Top Road Trip Destinations near Manila, Arranged by Travel Time

Top Road Trip Destinations near Manila, Arranged by Travel Time

Start the car.
by WindowSeat.ph | May 06, 2016

For people who spend most of the summer in the cold cubicles of their office in the urban wild, a quick road trip will sound like manna from heaven.

Here are a set of options that are just one to five hours away from Metro Manila.

Cavite (1 to 2 hours from Manila)

Cavite’s Historical sites (1 to 2 hours)

If you want a little Philippine history in your road trip, Cavite’s the way to go. With the Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, the Tejeros Convention site in General Trias and even the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, history nuts will never get bored in Cavite.

A photo posted by Julio Macrohon (@jerzmac) on Apr 9, 2016 at 7:42am PDT

Mt. Palay-Palay in Ternate, Cavite (2 hours)

Also known as Mt. Pico De Loro, Mt. Palay-Palay is the perfect setting for that hiking trip you and your barkada have been wanting to go on—it’s newbie friendly, too! Here’s how to go there.

(You can also check out 12 Mountains near Manila for Newbie-Friendly Day Hikes!)

A photo posted by Philippine Tourism Department (@tourismphl) on Apr 12, 2016 at 4:55pm PDT

A photo posted by Princess Rebong 👸🏻 (@atecurly) on Apr 18, 2016 at 5:47am PDT

Pampanga (2 hours from Manila)

SandBox by Alviera in Porac, Pampanga (2 hours)

0917-803-3099 or via landline (045) 432-0014 | Website | Booking Guidelines | General Guidelines

Adrenaline junkies will definitely have the time of their lives at SandBox by Alviera in Porac. They feature the country’s tallest swing and Asia’s biggest roller coaster zipline.

They’ll also let you do some Aerial Walking, wall climbing, free-falling, rappelling, biking (they have a trail!), ATV riding and outdoor archery. Here’s how to get there.

Clark Deca Wakeboard Park (2 hours)

JP Laurel St., Brgy. Margot, Angeles, Pampanga | +63 905 330-1013 / +63 918 459-8488 | Open everyday from 9:30am until 5:30pm | Website

Intense thrill-seekers will also enjoy Clark Deca Wakeboard Park where noobs and experts alike are welcomed with open arms. Typical motorboats are replaced by cables to pull riders, which means you won’t have to wait as long to get your wakeboard experience.

Mt. Pinatubo in Botolan (2.5 hours)

No road trip to Pampanga is complete without a Mt. Pinatubo experience. Here’s how to get there.

Rizal (2 to 3 hours from Manila)

Just 2 hours from the Metro, Rizal’s got everything from chill to artsy destinations.

Falls and a river

Rizal’s got a rich flow of rivers and falls,and it’s all you need for a quick getaway. Fall in love with Daranak Falls (2 hours and 30 minutes), Batlag Falls (2 hours and 30 minutes) and Tinipak River (2 hours and 30 munutes) in Tanay, among many other beautiful and natural bodies of water.

A photo posted by Rb Akino (@rab_oy) on Apr 7, 2016 at 10:39pm PDT

A photo posted by kiko (@greedy_glutton) on Mar 30, 2016 at 5:46pm PDT

Pinto Art Gallery (1.5 hours)

Pinto Art Museum | San Roque, Antipolo, Rizal | +63 2 697 1015 | Open from 9am to 6pm | Facebook

One of the most famous sources of contemporary art fans is the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo where nature and imagination meet. Here’s how to get there.

A photo posted by May Crvz (@ahhhmayzing) on Apr 19, 2016 at 10:10pm PDT

3. Blanco Family Museum (1.5 hours)

Blanco Family Museum |312A, Ibanez St., Angono, Rizal| Open from 8am to 5pm | 651-0048 / 09058240407 | Facebook

Living up to its title as the “Art Capital of the Philippines,” Angono also has the Blanco Family Museum where the works of renowned artist and prodigy Botong Francisco and his family’s works currently reside.

A photo posted by Cai M (@sighcai) on Apr 2, 2016 at 5:35pm PDT

Laguna (2 to 3 hours from Manila)

You can always go to Pagsanjan falls, Caliraya Lake or even Enchanted Kingdom, but here are some places to discover in Laguna Province.

Buntot Palos Falls in Pangil, Laguna (2.5 hours)
A three-hour trip to the south will bring you to the hidden Buntot Palos Falls where you can jump from the 19-foot waterfall. Reaching the falls won’t be easy though because it requires a two-hour trek along the mountain range of Sierra Madre, but the beautiful water that will welcome you is worth it. Here’s how to get there.

A photo posted by j o h n h a r v e y (@pepotpepot) on Apr 13, 2016 at 4:42am PDT

Check out Paete crafts in Paete, Laguna (3 hours)
Go home from Paete with taka, and handmade papier mache figures shaped with wooden molds. The taka is usually shaped like different kinds of animals, and people dressed in colorful baro’t saya. Paete is also where the works of master woodcarvers can be found and bought. And, you can watch them expertly do their craft on the spot. Here’s how to get to Paete.

A photo posted by rommel|UMALI (@rommel.umali) on Dec 17, 2015 at 6:40am PST

Zambales (3 to 5 hours from Manila)

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Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves (3.5 hours)

Experience the unique mix of forest and beach with Anawangin Cove in Olongapo and Nagsasa Cove in Iba. Here’s how to get there.

A photo posted by roj (@rojleocario) on Apr 17, 2016 at 8:05pm PDT

A photo posted by john dela rosa (@erningph) on Apr 19, 2016 at 4:32am PDT

A photo posted by @heidedyan on Apr 1, 2016 at 8:53pm PDT

A photo posted by Jian Marla Reyes (@marlakwatsera) on Apr 11, 2016 at 7:46am PDT

Crystal Beach in San Narciso, Zambales-Pangasinan (3.5 hours)

Crystal Beach in San Narciso, Zambales is the perfect place for you if you want a quick trip for some good waves. This place is also perfect for surfer noobs because the waves aren’t too big or scary. Know how to get there here.

A photo posted by Crystal Beach Resort (@crystalbeachresort) on Mar 31, 2016 at 11:40pm PDT

Capones Island in San Antonio, Zambales (3.5 hours)

Let the island’s rock formations and cliffs kissing the tip of the beach’s white sand suck the stress out of you as you climb to the peak of Capones Island. Check out the Capones Lighthouse built in the 1890s by Spaniards to get the perfect view of this perfect island. Here’s how you can get there.

A photo posted by Leo Miguel Rivera (@mikkokocrunch) on Apr 18, 2016 at 2:36am PDT

paete

A photo posted by Shaiine Mizuki 👑💕 (@shaiinedatu) on May 27, 2015 at 6:27am PDT

Masinloc Eco-Tour Program in Masinloc, Zambales (5 hours)

Call Mac in 0915-451-8246 or Heart in 0912-490-5877 | Website

This day tour is the perfect way to satisfy your hankering for some vitamin sea while helping a good cause. The Masinloc Eco-Tour program is a partnership by the local government of Masinloc and its citizens that take tourists to their three marine sanctuaries: a giant clam farm, a mangrove-formed island and a wooden (and IG-worthy!) guesthouse in the middle of the sea.

Check out our feature here to know more about the tour!