Rizal Hotels

Do you seek mountains on your next adventure? With waterfalls, rivers, and more, the Province of Rizal is surely not one to miss out. Not to mention its proximity in Metro Manila, this place can be one of your quickest escapes from all the stress and hustle and bustles of work.  

Rizal is a mountainous province that lies east of Metro Manila, north of Laguna De Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines. Its name was named after the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. The province of Rizal is one of the must-see places in the country as it boasts with natural wonders and beautiful attractions. Rizal is perfect for those who seek mountaineering, hiking, trekking, or those who just want to keep in touch with nature and don’t want to go far.

How to Go

By land transportation

You can reach the province of Rizal through NAIA road turning right to Roxas Boulevard, right to EDSA, and then turn right again to Ortigas Avenue Interchange. Or you can also go through Carlos P. Garcia Ave. (C5) and turn right to Ortigas Ave Interchange going all the way to the Rizal Province. Another route you can take is Aurora Boulevard to Marcos Hi-way going to Cainta and Antipolo City.

If you’re from the southern provinces, you can go through SLEX to C5 Interchange or try the Laguna-Rizal provincial road as an alternate route. If you’re from the Northern provinces, take the NLEX and turn left to EDSA at Clover Leaf interchange and then turn left to Aurora Blvd.

Getting Around

There are a lot of tricycles visible at the town proper alone that you can ride to nearby destinations. Jeepneys are also available if you’re going to places along the main roads.

Tourist Attractions

Visit Mount Masungi rock formations in Tanay. You will be stunned by the colossal rock formations covering hundreds of hectares. You should also visit the hiker’s paradise--Masungi Park and the Daraitan River of Tanay, which is both located in Sierra Madre mountain ranges. You will surely love the countless caves and natural springs here.

Check out Calinawan Cave, Pamitinan Cave, and the newly opened Sungib Cave with a navigable river inside. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to visit Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls. Daranak Falls has a minimal fee of Php 20 per person while Batlag has Php 50 entrance per person.

Visit the Church of Baras and of Tanay, Uugong Arts and Cultural Park, Artists Village of Angono, Angono Forest Park, and the Petroglyphs in Angono and Binangonan. The Petroglyphs is famed for its rock engravings featuring 127 drawings of human and animal figures, which is said to be one of the Filipino's most ancient work of art. It has also received a recognition and was named as one of the “100 most endangered sites of the world” by the World Monuments Watch List. Lastly, if you want an overlooking view of the metropolis, go to Sumulong Highway in Antipolo.

Top Things to Do

Go mountaineering or hiking to Mount Masungi Rock Formations or Mount Daraitan. Or you can go spelunking to Calinawan Cave, Sungib Cave, or Pamitinan Cave. Visit museums of Angono, or go on a pilgrimage.

You may also visit Rizal for its famous festivals like Higantes Festival, held every 22 and 23 of November and SuMaKaH Festival, held every 1st of May.

Where to Eat

The province of Rizal does not only offer natural wonders and beautiful attractions, it has also a home for various restaurants that you must try. Balaw-balaw Restaurant offers interesting dishes like dinilawang kanduli sa alagaw, sizzling kuhol, sinigang na tinapa na may gata and more.

If you want a view overlooking the city while indulging yourself with great food, Café Lupe is the place to be. It’s a go-to place of the residents of Antipolo. Anix’s House of Kare-Kare is a Filipino restaurant that serves traditional and homestyle cooking. Lastly, don’t miss out The Gathering Café and Tanay Hills Coffee Beanery. This is a place for coffee and chicken lovers. Their chicken is flavored with three kinds of coffee: Arabica, Barako, and Robusta.  

Nightlife

Although nightlife in Rizal is not particularly well known for, you can still enjoy Rizal Province even until midnight. There are bars and restaurants that are open late. Kinakap Bar and Restaurant, for one, serves great food and they have live bands playing every night. They are open from Monday to Sunday.  

Where to Stay

There are a lot of hotels in Rizal that you can stay in, from affordable inns to posh resorts. Try checking out the Momarco Resort and Hotel. They offer a wide variety of room types depending on your budget. Aside from that, they also have great amenities you can enjoy with.

3B Resort is known for its cozy and homey vibes in Antipolo. It is relatively cheap with good furnishing and great amenities you can also enjoy with. Cattleya Resort is only 30 minutes away from the metro and offers overnight accommodation. Lastly, if you’re on a tight budget, you can check out Villa Sampaguita Antipolo. Their room rates start at Php300 only.

Travel Tips

• If you will go spelunking to the caves of Rizal province, wear appropriate footwear and helmet to protect you from unexpected events as you may encounter slippery muds.

• Don’t forget to bring flashlights, or if you forget, you may buy candles from the small stores outside the cave.

• Plan your travel ahead so you won’t miss out a good place in the majestic province of Rizal.