Batangas Activities

If your children enjoy being outside, playing on the beach or walking around in the mountains, there will be ample activities in Batangas to keep them entertained. The western coast has some great beaches for swimming and running around, while the highlands of Mount Maculot offer a chance for alpine adventure. The towns in Batangas, however, have little in the way of modern amenities for kids. Consider bringing along your own sources of fun if you plan to spend a long time here.

Beaches
Batangas has some great beaches which are perfect for children. Gerthel Beach has a stretch of shallow water that gently tapers off for nearly 600 feet, making it ideal for swimming and splashing around. Mabuhay Beach has a nicely developed scene with plenty of water sports equipment for hire and boating excursions. Most of the rest of the beaches are pretty and some have decent coral gardens ideal for snorkelling.

Hiking
If you want to take your older kids into the hilly interior of Batangas, there are a couple of good sites with developed hiking paths and other facilities. To gain the most elevation, head over to Mount Maculot, the highest point in the province. A decent trail network makes walks along its slopes easy and enjoyable. Another popular and interesting destination is Taal volcano, the world’s least high volcano. The scene here is more about boating on the lake surrounding the volcano and walking along its shores.

Snorkelling
Snorkeling is an easy and fun way to explore the underwater beauty of Batangas’ coastal areas. There are more than a dozen sites with nicely preserved coral beds and sea life. Many of the beaches here have shallow water so that children can stand up far out into the sea and safely poke their heads underwater to see the fish and coral gardens. Caban Cove, Sepok Point and Sombrero Island are all ideal for shallow snorkelling adventures.

Batangas is one of the most culturally engaging regions of the Philippines, offering visitors a taste of nearly every era of the country’s heritage. This province is known as the ‘cradle of heroes and nationalists’ due to the high concentration of national figures who emerged from the region and helped shape the nation’s history. In addition to contemporary monuments, Batangas is home to a dozen nicely preserved Spanish colonial towns as well as the earliest datu settlements outside the town of Taal.

Basilica of San Martin de Tours
One of Batangas’ oldest churches is the Taal Basilica, which was first constructed in 1575. At the time of its construction it was the largest church in all of East Asia, and today serves as a reminder of the grandeur of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The basilica's unique quality stems from its fusion of various religious, artistic and patriotic influences. Though predominantly Baroque in style, there are some interesting details which make this church a popular stop for enthusiasts.

Casa de Segunda Katigbak
This example of a classic Batangas ancestral home is an interesting blend of Spanish colonial and native tropical architecture. Casa Segunda is a protected heritage house due to the fact that it was the work place for several generations of poets, artists and intellectuals. If you have an interest in architecture, or the art of Batangas, this site in Lipa City is a good destination.

Church of Our Lady of Caysasay
Perhaps the most important church in Batangas is this beauty in Taal. Its main feature is the collection of priceless artefacts dating from the Spanish colonial era. The province has put all its effort into making this the main repository for such relics, which include an amazing image of the Virgin Mary, numerous Baroque friezes and other wonders of period art.

Leon Apacible Historical Landmark
If you are visiting the town of Taal, be sure to stop by this informative and comprehensive museum housed in the ancestral home of Leon Apacible. Inside is an impressive collection of artefacts and memorabilia from the Spanish era and following periods. This national landmark can be easily walked to from the centre of Taal.

Mabini Shrine
Apolinario Mabini, who was known as the ‘Sublime Paralytic’, was the brains and motivation behind the drive for Filipino nationalism. This national hero is enshrined at this site, where some of his writings and memorabilia are on display. A replica of his birth house and his tomb are located at the centre of the site, located in Barrio Talaga, Tanauan.

Taal Heritage Village
Batangas’ most important and popular destination in Taal also happens to be one of the country’s best-preserved Spanish colonial towns. This traditional village retains its roots and structural layout, and contains a number of interesting attractions worth checking out including museums, churches and restored homes.

With its roots stretching both to the sea and the lush interior hills, Batangas has a pleasantly extensive range of cuisine which rarely fails to delight visitors. One area in which this province excels is its cattle industry. The term Bakang Batangas refers to the country’s finest species of cow, and thus some of the tastiest steaks in Asia are available here.

However, the South China Sea also plays a significant role in the cuisine, with the fishing industry providing even more bounty to the tables of Batangas. Salt water species such as tuna, bonito, and tanigue are stars on many restaurant menus. Taal Lake also pulls its weight in the province, with specialty fresh water catches such as tawilis, bangus, and tilapia in abundance.

The cuisine in Batangas is mild compared to other Asian styles, but that doesn’t mean it’s bland. Rice is the main staple of every meal, most often accompanied by fish which has been grilled, steamed or fried. Spices are used moderately, and the locals rely on the meat’s natural freshness and herbs and vegetables to create a simple but healthy meal. Other seafood such as crab, prawns, oysters and lobsters are also readily available in the larger towns of the province and along the coast.

There are a number of local specialties which shouldn’t be missed if you enjoy fish. The regional highlight is a freshwater fish dish called sweet maliputo, which can be found on most menus. Pritong tilapia from Taal Lake is another popular fish, but if you like things spicy try the kilawin, a fresh fish marinated in vinegar and citrus, chopped onion, garlic and hot peppers akin to Spanish ceviche.

Fish isn’t the only thing on the menu in Batangas, however. Chicken and pork dishes such as adobo, arroz caldo and crispy pata also feature prominently. If you’re a vegetarian there are lots of choices such as gulay (vegetables simmered in coconut milk) and pinangat (vegetables stir-fried with spicy peppers).

One thing you’ll quickly notice about Batanguenos locals is that they enjoy drinking alcohol. The province lies at the centre of the coconut belt, which provides most of the fuel for local liqueurs such as the 90 per cent proof lambanog and lighter tuba. If you are passing through San Juan town, be sure and try the local lambanog, which is famous throughout the country.

Shoppers will find plenty of interesting keepsakes made in Batangas to take back home. Perhaps more than anything else, the province is renowned for its butterfly knife called the balisong. The pineapple, which is so prevalent in the region, is also used to make a cloth from the leaves, known as gusi. The most common product of gusi is the barong tagalog, considered to be the national dress of the Philippines.

Batangas City and Taal are the best towns to do shopping, as the smaller villages and resorts don’t have the amenities to make shopping a worthwhile experience. Taal has a dozen or so shops where you can pick up traditional handicrafts like embroidered shirts made from jusi and Philippine fan knives.

Batangas City has several department stores selling everything from electronics to handicrafts. In the outskirts of the capital are myriad little shops selling more of the same products. Look for great buys on wood carvings, bamboo and rattan crafts.

Batangas has plenty to offer visitors looking for outdoor recreation to go with their cultural experience. The province’s South China Sea coastline has great beaches, and there are numerous offshore islands offering excellent snorkelling and scuba diving sites. Inland there are mountains to climb, hot springs to soak in and some of the most scenic golf courses in the Philippines.

Beaches
Whatever kind of beach experience you want can be found in Batangas. The coastline of this province has quiet, secluded stretches of sand as well as more developed areas with resorts and water sports. The town of Lobo is a popular choice for travellers, especially Gerthel Beach’s shallow waters. Munting Buhangin and Natipuan beaches near Nasugbu are both located in small coves with crystal clear water and are favourites with both locals and tourists. For water sports and boating, head to Lian’s Mabuhay Beach where you can fish, dive, swim and boat along the mile-long white sands.

Golfing
Batangas is home to some of the finest golf courses in Southeast Asia. Most of the courses are set among the province’s lush rolling hills in the interior, offering amazing scenery to go with the links. Calatagan Golf Club is often touted as one of the best international championship courses in Asia, and not just for the fact that it lies within an arboretum. Punta Baluarte, also in Calatagan, is set in a world-class environment among the rolling hills of Hacienda Bigaa. The Evercrest Banyan Tree Resort, which has been designed using all indigenous materials, is also a firm favourite.

Hiking
Batangas has both the least high volcano on earth and some of the highest mountains in the Philippines. This translates to some great hiking and climbing opportunities if you enjoy trekking. Mount Maculot has long been a favourite for hikers, offering miles of trails which ascend the peak and meander along its slopes. Taal volcano is another popular destination for walking excursions, where the scenery is breathtaking and the trails easy enough for anyone to enjoy.

Hot Springs
If you need to soak your bones after an outdoor excursion in the hills or underwater, head to Mainit’s hot springs about seven miles south of San Juan town. The hot waters of these natural springs are said to be therapeutic, and their location at the base of a towering mountain thick with jungle makes them the perfect place for visitors to relax.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
The Philippines has some of the world’s best scuba diving and snorkelling, and Batangas offers some highlights for those who enjoy the underwater realm. All levels of dives are available along the coast or offshore from one of the neighbouring islands. Excellent coral gardens can be found at Merriel’s Rock, Papaya Point, Layag-Layag Point and Caban Cove. Check out the Spanish galleon which sunk off Verde Island in 1620, or test your courage in the caves under the waters at Maricaban. Crystal clear water and warm temperatures mean diving and snorkelling is possible most of the year.