Best places to visit in Luzon

Editor's Choice

Luzon’s diverse landscape features five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the 8.2-kilometer Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and the 2,000-year-old Ifugao rice terraces. The region preserves Spanish colonial history through the Baroque churches of Paoay, Santa Maria, and San Agustin, alongside the all-steel Neo-Gothic San Sebastian Church. Natural landmarks range from the active Taal Volcano and Mayon-adjacent Cagsawa Ruins to the limestone formations of Sagada’s Sumaguing Cave and the turquoise waters of Coron’s Twin Lagoon.

Editor's Choice — Map

RioHondo / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature featuring an 8.2-kilometer navigable subterranean river. The site encompasses a limestone karst landscape and a complete mountain-to-sea ecosystem.

Allan Jay Quesada / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Rice Terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras

The Banaue Rice Terraces are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao, in the Philippines, by the ancestors of the…

Jophel Botero Ybiosa / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Batad Rice Terraces

Ancient UNESCO World Heritage rice terraces featuring a distinct amphitheater-like design. Carved into mountainsides over 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao people, these structures represent a significant cultural and agricultural landscape.

Ayanvillafuerte / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Cagsawa Ruins

Remnants of a 16th-century Franciscan church destroyed during the 1814 eruption of the Mayon Volcano. The site serves as a historical landmark and houses a national museum.

Wikipedia@natividads.com / CC BY-SA 2.5

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San Agustin Church

The Church of Saint Augustine, also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture or the Immaculate Conception…

Lastithegreat / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Ancient burial site where hand-carved coffins are suspended from limestone cliffs. This traditional practice reflects the belief that higher placement brings the deceased closer to heaven.

Harrybalais / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Santa Maria Church

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption, commonly known as Santa Maria Church and Santa Maria Pro-cathedral, is a Roman…

M0N FEDERE MD / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Paoay Church

The Saint Augustine Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in…

Steven Rascoe / CC BY 3.0

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Taal Volcano

Active caldera volcano featuring a complex geological structure described as a volcano within a lake within a volcano. It is the second most active volcano and includes a volcanic island with its own crater lake.

Mary Chris Lowe / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Twin Lagoon

Two turquoise saltwater pools separated by a limestone cliff. Access between the lagoons is through a narrow underwater crevice at low tide or a wooden ladder during high tide.

Judgefloro / CC0

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Minalungao National Park

A protected area in Nueva Ecija featuring 16-meter-high limestone walls bordering the Peñaranda River. The park offers bamboo rafting, cave exploration, and hiking trails.

Andrew Martin / CC BY 3.0

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San Sebastian Church

The Minor Basilica of San Sebastian and Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, better known as San Sebastian Church or San…

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Sagada Sumaguing Cave

Known as the "Big Cave," this limestone system contains vast chambers with intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations. It is a primary site for guided spelunking tours in Sagada.

Ramon FVelasquez / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Hinulugang Taktak

Hinulugang Taktak Protected Landscape, also known as Hinulugan Taktak, is a protected area located in Rizal, Philippines.

Ira Villanueva / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Aguinaldo Shrine

The Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine is a national shrine located in Kawit, Cavite in the Philippines, where the Philippine Declaration of…

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Luzon Essentials Hidden Gems Volcanic Wonders Heritage Sites Coastal Escapes Historic Churches & Cathedrals Museums & Galleries