Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort in Tiaong Quezon is one of the places that I wanted to visit during the summer. However, I always thought the place was too far from ours, so I traded it for Tagaytay. On my birthday last April 1, I decided to take a break and proceed with my plan of visiting the famous Resort. Contrary to what I thought, Villa Escudero is just two hours’ drive away from our place in Bacoor, Cavite. It is right off the boundary of Quezon and Laguna Province.
Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort is a famous tourist destination and a favorite weekend trip is two hours drive away from Manila, depending on the traffic situation. It is a self-contained working coconut plantation founded in 1880 by Don Placido and his wife, Doña Claudia Marasigan. Originally a sugarcane plantation but was converted to a coconut plantation by their son, Don Arsenio Escudero, in the early 1900s. He built the country’s first hydroelectric power plant for the coconut plantation and the villa.
In 1981 when they first opened the estate to the public, It became the favorite weekend getaway of tourists from Manila. Today, the resort is a prime tourist destination for locals, OFWs, and foreign travelers. It is also a prime location for a wedding venue.
Day Tour Guide:
Day Tour Price: Weekend P 1,600 per head
Arrival: 9 AM
Upon arrival, we proceeded to the counter to fill out a contact tracing form, checked our body temperature then paid for the tickets for the tour and activities.
The following are typical routes:
Walkthrough the Pink Chapel Museum– We visited first the Escudero private museum because it is near the entrance. The museum is one of the biggest in the country, which houses the owner’s collections from their local and foreign travels starting from 1923. It features religious artifacts, Chinese porcelain, Antique pieces of furniture, Ethnic clothing, and dried butterfly collections. According to the museum staff, It is a replica of the San Francisco Church in the walled city of Intramuros (the church is no longer in the vicinity since it fell during World War II). Taking photos inside the museum is strictly prohibited. Museum visitors must leave the bags and cameras to the guards before entering the museum.
Carabao Cart Ride – After the museum tour, we rode the four-wheeled carriage pulled by the carabao going to the resort area. And while onboard, folk singers serenaded us with live music. this experience transported us to the old times when our great-grandparents used to live.
Paddle a Bamboo Raft at the Labasin Lake – Bamboo rafting is another amenity included in the day tour. Here you can have your own pace paddling around the scenic lake with a great view of Mt. Banahaw and Mt. San Cristobal. The experience was enjoyable and exhausting at the same time.
Lunch Buffet in the Waterfalls Restaurant– The lunch buffet at the foot of the Labasin Waterfalls is the highlight of our tour. We ate lunch fiesta-style with our feet soaked under the cold water coming from the waterfalls. Having our lunch in the area is refreshing and relaxing because of the splashing sound coming from the artificial waterfalls. We opted to have early lunch at 11 AM because the restaurant gets crowded by lunchtime. You can take unlimited photos in the area. However, the resort’s official photographer takes better shots with the Villa Escudero logo. You can get printed copies of the pics at the gate for P 200 each.
An all-time Filipino favorite meal is on the buffet table. It has Pancit Bihon, Pork Caldereta, grilled Tilapia, Grilled Chicken, Salted egg with tomato, Bagoong, Steamed vegetables, Ginataang Sitaw & Kalabasa, and Tinola soup. I love the rice wrapped in banana leaves since it adds to the uniquely Filipino vibes in the restaurant. Some waiters brought fresh fruits to the table like watermelon and pineapple. The restaurant sells a variety of fruit shakes and drinks at a reasonable price.
Swim and relax with a stunning view. One of the reasons to visit the resort is the recreational facilities such as swimming pools both for adults and kids. There are three pools in the area, a kids-only pool, an infinity pool for teenagers, and an adult-only pool with four Jacuzzis on the side. Proper swimming attire is required, while the adult pool allows only 18 years old and above.
Watch Philippine Experience Show – The free cultural show started at 2 PM and took more than an hour. It featured the country’s rich culture preserved by traditional dances and music. The Villa Escudero Rondalla and folk ensembles are very entertaining. They show the country’s colonial and ethnic diversity comes to life through dancing and acting. I can see and hear oldies singing along to the kundiman music.
Villa Tour – After the cultural show, we roamed around the villa. There are a lot of beautiful spots inside to enjoy nature, relax and unwind while rediscovering Filipino Culture at the same time.
We had a great time inside the Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort. This place is highly recommendable in many ways. Overseas Filipino Workers, Balikbayans, students, grandparents, and foreign travelers will find this place entertaining and relaxing.
Address: Villa Escudero, km 91, Tiaong, Quezon
Contact Number: +63 (02) 8-523-0392, +63 (02) 8-521-0830, +63 (02) 8-523-2944, +63 917-583-7727
Side Trip: Sulyap Gallery Cafe in San Pablo City Laguna is an approximately 30-minute drive from Tiaong Quezon. It features a two-story Spanish Colonial house, restored and turned into a restaurant. It offers great-tasting Filipino dishes.
Let’s all travel safely!
God bless!
Sally