Calabarzon

A region just south of Manila, where views of Taal Volcano from Tagaytay, diving in Batangas and hot springs make for great short trips.

Calabarzon lies south and east of Metro Manila and is made up of the five provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. From Tagaytay you can look out over Taal Lake and Taal Volcano in the middle of it. Anilao in Batangas is a popular macro-diving spot. Laguna has hot-spring resorts and Pagsanjan Falls, and Calamba preserves the ancestral home of national hero José Rizal. The Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon, is held every May. It is reachable from Manila by car, making it ideal for weekend getaways, and the dry season runs roughly from December to May.

Destinations

• Anilao
• Manila

Itineraries

• Philippines Island Highlights Loop – Starting from Manila, this two-week first-timer's route connects Coron, El Nido, Bohol, and South Cebu.
• Northern Luzon: Terraces, Mountain Towns and Colonial Old Towns – An overnight bus to Banaue, then the Batad terraces, Sagada and Baguio, ending in Vigan on a Luzon loop.