LAGUNA ROAD TRIP: Budget Travel Guide & Itinerary

If you think the grass is always greener on the other side, it’s probably time to have a closer look at your lawn because maybe, just maybe, it is greener than you think.

Laguna is one of the provinces we often overlook partly because its edges aren’t laced with pearly beaches. Joke’s on us because paradise isn’t always made of sand and saltwater. Much of Laguna is almost untouched, still covered with dense rainforests concealing several magnificent waterfalls. Many of its historic towns retain many pieces of its glorious past. And its cuisine showcases some of the best of the Southern Tagalog region.

Laguna is actually an ideal road trip destination. From the Seven Lakes of San Pablo to the glorious cascades of Luisiana to the carving tradition of Paete, Laguna has a lot to offer. The best part: It’s within close proximity of Manila.

Understanding Laguna

During the Spanish era, Laguna was officially called La Provincia de la Laguna de Bay. “Laguna” literally means lake, referring to the country’s largest lake, which got its name from the town of Bay. Together with Metro Manila and the province of Rizal, the lake serves as its northern boundary, while Cavite, Batangas, and Quezon border it in the west, south, and east respectively.

Rizal Shrine in Calamba

Laguna is most famous as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s most celebrated hero, whose death on 30 December 1896 strengthened the yearning for Philippine independence and inspired many other revolutionary leaders.

For our non-Filipino readers, locals here speak Tagalog, but virtually everyone understands English so language barrier won’t be a problem during your visit.

How to Get to Laguna from Manila

One of the most easily accessible provinces, Laguna is linked to Manila by two major thoroughfares: the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Manila East Road. The former is the better choice if you’re going to the western side (Calamba, Sta. Rosa, Binan) and the latter for the northwestern side (Mabitac, Siniloan, Pangil).

Several bus companies ply routes to its many towns and cities, with San Pablo City, Calamba, Los Banos, Santa Rosa, and the capital Sta. Cruz as the main transportation hubs. You can find their terminals in Cubao and LRT Buendia (Pasay).

The thing with Laguna is that most of its attractions are spread out, located so far apart from one another, that while public commute is definitely possible, it can be an exhausting effort. For the longest time, we’ve traveled Laguna that way, but this year, we were able to bring our own car on three occasions and it makes a lot more sense. Roads in Laguna are mostly paved and it’s actually an easy drive, so sedans can handle the journey really well. Not only is having your own ride more comfortable, it also turned out way cheaper than taking public transpo.

Just two weeks ago, we went on a road trip to Luisiana and Cavinti. Chevrolet SAIL lent us the car we used, and it only reinforced just how Laguna is such a great road trip destination if you’re a group of three or more. Our trip was hassle-free even when it was raining hard that weekend. We got a bigass trunk that accommodated all our bags and left lots of free space, so it was so easy to fish something out of our bags in a hurry. The 16″ alloy wheels allowed light driving and quick reflexes. It’s also fuel-efficient. We only refilled once, making this trip much cheaper than I expected.

For the whole 2-day trip, our transportation expenses were only the toll fee (P214 one-way) and gas (P500 and a lot was still left in the tank when we returned the car). We were a party of four, which sets the total transportation cost to Luisiana at only P232 per person. If you commute, each of us would be paying at least P360 on bus, jeepney and tricycle fares.

Best Time to Visit Laguna

The dry months of December-May are always a great time to visit because there’s very little chance that it will rain.

That said, Laguna is one of the few destinations that are great (even greater, sometimes) during the rainy season (June-November). It’s especially true if you’re going there for its many majestic waterfalls, which are splashier and more spectacular after the rain. But remember: visit in the rainy season but not immediately after the rain. After a downpour, the water turns brown and murky, and the trail muddy and slippery. Give the trail time to dry.

Also, weekends = crowds. Better visit on a weekday (Monday-Friday). But please note that most museums like the Rizal Shrine in Calamba are closed on Mondays. If your only available time is the weekend, it’s alright. Go regardless.

How Many Days for a Visit?

Before I discuss the itinerary, you need to know first how many days you want to do this road trip.

Because it is near Manila, you can visit some attractions in Laguna a day tour. Here are some examples of day tours which will still allow you ample time to enjoy each stop. You can do each item in just one day:

• San Pablo City and its lakes (usually Pandin and Sampaloc)

• Boating from Pagsanjan to Cavinti Falls

• Majayjay, Liliw and Nagcarlan Day Tour

• Paete, Pangil, Kalayaan Day Tour

• Hulugan Falls + Aliw Falls in Luisiana

Overnight tour is great too! But if you want to experience most of what the province has to offer, drive around Laguna de Bay (what many call Laguna Loop) and spend at least 2 nights. This ensures you get to enjoy multiple towns and try the many restaurants along the way.

Where to Stay in Laguna

Check Rates Here: Laguna Hotels!

There are a lot of budget inns and resorts scattered throughout the province. If you’re really on a budget, the best post, but the best (and the most popular) ones seem to be concentrated in San Pablo City, Calamba, Santa Rosa, Pagsanjan, and Los Banos.

Below is a list not of the cheapest accommodations but those that provide an experience. Budget travel shouldn’t be about the cheapest but those that give you the best value for money.

SAN PABLO CITY

In my personal opinion, San Pablo City is the most ideal place to spend the night not just because of the quality of accommodations per se but also because there are a lot of lovely restaurants around.

• Sulyap Bed and Breakfast (Casa de Obando Boutique Hotel, Casa de Alitagtag Boutique Hotel). Our best hotel experience in Laguna. It’s a charming complex of ancestral houses (or at least they look ancestral) fronted by one of the city’s best restaurants. The rooms are super spacious. (The bathroom alone can pass as a single room in some hotels.) And the service is on point. BUT super expensive. A double room starts P2900, room for four P5100 with breakfast. Book now or check updated rates here >>

• Casa San Pablo. A quiet home turned into a country inn at the heart of the city. A bit expensive but one of the best places to stay in Laguna. They charge per head: the bigger the group, the lower the rates. To give you an idea, an overnight stay if you’re a party of five costs P1300 per person. If you’re a party of two, P1700 per head.

• Tahanan ni Aling Meding. Another good option with a great view of Sampaloc Lake. Costs P2500 per double room. Book now or check updated rates here >>

CAVINTI

• Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort. Situated on the shore of the man-made Caliraya Lake. A little hard to reach unless you have your own ride. Standard rooms start at P2400/night, a little pricey for me. But if you’re a group of 4 or 5, you may stay in a quad room for P4400/night, which is P1100 per person. Note that the rates on their website are higher, but when you’re there you’ll be given a list of discounted rates (the costs I mentioned), although they may change without prior notice. It’s good for golfers and groups looking for team-building activities. Book now or check updated rates here >>

Places to Visit and Things to Do in Laguna

Now that you know how much time you have for this trip, time to build your itinerary. Decide what you want to do! Here are some of the more popular attractions in Laguna!

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