“Batangas.”
What comes to your mind when you hear that word?
For me, it was freediving.
Most of my freediving friends spent months in Batangas, diving, teaching, and training for competition.
But, here’s the thing.
When I visited Batangas myself, I completely changed my mind.
Diving is a huge part of Batangas…but it is not everything!
There are also mountains to climb, old towns to visit, islands to explore, beaches to relax in, and so much more.
In this guide, I’ll tell you all about it.
Let’s go!
Batangas Travel Guide: Start with the Fun Facts!
As always, first things first.
Let’s explore 3 fun facts that’ll make your visit to Batangas so much more fun.
Batangas Fun Fact #1: Batangas Is the Diving Capital of Luzon
Ok, so when I said that Batangas is not ALL about diving, I didn’t mean it’s not about diving at all.
Because the truth is, Batangas is the closest diving getaway for people in Metro Manila.
They don’t need to get on a plane.
Or sit in a bus for hours.
All they need to do?
Take the expressway south and drive for 2 hours.
No wonder it gets crowded on the seaside during weekends!
Batangas Fun Fact #2: Batangas is HUGE
Remember in the Lion King movie, when Mufasa tells Simba,
“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”
Well, see that photo above?
That’s a view of Batangas from one of its mountains.
And yes, it is HUGE.
In fact, the province of Batangas spans an area of approximately 3,100 square kilometers (1,200 square miles).
Now, that’s something to get excited about!
I mean, think of what you can explore there.
Batangas Fun Fact #3: Batangas City Is the Jump-Off Point to So Many Kinds of Adventures
From Batangas port, you can get to Puerto Galera, Abra de Ilog, and many other sun-kissed islands.
By bus, you can get to Mabini, the diving capital of Luzon.
Or to Taal town, where you can enjoy old Spanish vibes and a ton of unique local snacks.
Or to the mountains, where you can climb to the peaks and bask in gorgeous views.
Yes, my friends.
Batangas is not one thing only.
And when you get to Batangas City, it’s only the starting point of the kaleidoscope of adventures you can experience.
How to Get to Batangas City (And Where to Go Once You Arrive There)
Getting to Batangas City is easy.
You can easily book bus tickets online.
But here’s the best way to get about it:
Step #1: Go to PITX Terminal in Paranaque City
The PITX terminal in Paranaque is the best place to buy a bus ticket for Batangas.
Why?
- It’s easy to get to (every driver in Manila knows where it is)
- It has multiple bus routes to anywhere you want to go
- It has multiple bus schedules
- It’s fun! Seriously, PITX is like a mall. It has cafes, boutiques, restaurants, food stalls, pharmacies, and more! Just look at the photo below:
Step #2: Buy your ticket to Batangas City
At first, we had a hard time finding the ticket booths in the PITX terminal.
I mean, look at the photo above.
Food everywhere, people leisurely walking around, everything just like a mall.
But you will find the booths if you look closely.
They look like this:
When you’ve found one, select the time you want to travel to Batangas.
You’ll find a lot of different schedules, so choose the one that feels best to you. (If you’re going somewhere else from Batangas, like Mabini or Puerto Galera, make sure not to choose a late schedule.)
You don’t need to pay for the ticket yet (you will do this once you’ve boarded the bus).
However, you will get an e-ticket.
It’ll look like this:
Step #3: Board the bus
On your e-ticket, you will see the gate number for your bus.
Board the correct bus at the gate and get ready to pay.
Note that even though there’s a seat number on your e-ticket, the buses to Batangas are free seating (they only use seat numbers for less common routes).
The number is just for the tellers to see if there are still seats available on the bus.
This means you can sit anywhere you like!
Once the bus has left the station, the conductor will approach you and ask where you’re headed.
Tell them Batangas City, and you will get a punched ticket.
This is the time to pay (the conductor will tell you how much, it cost me php249).
Enjoy the bus ride!
It will take 2 hours, but the trip is fast and easy, and you will pass through interesting towns and fields of green…
…so think of it as the beginning of your adventure!
Once you get to Batangas City:
You can either stay there and enjoy city life (the usual malls and restaurants)…
…or you can head to your next destination.
Here are some great ideas to choose from:
- Mabini. Disembark from the bus at Batangas Terminal. Take a jeepney to Mabini town (PHP50). From there, you can go to the Mabini dive spot (Anilao and Bagalangit) by hiring a private tricycle (motorcycle taxi). This will cost approximately PHP200. Note: It’s a good idea to arrive in Batangas City early if you want to go on to Mabini. That’s because by 4 pm, it’s more difficult to find a jeepney to Mabini.
- Taal Heritage Town. From Batangas Terminal, board a modern jeep (e-jeep or e-bus) to Lemery Town. This vehicle will pass through Taal Heritage Town, and you can ask the driver to drop you off there.
- Puerto Galera and Other Islands. If you’re going to travel on to other islands in Mindoro, ask the bus conductor to drop you off at Batangas Port instead of Batangas Terminal. At the port, you can book your ticket to Puerto Galera, Abra del Ilog, and more fun island destinations.
Note: Another way of getting around Batangas is to rent a motorcycle and drive yourself around. We did this with GET Motorbike Rent. The motorcycle cost PHP600/day (450/day weekly rate), and we used it to drive ourselves to Mabini, Anilao, Bagalangit, Taal Heritage Town, and basically everywhere we went our entire trip. If you love driving yourself around and don’t want to be bothered with public transportation, choose this option. You can find motorcycle rental shops on social media. Book your rental and pick the motorcycle up in Batangas City (we paid an extra php250 to have it delivered to the terminal). And you’re set!
Batangas Tourist Spots: 10 Amazing Places You Shouldn’t Miss
Ok, now for the fun part!
What can you do in Batangas?
Here are 10 tourist spots to explore + what you can do there.
Batangas Tourist Spot #1: Anilao
If you are a freediver or scuba diver, Anilao is a place you’ll feel at home in.
Think: rows of dive shops, famous muck diving areas, beautiful corals, and diverse marine life.
If you like being near the center of town (with all the food shops, restaurants, and such), stay in Anilao instead of Bagalangit.
It’s easier to access and offers more food, entertainment, coffee shops, and so on.
But if what you’re searching for is an exclusive dive spot, choose:
Batangas Tourist Spot #2: Bagalangit
Honestly, when we arrived at Bagalangit, I was impressed.
It’s such a tiny town.
The main diving location is nothing but a cove-like area with a few buildings next to the coast (mostly dive shops and hostels).
The peace and quiet are lovely (except for Saturdays, when a ton of people come from Manila to dive).
If you aren’t a diver, you’ll feel slightly out of place in this town.
That’s because everywhere you go, you’ll see traces of diving.
That young lady lugging a buoy on her back as she trudges back from the shore.
That row of masks, snorkels, and fins set out to dry on a dive rack.
That group of people eating lunch in wetsuits.
I tell you, this is a unique town.
Even if you’re not into diving, you’ll love exploring it, talking to divers to find out how they live, and who knows?
Maybe you’ll feel like signing up for an introductory class yourself!
In Bagalangit, you’ll find a ton of freediving schools that offer intro classes, certification courses, fun dives, and even boat dives to different islands.
It’s the best place to go for ocean lovers.
Batangas Tourist Spot #3: Mt. Gulugod Baboy
Mount Gulugod Baboy is a beautiful hiking destination.
Its peak is at 525 meters above sea level, giving you a stunning view of the ocean all around it.
Know what the best part is?
It’s great for beginners.
The hike takes only 1-2 hours, and most of it is on a cemented road.
If you really hate walking, you can even drive up to the peak!
There’s a parking area for your car or motorcycle at the side of the mountain, and all that’s left to do is to climb some stairs for 5 minutes.
Then you’re at the peak!
Trust me, don’t miss this.
I loved it there.
The sea below unmoving like a silvery canvas.
The 360-degree panoramic view of Batangas, with the ocean to the west and the sprawl of the gray-white city to the east.
The velvety darkness and sharp stars that come out at night.
If you go, make sure you end up at the peak around sunset.
It’s the best time to visit, as it’s not too hot and YES, the colors are stunning at that time.
Look how happy I am here:
And look at these gorgeous Palmettos:
Batangas Tourist Spot #4: Taal Heritage Town
Vigan isn’t the only Spanish-era town in the Philippines!
Taal Heritage Town is a quaint old town with beautiful Spanish-era houses and shops.
Yes, it’s quite a drive if you’re staying in Mabini.
It took us an hour by motorcycle to get there…
…but it was worth it!
Walking down the cobbled streets took us back to the time of horse-drawn carriages and ladies in full skirts. (Ignore the car in the pic, haha.)
We visited this old church.
And ate a LOT of unique Taal snacks.
Like these sticky, sweet, orange and purple rice balls.
Or these tamales, sticky rice cakes with ham and egg inside, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed:
Or these sumptuous empanadas:
Or Tawilis, which I’m not sure you will like – but I did! (Fun fact, Taal is the only place in the world you can find freshwater sardines. That’s because these sardines got trapped in Taal Lake when volcanic eruptions sealed it off from the ocean centuries ago. So don’t miss this even if pungent saucy fish wrapped in banana leaves is not your thing!)
If you’re in Taal Heritage Town, make sure to check out the market to find all these interesting snacks.
They were the highlight of our trip. 💯
Batangas Tourist Spot #5: Mount Batulao
Mount Batulao is one of the fun minor hikes in the Philippines (I haven’t tried many, but this one was really fun for me).
Its peak is at 811 meters above sea level, but the elevation gain is only around 300+ meters, so don’t worry about getting too tired.
Anyway, if you love nature, forests, and the euphoria of standing on a summit as the sun goes down, you should definitely try this hike.
On the way, you’ll see beautiful trees.
Like this fiery red Talisay:
Or this grove of young mangoes sliding gently down a hill:
This is the peak from a distance:
The trail is not really that hard and takes around 2 hours (one way). If you’re relatively fit, this should be fun instead of exhausting.
Once you get close to the summit, there’s a short “assault” where you’ll have to use a rope to ascend a 60-70-degree rock wall.
But once you get to the peak, voila!
The world is yours.
You’ll see Batangas stretched out in the distance like a flattened map.
Taal volcano, ashy-white and foreboding.
The sea, emerald and turquoise, touching the dome of the sky.
Hills and hills, rolling with cogon grass and trees.
It’s super worth it!
Note: You can climb Batulao at any time of the day. Some prefer going really early and catching the sunrise. Since I’m not a morning person, we decided to go in the afternoon for the sunset. Guides are available at the entrance to the trail and charge PHP1,200 for the hike. You can also contact our guide Ronald Mendoza by phone (+639103688746).
Note #2: You can choose between two trails to Mount Batulao’s peak. The first one is the Old to New Trail Traverse (we took this), which is a loop and more challenging. The second is the just the New Trail, an out-and-back experience which is quicker and easier than the Old Trail. If you don’t like seeing the same scenery twice, choose the traverse. If you want a shorter and less taxing hike, choose the New.
Batangas Tourist Spot #6: Bauan Beaches
Bauan is a town right next to Mabini (about an hour away), and it’s lined with calm, stunning beaches.
Like the one pictured above.
See that?
Periwinkle and lavender waters, a long, low peach skyline.
Pebbly sands.
Silence.
But here’s the thing.
The beaches in Bauan aren’t easy to get to.
You’ll need to drive through winding, narrow, steep roads, so if you’re not a great driver…
…maybe skip this?
When we went, we had a crazy experience when our motorcycle lost its brakes.
We didn’t die (obviously), but it was an adrenaline-packed experience.
If you like those, by all means, go.
Here’s the Google pin to the beach we went to:
Batangas Tourist Spot #7: Cafes and Things
Longing for a chill day?
No problem.
Batangas has all sorts of lovely places to relax, unwind, and prepare for your next adventure.
Like the cafe above (Cafe Aguada), which is along the Bagalangit road near the Barangay Hall.
It’s the perfect combination of trees, caffeine, and fun finger snacks.
Don’t worry.
Batangas isn’t an isolated, out-of-the-way place with nothing to do or eat.
It’s packed with restaurants, cafes, viewpoints, and so much more. (Yes, wherever you go.)
So if you’re planning a longer stay, make sure to add a day or two to chill, unwind, and check out the local hangouts.
Batangas Tourist Spot #8: Tingloy Island
Tingloy is a small island just off the coast of Bagalangit.
It’s filled with beaches and resorts, plus a few dive spots.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to visit and explore it (my brother was sick on the day we were supposed to go!).
But if you want to, boat tickets are available at the Anilao port.
The first trip across is at 7 am, and the last trip back to Anilao is at 4 pm.
Batangas Tourist Spot #9: Other Mountains to Climb in Batangas
When we visited Batangas, we were divided between diving, climbing, and exploring.
But what if all you want to do is climb mountains?
Here are 3 more in the area you can enjoy:
- Mt. Maculot
- Mt. Talimitam
- Mt. Pico de Loro
The crazy part is, no matter how long your trip is, you always find out in the end that you’ve missed so much.
I’ll visit these mountains next time, for sure!
Batangas Tourist Spot #10: Other Islands to Visit
Off the coast of Batangas, there are 2 other places you can go diving or swimming.
Sombrero Island and Sepoc Island.
These areas are said to be beautiful, with white sands and lively reefs.
However, if you’re travelling alone, it might not be easy to get there.
The best way is to book a private boat, which costs PHP4,500.
If you’re lucky, though, one of the freediving schools will have an open spot on their boat dive, and you can go for a fraction of that price.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit these islands.
When we were there, all the boats were full on the weekends (and too expensive on weekdays).
The best-case scenario is to go with a big group and divide the cost of a private boat.
Where to Stay When You Visit Batangas (+My Recommendation)
The truth is, Batangas is so huge.
I wasn’t prepared for that.
Maybe you won’t be either.
You’ll never be done exploring it.
And, depending on what you’re planning to do there, you can stay in one place by the sea…
…or another place 2 hours away, by the mountains.
But here’s what I recommend.
Stay in Bagalangit, Mabini.
I adored this place.
It’s isolated enough to be peaceful and quiet, but lively enough with its unique community of ocean-loving people.
From there, you can travel by public transportation or motorcycle to the other Batangas tourist spots.
Ok, decided?
Here are 3 places to stay I recommend:
Budget-Friendly Batangas Hostel: Rustique Rue
When I say “budget-friendly,” I don’t mean low-quality.
Not at all!
Because the truth is, Rustique Rue beats some expensive hotels that are too much concrete and have no fresh air.
It’s perfect.
Imagine: the constant sound of wind through trees like ocean waves.
Spacious, airy rooms with comfortable beds.
Bamboo balconies.
Lots of common areas sprinkled with patterns of light.
Friendly staff, tasty vegetarian food, cute cats.
What more could you want?
We stayed there the entire 7 days of our trip, and we never once regretted it.
Mid-Range: Balay Lawom
Maybe you like the idea of a dorm, but you need your air conditioning.
If that’s so, the place to stay would be Balay Lawom.
They even have some private rooms, if you’re not into sharing.
Fancy (ish): The Grey House
The Grey House is beautiful and modern, with spacious, air-conditioned, comfortable rooms.
They also have dorm rooms, and these cost double the price of Rustique Rue (around PHP1,000 per head, per night).
If you want to have your own room, you can get one there at PHP3,500-5,000 per night.
The Grey House also has a restaurant that serves delicious food and drinks.
Where to Stay in Anilao
- The Philip Ann Resort Hotel – You get a private beach and a pool with a view. Some close landmarks are Mount Gulugod Baboy, which is 2.6 km away, and Mt. Gulugod Baboy Trail (2.6 km away)
- Anilao Scuba Dive Center Resort – A good retreat for diving enthusiasts seeking a peaceful getaway. It’s also an affordable stay!
- Bubblemaker Anilao Dive and Beach Resort Hotel – This hotel provides guests with easy access to stunning beaches. There is also a shared lounge where you can socialize with other guests.
What to Eat in Batangas (+The Best Cafe You Shouldn’t Miss)
There’s so much to eat in Batangas.
Just like any place, you might never be able to taste everything.
But here are a few you absolutely should not skip:
- Batangas Lomi. A rich egg noodle soup with an assortment of meat and vegetables. You can find lots of lomi stations lined up from Batangas City to Mabini.
- Bulalo. Another famous soup, this time with lots of beef. Perfect for days when you feel tired and need a recharge.
- Tamales. A unique sticky rice snack stuffed with egg and ham, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
- Tawilis. Freshwater sardines (the only ones in the entire world!)
- Empanadas. You can try chicken, pork, beef, or vegetarian variations.
- Coffee. Ok, this is a little off topic. But if you’re in Mabini, don’t forget to try the famous cafe, Alwan’s. Every freediver in the area says it is the best coffee they have ever had. Note, though, that the cafe is closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Batangas Budget: How Much Will You Spend There?
As with all places, how much you’ll spend is up to you.
There’s always a way to be budget-friendly, even in expensive places.
And there’s always a way to splurge, even in affordable areas.
That said, if you’re an ultra-budget backpacker, you might struggle a bit in Batangas. Accommodations and food options are slightly more expensive than in other destinations in the Philippines.
When we were there, we stayed in a budget-friendly hostel (Rustique Rue) and tried not to spend too much on food (except on one or two nights).
With that, we spent approximately PHP 10,000 per person for 7 days.
That included bus tickets, our rented motorcycle, our bed in the hostel, food, the hiking guide fee, snacks, coffee, rented diving gear, and one expensive fancy dinner at Dolce Amore (this place is great, by the way. Make sure to check it out.).
Of course, you can always tweak your own budget and spend either more or less than we did.
Have fun!
Batangas Travel: Ready for Your Adventure?
Ok, so you’re planning to visit Batangas.
Amazing!
I am so jealous.
Until now, I am not over how beautiful and adventure-packed that place is.
You will love it too.
So, go on!
Plan that trip.
Will you climb mountains?
Dive in the ocean?
Sign up for a freediving class?
Explore towns and do a food trip?
All of the above?
Go ahead and do it!
You will absolutely love Batangas, and who knows?
It might be that place you return to again and again.
A second home, as some people call it.