Visiting Tagaytay
Tagaytay is a municipality in the province of Cavite, in the Philippines, located in the southern part of Luzon island, home to the capital, Manila. Sitting at an elevation of 2,000 feet, it enjoys cooler temperatures than the rest of the country, similar to the relief you might find in the Appalachian highlands. The name Tagaytay comes from the tagalog language, meaning "the ridge." The town sits on a high ridge overlooking Taal Lake and its iconic volcano, providing clear views of the surrounding landscape. The view from the rooftop of the Taal Vista hotel is widely considered one of the best in the area.
The city of Taal Volcano
Tagaytay is known primarily for its location, perched on a hillside that offers panoramas of the Caldera and the Taal volcano. This high-altitude placement was historically chosen to keep the town out of reach of the volcano's frequent eruptions, which have devastated lower-lying towns nearby.
The volcano of Taal is the smallest active volcano in the world, with its most recent eruption occurring in 2020. It is a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. From the nearby village of Talisay, you can arrange an excursion to the volcano. A short boat ride followed by a 40-minute hike brings you to the summit, where you can see fumaroles, craters, and the lake inside the crater.
Tagaytay began to grow in importance during the early 20th century. Located just a few hours south of Manila, it gradually became a popular retreat for residents of the capital seeking nature and quiet. In 1938, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon visited Tagaytay to sign Commonwealth Act 338, which formally established the city.
A base for hiking
Tagaytay features several green spaces like Picnic Grove or the People's Park in the Sky, which has a unique history. These grounds were originally developed to house the residence of the former Philippine dictator, President Marcos. Following the 1986 Philippine Revolution, the site was preserved and converted into a public park.
Tagaytay also serves as an ideal base for mountain hikes, including ascents of Mount Batulao, Mount Talamitam, or Mount Pico de Loro. The area is known for its flower fields and coconut plantations. Be sure to stop by the local market or try a bowl of bulalo, a beef shank soup that is the regional specialty.
When to go
The best time to visit the Philippines is between November and March, when temperatures are warm and rainfall is minimal.
How to get there
From the capital, Manila, take a bus from the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). The trip takes about 2 hours. If you are driving, you can reach the city via the Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Road in about 90 minutes.
Tagaytay is an hour and a half south of Manila.
The climate there is cool, and pine trees similar to those growing in Europe will make you think you are in the Alps.
There are also houses similar to our mountain chalets.
Perched in Tagaytay, you can see the lake and the smallest active volcano: Taal.
There is a Ferris wheel as an attraction, and a lot of restaurants (like everywhere in the Philippines). Taste the local specialty, Bulalo: beef with a broth.
Tagaytay is famous in the Philippines for its fertile soil. Countless flowers grow there, and the nurseries ship their plants all over the Philippines.
Go take a tour of Sonya's Garden. It is a place out of time. It is a garden with edible plants and flowers. It is possible to eat on site, and the cuisine is healthy and vegetable-based, which is rare in the Philippines. It is a rather chic restaurant and quite expensive for the locals.
Take the winding road that goes down to the edge of the lake to go see the town of Talisay.