Backpacking: Tagaytay, Philippines

Welcome to Travel+Experiment!

The city of Tagaytay is a favorite tourist attraction among local and foreign visitors. The cool climate provided by its high altitude location and several tourist establishments caters food and accommodations. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas, the ridge provides a spectacular view of Taal Volcano in the middle of the lake. The climate has made the city ideal for sports, picnics, conferences, honeymoons, country homes, and spiritual retreats. Tagaytay is 2,100 ft. above sea level and is the highest point in Cavite.

Tagaytay activities and attractions must see.

Destination: Introducing Tagaytay!

How to get there:

Tagaytay City is located fifty-five kilometers (34 miles) south of Metro Manila and the drive will take roughly 2-3 hours depending on traffic. If you are not driving a car, you can get around Tagaytay via jeepney for 15.00 pesos per ride.

By Bus

There are available buses going to Tagaytay. You may go to bus terminals serving the Tagaytay-Nasugbu route; Araneta Cubao Terminal, EDSA-Taft Bus Terminal, Baclaran and Uniwide Coastal Mall in Pasay City. Drivers tend to wait thirty minutes for passengers before they depart. This usually takes 1 - 1.5 hours travel time. The bus trip starts from 3:30 AM to 11:00 PM and a one-way ticket will cost around 120.00+/- pesos. Jeepneys that ply from Cavite (Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang) to Nasugbu, Batangas also pass by Tagaytay via the Aguinaldo Highway.

Private car

Driving to Tagaytay City with the family or with friends via private car is easily accessible. Drive through from Manila via the South Luzon Expressway exiting at Santa Rosa then via Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road. From there, it’s a straight drive to Tagaytay City. It can also be reached via the Coastal Road Expressway and then taking Aguinaldo Highway heading south towards Tagaytay. You may also directly visit to People’s Park, Picnic Grove, or in Taal Vista for picture taking the Taal Volcano. This usually takes 1 - 1.5 hours travel time.

By Van or FX

You may also take a van or FX for a faster time travel. There are different terminals that are located within the city. You may find these at the EGI Mall near the LRT Gil Puyat Station (Taft Avenue cor. Buendia, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM), StarMall Mandaluyong (EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd.), Metropoint Mall at Edsa Rotunda and at the back of McDonald’s at the Edsa-Taft MRT Station. This usually takes 1 - 1.5 hours travel time and a one-way ticket will cost around 180.00+/- pesos.

I. Tagaytay Tour

1. Peoples Park

Address: Mt. Sungay, Brgy. Dapdap East, Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines
Entrance Fee: 30.00 pesos
Parking Fee: 20.00 pesos
Open Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM

The people’s park is a government owned park and unfortunately it is not well maintained. The park is not clean, dilapidated place and is not safe as the fences are rusty and lack of warning signage (DATE). It stands on a 4,516 square metres (48,610 sq ft) of solid ground and overlooks four bodies of water – Taal Lake, Balayan Bay, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay - including nearby mountains. There were some stalls where you could buy foods, drinks and souvenirs. I recommend buying T-shirt for a souvenir and don’t forget to haggle for the price.

The unfinished presidential vacation palace is incomplete due to ousting of the late president Marcos can be located here. It was to serve as a guest house for then U.S. President Ronald Reagan who was to visit the Philippines but the palace was never completed.

The only way to go there if you don’t have your own car is to first ride a jeep to Olivares’ jeepney terminal (8.00 pesos) and board another jeep to People’s Park (10.00 pesos) or by tricycle (80.00 pesos). All the cars need to park outside the People’s Park gate. You may ride a jeepney from the gate going to the view deck. You may also start walking from the gate going to the top for a good exercise but it’s quite a bit far.

2. Sky Fun Rides

Address: Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines
Sky Ranch Operating Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Friday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Sky Fun is an amusement park in Aguindaldo Highway, Tagaytay City which opened in March 2013. It was located inside Sky Ranch, a property was owned by SM Investments Corporation's subsidiary SM Land commercial property division (later merged with SM Prime Holdings), and it's also were several shops and restaurants are located. It includes such kiosks, rides, and the Sky Eye, which is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines at 63 m (207 ft) with 32 gondolas.

Tagaytay Sky Ranch Ticket Prices/Rides

Nessi Coaster:                         50.00 pesos
Red Baron:                              50.00 pesos
Wonder Flight:                        50.00 pesos
Mini-Viking:                           50.00 pesos
Express Train:                         50.00 pesos
Super Viking:                          50.00 pesos
Sky Eye (Ferris Wheel Ride):150.00 pesos
Carousel:                                  50.00 pesos

Sky ranch entrance fee/Admission rates: 100.00 pesos

Horseback riding rate (children/Adult): 250.00 pesos for 30 minutes
Ferris Wheel Ride rate: 150.00 pesos for 10 minutes

3. Picnic Grove

Address: Tagaytay Picnic Grove Complex, Barangay Sungay East-End, Cavite, Philippines.

Open Daily: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

This picnic grove is a wide park with a view of the Taal volcano. Families and friends can go on picnic, take a stroll around the mini park or just enjoy the view while sharing a picnic with family and friends. There are a lot of activities that this place offers such as horseback riding, an eco-trail boardwalk, a zipline and cable cars.

Tagaytay Zipline and Cable Car and Tagaytay Picnic Grove are owned and managed by a separate company.
Height: 300 feet
Length: 250 meters

Picnic Grove Entrance Fee: 50.00 pesos

Parking Fees:
Car/Van: 35.00 pesos
Jeepney: 50.00 pesos
Bus: 100.00 pesos

Tagaytay Zipline Rates and Souvenir Prices: Weekday rate: 200.00 pesos/person one-way, 300.00 pesos/person two way trips
Weekend and Holiday rate: 300.00 pesos/person one-way, 400.00 pesos/person two way trips

Horseback Riding: 150.00-200.00 pesos Huts and Picnic Sheds: 100.00-500.00 pesos

4. Sonya’s Garden

Address: Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, 4123, Philippines
Open Daily: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Sonya’s Garden is 30 minutes away from the city of Tagaytay. It offers simple eat all you can buffet for 610.00 pesos per person. They served freshly harvested green leafy salads, fresh fruits in season, freshly squeezed dalandan juice freshly harvested from the garden, pasta and dessert. They have also the best freshly baked sesame bread, cheese hopia, pan de coco, etc. from their own bakeshop. A price of the bread starts 80.00 pesos depending on what you like. They also sell honey, herb plants, and scented soap.

 
6. Taal volcanpo and the Crater Lake

Address: Taal, Batangas, Philippines

Taal volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and has produced some of its most powerful historical eruptions. Six of 24 known eruptions at Taal since 1572 have caused fatalities, many from tsunamis in the Crater Lake. Taal is today one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the region. An increase in seismic activity under Taal was recorded in November 2006, followed by an increase in hot water springs in the crater in April 2007.

The entire Tagaytay ridge is the crater's edge and the Taal Lake is the caldera of the volcano. The Taal caldera is largely filled by Lake Taal, whose 267 sq km surface lies only 3m above sea level. The maximum depth of the lake is 160m. The lake's water is a diluted form of sulphuric acid with high concentration of boron, magnesium, aluminium and sodium in salt form. Its average depth measures 20m. Swimming is allowed in the lake.

Having a tour on Taal Volcano is only possible when the alert level is below 2. Tourist can also climb and experience the adventure going to the Crater Lake. From the Tagaytay ridge in Cavite, with its amazing views of Taal Lake, and Taal volcano in the distance you can take a tricycle ride (50.00 pesos) adjacent to Tagaytay Rotunda (this is a very steep road);going to the shore of the village of Talisay, Batangas. Talisay is the major hub where boats are available to reach the volcano island. At the lake, you will take the motorboat for 30 minutes ride across the lake going to the Volcano Island.

The local tour guide will lead the trek and also you’ll enjoy a horse ride going to and from Crater View for 20 minutes. The price is 500.00 pesos per person for 2 km horse ride. The views of the Crater Lake and its surroundings area are breathtaking and definitely worthy of the hike. You will pass also the volcanic steam vents before reaching the summit.

It is suggested that you wear comfortable walking shoes, hat to shield your head from the sun, sunblock, drinking water, extra clothes for changing, and some cash for your lunch after the trek from Taal Volcano.

7. Taal Vista Hotel Picture taking

Address: Tagaytay, Cavite Philippines

Taal Vista Hotel is the preferred hotel in the area considering its picturesque sights, clean, and cool mountain air. You may also enjoy dining in the excellent cuisine at Café Veranda which is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. You can indulge in a variety of Continental and Filipino dishes while enjoying the gentle afternoon breeze and panoramic view of the Taal Volcano.
 

8. Eating Bulalo

Tower Ground Bulalohan
Address: Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay CityPhilippines

Many restaurants in Tagaytay offer a lot of dining places and serve when it comes to Bulalo. Tower Ground is the bulalohan of choice for a lot of Tagaytay visitors as the ambiance is romantic and offers a view of the Taal Lake. Their bulalo is served in a hot pot with vegetables. You can smell the aroma of the beef and serving size is perfect to share with family.

It is open daily from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. A pot of bulalo costs 400.00 pesos are good for sharing between two to three people and they have a lot of food choices from grilled and sizzling menu.

 9. Bag of Beans Café and Restaurant

Address:  115 Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez Crossing West, Tagaytay City

This café is famous for their shepherd’s pie (125.00 pesos), steak and mushroom pie (130.00 pesos), apple pie (95.00 pesos) or blueberry cheesecake (135.00 pesos), coffee (110.00 pesos). Their barbecue ribs, fish and chips, and other main courses are also popular. The place can be quite packed during weekends so service might take some time, but the food is definitely well worth the wait.

Happy Travels!

Don't just keep this to yourself. SHARE!