Top Things to do in San Pablo City
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Top 10 Things to do in San Pablo City, Philippines
Discover the best top things to do in San Pablo City, Philippines including Lake Pandin, Lakes Pandin, Sampaloc Lake, Bato Springs, Rizal Re-Creation Center, Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral, Lake Yambo, Lake Palakpakin, Lake Calibato, Lake Bunot.
Restaurants in San Pablo City
1. Lake Pandin
Overall Ratings
4 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By pinoyfamily - Lucena City
There is a raft with lunch activity here, make an inquiry or booking thru Ms Tina 09079952983.Ride with lunch is P360, consisting of steamed rice, broiled tilapia fish, river shrimps cooked in coconut milk, pako or fern salad with salted eggs on top, banana and bottled water. You can add pork barbeque in the menu for additional P40 per person. Before reaching the place, you need to hike for about 15 mins, the initial trail is shaded, the next is not, so better be ready with hats or umbrellas. Wear comfortable footwear. A young guide will lead you to the location. Guides are young students, 11 years old and above. They wear Lake Pandin Tour ID and are trained. Mine is a 12 year old highschool freshman, respectful and he can answer my queries about the place. They are not salaried guides, it's up to you how much you want to give. The bamboo raft can sit a maximum of 14 people, lifevests available in your 2 hour rafting. Your raft guides are courteous, you can have your lunch anytime in the raft. We took our spot near the grotto whre fresh, cool mountain water flows. The deepest part of the lake is 180 ft, you can swim near your raft. The water is so clean. You can order fresh buco or halo halo before you ride if you feel so hot. But once you start moving, you will forget how tired you get from walking just to reach the place. Beautiful place, a must-see!
2. Lakes Pandin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By cedangeles - Washington, DC
Four of us had a lovely trip to Lake Pandin in San Pablo, Laguna. We left early to avoid heavy traffic. The lake is difficult to find so when you ask for directions from the locals, make sure you ask for baranggay Santo Angel or simply "ilog". It is a 15-minute walk to the lake from the makeshift parking lot. A little girl serves as guide to the village where the rafts are. Make sure you have PHP50 for the parking fee and a little more to tip the little guide.
Our delicious lunch on the raft consisted of grilled bangus (milkfish), rice wrapped in banana leaves, tiny shrimps cooked in coconut milk, fern salad with salted egg, and bananas. The Filipino dessert called "halo-halo" is also available if requested.
It was so peaceful and breezy on the lake that one could easily nod off. Tina Abrego, the President of the cooperative that operates the tours to the seven lakes, and Ruel Tolentino manned the raft. Once you get to the other side of the lake, there is a short hike to the top to see Lake Yambo, the twin of Lake Pandin.
The water was clear and cool but we did not swim. Just sitting there and admiring the beautiful surroundings was pleasant enough. On the way back home, we took the long route along Laguna de Bay which was more scenic and had less traffic. Our short stay on the lake was a lovely treat on a warm, sunny day.
To book the tour, call Tina at 09079952983. You can make special requests for lunch.
3. Sampaloc Lake
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By dallydd - Manila, Philippines
Stayed at a hotel across the lake and walked down to the lake's edge. It was nice (and very windy!!!) hanging out by the side of the lake, people watching. There are cement benches and a small road where people walk and bike.
4. Bato Springs
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By Cindy O - Binan City, Philippines
Day tour is from 8am to 5pm. Entrace fee is 70 for weekdays and 80 pesos for weekends. Amidst the lush landscape of Bato Springs are pools that aren’t your usual tile-lined vats of chloroform–the walls are made of stone and the floors of cement, allowing them to blend into the surroundings as if they were natural Springs.
5. Rizal Re-Creation Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By yokohamamama - Manila
RRC is a Christian campsite for churches, schools, and anyone who is looking for a nice place to rest and recuperate or have a high school retreat as we did. It's only a little over two hours of travel time from the Sucat entrance of SLEX. The place is well maintained and very clean. You have a choice of their air conditioned rooms that sleeps 5 and has a private bathroom with hot water or their non-air condition dorm type facilities. They also have air conditioned rooms for two with a private bathroom. We love coming to RRC whether on a church retreat or for a family vacation. The buffet style dining will not disappoint! Their home made breads are delicious and you can order some to take home. Every meal is something to look forward to.
6. Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Malou B - Quezon City
This is a Holy Door of Mercy for Pilgrims in this Year of Mercy for Catholics. The church was full on a Friday in the afternoon for the Holy Hour attesting to the local people's religious devotion. The church has a romanesque architecture and was restored after the damage of World War II. In, 2015 the facade of the Cathedral was restored to its original design without the concrete crown added in the American Period. San Pablo City is also known for its lakes so after visiting the church, one can visit the many lakes in the area. One is located near the City Hall.
7. Lake Yambo
Overall Ratings
3 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By batgurls - metro manila
Our visit to the twin lakes - Pandin & Yambo was June 2014. To be able to access the 5minute uphill trail leeading to Lake Yambo, you cross Lake Pandin. The rough pathway is near the grotto. A lone local guide will meet & lead you up the trail. BTW, we went by batches because the clearing on top of the hill is rather small & no one is allowed to go beyond / astray from the path. From there, you can get a good vantage point of the blue sky, the blue lake and the green pasture that surrounded the small local village across. Lake Yambo is said to be the shallowest of the 7 lakes and not open to the public, thus, its cleanliness & serenity has been preserved.
8. Lake Palakpakin
Overall Ratings
3 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Rayme_525 - San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines
San Pablo has seven lakes, geologists say there are nine but two are but empty craters. Palakpakin (or Palaqpaquin, in the original Spanish spelling) is second largest after Sampalok lake. It has fishponds and all that so it is a struggle to get a good view. Best seen when jogging or walking. Along the way not many vantage points to see the lake in its entirety. The neighborhood is friendly enough to allow you to take a peek from various places along the lake though.
9. Lake Calibato
Overall Ratings
3 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Jhovs - Calabarzon Region, Philippines
At the end of the trek you will find this relaxing view, you can take a rest underneath one of the big Talisay trees that surround this lake and breath in the mountain breeze from across the lake
10. Lake Bunot
Overall Ratings
2.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Rayme_525 - San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines
San Pablo City has 7 lakes. Geologists actually count 9 but two are dried up craters. Three are so close to the city proper--Sampalok, Bunot and Palaqpauin. Bunot is the smallest (cutest) but there is no way to see it. Residents crowd around the banks as if it were their own--they are settlers here, not legal rights to the lake shore but they choose to stay there are selfishly grab, and pollute this wonderful gem. I do have a story about the lake from 60 years ago as narrated by my father in law, when before the houses and the settlers, it was shrimp and mudfish that lived in the lake and you could just scoop them out if you chose to. None of that now. To get a view you need to skirt in and out of a narrow path of houses. But look at my photos, Bunot Lake is still so beautiful if it were not for the darn settlers!
