For riders, just hitting the open road, regardless of the destination, is an adventure in itself. But if you’re planning to ride all over the Philippines, you’ll realize it can get pretty complicated trying to transport a motorbike around since the country is made up of 7,641 islands. While there are some small amazing islands great for exploring by motorcycle, it’s more convenient to just rent motorbikes from there. For those coming from Manila who have their own bikes, your best bet would be to ride around the mainland of Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.
While I’ve traveled to all of these places listed below, I haven’t personally ridden to all of them from Manila yet, so I’m sharing additional tips and photos from Wrangler Philippines #TrueWanderer Season 1 and 2 riders on their tried-and-tested favorites. Metro Manila itself (which ranks in lists of places with the worst traffic in the world) is admittedly not a great place to ride. But if you’re interested in exploring the Philippines, these are the most popular riding routes from Manila where you can enjoy the destination as well as the journey getting there.
NOTE: These destinations involve pure land travel in mainland Luzon from Manila and excludes islands you can reach by sea travel.
Table of Contents
Day Trips
Marilaque
My personal favorite for a day ride is Marilaque (Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon), a highway that traverses several provinces through the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges of Rizal, the mountaintops of Laguna, and, finally, to Infanta, Quezon. With a road stretching to 110-kilometers, this highway is a favorite for motorcycle riders and mountain bikers because of its cooler climate and scenic views. It will take you about 3-4 hours to get to Infanta via this route.
Ride highlights: View from Cafe Katerina, Paseo Rizal, twisties, Daraitan, Jariel’s Peak, Agos River, Beaches of Infanta, Gen. Nakar and Real
Tagaytay
According to #TrueWanderer Dom de la Torre (RiderAko), Tagaytay City in Cavite is one of the most popular rides especially for those based in the South. Tagaytay is known for its cooler climate, restaurants, and great view overlooking Taal Lake in Batangas. “It’s very near busy cities in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Metro Manila. A short 20-40 km ride and you’ll find yourself riding winding roads with a cool breeze of fresh air blowing against your face.”
Ride highlights/stopovers: People’s Park in the Sky, Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Hillside roads overlooking Taal Lake, Twisty roads of Talisay with hairpin curves on 20-30 degree slopes, Kaybiang Tunnel
Batangas
Another well-loved riding destination from Manila is Batangas, home to the well-known Taal Volcano (visible from Tagaytay) and Taal Heritage town, a small town that has ancestral houses and structures dating back to the 19th century, which you can visit on a Taal Lake Loop.
Batangas is a popular weekend destination mainly because of its beaches and diving spots, with coastal towns like Calatagan, Nasugbu and Laiya in San Juan favorite spots for ride and beach camping trips. Depending on the traffic and your route (SLEX or Laguna backroads), you can get to Batangas in about 3-5 hours one way.
Ride highlights/stopovers: Nasugbu-Ternate Highway, coastal roads, beaches, Laiya, Calatagan, Taal Heritage Town
Laguna
Laguna, situated southeast of Metro Manila hugs the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the the largest lake in the country. A popular riding route is the Laguna Loop, a 200+ km route where one circles the entire Laguna de Bay.
Laguna is the birthplace of Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero and is famous for its waterfalls, hot springs and mystic mountains. You can spend a whole day of riding to completely loop the lake and spend quality time at various attractions or just choose to just visit the more laid-back and scenic Eastern towns instead or stay overnight in Caliraya.
Ride highlights: Laguna Lake from various vantage points, Pilillia Wind Farm, Laguna Lake, Paete, Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Historic churches, Underground Cemetery, Pagsanjan Waterfalls, Caliraya Lake
Bataan
For history buffs, the province of Bataan, situated in the Central Luzon region about 120+ kms away, offers another interesting destination to ride to from Manila because of its historical significance as one of the last stands of American and Filipino soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese forces in World War II.
The Bataan Death March was named after the province, where the infamous march started. Those on big bikes can get to Bataan in just 2-3 hours via NLEX, while those on smaller bikes will have to pass the service road, which can take about 4 to 4.5 hours.
Ride highlights: Bataan Death March markers, Mt. Samat National Shrine, Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar, Sisiman Bay
Overnight Rides (2-3 days recommended)
La Union
La Union is a laid-back surf town in the Ilocos region with a wide range of accommodations to fit any budget and lots of restaurants to choose from for all your food trip needs.
Roughly 273 km (170 mi) north of Metro Manila, riders can get here with just a 4-5 hour drive if they’re passing the expressway. While it’s technically day-trippable, you should plan to stay at least overnight to enjoy the beach and nightlife.
Ride highlights: Beaches, sunset in San Juan, Macho Temple, Thunderbird Resort, Luna Pebble Beach, Tangadan Falls (hike required), food-tripping
Baguio
Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, is one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. “The City of Pines” is always a popular destination for vacations and weekend trips because of its proximity to Manila and cooler climate, great food options and all the interesting tourist destinations you can visit. It’s a great destination for riders as well, because of the scenic views and twisties just getting there. Baguio is roughly 245 kms or about 4-5 hours drive.
Ride highlights: Lion’s Head Statue, Biker’s Pit Stop, Stobosa, Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Burnham Park, Mines View, Camp John Hay, food-tripping
Baler
According to #TrueWanderer Gab Casuga, Baler is a good destination for riders, especially those who like to surf. The capital of the province of Aurora is located 231 km (144 mi) north-east of Manila or roughly about 7-8 hours drive via a mountain pass. The scenic views, spectacular geographic formations, laid-back vibe and beach are its top draws.
“The coastline going there is just beautiful. It’s great for riders because of the fact that at the end of your ride, the beautiful pacific coastline just awaits you. If you leave early around 5 am, you can get there by lunch, spend the afternoon surfing, enjoy the nightlife with a couple of beers with pako salad as pulutan and other local delicacies.”
“Then the next morning take a joy ride going North seeing the white beach part of the Aurora coastline.”
Ride highlights: Visiting the Antonio Luna Shrine in Cabanatuan, stopping over for coffee and the famous suman, the beach for surfing, Millenium Tree, Sabang Beach, Diguisit Beach & Rock Formations, Dipaculao
Longer Rides (3-5 days recommended)
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur, has the distinction of being named a UNESCO World Heritage City. The city is well-known for its Spanish-era mansions, cobblestone streets and kalesas (horse-drawn carriages), which are the most popular way for tourists to go sightseeing.
According to #TrueWanderer Marvin Geronimo (No Barriers, Just Horizons), getting to Vigan will take riders roughly 10-12 hours straight drive coming from Manila but exploration is easy once you get there. “Every attraction is pretty much just a couple of minutes away. Vigan itself is very rider-friendly and easy to go around, you will see a lot just by roaming the streets. People are very kind to riders.”
Ride highlights: Calle Crisologo, Vigan Museum, Vigan Cathedral, Plaza, Bantay Church, Bantay Tower, Baluarte, Mindoro Beach.
Sagada, Mt. Province
The mountain town of Sagada nestled in a valley in the Mountain Province is a great destination for adventure junkies. This scenic town in the Cordillera region offers the most spectacular view of mountains, cooler climate due to its high elevation and well-preserved culture.
If you want a long ride with amazingly scenic views through the mountains, this is a great choice. Sagada is about 391 km from Metro Manila via Baguio, La Trinidad, Bontoc Rd, Halsema Highway and the Mountain Trail. You can split your ride in two (by spending the first day/night in Baguio) before riding up to Sagada or drive straight here, which will take roughly 10 to 12 hours from Manila.
Ride highlights: Hanging Coffins, Sumaguing Cave, Cave Connection, Kiltepan Peak, Waterfalls, Lake Danum, the road just going up there
Bicol
The Bicol Region is composed of six provinces, four of which are on the mainland on the southeastern end of Luzon: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.
The Manila to Bicol route passing the Asian Highway 26 (AH26) (also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway) is a major road trip route. Bicol is about 437 kms away from Metro Manila, and will take you about 10 – 12 hours depending on your pace.
Ride highlights: Old Zigzag Road in Atimonan, Coastal road in Gumaca, Bagasbas Beach in Daet (detour required), CamSur Water Sports Complex, Mayon Volcano, Bulusan Lake in Sorsogon
Ilocos Norte
The province of Ilocos Norte at the northwest corner of Luzon facing the West Philippine Sea is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the North.
Known for its historic churches, stunning beaches and mouthwatering cuisine, Ilocos Norte showcases some of the best destinations up North. It’s also home to one of the longest and most extreme bridges in the Philippines, which is sort of a landmark for road trippers.
The Patapat Viaduct, a coastal bridge elevated 31 meters above sea level, is a top draw for riders on their way to the coastal town of Pagudpud. According to #TrueWanderer Carlos Baldosa, a safe estimate for motorcycle riders coming from Metro Manila to get to Patapat Viaduct is about 12 – 13 hours if that’s your main destination. Patapat Viaduct is 569 kms away from Metro Manila.
Ride highlights: Patapat Viaduct, Fort Ilocandia, Pagudpud, Kapurpurawan Rock Formations, Bangui Wind Farm, Sand Dunes
North Luzon Loop
At the top of most Filipino rider’s bucketlists is the North Luzon Loop, a 1,200+ km ride that loops the main roads on the entire Luzon Island. Some riders just speed through this and make minimum stops while those on smaller displacement bikes say it will take at least 2 days to complete. But if you’re after touring and sightseeing, you should probably allot at least 5 days to circle the entire route.
Ride highlights: All the highlights from previous destinations listed above along the route, the Highest Point of the Philippine Highway System, Halsema Highway, welcome arches, endless stretches of roads and fields, Aparri (the northernmost tip of mainland Luzon)
There are a lot of other places around Luzon and the Philippines that you can ride to, but so far these are the most popular riding routes that I know of and are usually recommended by fellow riders. Got any other suggestions? Please let me know in the comments section 🙂
Thanks to my fellow #TrueWanderers for their ride tips and photos! Ride soon!
Hi! Ano po route for motorcycles Manila to Batangas? Do you have po?
Hi Kim. Just use Googlemaps to input starting and end point and click avoid tolls and highways if small bike yung dala mo. Depends where you’re going in Batangas. Kung Calatagan, better yung Ternate-Cavite side. Nung nag-Laiya kami, we passed backroads sa Pagsanjan and San Pablo.
Hi. Any update on motorcycle ban in Baguio?
HI Cha, check out this official statement clarifying the motorcycle ban on Baguio.
sino po may group dito for motorcycle road trip po ? pasali ??
Hi, half a dozen of us will be doing this route next July and I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction in regards to renting motorbikes. I am having difficulty finding places that rent out bikes.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Hi Glenn. I’ll be writing a separate post compiling all the companies that do guided motorcycle tours and rentals here in the Philippines, but here are two reputable companies I know of that have good quality bikes. Ride Along Motorcycle Tours offers guided motorbike tours and luxury bike rentals. You can check their website here: http://www.ridealongtours.com/
Another new company is Philippine Moto Tours which rents out Royal Enfield Himalayan Bikes. Here’s their website: https://www.philippinemototours.com/
For more budget-friendly options, underbone bikes and scooters (ideal for in-city driving given the traffic), you can check this Ride Sharing system: https://www.book2wheel.com/
Hi!
Where exactly was that photo taken? the photo with a man wearing a “Laguna Moto Club” shirt? the one overlooking Taal?
Thanks!
Hi Mark, here’s the exact GPS coordinates in Googlemaps according to Dom of RiderAko who contributed the photo. It’s along Diokno Highway.
kung sa manila go to alabang muntinlupa, san pedro laguna, to binan, to calamba, pagdating calamba crossing go sto. tomas then tanauan deretso na po yun to lipa city and batangas city,
hi lizy,
we are a new and small biker group accepting new riders. just conquered Marilaque and Dinahican port (Infanta) last weekend, thanks to Kara for a great vlog on Ride to Jariel’s Peak. 🙂
drop me a message at 0995-2389440 if interested to join in future rides.
Hi Ab! Thanks for the comment. Hope you guys enjoyed the ride. Love that route and have been meaning to check out the status of the bridge near Infanta.
hi Kara,
Yes, it was really cool ride. We enjoyed every part of the route especially the curves. We initially planned to only reach Jariel’s Peak but afraid we might feel “bitin” so we decided to push further up to Infanta. It proved a good decision as the weather was perfect that day.
As for the bridge, it is still under construction but passable to all kinds of vehicle. Though need to take extra precaution if it rained as the mud tends to become slippery, other than that, the ride is expected to be a walk in the park going to Infanta.
Hi Kara.
just an update on the Mt. Samat ride. i was there June 18, 2019. Motorcycles are no longer allowed to enter the shrine (i’m assuming this is because of the noise). you park your motorcycle outside the shrine gates, and walk in. the younger ones will be ok for this, but older riders may not be able to climb the 64 steps to the shrine, then the footclimb to the cross.
Hi Agustin. Thanks for the update! Will add that information to this post. The last portion of the road going up to Mt. Samat is quite steep for motorized vehicles. Last time I was there, I saw cyclists biking up and it looked like a real challenge.
Hi,
Are you guys still riding out as a group?
Interested here.
Hey Kara – if I am travelling to the Bicol region via Motorbike from Manila that is below 400cc. Can I at any point use the Pan Philippine Hwy?
If not, what route do I take?
Thanks!
Hello Mike. Please check my post Road Trip Guide: Bicol Highlights. I included a route map there for small displacement bikes.
Right. Thanks for that!
What happens after Pagbilao? Roads are open to all motorbikes?
Yes, as long as you’re not on expressways, the road is open to all smaller underbones and scooters. You can also pass service roads, but traffic is usually bad there. The easiest way to plot small motorcycle route is to check it on Googlemaps and click “avoid highways and tolls” option. 🙂
Right… Thanks! Yes… Google is actually what I tried but even after clicking to avoid highways and tolls it kept suggesting a route using the Pan Philippine Highway. I wasn’t sure if small displacement bikes could use that at some point, which is what lead me to your blog!
Oh, yes. The Pan-Philippine Highway / Maharlika Highway or AH26 is what they call the original route which is the backbone transport route from North to South and which allows all vehicles including buses and small displacement bikes. The 400cc rule only applies to specific Expressways with tolls such as SLEX, NLEX, TPLEX, CAVITEX etc. 🙂
Ohhh … right. Well that explains a lot! Thanks for that! I was not able to find a definitive answer to that question online – as mentioned, my search brought me to your blog!
On a side note – I noticed in your Bicol post that you ride a Royal Enfield Classic 500? At least that is what it looked like? How are you liking it? And what is the price point for that in the PH these days?
I am considering moving to a big bike in the … relatively near future.
Hi Mike. The Royal Enfield Classic is my husband’s bike. It comes in 350cc and 500cc models. While the styling is really stunning, I have to say the Enfield is a bit heavy for daily use and harder to maneuver in city traffic, but he loves it for longer rides in open roads. SRP of the Classic 500 is roughly P313,000 while 350cc variant is P196,500.
Right. Got it. Hmmm, out of curiosity – as I have never ridden in Manila – what type of bike is best for the traffic there?
Manila has the worst traffic in the world. Automatic scooters and underbones in the 125-150 cc segment from top Japanese brands like Honda & Yamaha are the most popular and commonly used in the city. You can find bikes like Mio, Beat, Click & XRM for rent in a lot of smaller island provinces as well (parts are more readily available for those models). Dual sport bikes for pavement and off-road conditions are the most ideal. For longer rides and touring, the NMAX is popular. Hope that helps.
Great! Thanks a lot!
hello po sainyo sana ho ay matulongan nio ako kauna unahan ko sana mag travel gamit ang motorcycle 150cc kong ho mang gagali g aki ng pasig going to bicol saan ho ba ako pwede dumaan at bawal naman sa slex ang motor bellow 150cc. sana ho ay may idea kayo.
Hi Ricky. Pakibasa po yung article ko on Bicol Road Trip highlights. May map po dun ng dinaanan namin. Sa may East side ng Laguna kami dumadaaan pag 150cc gamit ko – bale dadaan sa Pagsanjan, Lucban palabas ng Pagbilao para iwas traffic at highway.
I am interested to join your next road trip if possible and where would that be? Trips from manila to any point of northern Luzon will be my preferred trip but Manila to Bicol will be fun for me. Hopefully Covid19 will be done by August 2020.
are you still riding untill now?
Unfortunately, Metro Manila is under a second lockdown. We’re under a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine right now due to COVID restrictions, and leisure rides are currently not allowed. There are checkpoints installed in many borders with numerous travel requirements and tests needed to cross, so I’ve had to put a hold on long rides for now. I still ride short distances & neighboring towns for essential trips.
What if i only have a honda genio which is only a scooter and below 400cc, how can i get to cavite or tagaytay? Which route to take?
Good day, planning po kaming mag north loop pero from isabela po kami can you help us through our journey? TIA
Hi Kara, this is Rachelle of Petro Gazz , an independent oil retail fuel station. We want to feature one of your photos in our FB page. Can we request for one ride photo of you? Also we would also like to ask you this “Motorcyclists pick up riding for different reasons, what’s yours?” Thank you Kara! Congrats on the success of your page.