Epic Luzon Road Trip - 10 Most Scenic Routes to Take | Philippines Travel & Backpacking Ideas

10 Scenic Routes to Take For an Epic Luzon Road Trip - Best Road Trip Destinations from Manila The Best Roadtrips in Luzon You Need to Take This Year by Motorcycle. Exploring Luzon by Road—The Ultimate Road Trip Guide in Luzon - 10 PHILIPPINE ROAD TRIP DESTINATIONS: From Manila. Road trips should be about the journey. When you live in Metro Manila—where an "enjoyable car ride" is only a concept, and a wild one at that—it’s easy to forget how great long drives can be. https://www.esquiremag.ph/life/travel/luzon-road-tri-a2364-20190922-src-spot-lfrm2?ref=site_search The next time you’re itching to get out of the Metro, why not forget about the destination and focus on the journey? From scenic and leisurely back roads to thrilling and twisting highways, here are 10 routes you can take for your next road trip. 1. Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway While we wouldn’t want to take away from the North Luzon Expressway and its peaceful views of the vast plains of Central Luzon, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) has more than its fair share of charm. We’re sure you’ve traversed this road countless times to get to Baguio City or La Union, but trust us, heading the other direction towards Olongapo City is a blessing, too. 2. Patapat Viaduct One of the most photographed roads on this list, the Patapat Viaduct is a scenic bridge that hugs the coast of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Snaking lazily along the shore, the viaduct stands at an impressive 31 meters above the sand as it stretches for 1.3 kilometers—which makes it the Philippines’ fifth longest bridge. If you ever find yourself way up north (we’re talking the very tip of Luzon here), then don’t miss the chance to take a lazy drive through this coastal bridge and soak in the sunlit views of Pasaleng Bay. 3. Jamboree Road Your elders might remember this road as nothing more than a muddy track they took to get to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Camp in Mt. Makiling back when they were kids; but why not take a trip down memory lane and cruise along the now fully paved Jamboree Road? Drive through Mt. Makiling’s rich forests, with lots of roadside fruit stands if you’re in need of a snack (you might even chance upon a hybrid fruit that the folks over at the University of the Philippines campus in Los Baños cooked up). 4. Magat Dam Tourism Complex One of the largest dams in the Philippines, Magat Dam is located at the river basin and can be viewed from an unnamed road within its complex. Enter through a junction that stems from the Burgos-General Aguinaldo Road and soak in the sights as you drive along the road—bordered by the Magat River on one side and the vast reservoir on the other. 5. Lobo-Malabrigo-Laiya Road This route is famous among bikers thanks to its winding and sloping route that traces the coast of Batangas—and the fact that some of it is still just a dirt track is a huge plus for thrill-seekers. While most of the 48-kilometer stretch has already been paved (thanks in part to a boost in popular beach resorts), some less-traveled parts of it snake humbly along the coast, sometimes almost kissing the seashore. 6. Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road If you’re out for a smooth day ride, then cruise on this road to the Caliraya Dam in Lumban, Laguna. A chill, winding drive uphill will lead you to Caliraya Lake. This eight-kilometer body of water is actually the reservoir of the dam—which means that, yup, this is a man-made lake. 7. Halsema Highway This one’s not for the faint of heart. This 150 kilometer-long highway stretches from Baguio to Bontoc, tracing a thrilling path through the highest peaks of the mountain province. 8. Manila East Road For a scenic drive—with lots of pit stops for food and shopping—take the south route down to Pililla, Rizal. The smooth asphalt will take you through lively towns and past the popular Pililla Windmill Farm. 9. Dalton Pass If you’re into history and challenging mountain roads, Dalton Pass is a must. This route was once the main passageway connecting Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija and was the site of the bloody Battle of Balete Pass during World War II. American and Filipino troops battled it out with Japanese forces over this strategic location, leading to the death of American General James Dalton. 10. Ternate-Nasugbu Highway Another biker’s favorite, Ternate-Nasugbu winds along the coast of Nasugbu Bay, Batangas, to Ternate, Cavite.