How to get there
Pagsanjan is about 100 kilometers from Manila and can be reached in around 2 hours.
From Manila, drive south through South Luzon Expressway or SLEX, and then exit at Calamba City. From the Calamba exit, turn left to Calamba, then to Crossing and turn right to the old National Highway. The stretch from Crossing best to try the alternative route. So, from the Calamba exit, turn right to Turbina and continue to drive up to Nation Gas Station, where a junction to the left leads to Bucal Bypass Road. Take the Bypass Road and drive up to the Bucal exit at the old National Highway.
Continue driving to the national road passing thru Pansol, Los Banos, Bay, Pila,
What to see, what to do
Welcoming visitors to Pagsanjan is the Another important attraction in Pagsanjan is the Catholic Church, which was originally built using bamboo and nipa in 1688. historic stone gate with three Roman arches (now called Arco Real) built in 1878-1880 during the administration of Don Manuel de Yriarte. On top of the gate are the two lions guarding the royal escutcheon of Spain.
Another important attraction is the Catholic Church, which was originally built using bamboo and nipa in 1688. A stone church replaced the original structure in 1690. In 1847, Fray Joaquin Coria built a belfry of Mexican style, but all these, including the church, were all destroyed during the Second World War. Today’s church was built over the ruins of the old church.
Fronting the church is the Municipal Hall Building, which was a Spanish tribunal court in the 1850s. Through the years, it became the site of Local Government for Natives, the the home of the local government.
Lining up the main street (now called Rizal Street) and the side streets of Mabini, F. San Juan and Crisostomo are many ancestral houses restored to their original grandeur. Some of them have been converted into restaurants, shops and beds and breakfast. On F. San Juan Street, a series of winding steps climb up to Francisco Benitez Elementary School where an American-era school building and a playground are well-preserved.
Pagsanjan’s main tourist attraction is The standard rate is P1,375 per person and this covers boat ride, life vest, helmet and raft that will take visitors to the waterfalls. Skilled boatmen take guests on a scenic boat ride to Magdapio River to reach the main falls. Upon reaching the main falls, guests transfer to a bamboo raft where they are brought beneath the falls to experience the 100-meter water-
Where to stay, where to eat
Most of the local visitors go to Pagsanjan on a day trip but for those who wish to enjoy more what this town can offer, it would be good to spend a night there. Resort hotels like La Corona, Dragon Hotel, Pagsanjan Falls Lodge, 818 Resort and Pagsanjan Rapids Hotel offer comfortable family accommodations.
For dining, there’s Calle Arco for delectable Spanish and Filipino dishes served in colonial setting. But for affordable and tasty meals, try Emin and Mila’s canteen. Their PansitUlam with steamed rice is among the favorites of travelers who are into heavy carbo-loading.
But there’s one favorite dessert that tourists always come back to whenever they pass by Pagsanjan--Taleng’s HaloHalo, which boasts of the same ingredi sold in 1933. Simply the best refreshment after shooting the rapids of Pagsanjan.