Bulacan is a municipality located 35 kilometers north from Manila. It is composed of three cities; Malolos being its provincial capital and San Jose del Monte and Meycauayan.
This municipality is known for its rich history, excellent craftsmanship, and progressive cooperatives. On top of that, it’s also home to many must-visit tourist spots.
If you plan a trip to Bulacan, you have come to the right page. In this article, we have shortlisted the top 10 tourist spots that you should not miss out on your trip.
Must-Visit Spots in Bulacan
These are the top 10 tourist spots to visit in Bulacan:
Hills & Valleys Cafe
Hills & Valleys Cafe is an excellent spot to sit back and relax in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan. This coffee shop in Bulacan offers delicious Vietnamese and Spanish lattes made by their talented baristas.
The interior is very Instagrammable. It gives off a comfortable environment that allows you to relax, making it a perfect spot to end your day of discovering the beautiful tourist spots of Bulacan.
Getting to Hills & Valleys Cafe is super easy. You can use Waze and Google maps to point you to the right directions. They also have available parking spaces for your vehicles.
Barasoain Church
One of the most iconic spots in Bulacan is the Barasoain Church. Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, this was where the first Philippine Congress in 1898 convened and the location of the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic the following year.
The draft of the Malolos Constitution was created in the Barasoain Church. This spot has so much historical significance that it was featured in the 10 pesos bill.
Aside from its history, the Barasoain Church is also a location for architecture enthusiasts. It features well-preserved Baroque architecture, which was popular during the Spanish period.
Malolos Cathedral
The Philippines is predominantly a Roman Catholic country, and its home to multiple century-old cathedrals that are rich in history and culture. One of these is the Malolos Cathedral.
Pope John Paul II declared the Malolos Cathedral as the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Prior to that, General Emilio Aguinaldo made it the presidential palace.
However, he ordered the covenant and the church to be burned as he was escaping the Americans so that they would not be able to use it. It was later rebuilt and declared as a cathedral.
Biak-na-Bato National Park
Biak-na-Bato National park is located in San Miguel, Bulacan. It is a 2,117 hectare protected area, primarily known for its historical significance as it was used as a mountain hideout by Filipino revolutionaries who fought against the Spanish forces. General Emilio Aguinaldo also established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato.
Today, Biak-na-Bato has become a favorite among hiking enthusiasts who are looking for a quick nature getaway. It features plenty of caves, rock formation and rivers. If you are planning to hike here, make sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes because the peak is quite challenging to reach.
Most hikers visiting Biak-na-Bato climb Mt. Manalmon or Mt. Gola. If you are a newbie, its highly recommended to choose Mt. Manalmon since Mt. Gola can be more challenging since it has steep trails that you have to crawl through.
Pulilan Butterfly Haven
The Pulilan Butterfly Haven is a sanctuary located in San Francisco, Pulilan. It is also the residence of the Aguirre family who were kind enough to open their doors to the public to share the beautiful butterflies in their garden.
Here, you’ll witness different varieties of butterflies and plants. You can also take a close peek at the butterfly nursery and see how they transform from worms into beautiful creatures.
To make the most of your visit, you can also go to the Bulacan Doll Museum which is a stone throw away from the butterfly sanctuary. The museum features Philippines historical events in the through 17 dioramas.
Ipo Dam View Deck
Ipo Dam is a water reservoir located 7.5 kilometers from the Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. It’s one of the major sources of water supply for Metro Manila.
At the same time, it’s surrounded by majestic mountains, giving it beautiful scenery. Because of this, the Ipo Dam View Deck was built.
Puning Cave
Puning Cave is located in Dona Remedios Trinidad. It was declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as one of the caves in the Philippines that’s critical to the ecosystem.
When you visit this spot, you pass by a rainforest which is home to deers, wild boars, different bird species, and monkeys. If you’re lucky, you might be able to see them from afar.
The paths in Punning cave can be quite narrow so it’s highly recommended to prepare the right gear for the trip. You can also bring food and eat it in cottages in the area which you can rent. If you want, you can also have the locals cook for a fee.
Reyes Strawberry Farm
The Reyes Strawberry Farm is located in a 4 hectare land in Calumpit. The farm has 30,000 strawberry plants.
This farm was built in 2013 by a self-taught strawberry farmer. Since then, it has attracted thousands of visitors from neighboring cities who want to experience eating and picking fresh strawberries.
There are different types of strawberry varieties here. Some are from Baguio, Hawaii, Australia, and California. There are also other fruits here like grapes, rambutan, and Dragon Fruit.
If you are planning to visit the Reyes Farm, it’s highly recommended that you go here in December because that’s the peak season.
Ciudad De Victoria
Ciudad de Victoria is where the massive Bulacan Arena, also known as the Philippine arena is located. This is a 14-hectare tourism zone.
Aside from the Philippine arena, what makes Ciudad de Victoria a must-visit spot is The Garden. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of beautiful flowers and plants, carefully arranged, allowing you to have a picturesque view.
There are also other picture perfect spots in Ciudad de Victoria including its iconic giant teddy bear, green jeepney, and big chess pieces. There’s even a huge peacock. This spot is truly family-friendly as it also has trampolines, a mini zoo, and a playground for your littles ones.
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is visited by millions of Catholic devotees to meditate, pray, and leave offerings. This grotto is located in San Jose del Monte just right by the Metro Manila boundary making it very accessible to those who are traveling from neighboring cities.
Upon first glance, you might be thinking that you are looking at the Rosary Basilica which is located in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Well, you are not mistaken because the design of this grotto is a tribute to that religious site.
The story of why this grotto was built in 1965 is quite interesting. Anita Guanzon was given a cancer diagnosis. She was later cured after taking a bath in the Lourdes waters in France. Because of this, the Guanzon family decided to convert their farmland into the grotto and open it to the public.
Key Takeaways
There are plenty of beautiful spots that have historical significance that you can visit in Bulacan. Take note of the tips mentioned above, to make the best out of your visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bulacan a part of Manila?
Bulacan is located north of Metro Manila with provinces of Nueva Ecija and Pampampanga bordering it.
It is part of the Greater Manila Area which is a contiguous urbanization region that include provinces that surrounds the Metropolitan Manila Area.
Is Bulacan a rich province?
Bulacan is among the richest provinces in the Philippines. In 2020, it was recorded as the top province in terms of revenue. It is also one of the top spenders in the same year.
How to get to Bulacan from Manila?
The easiest way to get to Bulacan from Manila is by private vehicle. You simply have to input your destination in Waze or Google Map and you’ll be guided to the province.
If you are planning to use public transportation, the main options you have is bus and taxi. The most affordable bus from Manila to Bulacan is via Manila Cubao. This route takes 1 hour and 4 minutes on average and the ticket price is between 70 to 120 php.
You can take a taxi if you don’t mind paying for more as the fare usually costs between 450 to 550 php. It can even be more expensive when there’s a lot of traffic. However, the trade off is that this option is faster and you’ll arrive in Bulacan in around 30 to 40 minutes.
Is Bulacan bigger than Cavite?
Cavite is bigger than Bulacan in terms of population with 3.6 million residents. Bulacan has only 3.2 million.
What language is used in Bulacan?
The people of Bulacan predominantly speak Tagalog but you’ll hear some who speak Kapampangan, especially in towns near the border of Pampanga. Alta Kabulawan, an endagered language, is also spoke by some people in some parts of San Jose del Monte, Norzagaray, San Miguel, and Dona Remedios Trinidad.
