Top places to visit in Batangas

• Taal Volcano

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 6 h · entry PHP 300

  The world's smallest active volcano on an island within a lake within an island — an extraordinary geological wonder.

• Taal Lake

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 3 h

  The caldera lake surrounding Taal Volcano — boat rentals, lakeside restaurants, and sweeping crater views.

• Isla Verde (Verde Island Passage)

  Wildlife · 4.2 rating · about 4 h

  Part of the world's marine biodiversity centre — vertical coral walls, pelagics, and stunning underwater topography.

• Fortune Island

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 4 h

  A 27-hectare private island off Nasugbu with Greco-Roman-style ruins, white-sand coves, and snorkeling spots; reached by boat from Nasugbu.

• Laiya Beach

  Beach · 4.3 rating · about 4 h · entry PHP 50

  A series of fine white-sand beaches on the Batangas coastline — the nearest white-sand beach from Manila.

• Anilao Dive Sites

  Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 6 h · entry PHP 150

  The birthplace of Philippine recreational scuba diving — extraordinary coral gardens and macro-diving.

• Taal Heritage Town

  Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h

  One of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns in the Philippines — ancestral houses, pineapple cloth weavers, and old churches.

Things to do

• Anilao Dive & Muck Diving Tour Diving · 4 h · from PHP 530 per person
• Taal Volcano Trek & Lake Boat Ride Hiking · 6 h · from PHP 530 per person
• Batangas Heritage Town & Basilica Tour Heritage · 2 h
• Calatagan Beach & Lighthouse Day Trip Day Trip · 6 h · from PHP 250 per person

Where to stay in Batangas

• Coastal Area about PHP 2,000 per night

  Beach and diving destination

Hotels

• The Farm at San Benito 5-star · PHP 20,000 to PHP 45,000 per night
• Club Balai Isabel Talisay 4-star · PHP 7,000 to PHP 16,000 per night
• Anilao Seabreeze Beach Resort 3-star · PHP 2,800 to PHP 6,500 per night

Where to eat

• Café Boquete Tagaytay Filipino · about PHP 200 per person
• Bag of Beans Café Tagaytay International, Filipino · about PHP 400 per person
• Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay Filipino · about PHP 450 per person
• Laiya Seafood Grill Filipino, Seafood · about PHP 250 per person

Getting around

• Jeepney main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Tricycle main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

Safety and scams to avoid

• Money exchange short-change

  Major tourist zones

  Cashier counts notes quickly, palms one, then re-counts and accuses you of being short.

  How to avoid it: Use credit card. Count change yourself before stepping away.

More in Philippines

• Manila
• Boracay
• Siargao Island
• Cebu
• Coron
• El Nido