Explore the nearby Antipolo tourist spots for your quick escape to the bustling streets of Metro Manila.
Antipolo is among the favorite destinations away from the busy districts of Manila. With the upcoming opening of the LRT Line 2 extension up to Antipolo, many can soon reach Rizal province at ease.
Antipolo has long been a top destination for weekend trips and escapes as a neighboring city close to Metro Manila. With the sprawling development in town, many establishments became a click, and some went viral. While the most renowned Antipolo tourist spots never get old, we are here to find the travel-worthy tourist destinations the city has to offer.
Find out the best Antipolo tourist spots for your next weekend escapade
Table of Contents
1. Pinto Art Museum
The Pinto Art Museum always comes to mind when talking about Antipolo tourist spots. Its recent founding in 2010 by Dr. Joven Cunanang has been gaining massive attention since then.
Sitting on a two-hectare property, Pinot Art Museum is a place to appreciate art collections and the museum’s aesthetic. Dr. Cunanang has an array of varying artwork disciplines, from contemporary to native arts.
Art enthusiasts or not, the Pinto Art Museum has elegant, vibrant, and colorful installations that will surely please the naked eyes.
The museum’s name itself, Pinto, means door. Going inside, you can find many doors which open to different room exhibits, including stairs.
When exploring the outdoors, you may have noticed its Santorini-inspired exteriors just before you could enter the museum. Perhaps, the Pinto Art Museum is even among the best-photographed Museums in the world.
Not to mention its Antipolo overlooking decks and lush gardens; you’ll find every corner worthy of taking some selfies and dramatic shots.
Dedicating a day is ideal when you want a whole experience. They also have a cafe where everyone can grab some bites and rest after long walks inside the museum.
You can locate them at 1 Sierra Madre St, Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo.
2. Cloud 9 Sports and Leisure Club
The Cloud 9 is also among the favorite Antipolo tourist spots destinations for many first-timer travelers visiting Antipolo.
Its humble start as a restaurant in 1995 had eventually opened to both hospitality and recreational tourist destination.
Among the crowd’s favorite here is its heart-pumping hanging bridge and the 360-degree view deck. You’ll be passing by the hanging bridge before reaching the viewing deck, so it’s best to wear comfortable shoes.
From there, guests have an unobstructed view of the lush Siera Madre mountains and the Manila skyline.
The viewing deck is also famous for watching dramatic sunsets and Metro Manila skyscrapers and city lights during the night.
In addition, there is also a metal walkway on the lower part of the 360-degree view, which leads back to the information building. The walkway has vines and plants covering, creating a green shade perfect for picture taking.
Their on-site museum is both educational and fun to visit as well. You’ll find archaeological artifacts from CARAGA Region and Antipolo pilgrims here.
Cloud 9 Sports and Leisure Club also cater to more significant events like team building and business meetings.
3. Hinulugang Taktak National Park
Among the Antipolo tourist spots, Hinulugang Taktak waterfall is the nearest water body attraction you can find within the city.
Once closed for rehabilitation until it reopened to the public in 2015, Hinulugang Taktak has since brought back its glory.
The falls have a drop of 21 meters, surrounded by lush landscapes and towering trees. Locals and tourists used to enjoy swimming in its basin. But due to urban development, the water became unsafe for recreational activities.
For now, guests can still appreciate its majestic drop that is still lovely and refreshing to watch.
In addition, there are improved facilities like swimming pools and lodging huts for total relaxation. The thrill-seekers have wall climbing facilities, spider web platforms, and hanging bridges to sweat off some steam.
Lastly, the meditation area offers a serene space for the faithful.
4. Antipolo Cathedral
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is commonly known as Antipolo Cathedral. With its popularity, this pilgrimage site is host to thousands of devotees and tourists all year round.
Antipolo Cathedral is home to the 17th-century wooden image of the Virgin Mary. Catholic members believe that the Virgin Mary of Antipolo gives blessings to those to travel, keeping them safe.
During the Holy Week, thousands flock for the yearly Alay Lakad. Many devotees from Metro Manila join the ceremony by traveling to Antipolo Cathedral on foot as a sign of sacrifice.
Many visit the church for daily masses, car blessings, and other ceremonial activities during ordinary days.
Visiting Antipolo tourist spots like the Antipolo Cathedral is one of the many ways to immerse, understand, and appreciate their culture.
Exploring outside, you can easily spot souvenir stalls selling food pasalubong like rice cake roll (suman) and cashew nuts.
5. Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens & Spa
When looking for exceptional Antipolo tourist spots to relax and unwind, you can visit and book a stay at Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens & Spa. It is strategically located near the outskirts of Antipolo in Sitio Loreland, Barangay San Roque.
Built to blend with the existing topography, Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens & Spa offers picturesque Laguna de Bay and Metro Manila skyline views.
Well-maintained landscapes and intricate decorations complement its goal only to provide satisfaction and relaxation. The resort thus provides top-of-the-line hospitality with its spa services and varying functional amenities.
Aside from its breathtaking Antipolo overlooking views, this resort highlights Filipino talents and resources. Nipa huts inspire their lodging houses with their open-air concept. It is evident to spot the abundance of wood elements as well, showcasing its tropical vibe.
You can start your day with their body scrub followed by your choice of massage. Afterward, you can soak yourself in their infinity pool, hydro massage pool, or jacuzzi. After your lunch, you can relax at the Buddha lounge or viewing deck.
Look no other than Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens & Spa in Antipolo when you want to pamper and relax with superb views.
6. Boso Boso Church
One of the oldest churches you can visit in Antipolo is the Boso Boso Church in Sitio Old Boso-Boso, Barangay San Jose.
Built in 1669 by the Jesuit priests, Boso Boso Church served the Dumagat people early. Later in 1880, an earthquake had severed a portion of the church.
Today, the Boso Boso Church still stands the test of time after surviving wars, earthquakes, and abandonment. This church has one of the most simple facades, yet it is traceable to its Spanish architecture roots.
Adobe stone bricks are still intact, which matches its overall antique grandeur.
The official name of the church is Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church.
7. Mount Purro Nature Reserve
Antipolo is also as bustling as other Metro Manila cities, less the skyscrapers but has abundant natural green spaces.
Traveling an hour from the city center leads you to plenty of nature-centered Antipolo tourist spots when you want to have a quick break from the cityscapes. One of them is Mount Purro Nature Reserve.
This family-run eco-park is centered on the foothills of Sierra Madre, offering a green and sustainable environment.
However, keep in mind that Mount Purro Nature Reserve offers only the bare necessities to disconnect to modernity temporarily. To perfectly blend with nature, their facilities and rooms are made from wood elements.
As refreshing as the cold mountain breeze, one can find a natural meditation while keeping you busy exploring the wilderness. Among the things you may want to try are our Forest Hike, River Walk, and Bonfire at night.
This nature reserve also includes recreational amenities like swimming pools and a natural playground to keep kids on the move. A game room and cabanas are a great alternative when wanting to stay indoors too.
Among these activities, one of the cool things to do here is interacting with the locals or Dumagats who help and handle labor in the place.
8. Casa Santa Museum
The Christmas season starts as early as September in the Philippines. But for Casa Santa Museum, it never starts or ends. It does happen every day until who knows. Yes, you read it right!
The Casa Santa Museum is not your typical museum but is one of the unique Antipolo tourist spots to include on the itinerary.
It houses a collection of more than 3,700 Santa Claus collections and Christmas-related items. With warm lights and colorful displays, one could magically feel happiness and joy as you step inside the museum.
Casa Santa Museum is one of the attractions inside Jardin de Miramar, an events place and garden place in Barangay San Isidro, Antipolo.
Aside from the multitude of Santa collections on the ground floor, their Toy Factory on the second floor showcases Santa’s elves at work. This section portrays the making of gifts worldwide as shown at a different time on the wall.
Other highlights include the Christmas Village that looks straight from the children’s book, The Lego Wall, Balay Belen, and The Grinch.
Visiting Casa Santa Museum is perfect when traveling with kids and is an excellent addition to sightseeing tours in Antipolo.
9. PACEM Eco Park
What keeps PACEM Eco Park as one of the nearby ecological havens is its proximity to other nearby Antipolo tourist spots and attractions. Driving here from the city center takes less than 30 minutes only.
PACEM is short for Peace And Care For Earth Ministry, which translates to its core mission.
The PACEM Eco Park could be smaller than those near the mountains but still loads hefty sightseeing. Their mini forest, wildlife sanctuary, and organic farms are attractions to visit when traveling with family or friends.
Moreover, their butterfly sanctuary has an extensive collection of different species, which you can also touch.
Don’t forget to visit their museum, which houses a massive collection of butterflies, moths, and seashells worldwide.
PACEM eco-park sits within the Assumption Antipolo campus to raise environmental awareness.
Visiting this nature-filled attraction is one of the many ways to reconnect with nature when traveling to Antipolo.
10. The Burrow Cafe
A unique dining experience awaits you at The Burrow Cafe in Beverly Hills Subdivision.
This quaint cafe lies below ground with a rabbit-hole-like staircase as access and green deck space.
Thanks to its large window panels, their dining area opens to one of the unique Antipolo overlooking the hillside ambiance of trees and shrubs. Moreso, its bare concrete, large metal beams, and wooden furniture add to the cafe’s rustic atmosphere.
This makes Burrow Cafe one of the sought-after dining restaurants you want to try when traveling to Antipolo.
The Burrow Cafe offers all-day breakfast and lunch menus. A choice for a vegan menu is available as well.
Some of their best-sellers are Tender Beef Tapa, Black Pansit, Lechon and Gising Gising, and their Burrow Signature Cheesecake and Carrot Cake.
With the cafe’s flexibility, they are also open for group reservations. Remember, though, that reservation can go as far as a month because of its popularity and current public restrictions.
Overall, The Burrow Cafe is a must-try dining place, as well as an Antipolo tourist spot with a serene ambiance perfect for impressing your significant other.
11. Mystical Cave
You won’t run out of outdoor activities when you’re in Antipolo. Adding to your list of places to visit in Antipolo is the Mystical Cave in Sitio Boso Boso of Barangay San Jose along the Puting Bato Road.
A brief history of this Antipolo tourist spot started when Inday Nelly has had visions of caves at the early age of 7. Later on, she left her place in Iloilo and ended in Antipolo until she discovered what is now called the Mystical cave. She eventually bought the 450-hectare property where the caves are.
Apart from rock formations, some of its walls and ceilings are interpreted as religious figures and biblical events. The Mystical Cave has since become one of the pilgrimage sites during the Holy Week.
Even non-Christian tourists will appreciate the Mystical Cave as well. This cave is one of the nearby spelunking destinations from Metro Manila.
There are two entrance stair steps. The first one leads to exploring the inside of the cave, while the other leads you to the upper hill that opens to a pleasant viewing area.
Did you know that some local TV shows and movies are also filmed here? Some of these are Encantadia, Pedro Penduko, and Spirit Warriors.
12. ATV Adventure
Bond with your favorite human, friends, or colleagues to the outdoors of ATV Adventure. This nerve-racking tourist destination lets you explore the wilderness of mountains, rivers, and waterfalls in Antipolo.
As the name suggests, you’ll be riding on an ATV, passing across muddy trails, rough terrain, and crossing a river over wooden rafts.
ATV adventure offers different packages like the Short Trail, Long Trail, and Jungle Trail Packages. If you want a more extensive outdoor experience, you may try their Campsite Trail offering day and overnight trails.
Riding the ATV in broad daylight is fun and a great time to capture amazing photos. However, doing so during some rain adds an extra challenge, especially when you’re all out to get wild and soaked up in the mud.
Remember to bring extra clothes, though, because you’re pretty dull when you leave in your same shirts.
Other engaging outdoor activities ATV Adventure offers are Paintball, Archery, and Horseback Riding.
You can find them at Sapinit Road in Barangay San Juan. Check out ATVAdventuresRizal for their rates.
🔗 Nearby Tourist Destinations | Bataan | Batangas |
Plan your needed break now and visit some Antipolo tourist spots
Antipolo has always been a go-to destination for Metro Manila dwellers, whether as a pilgrimage site or an out-of-town destination.
Its proximity may always be a factor because time is precious for the busy man. Or, its topographic advantage to nearby Siera Madre ranges attracts urban settlers to reconnect with the environment. Whatever answer it would be, you can always look for the best Antipolo tourist spots to feed your senses and soul.
As you plan your next getaway, it is advantageous to book accommodations or activity packages ahead of time. Aside from deals and promos to avail of in advance, you can carefully plan your itinerary to make the most of your trip.
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Safe travels!
Remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. For your guidance about the changes in health protocols, you may visit the guidelines from the Department of Tourism. Stay safe.