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10 Great Biking Destinations in Luzon

Kara Santos

Manila is not the most bike-friendly city in Asia. But if you venture a little further from the metro, you’ll be surprised to find that the Philippines actually has some pretty spectacular mountain biking destinations. Ok, so it may take a little bit of time, effort and resources to get there, but for cyclists looking for bucketlist-worthy places to bike in the country, I think we have a few that we can be proud of.

I don’t want to use the term “best biking destinations” because best is relative (and I haven’t been everywhere in the country), so I’ll just say that these are 10 great destinations in Luzon (one of the three primary island groups in the Philippines) ideal for cyclists.

While there are a few biking destinations in and near the metro where you can enjoy exploring on two wheels, the capital of the country still lacks the proper bike lanes, bike parking and infrastructure to make it a bike-friendly city. This list covers other areas in the Luzon mainland and few islands in the North and South that I have personally been to and that I think fellow bikers will love.

My husband Art of the biking blog Outside Slacker and I have biked to these places  DIY-style (which is always cheaper), but I also included some info on organized cycling tours and bike rentals where available for those who are not traveling with their bikes. For more details per destination please click the headings.

Corregidor Island

For those who are just staying a short time in Manila who want an accessible destination where they can bike away from congested city traffic and learn more about the country’s history, the island of Corregidor at the entrance of Manila Bay is really worth exploring by bike. Corregidor is easy enough to visit on a day tour from Manila via the ferry from the Mall of Asia (MOA) terminal. The terrain is suited for any type of bike and you can bring your own road bike, mountain bike or folding bike on the ferry going to the island.

While Corregidor has long been seen as a destination for history buffs and students on field trips, it’s also a great destination for nature lovers, adventure-junkies and cyclists! Unlike biking in the city of Manila (there are bike tours in Intramuros and BGC), but there’s no traffic when you ride in Corregidor so it’s much safer, and the views are just great. Traversing the island’s steep but well-paved roads as well as the jungle trails on board a bicycle offers a different experience compared to riding the tram. The historic ruins, old hospitals, barracks, cannons and trails make unique backdrops for your biking photo ops.

Bataan

The province of Bataan, which is just a couple of hours from Manila, is another great place to head to if you want to just enjoy biking on a day trip or weekend. Bataan has several mountain biking trails that cater to different rider levels, and is a venue for annual bike races and events like Padyakan sa Bataan. Karagatan Bay View Peak is a short but challenging five-kilometer circuit that provides great views of the Mariveles Valley, Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, and Mt. Mariveles (Tarak Ridge).

The Liyang Trail or Killer Loop Trail is a 34-kilometer trail for advanced and experienced riders that circles the foot of Mt. Samat. The trail passes old World War II guerilla roads and tracks, which loops around Mt. Samat, containing everything from dirt roads, extended climbs with grades up to 35 percent, roots, single tracks, double tracks, rolling hills, rock gardens, technical ascents and descents, ravines, switchbacks, river crossings, and more.

Rizal

The province of Rizal is ideal for those with limited time for road trips and biking because of its proximity to Manila, refreshing mountain scenery, cooler climate and generally uncrowded roads.

For cyclists and riders based in Metro Manila, the Wind Farm in Pililla is a popular weekend biking destination since it’s near enough Manila for a day ride while offering some challenging uphills, refreshing scenery and a unique backdrop of wind turbines, not normally seen near the city.

The town of Tanay in Rizal is my personal favorite destination since it passes through portions of the Sierra Madre mountain range and contains lots of hidden gems, waterfalls and rivers that you can bike to. Tanay has many surprising trails and destinations for cyclists including Daranak Falls, Daraitan, Tinipak River and Kinabuan Falls, a remote waterfall located within a Dumagat Village in Sta. Ines. On the way there, you have to cross through several communities as well as ankle-deep to knee-deep streams. You’ll need to allot a whole day for rides here because of the travel time getting to and from the jump-off point or if you’re biking all the way.

Marinduque

Marinduque is an island province in the Philippines located in the Southwestern Tagalog region. It’s known as one of the most peaceful provinces in the country due to its low crime rate and for cyclists, the laid-back island offers an appealing destination. Marinduque has about 150 kms of paved circumferential road known and some very beautiful uncrowded beaches.

The Marinduque Loop (where you circle the entire island island by bike) is a great route with steady climbs, rewarding downhills and lots of scenic spots. For those based in Manila, you can opt to bring bicycles on the ferry crossing the the island for a day trip or at least an overnight biking trip.

Mt. Pinatubo

For bikers looking for out-of-this-world landscapes and a challenging terrain for their biking adventure, biking to Mt. Pinatubo provides one of the most unforgettable destinations you can bike to. Mt. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in Zambales located on the tri-point boundary of the provinces Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

Most tourists visit on day hikes via 4×4 jeepneys from Capas, Tarlac before continuing the trek on foot to the stunning crater lake, but it’s also possible to conquer the lahar and sandy terrain on two wheels. For cyclists, Mt. Pinatubo presents various challenges from the scorching heat and desert-like landscape to the countless streams and rock gardens you need to negotiate to get to the lake.

Gen. Nakar, Quezon

Gen. Nakar is a coastal town in the province of Quezon that offers an unspoiled paradise for cyclists. With beautiful mountain roads which are part of the expansive Sierra Madre mountain range, crystal clear rivers and streams, hanging bridges and quiet secluded beaches lined with brown-sand and pebbles facing the Pacific Ocean, Gen. Nakar offers an amazing destination for bikers.

We got to ride around the trails here during the 1st Brusko Pacific Coast Epic Race organized by Sandugo and Basekamp (now on its second year) and have since gone back (by motorcycle) to explore the area some more. The whole area of Gen. Nakar offers trails for both beginner and seasoned cyclists. It’s a bit of a drive from Manila, but is worth seeking out if you have a weekend to spare.

Mayon Volcano Natural Park

The Bicol region which encompasses the southern part of Luzon Island and nearby island provinces has its share of stunning sites including several volcanoes worth biking to include Mt. Isarog in Camarines Sur, Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon and the famed Mayon Volcano in Albay. Renowned for its perfect cone, the surrounding landscape of Mayon Volcano Natural Park in the province of Albay is one of the top destinations for adventure-seekers who usually ride All-Terrain vehicles (ATVs) on the demanding terrain leading up to a lava wall. 

For cyclists who want more of a challenge, you can bring your own bike or rent mountain bikes from Legazpi City in Albay and ride all the way up to the six-kilometer stretch of lava debris formed in 2006, which offers 360-degree views of Mayon and overlooks Legazpi City.

Cordillera Administrative Region

The entire Cordillera Administrative Region is a major destination for mountain bikers, with trails of varying degrees of difficulty in various provinces. You can find amazing cycling trails scattered all around Benguet (Baguio), Ifugao (Banaue) and all the way up to Mountain Province (Sagada is separately listed below). If you like your bike rides surrounded by beautiful mountains, rocky roads, pine forests, lung-busting climbs, and adrenaline-pumping rocky descents, this is one of the best places to head to for cycling tours. 

Since the whole region is just too large to explore, cyclists with only a weekend to spare can pick Baguio as the easiest jump-off point. Mt. Ugo, a spectacular mountain on the borders of Nueva Viczaya and Benguet offers a great destination not just for hikers but bikers as well. Intermediate bikers will enjoy the uphills and ultra-technical trails as well as the majestic pine forests and spectacular views similar to higher points like Mt. Pulag.

Sagada

For cyclists who want a worthy challenge of biking in a place with steep and sloping trails, refreshing breeze and a view of the pine-covered slopes and mountains beyond the cliffs, the town of Sagada in the Mountain Province should be at the top of the list. The high elevation and sloping terrain can be a real thrill for experts in technical riding. Popular trails in the area include Kiltepan and Marlboro Country.

Due to its high elevation, the climate in Sagada and the Mountain Province in general, is much cooler than the rest of the country. So come prepared for colder, and possibly foggy, early morning rides especially during the monsoon months. Traversing uphill routes with surreal views of the sunrise within a sea of clouds can be very rewarding. You can also ride through rice paddies with views of the of the surrounding mountains.

Batanes

If there’s one place in the country that will appeal to cyclists, Batanes is it. Batanes remains one of the most bucket-list-worthy local destinations for all types of travelers for good reason. The raw landscape here is unlike anything else in the country. The northernmost province of the Philippines, which happens to be the smallest, offers one of the most spectacular destinations in the country to explore on two wheels.

Batan Island, where Basco is located, is compact enough to bike around in a day. Though there are some challenging uphills going up to Marlboro Country, up to the Mahatao Lighthouse and Fundacion Pacita, but you won’t mind stopping frequently just to soak in the scenery.

Well-paved coastal roads lead you to otherworldly landscapes at every turn. If exploring Batan is not enough, you’ll want to load up your bike on the ferry boat to explore the smaller Sabtang Island on a day trip. It’s possible to rent mountain bikes from the capital Basco, mostly vintage Japanese bicycles and a few mountain bikes. Bikers may want to bring their own bikes on the plane to get more saddle time.

I know there are a lot more amazing biking destinations in the Philippines, especially in Visayas and Mindanao. However, this list focuses on just 10 destinations in Luzon arranged by ease of access and/or cost coming from Manila for the reference of first-time foreign tourists who may not be familiar with what the country has to offer.

Additional photos courtesy of Outside Slacker. Visit his website for more biking inspiration and tips!

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