The province of Batangas has a collection of amazing landscapes by the beach, paradise in the middle and top of the mountains, colorful biodiversity underwater, historical sites, and many more. Not only that, the Batangueños are naturally born cooks, so expect sumptuous delicacies in different parts of the province. The top tourist destinations in the province are easy to visit, so if you're looking for gorgeous places to relax near Metro Manila, I've listed them for you.
Batangas Top Tourist Attractions:
- Verde Island
- Manuel Uy Beach Resort
- Taal Volcano and Lake
- Laiya Beach and Resorts
- Masasa Beach, Tingloy
- Anilao Beach
- Nasugbu Beach
- Matabungkay Beach
- Calatagan Beach
- Bauan Beach
- Fortune Island
- Cape Santiago Lighthouse
- Fantasy World, Lemery
List of Mountains to Hike:
- Mt. Batulao
- Mt. Gulugod Baboy
- Mt. Maculot
- Mt. Daguldol
- Mt. Manabu
- Mt. Malipunyo
- Mt. Tibig
- Mt. Talamitam
Taal Basilica and Heritage Town - By the entrance of Taal Basilica, a metal historical plate is located that says: "Unang itinaryo ni Padre diego Espina noong 1575 sa ngayon ay San Nicolas na dating bahagi ng Balangon. Nagiba noong 1754 nang pumutok ang bulkan. Ipinagawa sa kasalukuyang kinatatayuan noong 1755 at iginuho ng lindol noong 1849. Kinikilalang pinakamalaking simbahang katoliko sa dakong Silangan. Ang kasalukuyang simbahan ay sinimulan noong 1856 ayon sa ibinalangkas ni Luciano Oliver, isang arkitekto. Pinasinayaan ito noong 1865."
Hike Mt. Gulugod Baboy - On the summit of Mt. Gulugod Baboy, there’s a 360-degree view of Batangas and the nearby towns, and the sea breeze is cool and refreshing. The surface of this mountain is covered with relaxing green grass, while the slopes are picture-perfect. The terrain is open, so if you're planning for an overnight, it is highly recommended to start trekking passed four o'clock in the afternoon so when you reach the summit, it's already sunset. If a day hike, you can start trekking early in the morning.
Mt. Batulao is one of the most climbed mountains in Southern Luzon because of the following: proximity to Manila, beautiful landscape, and cool and relaxing ambiance. A two to three hour land travel from Manila, this mountain can reward you with a breathtaking and wide view of its green mountain slopes. Your trek can be tiring, but your tired muscles will be relaxed as the cool and refreshing wind blows. You should not forget to have a side trip to Tagaytay and have a sumptuous bulalo break.
I'll place Mt. Maculot as the second most climbed mountain in Batangas because of different factors. It can also be one of the best options for day hikes because of its minor trail type, terrains that are covered with trees and surrounded by grass and shrubs, the air is fresh, cool ambiance and a perfect location for a stunning shot with the world famous and most active Taal Volcano on the background. In addition, the Rockies is the best and famous part of Maculot.
The province is prominent with its beautiful beaches and outstanding underwater activities, but if you want to visit two different destinations in one day, it is possible. Mt. Daguldol is situated not so far from the shoreline of San Juan, Batangas. This mountain is one of their assets in terms of mountain ranges with beaches in the background. Daguldol is perfect for first-time hikers because the trail is simple to moderate, but the view from the summit is remarkably beautiful.
Derived from the phrase "mataas na bundok," Mt. Manabu hides something breathtaking in its forest areas. Gorgeous flora and distinct fauna can be found on the terrain that is composed of tall hardwood and fruit-bearing trees, coconuts, shrubs, and grasses. This type of terrain serves as a paradise for the civet cats that produce an expensive coffee. In addition, its summit has a wide view of the mountain ranges from afar, and the nearby villages have a cool and refreshing sea breeze.
Mount Malarayat is another name given to Mt. Malipunyo. For two to three hours land travel and a whole day trek, you can enjoy the stunning views and extreme experience that can be found on the terrains of this mountain. It is also considered as “first timer friendly,” as it has a simple to moderate trail types. The terrain is abundant with different type of trees and colorful flowers that serve as as paradise of the wildlife.
Hiking for one to two hours, you can easily reach the summit of Mt. Tibig. This mountain offers a relaxing trek because of its trails and gorgeous picturesque on the summit. With reggae music on the background, the stunning mountain ranges, covered with greens, will definitely make your eyes relaxed while the fresh and cool wind will help your soared muscles recover - such perfect place for bonding.
Though no trees are dancing and birds singing, the nude shape of Mt. Talamitam makes it unique among other hiking destinations in the provinces. Considered a friendly mountain for beginners, this Talamitam can still bring a remarkable hiking experience to those seasoned in this field because of its soil type, which is slippery and muddy during the wet season and hot during summer. As you can see in the photo above, this mountain is covered with green, which brings a relaxing aura to the eyes.
How to Get to Batangas:
- From Manila, take a bus to the City Grand Terminal. There are terminals in Cubao, Manila and Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
- The bus ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- For private cars, downloading Waze or Google Maps would be a great help.
5 Best Affordable Hotels/Resorts in Batangas:
- Stay.N Lipa
- Balai Sofia B&B
- LuxeCara Guest House
- Jaleen Transient
- Dreamwave Hotel Lemery
If you're looking for other hotels, reviews from other tourists, updated prices for comparison, or you want to book them, Agoda made it easier for you; just click HERE and the price starts at 313 pesos.
List of Colorful Festivals:
- Parada ng Lechon
- Sinukmani Festival
- Bancaton
- Anihan Festival
- Balsa Festival
- Sublian Festival
- Flores De Mayo And Tapusan Festival
- Tapusan Festival
- Sigpawan Festival
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