Things to Do in Batangas: Beaches, Anilao Diving and Taal
Batangas is where Metro Manila goes to the beach. It is the nearest real coastline to the capital — two to three hours south depending on where you are heading and how bad the traffic is — and it holds one of the best macro diving destinations in the world, a heritage town most visitors have never heard of, and the coffee tradition the province is named for.
The beaches
Batangas coastline splits into two broad areas, and they are quite different.
The western side — Nasugbu and Calatagan. Facing the West Philippine Sea, reached via the Tagaytay road or the Ternate route. This is where most of the resort development sits, from budget beachfront to full-service resorts. Calatagan has the better sand; Nasugbu has more options.
The eastern side — Laiya, San Juan. Facing the Tayabas Bay side, reached down the STAR Tollway. Laiya is the most popular stretch for weekend groups from Manila, with a long run of resorts at every price point. Busy at weekends, quiet midweek.
Neither is Palawan. These are convenient beaches rather than spectacular ones — and their value is that you can leave Manila at 6am and be in the water by 9.
Anilao — the diving
This is the genuinely world-class part. Anilao, in Mabini on the Calumpang peninsula, is one of the best macro and muck diving destinations on earth, and underwater photographers travel internationally for it.
The distinction matters: Anilao is not about big animals or dramatic walls. It is about extremely small, extremely strange creatures — nudibranchs, frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, pygmy seahorses — on unremarkable-looking slopes and sand patches. If that sounds dull, it is the opposite; the density and variety of species is extraordinary.
- Dozens of dive sites are reachable by short boat rides from the resorts along the peninsula.
- Dive resorts cluster along the coast road, most offering packages including dives, gear and accommodation.
- It is beginner-friendly for open water training, though the macro appeal is strongest for experienced divers and photographers.
- Season — diveable year-round, with the best conditions generally in the dry months, roughly November to May.
Anilao is around three hours from Manila and is the single best reason to go to Batangas.
Taal Heritage Town
Not to be confused with Taal Volcano, which is in Cavite across the lake. Taal town in Batangas is a preserved Spanish colonial settlement with one of the largest concentrations of ancestral houses in the country, and it is dramatically under-visited.
- Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours — reputedly the largest Catholic church in Asia, and genuinely enormous.
- Ancestral houses — the Villavicencio, Agoncillo and Apacible houses among many, several open as museums. Marcela Agoncillo, who sewed the first Philippine flag, was from here.
- Barong Tagalog and balisong — Taal is the traditional centre of embroidery for the barong, and neighbouring Balisong is known for the folding knife that bears its name.
If you like Vigan, Taal is the same idea two hours from Manila instead of eight.
Food and coffee
- Kapeng barako — the strong, distinctive Liberica coffee the province is known for. Buy it in town rather than at a highway stop.
- Bulalo — beef shank and marrow soup. Batangas and Tagaytay argue over it; both versions are good.
- Lomi — thick egg noodles in a heavy, starchy broth. A Batangas speciality and a genuinely regional dish.
- Tapang Taal — cured beef, the local pasalubong alongside the coffee.
Getting there
| Destination | Route | Rough time |
|---|---|---|
| Laiya / San Juan | SLEX → STAR Tollway | 2.5–4 hrs |
| Anilao / Mabini | SLEX → STAR → Batangas City | ~3 hrs |
| Nasugbu / Calatagan | Via Tagaytay or Ternate | 2.5–4 hrs |
| Taal town | SLEX → STAR | ~2 hrs |
Buses run from Buendia and Cubao to Batangas City and Lipa, with jeepneys and vans onward. For Anilao specifically, most divers arrange a transfer through their resort.
Leave early. Southbound SLEX backs up from mid-morning on Saturdays, and a 5am departure regularly saves two hours.
Practical notes
- Weekends are crowded at Laiya especially. Midweek is a completely different experience.
- Book ahead for long weekends — Holy Week in particular, when the whole province fills. See long weekends.
- Bring cash. Smaller resorts and dive operators are frequently cash-first.
- Two nights beats one. A single overnight is mostly driving.
- For diving, book the resort and the dives together — it is cheaper and the logistics are handled.
FAQ
How far is Batangas from Manila? Two to four hours depending on destination and traffic. Anilao is about three hours.
What is Anilao known for? Macro and muck diving — small, rare and unusual marine species. It is one of the world's top destinations for underwater macro photography.
Which Batangas beach is best? Laiya in San Juan for convenience and resort choice; Calatagan for better sand; Nasugbu for variety.
Is Taal town the same as Taal Volcano? No. Taal town is a heritage town in Batangas; the volcano is in the lake across in Cavite. See things to do in Tagaytay for the volcano.
What is kapeng barako? The strong Liberica coffee traditionally grown in Batangas.
Can beginners dive at Anilao? Yes — open water training is widely available, though the macro appeal is strongest for experienced divers.
When should I go? The dry season, roughly November to May, and midweek if you can.
Last verified: August 2026. Resort operations, dive conditions and road works change — confirm before travelling.
More: weekend getaways from Manila, things to do in Tagaytay, or what is on now.