Villa Escudero is an ideal tourist destination both for local and foreign travelers who are seeking for a quick getaway due to its propinquity from Metro Manila. It is situated on the boundary of San Pablo City, Laguna and Tiaong, Quezon and approximately 90 kilometers and 2.5 hours drive from the Philippine capital.
I have seen many wonderful photos of Villa Escudero from the web and social media sites which overly induced my desire to finally proceed with our day tour in this popular resort over the weekend.
We started our Sunday early for a short road trip from our place in Imus City, Cavite to Tiaong, Quezon. We traversed the South Luzon Expressway from MCX (Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway) to Sto. Tomas exit. Then continued for about 30 kilometers more to Quezon Province’s welcome arch via Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26) and turned left onto the Villa Escudero Access Road which is the first road on left after the arch.
Toll Fees (One Way):
MCX to Calamba Toll Plaza – 97 pesos (USD 2)
Calamba Toll Plaza to Sto. Tomas Exit – 25 pesos (USD 0.5)
The resort is open for day tour from 8:00am to 5:00pm and we were there at about 10:00am which I think is a perfect timing. It is advisable to do an early reservation online from their website as this place might be blocked or fully booked for an event, though they accept walk-in guests but only for small groups. The day tour fee is inclusive of lunch buffet, carabao-drawn cart ride, access to the museum, swimming pool, unlimited bamboo rafting and free cultural show (weekends only).
Day Tour Rates:
Adult – Weekday 1,250 pesos (USD 25) / Weekend 1,400 pesos (USD 28)
Children 3 to 6 years old – Weekday 625 pesos (USD 13) / Weekend 700 pesos (USD 13)
Children below 3 years old – FREE
Either you reserved online or did walk-in booking, you need to secure your stubs from the reception counter then enjoy their complimentary welcome drink. Then you are good to go for a long fun day tour in Villa Escudero.
Museum
At first, we thought that this vibrantly looking architecture is a Church but then, we were told that it was actually a Church turned into a museum; so we are partly right. We took the chance of taking photos in its pristine surrounding before heading inside. There is a counter at the entrance where you can keep your belongings but you will be asked not to leave your gadgets and wallets. Photo taking inside the museum is strictly prohibited, so we enjoyed all the bits and pieces that it offers with our bare eyes.
This museum was. opened to the public in 1981. It lodges one of the country’s largest private collections of world antiquities which the family Escudero acquired during their travels around the Philippines and also overseas. The rich collection includes religious artifacts, antique furniture, porcelains, ethnic and tribal garments, World War II relics, clothes worn by the past Philippine presidents, preserved animal remains and many other interesting ancient pieces. The staff working inside the museum were also very diligent in explaining the history and origin of every important item.
Carabao Cart Ride
After the walk through in the museum, we proceeded to the loading area of the Carabao Cart Ride. Carabao is a domestic water buffalo and considered as the national animal in the Philippines. Here in Villa Escudero, all carabaos are named. Ligaya brought us in while Madonna sent us out later. They only use female carabaos to transport people in and out of the resort as we were told that the male carabaos tend to fight along the way.
Buffet Lunch at the Waterfall Restaurant
It is one of the highlights and maybe the top reason why travelers opt to visit Villa Escudero. This extraordinary lunch experience by the man-made waterfalls is also the main reason why we also traveled all the way here in Quezon.
Lunch buffet is open from 11:00am until 2:00pm and we were there early to avoid the crowd. The buffet offers traditional Filipino dishes and desserts. You can eat your food in ‘kamayan’ style (using your hands) while soaking your feet in the shallow running water.
You may also plunge into the waterfalls if you wish but I was too busy looking after our Little One while she enjoys the plummeting water.
Swimming Pool
The entire family can do more bonding in their newly opened swimming pools. They have a pool for the children with 5 water slides, an infinity pool overlooking the Labasin Lake and an exclusive adult pool with 4 hot tubs located on the upper ground for 18 years old and above only. Proper swimming attire is a must to utilize these swimming pools. Children who are not potty trained must wear a swim diaper which you may also buy from the store inside for 80 pesos (USD 1.6). They also have a clean shower and changing room located conveniently in the area. You can also rent a locker for 50 pesos (USD 1) to keep your stuffs.
Philippine Experience Show
The Filipino cultural legacy comes to life in the Philippine Experience Show which happens every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on holidays. The show is a collaboration of various dance performances representing the culture and traditions of different provinces and ethnic groups in the the Philippines. I can say that this is similar to our crew show in the ship, as it showcases the talent of their very own staff working in the kitchen, restaurants, maintenance, housekeeping and others. It is really a must see show especially if you want to know more about the Philippines.
Bamboo Rafting
I am really excited to try it from the moment that we arrived there but I saved it for the finale of our day tour. This is probably the best thing to do to conclude your visit in Villa Escudero. The only sad part was, I did it all by myself as my pregnant wife and little one are not safe to come aboard with me. I paddled around Lake Labasin while enjoying the view of lush surrounding and nature.
If One Whole Day Is Not Enough
If you are planning to stay overnight or longer, they actually have variety of accommodation options that will suit your needs according to your budget. Well for us, a day tour is adequate but we will surely be back in Villa Escudero probably with our relatives and friends. I am not paid to write this post but we are really happy and satisfied with our experience. If you opt to stay or book a hotel near Villa Escudero, it would be pleasurable as well.
79 Comments
Agness of eTramping
April 9, 2017 at 8:46 PMAmazing villa, it seems so magical!
Faith Coates
December 23, 2016 at 10:11 PMso beautiful cannot wait to get there and experience for myself
The Oryx Land Blogger-Sahar
December 18, 2016 at 10:48 PMThis place is just wow! That waterfall restaurant is the place I wish to be. Such a beautiful view to eat! Your family looks so happy and I qm sure you a fabulous time!
pat@alldayieat
December 18, 2016 at 8:01 AMpretty photos, makes me want to visit!!!
anceantovska
December 18, 2016 at 7:22 AMWOW! I am in love with this place! Beautiful pictures, great food……Fantastic
Jhumki Nag
December 18, 2016 at 7:02 AMThe buffet lunch on base of the waterfall and the bamboo rafting were pretty exotic. super cute pics and has a lot of information to help in travel planning. Will sure plan some time!!
Isaly Holland
December 17, 2016 at 8:19 AMIt looks like you guys had an amazing time! What a beautiful family and photos. I felt like I was there with you. Loved this post!
xoxo
Isaly Holland
http://www.memoriesbyisaly.com
durhamslovelifetravel
December 17, 2016 at 5:39 AMReally nice post, I love the waterfall cafe, it would be a little wet but very unique experience. Also love pink buildings
infocultureweddingca
December 17, 2016 at 3:52 AMOh my goodness this looks like an amazing family trip. Wishing to do very soon!
Female Traveler✈️ (@hrakaridi)
December 16, 2016 at 8:31 PMwow i really enjoyed this post!! i love your photos and this sweet little girl!! Your family looks great! Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Parenting After Dark
December 16, 2016 at 7:40 PM#vacation goals. This is going on the bucket list.
Belle
December 5, 2016 at 11:50 PMThe photos are beautiful! I grew up in the Philippines but haven’t been here. I hope to visit someday!
One Awesome Momma
Leticia
December 4, 2016 at 2:13 AMThis was so lovely to read, thank you for sharing! Looks like you had an amazing time as it looks like such a pretty place and your photos are so good ☺️ I’d love to visit it
dwellboxes
December 4, 2016 at 1:03 AMWhat an adorable little one!
Jan Michael de Guzman
December 8, 2016 at 9:20 AMThank you 🙂
Daisy Huntington- DaisLikeThese
November 30, 2016 at 10:47 PMThis looks like an amazing trip, you and your family look so happy!
I totally love the look of the waterfall restaurant and I know my kids would love the kids pool!!
Jan Michael de Guzman
December 1, 2016 at 4:42 PMThank you.
Sydney Fashion Hunter
November 30, 2016 at 6:04 AMThere is so much to live here! It’s great that it’s so close to Manila. The buffet lunch and the waterfall look fantastic! Looks like a perfect place for a family outing.
Jan Michael de Guzman
December 1, 2016 at 4:43 PMYeah it is. Thank you.
valisesetgourmandises
November 30, 2016 at 1:11 AMAside from the buffalo cart ride (I don’t support animal attractions), it looks like such an interesting destination! Your daughter is adorable!!
Jan Michael de Guzman
December 1, 2016 at 4:44 PMThank you. 🙂
MakeTime2SeeTheWorld (@VickiLouise86)
November 29, 2016 at 4:50 PMHow lucky were you guys to have that amazing pool to yourself! Looks like you had a great time – and I love the bright pink converted church!
Daisy Huntington- DaisLikeThese
November 29, 2016 at 3:53 AMWow! This place looks amazing and you look like you had such fun with your family.
I love the look of the waterfall reataurant and my kids would be delighted with that kids pool.
Sherri
November 29, 2016 at 3:00 AMI LOVE that pink museum! I’d love to visit in the future. The waterfall restaurant is so unique, I’ve never heard of it before but would love to experience it. The sound of the rushing water would be nice. 🙂 The pools and tours look fantastic, too! New for my bucket list!!
Migrating Miss
November 28, 2016 at 11:25 PMThere’s so much to do there! It looks like a really great place to visit. I can’t wait to go to the Philippines some day. I have a feeling I’ll have to stay for awhile…
Ticker Eats The World
November 28, 2016 at 10:58 PMWhat a wonderful way to spend the day and perfect to do it with the family. The waterfall restaurant looks amazing and so does the infinity pool and the villa itself is quite eye catching with the pink colour. Thanks for telling because often we visit SEAsia and stick to the main cities not venturing out to the other beautiful spots they have to offer.
TravelingMel
November 28, 2016 at 10:57 PMWow! This looks like such a cool place. My kids would get a kick out of eating below the waterfall and the pool. The food looks delicious.
Abigail
November 28, 2016 at 10:11 PMWhat a beautiful place to explore and I love that there are plenty of activities. That waterfall restaurant is interesting though. I would love to try that someday!
Sarah Kim, Tales From a Fork
November 27, 2016 at 12:15 AMThat pink house is so cute! I’d love to say someplace this picturesque. Thanks for breaking down the rates. Makes it much easier to think about further.
Paige Wunder
November 25, 2016 at 12:20 PMWhat a gorgeous stop! I love the bright pink paint on the buildings! I love the Philippines and am planning to go back next year – this will have to be a consideration for a stop! Bamboo rafting looks like a lot of fun and the food looks absolutely delicious!
shobha42016
November 25, 2016 at 4:27 AMwow! there’s a lot to do – I’d love to try the bamboo rafting and my kids would be all over that waterpark. The buildings are definitely very vibrantly coloured.
Susanna Kelly
November 24, 2016 at 3:58 PMYour family looked like they had so much fun! They have awesome features here, like the waterfall restaurant. Personally, I would like to do the bamboo rafting. I’ll have to keep this in mind if I ever travel there!
Jan Michael de Guzman
November 24, 2016 at 10:03 PMThank you. Hope that you could also experience it soon. 🙂
Kerri
November 24, 2016 at 3:04 PMAll looks pretty amazing, and such a beautiful location but I think the bamboo rafting is the activity I would love the best. Have heard so much about the Philippines lately!
Jan Michael de Guzman
November 24, 2016 at 10:04 PMPlease do come to the Philippines and you will surely enjoy
Sally E
November 24, 2016 at 1:19 PMOMG this is where the waterfall restaurant is! The secret has been revealed! I am definitely adding it to my list – sounds like you had a great time!
Jan Michael de Guzman
November 24, 2016 at 10:05 PMHave you heard about it before? Hope you could come soon
carmyy
November 24, 2016 at 1:05 PMThat pink building!! It is so eye catching! I think I’d visit there just for the building itself haha. I also love the look of the swimming pool. It’s quite pretty 🙂
ilive4travel
November 24, 2016 at 4:23 AMThis looks like a beautiful place to visit and so much to do. The philippines is at the top of my list to visit, hopefully I can get there next year so I will add this place to the list 🙂
Jen Morrow
November 24, 2016 at 3:00 AMThat is an action packed day! The cart ride and museum llok interesting, then a refreshing swim in the pool! Nice way to experience the villa.
Nisha
November 24, 2016 at 2:57 AMGreat to see you guys enjoyed the place so much. We had the option of going there , but many people said that it is just water fall and restaurant and so we decided not go . Now I can see we have missed so much. The pink Spanish house is just beautiful and looks very similar to the Molo house which we saw in Iloilo.
jiselle
November 24, 2016 at 12:53 AMI would love to visit it looks so nice, especially the waterfall dining!
Cai Dominguez
November 23, 2016 at 9:56 PMHonesty, I never thought that there are so much things to do here. I only know the waterfalls restaurant And surprisingly, there’s more! Museum, Bamboo rafting and pool. Wow! I hope to visit this place too!
Sally Cochrane
November 23, 2016 at 5:57 PMI’ve always wanted to visit the waterfall restaurant but there looks like there is a lot more to do than just that at Villa Escudero. Next time I am in the Philippines I will have to make the trip!
gelyka
November 22, 2016 at 4:29 PMMy family is from San Pablo, Laguna. But honestly, we haven’t been here in Villa Escudero. Your pictures, as well as you baby girl’s smiles are priceless and it looked like you really had an amazing family time. What we usually visit are the seven lakes. Hope you also have time to visit them. 🙂
Wandering JM
November 22, 2016 at 11:05 PMWe have thought of going there as well but it is quite difficult to go around without a help someone else to take care our LO. Will be back there for sure to see all the 7 lakes. Thanks.
Trisha Velarmino
November 22, 2016 at 3:44 PMHappy to see that your family enjoy this trip. With all these activities that you did vs the fee that you paid. I could say that this place is really value for money.
Villa Escudero is not just about waterfall restaurant. Glad that there are more fun things to do which, obviously your baby really enjoyed. Indeed, a nice and relaxing place which is highly recommended for the family.
Wandering JM
November 22, 2016 at 11:06 PMYes absolutely and my LO was able to enjoy all of those for free. Really a great trip without spending much.
Rashmi and Chalukya
November 22, 2016 at 1:07 PMPlaces like Villa Escudero are most sort after for a get away from the bustling city life. The cart ride would be fun for kids and the buffet lunch at waterfall restaurant sounds like a unique experience.
Indrani
November 22, 2016 at 11:17 AMThe facade is stunningly beautiful! A very luxurious setup.
Perfect setting for the restaurant.
Neha
November 22, 2016 at 9:09 AMLovely place. And such a tasty and colorful food platter. You had a wonderful time in all the different water bodies..isn’t it?
Wandering JM
November 22, 2016 at 11:29 AMYes we did. I just realized that there are 3 bodies of water there and we all loved it!
Zwitsy
November 22, 2016 at 4:57 AMI thought it’s just a simple day tour but lo and behold, it’s more than that! day tour rates include the lunch buffet and usage of pool and other amenities, is that correct?
Marge Gavan
November 22, 2016 at 4:03 AMThat musuem reminds me of the pink church that I saw in Vietnam. Didn’t know we have one here too, though in this case of course, it’s no longer a church. But the reason why I want to visit Villa Escuedero is of course to eat in the restaurant by the waterfall. How was the food by the way?
Wandering JM
November 22, 2016 at 11:09 PMWell to be honest I did not eat much since i was too busy with our child. But according to my wife, the food is yummy and I saw her in the buffet line for several times.
MakeTime2SeeTheWorld (@VickiLouise86)
November 21, 2016 at 7:03 PMAmazing photographs! And there looks like so much to do there – a great little spot to get away from the crazyness of Manila!
Wandering JM
November 21, 2016 at 10:04 PMThanks. It is a great place to visit near Manila.
A .J.A
November 21, 2016 at 3:31 AMWhat a beautiful pictures! The place just calling for me :). And the food…yummy.
Sana Sadiq
November 21, 2016 at 2:09 AMWhat a beautiful view and amazing pictures <3 water fall restaurant looks amazing x
mohitarts
November 20, 2016 at 5:36 PMSuch an amazing spot and specially that ride in the river..
The Oryx Land Blogger-Sahar
November 20, 2016 at 11:52 AMLooks like a beautiful place to spend holidays! The waterfall restaurant is Ah-mazing! Loveeee it!
Wandering JM
November 20, 2016 at 12:35 PMThank you 🙂
erica
November 20, 2016 at 11:36 AMWonderful place. Love that uve covered everything. This is a really helpful post. Your photos are amazing. What season do u recommend me and my family go there?
Vyjay Rao
November 19, 2016 at 8:22 PMThe Villa looks charming and I liked the waterfall restaurant the best, sounds like a fun experience eat out there with the spray of the water around you.
Wandering JM
November 19, 2016 at 10:13 PMYes. The experience was really great. Thanks
nadine cathleen (@karateandcaviar)
November 19, 2016 at 8:22 PMThe photos look so lovely and your little one is so adorable 🙂 Can’t wait to go on holiday again to this sort of destination 🙂
Nadine Cathleen | Karateandcaviar.com
Wandering JM
November 19, 2016 at 10:12 PMThank you 🙂 Appreciate your comments.
Jenni Petrey
November 19, 2016 at 7:30 PMLooks like you all had a great day
emmaeatsandexplores
November 19, 2016 at 7:00 PMWow it seems like there’s so much to do there! I love all the vibrant pinks of the buildings and that restaurant at the foot of the waterfall looks fun! All the food looks absolutely delicious!
Pospi O Otuson
November 19, 2016 at 5:24 AMlove to visit places like this. Its much fun. I enjoyed your photos. Thanks for sharing
Shubhangi Rane
November 19, 2016 at 3:13 AMNo doubt you are promoting Philippines wonderfully, pictures are at its best.
Wandering JM
November 19, 2016 at 8:40 AMThank you
durhamslovelifetravel
November 18, 2016 at 10:28 PMReally nice photos and thank you, I have seen that waterfull cafe somewhere on line and Now I know where it is!! 🙂 Would love to go there and it looks lovely and so much to do!
Wandering JM
November 18, 2016 at 10:55 PMThat you. Hope you can visit there someday
mrthprd
November 18, 2016 at 7:23 PMWow love it
Wandering JM
November 18, 2016 at 7:35 PMThanks
Marc and Ann
November 18, 2016 at 11:52 AMBeautiful and fun!
plaidshirtdiaries
November 17, 2016 at 3:43 PMI really enjoyed this post! It looks like your family was lucky enough to have to pools to yourselves – How awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Wandering JM
November 17, 2016 at 4:15 PMYes we were so lucky that there were not much people even it was a Sunday. Thanks