave” inside the falls. For a more challenging route, you can take the mountain trekking tour to the falls at Pueblo El Salvador Eco Park. Pagsanjan falls tour brings a unique experience outside Manila where nature, fun, and family meet!.

Hidden valley laguna.

Hidden Valley Laguna preserves its natural environment of hot springs and falls. A promising destination for couples enjoying a scenic getaway outside Manila. Their innate springs follow a steam like presence all throughout the complex. With over 6 different pools, the place can accommodate families while preserving the privacy for walk-in guests. Enjoy their native buffet selection from their famous pandan juice, and Filipino pastries.

Tagaytay city tour, the city of tagaytay is a popular tourist destination in the province of cavite. known for its scenic hilltop view, cool climates and commercial amenities make it a perfect getaway out manila. get a chance to ride one of the biggest ferris wheels in the country, and see the biggest puzzle collection in the world. enjoy a cup of coffee while viewing the magnificent taal lake and its volcanic island (taal volcano). our tagaytay city tour package sentiments a peaceful destination near manila., villa escudero.

Villa Escudero resort is one of the oldest destinations in the country!. Located in the city of San Pablo, the place is a clear demonstration of Filipino culture. Soak your feet and experience a traditional Filipino buffet at their waterfall restaurant. Iconic local dishes such as the Banana kyu, lumpia, and Bibingka gives the place character. Tour around their private museum filled with artifacts from all over the world. End your day with their infinity pools, this includes both children and adult size pools.

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Hi I m interesting for the tour in Taal volcano!!could you give me more information because i would like to do it tomorrow!!! Thanxxxxx

Looking for tour to Taal on 23rd December 2023. Pls email available details.

Thank you for your inquiry with regards to our Taal Volcano Tour Package. For faster response, you could message us on our facebookpage facebook.com/regenttravelmanila or you may email [email protected] to help you.

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Taal Volcano's phreatic eruptions reached five —PHIVOLCS

The number of phreatic eruptions of Taal Volcano in Batangas on Friday reached five, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Saturday.

From 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday, PHIVOLCS monitored five phreatic eruptions at Taal Volcano, with one event lasting 13 minutes, it said in its bulletin .

On Friday, PHIVOLCS reported that there were four discrete phreatic or steam-driven eruption events at Taal. The eruption events were recorded by the Taal Volcano Network (TVN) from 9:45 a.m. to 3:22 p.m., as seen on the VTMC (Main Crater) observation station.

Fifteen volcanic earthquakes including six volcanic tremors meanwhile were also recorded from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday. These were observed to last from two to four minutes.

Last April 11, an average of 9,677 tones of sulfur dioxide was emitted by the volcano. PHIVOLCS said there was upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the lake.

The agency also said that plumes reaching up to 2,400 meters were observed from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 a.m. Saturday. These drifted southwest and northwest.

Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano, PHIVOLCS said.

It reiterated that Taal Volcano Island, especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures, should be off limits.

Likewise, flying any aircraft near the crater is prohibited.

This is because Taal Volcano may have sudden steam or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, slight ashfall, and release of gas. —KG, GMA Integrated News