Santa Rosa, Laguna is located south of Manila. It is home to the Tagalogs, who understand what progress means. Ever since Toyota and Coca-Cola set up shop in the locale, the townspeople have grown from being dependent on farming and small-business enterprises, to getting used to the fast-paced lifestyle brought about by an economic boom. It is, of course, not to be forgotten that it was Juan de Salcedo who put Sta. Rosa on the map when he discovered Laguna de Bay and Biñan in 1571. Now known as the First Class City of the Laguna Province, Santa Rosa has never been better. Apart from tourist attractions, Santa Rosa also boasts amazing hotels and staycation spots. Check out this list of awesome things to do in Santa Rosa, Philippines.
1. Ayala Malls Solenad
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Heads up! We're extending our mall hours starting tomorrow, March 1, 2022. Plan ahead and make the most of your visit. #SolenadAdvisory
Posted by Ayala Malls on Monday, February 28, 2022
Ayala Malls is a popular shopping mall chain in the Philippines and Ayala Malls Solenad is no different. This mall contains a wide variety of shops and restaurants that are sure to keep a lot of tourists occupied for hours. There is a movie theater where visitors can enjoy a nice movie.
The mall also regularly holds a sale in its various stores which is a great treat for shopaholics or those looking for something to commemorate their visit around Santa Rosa’s tourist attractions.
Ayala Malls Solenad
Address: Ayala Malls Solenad, Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Rd, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna
Website: Ayala Malls Solenad
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 8pm; Fri - Sun: 10am - 9pm
2. Nuvali Lakeside
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Kindly follow these simple Nuvali guidelines to keep Nuvali a healthy, safe, and clean community! #NuvaliPH #NuGuidelines
Posted by Nuvali on Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Nuvali describes itself as an “integrated self-supporting eco-city” composed of various residential communities. It also has a 4-hectare (9.8-acre) multi-functional lake where residents can go biking and jogging. This Instagrammable place in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, also serves as a water reservoir, a rainwater catchment basin, and an emergency water supply in case of a fire.
There are a variety of restaurants located by the lake which provides for some great ambiance while enjoying a meal. There is also a taxi-boat service for those who want to enjoy a ride through the lake.
Nuvali Lakeside
Address: Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Rd, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, 4026 Laguna
Website: Nuvali Lakeside
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)
3. Experience the high life as an x-games athlete at Nuvali
Nuvali has been stellar thus far as an eco-community and they are pushing their limits. It is a massive master-planned residential area that builds its communities with commerce and recreation. Simply put, there is always something for everyone. For those who love nature, Nuvali offers running trails and off-road biking ventures, which is the best ways to enjoy the scenic views of Mount Makiling, the Tagaytay Ridge and Laguna de Bay. For sports junkies, the fields are sure to be your second home. Here, there are 3 FIFA-sized football fields, 2 sand volleyball courts, and 2 baseball fields. The widely acclaimed Republic Wakepark is also a more-than-eligible water sports facility with a huge lake. It is a popular spot for active sports athletes like runners, bikers, football players, baseball players, volleyball players, and wakeboarders.
Nuvali
Address: Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Rd, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, 4025 Laguna
Website: Nuvali
Traveler's tips
If you're bringing your little ones, make sure to take them to the pond and see the colorful species of fish in their habitat! The last time we went here, feeding the fish was allowed, and breadcrumbs were even being sold. You can check if they still do on your visit! It's a fun activity if you are with kids.
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4. Experience the adrenaline rush at the Backyard Skatepark
Backyard Skatepark is the newest addition to the growing skateboard phenomenon in the Philippines. This Santa Rosa attraction has the proper lighting, obstacles and a pool that makes the skating experience authentic. In 2015, DC presented the Global Skate Jam in this very place for the annual Go Skateboarding Day. It was an action-packed day filled with skate competitions and music jams. The skatepark is seen as the training ground for X-Gamers who will bring honor to the country. Who knows? Perhaps the the next world champion really will come from Santa Rosa.
Backyard Skatepark
Address: Barangay Tagapo, City of Sta. Rosa, Laguna 4026
Facebook: Backyard Skatepark
5. Enjoy Santa Rosa's Best Kept Secret Recipes
An adventure with friends is never complete without adventurous food trips. In Santa Rosa, there are just so many dishes and delicacies to try. It will surely be a problem to tame the tongue, so to speak. First on the craving list is Espasol, rice cake that is cooked in coconut milk that is later on dusted with coconut powder. It is chewy and gooey and simply comforting. Another famous delicacy is Kesong Puti (white cheese). It is a soft kind of cheese made from carabao’s milk and is best enjoyed with hot toast or as the creamy insert to appetizing pasta dishes, burgers and sandwiches. As a savory dish, Kinulob na Itik (deep-fried duck) is considered legendary in these parts. It is delicious in its purest sense being crispy and full of flavor. There are other dishes to try, for sure. As a matter of fact, Santa Rosa will never run out of things to feed you with. It is a matter of looking in the right place.
Tip from Trip101 local expert
Santa Rosa may not be well-known for a particular dish or delicacy, but it nonetheless makes for an exciting food crawl. For Filipino favorites, try Rose and Grace on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road for their trademark bulalo (beef marrow stew), plus other delicious well-loved dishes. Kanin Club at Paseo de Santa Rosa also serves amazing Filipino cuisine with a twist--their crispy dinuguan (pork and blood stew) and seafood kare-kare (traditionally an oxtail stew) are must-tries.
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6. Try your hand in archery at Majarlika Archery Range
Majarlika Archery Range is a sought-after alternative for recreation. Archery enthusiasts everywhere would be glad to know that this Santa Rosa attraction has everything they need here. A plus for this must-try experience are their archery workshops and classes. For seasoned archers and novices alike, the practical advice and guidance of the facilitators are gold. Majarlika Archery Range is opened everyday from 9am to 9pm.
Majarlika Archery Range
Address: Santa Rosa - Tagaytay Rd, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna
Facebook: Majarlka Archery Range
7. Get cultured at the Museo de Santa Rosa
To get into some history and art, head over to downtown Santa Rosa to get to Gusaling Museo. The venue shows the story of how Santa Rosa came to be and how important the region is to the Laguna Province. It displays various artifacts and memorabilia from World War II and from Santa Rosa-born prominent people. Gusaling Museo is open from 8am to 5pm.
Museo de Santa Rosa
Address: F. Gomez St, Santa Rosa, Luzon 4026, Philippines
8. Become a kid again at the Enchanted Kingdom
Who doesn’t like theme parks? If such a person exists, it may only mean that the child in them is long gone. So, if you need to de-stress, perk up, or simply just know how it feels to be a child again, then this is the place to be. Enchanted Kingdom opened in 1995 and within its 62-acre (25 hectare) borders, there is just too much to do and so many Santa Rosa activities in a day. This is why it is best to plan your trip before actually buying a ticket or availing their pre-selected packages. Doing this will save you time and energy and allows you to customize your theme park experience.
For the extreme thrill-seekers, it is a must-do experience to try the Air Race, Anchor’s Away, Disk-O-Magic, the Ekstreme Tower, Fun Kart, Jungle Log Jam, Rio Grande Rapids, the Space Shuttle, and of course target shooting at XPP. Water-themed attractions as well as dining and shopping venues are easily available to lessen the hype. Ticket rates for depending on height. To enjoy unlimited use of the park’s rides, tickets for children between 3 to 4 feet would entail a cost of 6 USD to 7.50 USD. For park-goers 4 feet and above, tickets range from 12 USD to 14 USD.
Enchanted Kingdom
Address: San Lorenzo Rd, Laguna, Santa Rosa, 4026 Laguna
Website: Enchanted Kingdom
Tip from Trip101 local expert
If you're looking for a good deal, tickets are always cheaper on weekdays. Plus, you can find all kinds of promos on their website and other partner sites. You can even enjoy unlimited rides for free on your birthday and get discounts for your companions!
If you are planning to visit on a weekend, though, make sure not to miss the amazing Sky Wizardry fireworks display lighting up the amusement park in the evenings.
Traveler's tips
Enchanted Kingdom is always a fantastic place to visit, especially for adrenaline junkies! There are also lots of kid-friendly stalls here, such as ring toss. However, if you are up for a more thrilling experience, you can ride the Space Shuttle, which actually goes in reverse by the end! And, of course, don't forget to try out EKstreme Tower, which is sure to exhilarate you. Everything is fun here, so make the most of it!
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9. Sta. Elena Fun Farm
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Fun Farm at Sta. Elena is back! Commune with nature, enjoy the outdoors, breathe fresh air, and have fun with the...
Posted by The Fun Farm at Sta. Elena on Friday, March 4, 2022Sta. Elena Fun Farm is the place to go if you’re after creating family bonding moments. Despite having the word “farm” in its name, Sta. Elena Fun Farm is an outdoor playground that offers a plethora of Santa Rosa activities that are sure to be a lot of fun for the whole family. There is a wide variety of playground equipment like swings, rope obstacle courses, and many more for every to enjoy.
Though the farm in its name still holds true as it also offers rides on wagons pulled by carabaos including a pasture where guests can see these animals.
Sta. Elena Fun Farm
Address: 63WM+63H, Cabuyao, Laguna
Website: Sta. Elena Fun Farm
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
Santa Rosa: everyday's a holiday
So, the next time your thrill-seeker friends are craving for adventure, be sure to book your trip in Santa Rosa. There are also a number of spots for a staycation available as well. A day is really not enough, make it a 3-Day-2-Night sort of venture to savor life and cherish the friendship all the more with daredevil feats and hearty grub.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Santa Rosa, Philippines
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.
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