With just a few days left before the Holy week, everyone is already busy preparing to make the most out of the long holiday break. However, if reading this just reminds you that you still haven't figured out where to spend the Holy Week, there is no need to worry. The Two Juanderers recommend visiting the town of Lucban in Quezon. Aside from being close and accessible to Manila, Lucban offers many notable spots to relax and to embrace the days of Lent.
Find out more about seeing Lucban with Two Juanderer's beginner's guide for travelers to this beautiful pilgrimage destination.
The Town
Lucban is an inland town at the northwestern border of Quezon province. It is nestled at the foot of the majestic and mysterious Mount Banahaw. It stands at an elevation of 1,500 feet above sea level. The town enjoys gentle, cool mountain breeze and experiences pleasant temperatures throughout the year. As such it is sometimes dubbed as the Summer Capital of Quezon.
Legend has it that the town got its name from lukban or the local word for Pomelo. It is believed that three hunters from the neighboring Majayjay town came into the area after following the trail of some animals. They came to rest under a large leafy lukban tree where they heard a couple of kingfishers singing sweetly. Taking it as a sign of good fortune, the hunters fetched their families and settled in the area they started calling Lucban.
How to Get There
Lucban is approximately 24 kilometers north of the province's capital, Lucena City, and 133 kilometers from Manila.
As Lucban is inland, the only option to reach it is by land transportation. From Manila, you can take a bus (JAC Liner or JAM Liner) from either Cubao or Buendia to Lucena City. Then from the Lucena Grand Terminal, you can ride a jeepney or a van to Lucban. Travel usually takes 4-5 hours.
However, driving a car is still the fastest and most efficient option to get to Lucban. From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at either Calamba or Sto. Tomas. If you take Calamba exit, you will pass through the towns of Calamba, Los Baños, Victoria, Pila, Sta. Cruz, Pagsanjan, Magdalena, Majayjay, and then to the town of Lucban. If you take Sto. Tomas exit, you will pass through the towns of Sto. Tomas, Alaminos, San Pablo, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tayabas, and then to the town of Lucban. A drive from Manila usually takes 3-4 hours.
When to Visit
Lucban is a town with significant rainfall that even during the driest months there is still some rain.
If you favor clear, rainless days with pleasant temperatures between 18 to 26 degrees Celsius, the best time to visit Lucban for general outdoor tourist activities is from January to May. However, these months coincide with summer, the Holy Week, and the Pahiyas Festival. As such, these are considered peak travel times. Hotels and Inns get fully booked and crowds going to town are at its biggest.
The wet months are June to December with chances of rain occurring in about 15 to 26 days of each month. These months are considered off-season. If you don't rely on weather conditions for an ideal trip, you can visit Lucban during these months. You'll more likely to experience a far more intimate tour of the town as you don't have to deal with swarms of people.
Where to Stay
Lucban only has few hotels and lodging facilities. As such, there might be difficulty booking accommodations especially during peak season. Usual options are Patio Rizal Hotel, Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel, and Villa Elma Bed and Breakfast.
Patio Rizal is located at the town center just across the Municipal Hall. The hotel has a total of 20 rooms with price starting at PHP2,300.00 per night. For reservations, email them at patiorizal@yahoo.com.
Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel is located across Kamay ni Hesus. It has a total of 124 rooms composed of double sharing, family, and dormitory type rooms. Rates start at PHP2,000 per night. For more information about the room types, visit their website. For reservations, contact +63 917 595 4145 and +63 42 540 4401.
Villa Elma Bed and Breakfast is located along A. Mabini Street in Barangay Palola. It has a total of 6 room types with occupancy ranging from 2 to 12 adults. Rates start at PHP1,400 per night. For more information about the room types, visit their website. For reservations, contact +63 977 049 6186 and +63 929 838 8496.
For this trip, we stayed in a relative's house. This allowed us to save on accommodation expenses.
Getting Around
To go around the town of Lucban and its neighboring towns, the common modes of transportation are jeepneys and tricycles. The tricycles are best taken for short trips since their license to operate is limited to short distances within the town. They are available everywhere and hailing one takes only a few minutes. They can take you to anywhere in the town proper. The jeepneys are taken for long-distance travel within Lucban and its neighboring towns.
Things to Do
1. Join and See the Pahiyas Festival
Although happening after the Holy Week, take time to revisit Lucban and see the Pahiyas Festival. Celebrated every May 15, Pahiyas is one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. It is a celebration in honor of San Isidro Labrador and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest.
During the festival, each household tries to outdo each other in decorating their houses. Farmers showcase their produce by decorating their houses with fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Artisans decorate their houses using colorful buri hats, bags, fans, and placemats. Other residents also decorate their homes with items related to their trade. The most traditional and common decoration used, however, is the colorful kiping. These are made from ground rice flour, shaped in leaves, and colored in bright hues. They are then strung together to form all sorts of shapes and then placed outside the houses as embellishments.
2. Take a Spiritual Journey to Kamay ni Hesus
Kamay ni Hesus is the most popular Holy Week pilgrimage site in the country. In 2018's Holy Week alone, it is estimated that more than 2 million people visited the five-hectare complex.
There are several activities that can be done within this sought-after sanctuary. You can attend a healing mass that is centered on healing the sick and spiritually weak. You can also climb the 300-step Stairway to Heaven to follow the trail of life-size sculptures of the Stations of the Cross and see the 50-foot statue of the resurrected Christ on top of the hill. Lastly, you can go on a retreat at the Noah's Ark and Pastoral Center, a place built in the image of the biblical ark and dedicated for prayer and meditation.
3. Rest and Find Solace at Villa Elma
Villa Elma is a mountain resort and another pilgrimage site in Lucban. It was originally built as a private rest house for the Elma family. After decades of secluded privacy, the property is now open to the public.
It is set on the hillside of Mount Banahaw. It has expansive views of the mountain forest and the town of Lucban. It is an architectural and landscape ensemble with log cabin accommodations, sculptural collections, a plethora of artworks, pathways, gazebos, mini-parks, hanging bridges, stairways leading to the Stations of the Cross, prayer areas, religious icons, and a picturesque garden with a natural stream, all built to blend with the densely forested hillside.
See this tranquil place and intertwine your visit with prayers and feelings of gratitude.
Read: Villa Elma: A Beautiful Pilgrimage Site
4. Cool Down in Batis Aramin
Batis Aramin is a nature park resort located just across Kamay ni Hesus. The resort boasts of seven swimming pools, four of which are open to the public while three are exclusive to in-house guests. It is said that the pools are fed with natural, cold, and crystal clear water from the spring called Aramin.
Over the years, the resort has grown to be a one-stop destination. There are restaurants, kiddie playground, sports center, boating area, zipline, rock wall, function rooms, and accommodation halls.
At Batis Aramin, you'll surely enjoy the cool, relaxing waters and the lush beautiful landscape.
Read: Cooling Down in Lucban's Batis Aramin Resort
5. Go on a Food Trip
Lucban may be best known for its festival and attractions but the town is also becoming a foodie destination. This is because Lucban is also Quezon's culinary capital.
It is the home of the renowned pancit habhab and Lucban longganisa. Habhab is made from dried miki noodles and topped with meat, liver, chorizo, and sauteed vegetables served on a banana leaf. It is named from the way it is eaten - straight to the mouth with no utensils. The Lucban longganisa is known for its distinct garlic flavor with a tinge of sourness and sweetness. It is best dipped in coconut vinegar and paired with fried rice.
But Lucban is more than just these two star dishes. Be sure to check out these restaurants - Buddy's, Mustiola's, Isabelito's, and Salud, for other Lucban bites.
Budget
For this trip, we went on a DIY itinerary. Since we did not spend on accommodation, we were able to save some money. We spent approximately PHP1,503 per person for a 2D1N trip inclusive of gas and toll fees, meals at various restaurants, admission fees to attractions, and pasalubong shopping.
Note: This guide is designed based on our personal experience and we hope this is of use to Juans who plan to travel for the first time to Lucban.
Are you planning a trip to Lucban? Leave your questions below and we'll try to help out. If you find this useful, please share on social media. Thanks!
 |
| Lucban is a popular pilgrimage destination south of Luzon |
The Town
Lucban is an inland town at the northwestern border of Quezon province. It is nestled at the foot of the majestic and mysterious Mount Banahaw. It stands at an elevation of 1,500 feet above sea level. The town enjoys gentle, cool mountain breeze and experiences pleasant temperatures throughout the year. As such it is sometimes dubbed as the Summer Capital of Quezon.
 |
| Villa Elma in Lucban with views of the majestic Mount Banahaw |
How to Get There
Lucban is approximately 24 kilometers north of the province's capital, Lucena City, and 133 kilometers from Manila.
As Lucban is inland, the only option to reach it is by land transportation. From Manila, you can take a bus (JAC Liner or JAM Liner) from either Cubao or Buendia to Lucena City. Then from the Lucena Grand Terminal, you can ride a jeepney or a van to Lucban. Travel usually takes 4-5 hours.
However, driving a car is still the fastest and most efficient option to get to Lucban. From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at either Calamba or Sto. Tomas. If you take Calamba exit, you will pass through the towns of Calamba, Los Baños, Victoria, Pila, Sta. Cruz, Pagsanjan, Magdalena, Majayjay, and then to the town of Lucban. If you take Sto. Tomas exit, you will pass through the towns of Sto. Tomas, Alaminos, San Pablo, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tayabas, and then to the town of Lucban. A drive from Manila usually takes 3-4 hours.
When to Visit
Lucban is a town with significant rainfall that even during the driest months there is still some rain.
If you favor clear, rainless days with pleasant temperatures between 18 to 26 degrees Celsius, the best time to visit Lucban for general outdoor tourist activities is from January to May. However, these months coincide with summer, the Holy Week, and the Pahiyas Festival. As such, these are considered peak travel times. Hotels and Inns get fully booked and crowds going to town are at its biggest.
The wet months are June to December with chances of rain occurring in about 15 to 26 days of each month. These months are considered off-season. If you don't rely on weather conditions for an ideal trip, you can visit Lucban during these months. You'll more likely to experience a far more intimate tour of the town as you don't have to deal with swarms of people.
Where to Stay
Lucban only has few hotels and lodging facilities. As such, there might be difficulty booking accommodations especially during peak season. Usual options are Patio Rizal Hotel, Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel, and Villa Elma Bed and Breakfast.
Patio Rizal is located at the town center just across the Municipal Hall. The hotel has a total of 20 rooms with price starting at PHP2,300.00 per night. For reservations, email them at patiorizal@yahoo.com.
 |
| Patio Rizal boasts its privileged location right in the heart of Lucban |
 |
| Batis Aramin boasts the most number of rooms in Lucban |
 |
| Villa Elma boasts rooms designed after cabins in the woods |
To go around the town of Lucban and its neighboring towns, the common modes of transportation are jeepneys and tricycles. The tricycles are best taken for short trips since their license to operate is limited to short distances within the town. They are available everywhere and hailing one takes only a few minutes. They can take you to anywhere in the town proper. The jeepneys are taken for long-distance travel within Lucban and its neighboring towns.
Things to Do
1. Join and See the Pahiyas Festival
Although happening after the Holy Week, take time to revisit Lucban and see the Pahiyas Festival. Celebrated every May 15, Pahiyas is one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. It is a celebration in honor of San Isidro Labrador and thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest.
During the festival, each household tries to outdo each other in decorating their houses. Farmers showcase their produce by decorating their houses with fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Artisans decorate their houses using colorful buri hats, bags, fans, and placemats. Other residents also decorate their homes with items related to their trade. The most traditional and common decoration used, however, is the colorful kiping. These are made from ground rice flour, shaped in leaves, and colored in bright hues. They are then strung together to form all sorts of shapes and then placed outside the houses as embellishments.
2. Take a Spiritual Journey to Kamay ni Hesus
Kamay ni Hesus is the most popular Holy Week pilgrimage site in the country. In 2018's Holy Week alone, it is estimated that more than 2 million people visited the five-hectare complex.
 |
| The 50-foot statue of the resurrected Christ |
 |
| Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church |
Villa Elma is a mountain resort and another pilgrimage site in Lucban. It was originally built as a private rest house for the Elma family. After decades of secluded privacy, the property is now open to the public.
 |
| Villa Elma is another pilgrimage site in Lucban |
 |
| There's a plethora of artworks and colors found within Villa Elma |
Read: Villa Elma: A Beautiful Pilgrimage Site
4. Cool Down in Batis Aramin
Batis Aramin is a nature park resort located just across Kamay ni Hesus. The resort boasts of seven swimming pools, four of which are open to the public while three are exclusive to in-house guests. It is said that the pools are fed with natural, cold, and crystal clear water from the spring called Aramin.
 |
| Scenic views inside Batis Aramin |
 |
| This large infinity pool is one of the seven inside Batis Aramin |
Read: Cooling Down in Lucban's Batis Aramin Resort
5. Go on a Food Trip
Lucban may be best known for its festival and attractions but the town is also becoming a foodie destination. This is because Lucban is also Quezon's culinary capital.
It is the home of the renowned pancit habhab and Lucban longganisa. Habhab is made from dried miki noodles and topped with meat, liver, chorizo, and sauteed vegetables served on a banana leaf. It is named from the way it is eaten - straight to the mouth with no utensils. The Lucban longganisa is known for its distinct garlic flavor with a tinge of sourness and sweetness. It is best dipped in coconut vinegar and paired with fried rice.
 |
| Pancit Habhab |
 |
| Lucban Longganisa |
For this trip, we went on a DIY itinerary. Since we did not spend on accommodation, we were able to save some money. We spent approximately PHP1,503 per person for a 2D1N trip inclusive of gas and toll fees, meals at various restaurants, admission fees to attractions, and pasalubong shopping.
Note: This guide is designed based on our personal experience and we hope this is of use to Juans who plan to travel for the first time to Lucban.
Are you planning a trip to Lucban? Leave your questions below and we'll try to help out. If you find this useful, please share on social media. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment