Casa San Pablo is a good take-off point for what is getting to be San Pablo’s popular art and culture tour—or more collectively known as Viajes del Sol—which is a brainchild of designer Patis Tesoro and includes 16 establishments in Laguna and Quezon. Among Viaje Del Sol’s members include Patis Tesoro’s Cusina Salud, Pillar’s Plants and Novelties, brass sculptor Carlitos Ortega’s workshop, Collette’s bakeshop, Patio Verde, Soriano Fiber, Hacienda Escudero, and pottery artist Ugu Bigyan’s cafe and studio, and Kinabuhayan Café to name a few.

Viaje del Sol is an itinerary suggestion for those who would like to explore our area. It is not a packaged tour. At Casa San Pablo, we can assist you in scheduling your trip to the different destinations.
We can help arrange the itinerary for you. However, we do not provide transportation or tour guides. Please note that the rates quoted below are subject to change without prior notice.

CASA SAN PABLO
San Pablo City

Casa San Pablo is a country inn surrounded by Baguio-like pine trees and sprawling lawns. Avid art collector and hobby enthusiast Boots Alcantara and his wife An Mercado-Alcantara, writer and magazine editor, are the innkeepers. The inn reflects their pursuit of contemporary and eclectic junk-turned-art and literary collections.

Activities: Stay overnight or come for lunch. They accommodate workshops and seminars for groups of up to 100 people.

Directions: From Manila, after the San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway. You will see a Caltex station to the left, right before a fork in the highway. The right side of the fork heads straight to Lucena, the left leads to San Pablo city. Take the left road, this is Colago Ave. Watch for the Community Hospital on your left. Shortly after the hospital, to the right, is Kay Inay Resort. Turn into the resort gate, Casa San Pablo is inside.

For Reservations: Prior reservations must be made. Please call 0917-8126687 or visit www.casasanpablo.com

SAN PABLO-TIAONG DESTINATIONS:

CARLITO’S WORKSHOP
San Pablo City
Carlito Ortega is a sculptor who works in welded steel and brass, as well as with old hard wood. He creates figurative works in both intimate and monumental scale inspired by Philippine folk art and lore. Come and visit his artist workshop and garden.

Activities: Watch the artist at work, relax in his workshop and sip his unique blend of rice coffee.

Directions: Coming from Manila, after the San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway. Watch for the kilometer marker 88 on the right side of the road. Turn right on the road a few hundred meters after the marker. This road leads to Barrio Sta. Ana. Follow this road for 1.4 kilometers and you will see a gate to your right with the sign Carlito’s.

Rates: Entrance fee is P150.00 per head.

For Reservations: The workshop is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 5 PM. For weekday visits, please give advance notice.

Contact Information: Call Carlito at (0919) 8377755 or (049) 5620351

SAMPALOK AND PANDIN LAKES
San Pablo City
Visit two of San Pablo’s seven lakes—Sampalok and Pandin, the two most picturesque lakes. Sampalok Lake is the largest among San Pablo’s seven crater lakes. There are now 16 lovely parks along the shore all created by private groups. All the parks look out to the lake and the majesty of Mount Cristobal.
Pandin Lake is San Pablo’s best-kept little secret. Away from the main highway, this beautiful 20-hectare lake has retained much of its natural beauty.

Activities: At Sampalok Lake: Environmentalist Mandy Marino welcomes visitors to his veranda overlooking the lake. He tells the story of the lake and its rebirth. Visitors are then taken for a half-hour walk to view the parks and the mansions along the lake’s “magnificent kilometer.” At Pandin Lake: You can take a 20-minute guided hike along a winding footpath leading to the serene lake. A ride on a bamboo raft and fresh buko juice are provided.

Rates:
For Sampalok Lake Tour: P100 per person.
For Pandin Lake Tour: P180 per person.

Reservations: Prior arrangements necessary.

Contact information: Call Mandy Mariño at 0917-5016694 or Feliciano Arenda at 09299789565

SITIO DE AMOR, FARM/RESORT
Sitio de Amor is a 4.5 hectare orchard nestled between Mt San Cristobal and Mt Banahaw, traversed by the Balanga River feeding a huge lagoon meant to entice the visitor for a cool dip or simply be soothed by of the water's murmuring sound. Landscaping is an interplay of solid rocks and luxurious greenery expertly done by Igorots, the architects of our famous Ifugao terraces. In August, during the Rambutan Festival, visitors can pick and eat rambutan free and buy more to take home.

Activities: Visit for a quiet time--reading in a hammock, unhurried walks or jogging around. Also available for garden weddings, anniversaries and reunions, corporate planning, team building, educational field trips, camping

Rates: Day tour with lunch is P600/person

Directions: Take Maharlika Highway from South Superhiway heading towards Lucena. We are on your left side, 7 kilometers after San Pablo City proper and 3 kilometers before Villa Escudero. Turn left at the signage, its about 600 meters in. We are about 1.5 hours from Manila.

For reservations: Prior reservation required. Call tel no: (02) 552-7340 or cell No: 0918-927-4346.
Email: sitiodeamor@yahoo.com

UGU BIGYAN: POTTER’S GARDEN
Tiaong, Quezon
For potter Ugu Bigyan, home has always been in Tiaong, Quezon. His artist’s workshop is a cluster of quaint huts, connected by  brick paths, and surrounded by a lush garden. Ugu’s works are on display and are for sale. Lunch is served at his garden. Meals are served on his beautiful ceramic plates and bowls.

Activities: View his pottery and buy bowls, plates, chimes, even jewelry. Take pottery lessons.

Directions: From Manila, head towards Tiaong, Quezon. Drive past the Tiaong Public Market and watch for the Tiaong Elementary School. Five minutes from the school, watch for a sign pointing to Lusacan National Highschool, to your left. Turn left on the road near the sign. Follow the road and turn left on Alvarez Village. The house is the red clay house to your left.

Reservations: Reservations for lunch must be made with a minimum of five persons. Telefax (042) 5459144.

VILLA ESCUDERO
Tiaong, Quezon
Villa Escudero has preserved the lifestyle and culture of turn of the century hacienda living. See the grand mansion of the   Escudero family, the nipa cottages perched around the Labasin Lake, and the amazing collection of Philippine history and culture  kept in their family museum. Dining at Villa Escudero is unforgettable. Lunch is served by the waterfalls of the old hydro-electric  plant. Guests enjoy their meal while their feet are soak in running water from the falls. This is pampering the haciendero way.

Activities: Villa Escudero has several fresh water swimming pools and a lake for rafting. There are cultural shows on weekends. It also has facilities for workshops and conferences. They also accommodate wedding receptions and parties.

Directions: Coming from Manila, after the San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway until you reach the boundary of San Pablo and Tiaong, Quezon. The entrance to the resort is on the left right after the welcome arch to Tiaong, Quezon.

Rates: Overnight stay is P3000 per head. Day visit is P800 per head with free lunch at the waterfalls. Museum visits are free for day guests.

For Reservations: Call (02) 521-0830.

THE FOREST CLUB
Bgy. Masaya, Bay, Laguna
The Forest Club is an eco-friendly conference center amidst a nature sanctuary in Bay, Laguna. It strives to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life by integrating various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, alternative energy, and much more. We are built amidst a forest sanctuary that is home to a collection of tropical forest trees, exotic palms, and medicinal trees and plants.

Activities: Bird watch, swim in the hot spring pool with jacuzzi, tennis and basketball, walk around the estate and take a panoramic view of Banahaw from the lotus lagoon.

Directions: At the end of SLEX, left towards Calamba crossing. At Calamba crossing, right towards Los Banos. Keep following the main highway, passed the UPLB junction. Turn right on the road leading to the Geothermal Plant. The Forest Club will be to your left, at the border of Barangay Puypuy and Barangay Masaya.

For Reservations: Laguna Office: Call Ruben Layug at (649) 249 49 85, Fax (649) 249 49 84, Mobile 0917 460 81 85. Manila Office: Call MAIEN CLARINO at (632) 911 35 71, Fax (632) 911 27 89, Mobile 0917 825 89 58. You may visit our website at www.the-forest-club.com.