Located in Rizal Province, this hilltop city has panoramic views of Manila's skyline. Known for its cashew nuts, religious art, and the 17th-century Antipolo Cathedral.
Antipolo sits 19 kilometers east of Manila in Rizal Province, giving you clear views of the capital’s skyline from its hills. The city centers around Antipolo Cathedral, home to a 17th-century wooden statue of the Virgin Mary brought from Mexico. You can hike forest trails at Mount Purro Nature Reserve, swim below the 21-meter Hinulugang Taktak waterfall, or see modern art installations at Pinto Art Museum. Roadside vendors near the cathedral sell sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves, often paired with mangoes. With temperatures averaging 27°C and easy access to Manila, the city works well for day trips or extended stays.
Visiting Religious Sites
Antipolo Cathedral, formally called the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, draws Catholic pilgrims throughout the year. Many come to see the dark wooden Virgin statue, which sailors once carried on galleons between Manila and Acapulco. On the nights before Good Friday and May 1, you can join processions that start in Manila and end at the cathedral. The partially restored Boso Boso Church, built in the late 1700s, displays Romanesque arches and faded religious paintings on its walls. Nearby, Nelly’s Mystical Cave reveals limestone shapes that locals interpret as saints or angels, maintained by the same family for over 50 years.
Waterfalls and Hiking Trails
Hinulugang Taktak reopened in 2015 with upgraded walkways and a viewing deck after years of environmental cleanup. At Mount Purro Nature Reserve, you can follow trails through tropical trees, swim in natural pools along the river, or stay overnight in bamboo huts. PACEM Eco Park organizes tree-planting sessions and teaches visitors about rehabilitating damaged forests. Guided hikes from Barangay Calawis take you through mossy woodlands where you might spot kingfishers or hear wild frogs.
Art Galleries and Workshops
Pinto Art Museum spreads across six whitewashed galleries surrounded by gardens filled with sculptures and native plants. Antipolo Beehouse includes an art studio where painters work on large canvases. The Burrow Café here sits at the bottom of a steep staircase designed to look like an underground tunnel. Crescent Moon Cafe serves spicy beef stew and coconut-based desserts on plates made by local potters. In Sitio Hinapao, monthly workshops teach skills like creating natural insect repellent or composting kitchen scraps.
Where to Eat
Roadside stalls near the cathedral sell suman—glutinous rice cakes—with toppings like caramelized coconut shreds or sliced mangoes. Bistro Pop-Up Cafe at Leblanc Hotel prepares heavy breakfast plates with smoked pork belly and hollandaise sauce, accompanied by acoustic guitar performances on Saturdays. Yellow Lantern Cafe’s terrace overlooks the city and serves noodle dishes like spicy miso ramen or peanut-sauce pasta. Around Robinsons Antipolo mall, small restaurants dish out pork sinigang soup and crispy fried pork belly at lower prices than Manila eateries.
Housing and Transportation
Neighborhoods like Dela Paz and San Jose have hospitals, grocery stores, and shopping centers such as Vista Mall. Morning and evening traffic often slows cars on Sumulong Highway, stretching the 40-kilometer drive to Makati to over an hour during rush periods. Gated communities in Beverly Hills and Valley Golf areas have 24-hour guards and houses surrounded by trees. A one-bedroom apartment typically costs between PHP 8,000 and PHP 15,000 monthly, depending on how close it is to shops and offices. Jeepneys and shared vans run regularly to Cubao, Pasig, and Mandaluyong until 9 PM.
Weather and Festivals
Temperatures stay slightly cooler here than in Manila due to the city’s elevation, rarely exceeding 32°C even in summer. Heavy rains usually arrive in June, with thunderstorms occurring weekly until October. January brings the e-BOSS event at city hall, where entrepreneurs can apply for business licenses online in a single day. Every August, companies from nearby provinces set up recruitment booths outside Antipolo City Hall to hire factory workers and office staff.
