Cuenca

Cuenca is a town in Batangas, on the southern coast of Taal Lake.

Understand

Cuenca formed part of nearby San Jose during the Spanish era until it was separated in 1872. It gets its name from the Spanish word for watershed.

The town's major tourist draw is Mount Maculot. Cuenca has a growing number of private resorts, mostly mid-range to splurge.

Get in

Jam and DLTB provide regular bus trips between Buendia (Pasay) or Cubao (Quezon City) and Lemery. Fares are about ₱178-196 (₱142-157 for students or seniors). You can also request stops on other spots around town, especially if you will stay in any of the resorts outside Poblacion (downtown).

There is regular jeepney service between Lipa and Lemery, and Cuenca is on the highway used. Among other places, the jeepneys can be found at stands in front of Robinson's in Lipa and next to SM in Lemery.

Get around

The town is small enough to be easily walkable, though it is often uncomfortably hot.

See

There is little to see in town.

Climbing Mount Maculot will give you a fine view of Taal Lake with its volcano.

Do

• Mount Maculot. A dormant stratovolcano beside Taal Lake that rises about 600-meter (2,000 ft) above the town. It is a sacred site to ancient Tagalog religion and some Christian pilgrims climb it as a penance.
  There are guided treks which take about two hours; up to 4 persons hike with a guide. Hiking Mount Maculot is suitable for beginners; the grade is not too steep, except near the summit, and there are rest stops at regular intervals. There are two trails, the Rocky Road trail and the longer Grotto Trail. At the summit, Rocky Point, are views of Batangas and Taal Lake; you can have a photo shot with Taal Lake in the background.
  Chuck Norris did three Missing in Action films, the first about rescuing American POWs still held after the Vietnam War ended, a prequel about a prison camp during the war, and the third mainly about the children some GIs sired. Norris has said he considers Missing in Action III his best movie. All were shot in the Philippines, much of them on this mountain. (updated Oct 2023)

Buy

There is one central market, the 1 Cuenca Public Market. (updated Jan 2019) at B. Laqui Street. Across the highway beside the market is a lone 7-Eleven store, the only location to buy any fast food. At the start of the Rocky Road trail is a store catering to hikers.

Outside town along the highway to Lipa, there are a number of shops. The larger ones specialize in either plants or pottery; these will be of little interest to most travellers, but those who live in the Philippines may find better prices here than in the cities.

Some of the smaller shops along the highway sell the region's barako coffee; prices are higher than in town markets. However if you are taking coffee overseas, Customs may be more ready to accept the sealed packages with nicely printed labels that you get here than the unlabelled plastic bags with twist ties from the markets.

Eat

There are numerous eateries serving local dishes, especially the famous Batangas lomi. Cuenca has no fast food chains yet, to avoid competition with eateries and restaurants.

• 1 G2B Lomi. Local restaurant specializing in lomi, a noodle dish popular with both locals and foreigners, especially hikers. Their bestseller is "overload lomi", which is the same lomi dish with lots of toppings, and good for 4. (updated Jan 2019)
• 2 Lomi-ko Hauz, B. Laqui Street, ☏ +63 930 298-8414. 7AM-7PM. Serves authentic lomi, favorite by hikers. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Tengoku Ramen House, National Highway (Near Cuenca Central Elementary School). Cheap ramen and unique fusion dishes in town. (updated Dec 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Camp Pulong Gubat Wave Pool Resort, Brgy. Emmanuel (The road leading to the resort is rather narrow, so large groups using tour buses must walk to the resort.). Wave pool resort, with cottages and rooms for overnight stays. Entrance fee of ₱150. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Mt. Maculot View Resort. Mountainside resort at the foot of Mount Maculot. ₱2,100. (updated Dec 2018)
• 3 Tierra Mercedes Nature Resort, Geronimo Cuevas Street, ☏ +63 915 947 8245. Private resort with modest hotel rooms and outdoor swimming pool. From ₱3,130. (updated Dec 2018)
• 4 Rendezvous Resort, Labac (Southwest of Labac Elementary School), ☏ +63 927 797-2678. Quieter resort aimed at families and large groups. Entrance fee of ₱250-300, including cottage. Overnight stay includes free merienda, dinner and breakfast, movies, and campfire. ₱1,600. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

Routes through Cuenca

Lipa ← San Jose (through Pinagtung-ulan) ←

E  W

→ Alitagtag → Lemery/Taal (via )