For riders, simply hitting the open highway, whatever the vacation spot, is an journey in itself. However in case you’re planning to experience all around the Philippines, you’ll understand it may well get fairly sophisticated making an attempt to move a bike round for the reason that nation is made up of 7,641 islands. Whereas there are some small superb islands nice for exploring by motorbike, it’s extra handy to simply lease motorbikes from there. For these coming from Manila who’ve their very own bikes, your finest guess can be to experience across the mainland of Luzon, the largest and most populous island within the Philippines.
Whereas I’ve traveled to all of those locations listed beneath, I haven’t personally ridden to all of them from Manila but, so I’m sharing extra suggestions and pictures from Wrangler Philippines #TrueWanderer Season 1 and a couple of riders on their tried-and-tested favorites. Metro Manila itself (which ranks in lists of locations with the worst site visitors on this planet) is admittedly not an ideal place to experience. However in case you’re taken with exploring the Philippines, these are the preferred driving routes from Manila the place you may benefit from the vacation spot in addition to the journey getting there.
NOTE: These locations contain pure land journey in mainland Luzon from Manila and excludes islands you may attain by sea journey.
My private favourite for a day experience is Marilaque (Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon), a freeway that traverses a number of provinces by way of the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges of Rizal, the mountaintops of Laguna, and, lastly, to Infanta, Quezon. With a highway stretching to 110-kilometers, this freeway is a favourite for motorbike riders and mountain bikers due to its cooler local weather and scenic views. It’ll take you about 3-4 hours to get to Infanta through this route.
Experience highlights: View from Cafe Katerina, Paseo Rizal, twisties, Daraitan, Jariel’s Peak, Agos River, Seashores of Infanta, Gen. Nakar and Actual
In accordance with #TrueWanderer Dom de la Torre (RiderAko), Tagaytay Metropolis in Cavite is without doubt one of the hottest rides particularly for these primarily based within the South. Tagaytay is understood for its cooler local weather, eating places, and nice view overlooking Taal Lake in Batangas. “It’s very close to busy cities within the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Metro Manila. A brief 20-40 km experience and also you’ll end up driving winding roads with a cool breeze of contemporary air blowing in opposition to your face.”
Experience highlights/stopovers: Folks’s Park within the Sky, Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Hillside roads overlooking Taal Lake, Twisty roads of Talisay with hairpin curves on 20-30 diploma slopes, Kaybiang Tunnel
Batangas
One other well-loved driving vacation spot from Manila is Batangas, house to the well-known Taal Volcano (seen from Tagaytay) and Taal Heritage city, a small city that has ancestral homes and constructions courting again to the nineteenth century, which you’ll be able to go to on a Taal Lake Loop.
Batangas is a well-liked weekend vacation spot primarily due to its seashores and diving spots, with coastal cities like Calatagan, Nasugbu and Laiya in San Juan favourite spots for experience and seaside tenting journeys. Relying on the site visitors and your route (SLEX or Laguna backroads), you will get to Batangas in about 3-5 hours a method.
Experience highlights/stopovers: Nasugbu-Ternate Freeway, coastal roads, seashores, Laiya, Calatagan, Taal Heritage City
Laguna, located southeast of Metro Manila hugs the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the the biggest lake within the nation. A well-liked driving route is the Laguna Loop, a 200+ km route the place one circles the whole Laguna de Bay.
Laguna is the birthplace of Jose Rizal, the nation’s nationwide hero and is legendary for its waterfalls, scorching springs and mystic mountains. You may spend an entire day of driving to fully loop the lake and spend high quality time at varied points of interest or simply select to simply go to the extra laid-back and scenic Japanese cities as an alternative or keep in a single day in Caliraya.
Experience highlights: Laguna Lake from varied vantage factors, Pilillia Wind Farm, Laguna Lake, Paete, Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Historic church buildings, Underground Cemetery, Pagsanjan Waterfalls, Caliraya Lake
For historical past buffs, the province of Bataan, located within the Central Luzon area about 120+ kms away, affords one other fascinating vacation spot to experience to from Manila due to its historic significance as one of many final stands of American and Filipino troopers earlier than they have been overwhelmed by the Japanese forces in World Struggle II.
The Bataan Dying March was named after the province, the place the notorious march began. These on large bikes can get to Bataan in simply 2-3 hours through NLEX, whereas these on smaller bikes must go the service highway, which might take about 4 to 4.5 hours.
Experience highlights: Bataan Dying March markers, Mt. Samat Nationwide Shrine, Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar, Sisiman Bay
La Union is a laid-back surf city within the Ilocos area with a variety of lodging to suit any funds and many eating places to select from for all of your meals journey wants.
Roughly 273 km (170 mi) north of Metro Manila, riders can get right here with only a 4-5 hour drive in the event that they’re passing the expressway. Whereas it’s technically day-trippable, you need to plan to remain not less than in a single day to benefit from the seaside and nightlife.
Experience highlights: Seashores, sundown in San Juan, Macho Temple, Thunderbird Resort, Luna Pebble Seashore, Tangadan Falls (hike required), food-tripping
Baguio Metropolis, the nation’s summer time capital, is without doubt one of the hottest locations within the Philippines. “The Metropolis of Pines” is at all times a preferred vacation spot for holidays and weekend journeys due to its proximity to Manila and cooler local weather, nice meals choices and all of the fascinating vacationer locations you may go to. It’s an ideal vacation spot for riders as properly, due to the scenic views and twisties simply getting there. Baguio is roughly 245 kms or about 4-5 hours drive.
Experience highlights: Lion’s Head Statue, Biker’s Pit Cease, Stobosa, Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Burnham Park, Mines View, Camp John Hay, food-tripping
In accordance with #TrueWanderer Gab Casuga, Baler is an efficient vacation spot for riders, particularly those that wish to surf. The capital of the province of Aurora is situated 231 km (144 mi) north-east of Manila or roughly about 7-8 hours drive through a mountain go. The scenic views, spectacular geographic formations, laid-back vibe and seaside are its high attracts.
“The shoreline going there’s simply stunning. It’s nice for riders due to the truth that on the finish of your experience, the attractive pacific shoreline simply awaits you. In the event you depart early round 5 am, you will get there by lunch, spend the afternoon browsing, benefit from the nightlife with a few beers with pako salad as pulutan and different native delicacies.”
“Then the subsequent morning take a pleasure experience going North seeing the white seaside a part of the Aurora shoreline.”
Experience highlights: Visiting the Antonio Luna Shrine in Cabanatuan, stopping over for espresso and the well-known suman, the seaside for browsing, Millenium Tree, Sabang Seashore, Diguisit Seashore & Rock Formations, Dipaculao
Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur, has the excellence of being named a UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis. The town is well-known for its Spanish-era mansions, cobblestone streets and kalesas (horse-drawn carriages), that are the preferred approach for vacationers to go sightseeing.
In accordance with #TrueWanderer Marvin Geronimo (No Obstacles, Simply Horizons), attending to Vigan will take riders roughly 10-12 hours straight drive coming from Manila however exploration is simple when you get there. “Each attraction is just about simply a few minutes away. Vigan itself may be very rider-friendly and straightforward to go round, you will note rather a lot simply by roaming the streets. Individuals are very sort to riders.”
Experience highlights: Calle Crisologo, Vigan Museum, Vigan Cathedral, Plaza, Bantay Church, Bantay Tower, Baluarte, Mindoro Seashore.
The mountain city of Sagada nestled in a valley within the Mountain Province is a superb vacation spot for journey junkies. This scenic city within the Cordillera area affords essentially the most spectacular view of mountains, cooler local weather as a consequence of its excessive elevation and well-preserved tradition.
If you would like a protracted experience with amazingly scenic views by way of the mountains, this can be a nice alternative. Sagada is about 391 km from Metro Manila through Baguio, La Trinidad, Bontoc Rd, Halsema Freeway and the Mountain Path. You may break up your experience in two (by spending the primary day/night time in Baguio) earlier than driving as much as Sagada or drive straight right here, which is able to take roughly 10 to 12 hours from Manila.
Experience highlights: Hanging Coffins, Sumaguing Cave, Cave Connection, Kiltepan Peak, Waterfalls, Lake Danum, the highway simply going up there
The Bicol Area consists of six provinces, 4 of that are on the mainland on the southeastern finish of Luzon: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.
The Manila to Bicol route passing the Asian Freeway 26 (AH26) (also called the Pan-Philippine Freeway or Maharlika Freeway) is a significant highway journey route. Bicol is about 437 kms away from Metro Manila, and can take you about 10 – 12 hours relying in your tempo.
Experience highlights: Previous Zigzag Highway in Atimonan, Coastal highway in Gumaca, Bagasbas Seashore in Daet (detour required), CamSur Water Sports activities Complicated, Mayon Volcano, Bulusan Lake in Sorsogon
The province of Ilocos Norte on the northwest nook of Luzon going through the West Philippine Sea is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer locations within the North.
Recognized for its historic church buildings, gorgeous seashores and mouthwatering delicacies, Ilocos Norte showcases a few of the finest locations up North. It’s additionally house to one of many longest and most excessive bridges within the Philippines, which is form of a landmark for highway trippers.
The Patapat Viaduct, a coastal bridge elevated 31 meters above sea degree, is a high draw for riders on their technique to the coastal city of Pagudpud. In accordance with #TrueWanderer Carlos Baldosa, a secure estimate for motorbike riders coming from Metro Manila to get to Patapat Viaduct is about 12 – 13 hours if that’s your predominant vacation spot. Patapat Viaduct is 569 kms away from Metro Manila.
Experience highlights: Patapat Viaduct, Fort Ilocandia, Pagudpud, Kapurpurawan Rock Formations, Bangui Wind Farm, Sand Dunes
North Luzon Loop
On the high of most Filipino rider’s bucketlists is the North Luzon Loop, a 1,200+ km experience that loops the primary roads on the whole Luzon Island. Some riders simply pace by way of this and make minimal stops whereas these on smaller displacement bikes say it would take not less than 2 days to finish. However in case you’re after touring and sightseeing, you need to most likely allot not less than 5 days to circle the whole route.
Experience highlights: All of the highlights from earlier locations listed above alongside the route, the Highest Level of the Philippine Freeway System, Halsema Freeway, welcome arches, limitless stretches of roads and fields, Aparri (the northernmost tip of mainland Luzon)
There are lots of different locations round Luzon and the Philippines which you could experience to, however thus far these are the preferred driving routes that I do know of and are normally beneficial by fellow riders. Obtained every other solutions? Please let me know within the feedback part 🙂
Because of my fellow #TrueWanderers for his or her experience suggestions and pictures! Experience quickly!
