Although many people choose to skip it, we already talked at length in What to see and do in Manila about the attractions of the Philippine capital. If you’ve already checked the must-sees off your list and have more time to explore the surroundings, you won’t get bored! There are tons of day trips from Manila that are worth it. From impressive volcanoes to places full of history and natural gems like waterfalls or beaches, you can discover them by slipping away from Manila’s hustle and bustle for a few hours.
Here we’re going to tell you which are the best day trips from Manila. If you’re lucky enough to live there and have a car, it will be much easier; but all these attractions are also accessible by rental car, public transport, or an agency-run organized tour. Regarding the latter, the 2 companies we recommend from experience are Civitatis and KLOOK. You might not know the 2nd one because it’s not as popular outside Asia, but it’s one of the most important in the Philippines and 100% reliable. Plus, it’s usually quite a bit cheaper than Civitatis. Check prices and reviews for both when booking.
If you’re going to do it on your own, our advice is to go Monday to Friday and get up very early—like, REALLY early. Seriously, it can easily save you an hour or two on your day trip from Manila. Traffic is so horrible that leaving around 5 a.m. lets you avoid the outbound jams and makes your trip much smoother.
With that said, keep reading and discover the best day trips from Manila.
1. Taal Volcano day trip from Manila
The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so it won’t surprise you to hear there are many volcanoes, several of them active. One of the most curious ones is near Manila and you can visit it on a day trip.
You may also recognize the story because we mentioned it in Philippines curiosities: there’s an island with a lake, with an island, with a lake, with an island. In one of those lakes is the crater of Taal Volcano, located in Batangas, 50 kilometers from Manila.
The views are incredible both from afar—where you can appreciate the volcanic cone—and from the crater rim, where you can see the entire caldera. It’s usually a peaceful green color, though if you look closely you may see some bubbling and yellowish tones. You’ll also spot a small island within it.
How to get to Taal Volcano?
You’ll need to go to Talisay, the closest city to the volcano. To do that, first head to Tagaytay by bus. The most convenient area in Manila is likely Buendía, where several companies have terminals serving this route. The trip takes about 90 minutes and costs between 80 and 100 pesos. Get off at Tagaytay Rotunda and then take a tricycle or jeepney to Talisay. A tricycle shouldn’t charge you more than 100 pesos. The ride takes about 20 minutes.
Once at the lake, lots of people will approach offering boats. Heads up—they’ll try to charge a lot. A reasonable price would be between 1.500 and 2.000 per boat round trip for up to 4/6 people. A good idea is to find other travelers to share with.
On the island, you’ll pay 50 pesos for the entrance to the volcano and start the ascent. You don’t need a guide and, while it’s a bit physically demanding, you won’t get lost. It’ll take a bit under an hour, though don’t hesitate to stop to enjoy the views and the fumaroles along the way.
Please don’t hire the horses offered for the climb—be a responsible traveler. These poor animals suffer with every step.
Keep in mind Manila traffic is usually worse in the afternoon, so the return will likely take longer.
If you’d rather avoid the hassle or you’re traveling solo, you can join this excursion with other travelers:
Book your Taal Volcano day trip here
Note that Taal is the 2nd most active volcano in the Philippines, with its last eruption in 2020. Therefore, we recommend you confirm in advance whether it’s possible to reach the crater, as it has been closed for months at a time.
2. Tagaytay
If hiking isn’t your thing or heading to Taal’s crater feels a bit much (totally normal), you can opt to visit Tagaytay, one of the nearby cities. You’ll enjoy incredible views of Taal from what’s known as Tagaytay Ridge (one of the best panoramas is from Tagaytay People’s Park) and stroll around the city’s different attractions: Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Sonya’s Garden, Palace in the Sky, Mahogany Market, Good Shepherd, Caruega Church, and Sky Ranch. And don’t miss a meal at Antonio’s, the area’s most famous restaurant.
You can see all this on your own by taking a bus to Tagaytay and then getting around by tricycle; or, if you want something more comfortable, by joining a tour or hiring a private one:
Tagaytay day tour with Civitatis
If you have more time, a great idea is to stay the night at one of Tagaytay’s fantastic hotels with views of Taal Volcano. Here are some recommendations:
3. Mount Pinatubo
One of our favorite day trips from Manila takes you to Mount Pinatubo. In our opinion, it’s one of the most incredible outings you’ll do on your trip and one of the most interesting volcanoes in the Philippines.
Pinatubo is another volcano on the island of Luzon. Although it’s now “dormant,” its last major eruption was in 1991 and was so massive it’s considered the 2nd largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. At that time, an intensely blue lake formed, which you can still see if you do this day trip from Manila.
Although the goal is to reach the crater, the journey is super interesting: first you’ll ride a 4×4 to the point where vehicles can’t continue, then hike a trail flanked by enormous walls of sand, mud, and rock. The landscape looks Martian, and along the way you’ll cross streams and discover remnants of the explosion. With some luck, you’ll also meet the Aeta, the region’s Indigenous people, easily recognized by their darker skin and curly hair.
How to get to Mount Pinatubo?
If you don’t have your own car, we’ll warn you it’s a bit of a slog—but worth it. Your goal is to reach Santa Juliana, where you’ll take the 4×4. Since the last one leaves at 10:00, you’ll have to start this day trip from Manila very early. You’ll also walk quite a bit and you won’t want to do it in the heat.
To get to Pinatubo on your own:
- Take a bus from Cubao or Pasay to Capas, Tarlac, and ask to be dropped at McDonald’s Capas Junction. Any bus to Baguio, Ilocos, or Pangasinan will stop there too. The ticket costs about 200 pesos and takes approximately 2,5 hours.
- Tricycle to Santa Juliana Tourism (300 pesos/40 minutes). If that’s too pricey, you can take a jeepney (30 pesos) or tricycle to Patling (150 pesos) and then another to Santa Juliana (60 pesos). Make sure they drop you at the official tourism office, not an agency.
- Register at the Santa Juliana Tourism Office, pay the environmental fees (300 pesos per person + 400 pesos for the so‑called Botolan fee), and try to find other travelers to share with. The 4×4 holds a maximum of 4 passengers and costs 3.500 pesos. The ride takes about an hour. You’ll also need a guide (500 pesos/up to 4 people).
- Start the hike. Its length varies by season. In the rainy season it often takes about 2 hours; in the dry season it shortens to 30 minutes. It’s not very demanding, but not super easy either. Waterproof footwear or strapped sandals are advisable, as you’ll have to cross streams. You’ll reach the crater and, even if you’re dying to, swimming is no longer allowed.
*It seems there’s now another route to reach the crater (Botolan route), which allows larger vehicles and is cheaper. You can also go by ATV—only 2 people—for 8.500 pesos. In this case, you only have to walk about 30 minutes.
We advise packing light, taking at least 3 liters of water, food, and sunscreen. Note that in the rainy season (July–October) the trail may be flooded and tours may not run. In any case, check the weather any time of year.
If you don’t want to wake up that early, one idea is to leave the day before and sleep in Santa Juliana. There are basic hotels like Mount Pinatubo Base Camp at Casa Hermogina.
Another, much more comfortable alternative—or if you have no one to share with—is to join one of the day trips from Manila:
Book your Pinatubo tour with Civitatis
Book your Pinatubo tour with KLOOK
4. Corregidor Island
Another of our favorite day trips from Manila when we lived there is to Corregidor Island. Totally different from the Corregidor in Siargao island hopping, this island near Manila preserves remnants of the country’s history of war.
Known as “The Rock” or “The Gibraltar of the East,” it was a base for the defense of Manila Bay during both the Spanish and American colonial periods. In the Spanish era it served as a defensive fortress, customs inspection point, and prison. It got its name from the corregidor—the official who examined and corrected customs documents for ships bound for the capital.
Later, the U.S. government established Fort Mills here, one of its military posts. Corregidor played an especially important role during World War II. Between December 1941 and February 1942 it was the temporary seat of the Philippine government, and the Battle of Corregidor (May 5–6, 1942) was the culmination of Japan’s campaign to conquer the country. The island was recaptured by the Philippine–American army in February 1945.
This day trip from Manila takes you through the island’s nooks and crannies. You’ll see military barracks, buildings like the hospital, secret passages, and memorials while a guide explains the most relevant historical details. In our opinion, it’s a very interesting visit.
How to get to Corregidor Island on a day trip from Manila?
You’ve got 3 ways to do this.
If you have a car, you can drive to Cabcaben in Mariveles, Bataan, and hire a small bangka to take you to Corregidor. They charge 3.500–4.000 pesos per boat (up to 8 people). Once there, you can hire a car with driver (2.500 pesos) and a guide (1.500 pesos). You’ll need to pay 200 pesos in fees per person and 500 pesos per boat.
If you don’t have a car, take one of the buses run by Genesis Transport (the terminal is here or here) to Cabcaben (ask the driver to drop you here). The ticket is around 350 pesos and takes about 3,5 hours. Then walk to the village and find your boat to Corregidor.
Another option until May 2020 was to take one of the tours run by Sun Cruises, which practically monopolized day trips from Manila to Corregidor. It wasn’t cheap (2.250 pesos per person on weekdays or 2.449 on weekends), but departures were from the CCP Complex and they made everything easy, even providing a guide. We’ll have to wait and see whether they restart operations or another company takes over.
Finally, you can also choose to book a day trip from Manila through Civitatis or KLOOK:
Day trip from Manila to Corregidor with Civitatis
5. Pagsanjan Falls
If you need a dose of nature after so much asphalt, a cool alternative is to visit Pagsanjan Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls for a day trip from Manila and among the best waterfalls in the Philippines.
Located in the province of Laguna and also known as Magdapio Falls, these are imposing waterfalls 91 meters high. Behind the curtain of water there’s a cave called “Devil’s Cave,” and you’ll be lucky enough to see it since you can reach it on a bamboo raft.
The falls are very photogenic, as there’s usually plenty of flow, but what we liked most was the canoe ride to reach them. You’ll be amazed at how they guide you through the rapids, often pushing with their legs and arms. Fun fact: part of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now was filmed here.
It’s best to avoid the rainy season due to rising water levels.
How to get to Pagsanjan Falls
As with the previous cases, you’ll need patience and a very early start from Manila.
If you have a car, simply drive to Cavinti or Pagsanjan. This will take about 3 hours, depending on traffic.
To get there by public transport (what we did), take a bus to Santa Cruz (Laguna) from Buendia. Depending on traffic, it’ll take at least 2 hours and prices are around 140 pesos, depending on the bus type. Once there, take a jeepney to Canvinti or Pagsanjan. There are 2 routes to visit:
- Pagsanjan Route or “Shooting the rapids”: this is the one we chose and it was a lot of fun. You’ll ride canoes through a canyon, navigating some rapids. It costs 1.250 pesos per person.
- Cavinti Route: hike for about an hour from Pueblo El Salvador (Cavinti) and then descend to the falls by rappel. In this case they charge 270 pesos per person, and you can return toward Pagsanjan by canoe for 360 pesos. To reach Pueblo El Salvador from Cavinti you’ll need a tricycle (100 pesos/4 people).
If you want more adventure, you can visit these falls’ little sister, Kipot Falls, about 30 minutes from Pueblo El Salvador.
For more convenience, you can also book a tour from Manila with KLOOK:
6. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about Filipino culture, one of the best day trips from Manila is Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Yes, it’s a Spanish name because this is a complex of former mansions from the Spanish colonial era. Although some are replicas, it’s a collection of 22 houses built between the 17th and 19th centuries in different parts of the Philippines (mainly Pampanga, but also Manila, Tuguegarao, and Nueva Ecija) and brought here to this corner of Luzon stone by stone.
This was the project of Jerry Acuzar, a Filipino businessman with a real passion for the architecture of that period, who decided to gather beautiful examples of it in Bataan.
The best way to explore and make the most of it is by joining one of the guided tours. These last about 90 minutes and allow you to go inside some of the houses.
Bring your swimsuit, as you’ll have the option to take a dip in nearby Bagac Bay, where there’s a beach. It’s not one of the best beaches in the Philippines by any means, but you’ll appreciate it.
You can also stay overnight at their hotel and feel like you’ve traveled to another century.
Although you can book the tour directly on their website, we recommend doing it through KLOOK, which is considerably cheaper:
Cheaper tickets for Las Casas de Acuzar
How to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar from Manila?
By car it’s very easy; but if you plan to go by public transport, head to Cubao. There, find the Genesis terminal and take a bus to Balanga (2,5 hours/200 pesos). Once in Balanga, take a jeepney to Bagac (1 hour/50 pesos), then a tricycle (100 pesos for up to 4 people).
7. Masungi Georeserve
This is one of the newer additions to the list of day trips from Manila, as it became popular among Manileños relatively recently.
Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area in the Sierra Madre, east of the capital. It’s characterized by its huge, sharp karst rock formations (in fact, “masungi” means pointy), which you can admire thanks to a series of nets alongside and even above them. The most famous part is the “sapot,” or spiderweb: a circular platform where you can lie down and soak in the views.
You can do several routes of 3 or 4 hours through the reserve, all adapted to different audiences, but the best known is the Discovery Trail. It takes you over hanging bridges, rope ladders, caves, and, of course, the famous spiderweb. You’ll not only see the pointy rock formations up close but also the tropical forest.
Heads up: don’t show up on a weekend without a reservation, as it’s often fully booked up to 5 months in advance. If you want to try your luck, it’s better to go Monday to Thursday and book at least 2 days ahead.
How to get to Masungi Georeserve?
Honestly, without a car it can be quite a slog and will take much longer—but it’s not impossible.
The best option is to go to the terminal next to Starmall on EDSA. From there you can take a bus, van, or jeepney to Tanay Public Market. Prices are around 35–70 pesos depending on the transport you choose. It takes about 3 hours.
If it feels too complicated, you can sign up for a KLOOK tour from Manila:
Your Masungi Georeserve day trip here
8. Villa Escudero
Have you ever seen that iconic photo of people eating right at a waterfall? That’s Labasin Falls, and it’s in Villa Escudero—one of the day trips from Manila we suggest.
Villa Escudero is a hacienda that will immerse you in Filipino culture and give you a breath of fresh air after spending time in Manila. The villa was built by Don Placido Escudero and Claudia Marasigan in 1872. It began as a sugarcane plantation but, with machinery advances, became a coconut plantation and the site of the first hydroelectric plant in the Philippines.
The visit is a bit of a mix: you’ll see a museum that looks more like a cathedral, a calm lake you can paddle across on a bamboo raft, and the famous waterfalls turned into a restaurant. You can also relax in the villa’s pools.
Ticket prices depend on the season and day you visit, but expect around 1.500 pesos per person, including lunch at the waterfall.
How to get to Villa Escudero?
If you want to go by public transport, it’s not too difficult. Take a bus to Lucena. The most convenient station is Araneta Bus Port in Quezon City, though you can also go from Buendia. The ticket is about 160–180 pesos and the trip takes around 2,5 hours, depending on traffic. Tell the driver you’re going to Villa Escudero and they’ll drop you on the road by the entrance. From there, take a tricycle to the gate.
If you’d rather relax, you can also book the full day trip from Manila:
Villa Escudero tour with KLOOK
Villa Escudero tour with Civitatis
9. Beaches near Manila
Finally, if what you need is a beach, you can escape to one that’s more or less nearby. We emphasize “more or less” because there’s really none close that’s worth mentioning.
Although many people picture the Philippines and assume they’ll find paradise beaches right from Manila, you’ll often get to beautiful beaches faster by flying than by driving or taking the bus. Clear examples are El Nido or Bohol, with gorgeous beaches accessible via direct flights from Manila.
Even so, there are a few interesting little corners for day trips from Manila, such as these:
- Pico de Loro: Nasugbu (Batangas) has several nice ones, and Pico de Loro is a strip of blond sand sheltered by imposing Mt. Pico de Loro. To enter, you must stay at one of the apartments in the holiday buildings, such as this one. To get there, take a bus from Buendía to Nasugbu (3–4 hours/160 pesos), then a tricycle (30 minutes/200 pesos). After that, you’ll need to take the shuttle (200 pesos).
- Laiya Beach: this is one of the longest blond‑sand beaches near Manila. In our opinion, it’s among the best in this area. The catch is you’ll again spend 3–4 hours getting there. You can go by taking a bus from Buendia to Lipa (2 hours/150 pesos) and then a jeepney or van to San Juan, and from there another to Laiya.
- Anilao: while Anilao’s beach isn’t amazing (it’s small), it’s a convenient place to stay by the sea and, most importantly, to dive. This is one of the best places to dive in the Philippines, so if you’re thinking about a dive, don’t hesitate. To get there, take a bus from Buendía to Bantangas (1,5 hours/160 pesos) and then a jeepney to Mabini. Get off at Anilao Port (40 pesos/45 minutes) and then take a tricycle to your resort or beach. If you want to stay overnight, we recommend Blue Ribbon Dive Resort.
- Puerto Galera: this is Manila’s beach destination par excellence—but note it isn’t in Manila, it’s on neighboring Mindoro. Still, it’s the closest area to the capital with the most beautiful beaches, so many Manileños come here for the weekend. In fact, we’ve been about 10 times. The most convenient way to get there is to take a bus from Buendía to Batangas Port (1,5 hours/160 pesos) and from there a boat to Puerto Galera. Ignore the touts—go straight to the counters. Prices are around 270–340 pesos depending on the company. In our opinion, it’s worth staying in Aninuan or Talipanan rather than White Beach. So we recommend staying at ARA Beach Resort or Infinity Resort. There are boats that go directly to Talipanan, so ask before you buy.
Where to stay for these day trips from Manila
Our advice is to choose a hotel in the Población area, which has tons of restaurants and is closer to Cubao or Buendía, where most buses for the different day trips from Manila depart.
You can see our picks in the article Where to stay in Manila. You can also take a look at the map:
Booking.com
Since you’ll be passing through, don’t hesitate to check our Manila Guide, where you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your days in the capital.
These are just a few of the many possible day trips from Manila—there are dozens more! We’ve covered the most interesting ones, but if you have any suggestions or questions, we’d love to hear them in the comments.
