Calamba

Understand

Calamba is a regional center for Laguna and the Calabarzon region; it lies 50 km (31 mi) from Manila and houses many businesses, tourist attractions, colleges and universities, transport stations, and industries. The city houses the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal's mansion, and Pansol, a barangay with many private hot spring resorts at the foot of Mount Makiling. It is home to about 575,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) The city's history is traced back to the Spanish era. Calamba is formed from the barrio of Sucol of Tabuko (present-day Cabuyao), and in the 1800s, the Dominican friars divided up their hacienda and gave it to locals, including Jose Rizal's family. Calamba was also a scene of a Japanese war crimes during World War II: 2,000 civilians were murdered and raped by Japanese soldiers in the barrio of Real and St. John the Baptist Parish church was burned down. The city gained cityhood in 2001 after president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Calamba City Charter Act (Republic Act 9024) and locals won a majority in the following plebiscite.

Orientation The city is divided into 54 barangays, including 7 forming the Poblacion. Calamba's Poblacion is the commercial heart of the city; the congested Calamba Crossing between Maharlika Highway (Route 1, also Real Road up to SLEx) and Route 66 (or National Highway locally) lies there. Barangay Pansol, near the boundary of Los Baños is home to many private resorts, both big and small. Canlubang, a large residential barangay, has, the majority of the Nuvali mixed-use development (the remainder lies in Cabuyao and Santa Rosa), Camp Vicente Lim, and two industrial parks.

Getting there

By bus Calamba is a major stopover for buses headed for South Luzon

1 JAM/Philtranco, Maharlika Highway, Turbina, ☏ +63 917 524 6337. A large, covered bus station which primarily serves JAM, Philtranco and Amihan buses. The station is undergoing renovations to add air-conditioned lounges, showers, further retail space, and rooms for overnight stays. (updated Nov 2020) In addition to the JAM/Philtranco bus station, there are also other bus companies with stops at Turbina, all not far away from each other. The terminals themselves are only used for southbound buses, and northbound, buses stop at the Flying V gas station across the highway from the JAM bus terminal

Bobis Liner/Elavil Tours. (updated Nov 2020) DLTBCo. (near Shell), ☏ +63 49 520 5582. (updated Nov 2020) JAC Liner/LLi (directly in front of Angel's Nest). Stop also serves ALPS, Ceres, Dela Rosa, Gold Star, JAPS and P&O Transport buses. Stop has a simple waiting area and restrooms. (updated Nov 2020) Superlines, Purok 2, Turbina (Beside Petron), ☏ +63 933 942 1373. (updated Nov 2020) If getting down directly at the city proper, around the Calamba Crossing:

HM Transport, National Hwy cor Carnation St, Barangay 1 Poblacion (directly in front of Joy Hotel). (updated Nov 2020) JAPS, National Hwy, Real (beside CMC). (updated Nov 2020) Saint Rose, Km 50 National Hwy, Barangay 1 Poblacion (beside Teodora Building). Has one large shelter with an attached Ministop (updated Nov 2020) 1 SM City Calamba Transport Terminal, National Highway, Calamba Crossing (part of SM City Calamba (see #Buy).). (updated Nov 2023)

By jeepney From Manila, you can take either the traditional T420 or the 414 jeepney routes, both starting from Alabang. Both routes terminate at Alabang, and take the expressway. There are also jeepneys from Lipa, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and San Pablo.

By train Philippine National Railways has a station in Calamba, on the South main line from Manila. Service is limited to evening and morning commuter trains, and travel by train is not practical until the existing railway line is modernized.

2 Calamba-PNR Station, Rizal Street. Served by several air-conditioned trains between Manila and Los Baños (IRRI), and a night train from Manila. Long-distance services are cancelled since 2015. It is also the future terminus of the new electrified mainline running up to Malolos in Bulacan, Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and Capas in Tarlac. (updated Nov 2023)

By car Calamba is a major crossroads; it serves as an important junction for South Luzon Expressway (SLEX

Getting around

By jeepney Jeepneys serve most areas along the Maharlika Hwy and National Hwy, including Crossing and Pansol. There are also jeepneys to Canlubang, but are impractical for travel to Nuvali.

By tricycle There are plenty of tricycles around downtown and the Crossing area. Trips generally cost ₱9 per kilometer, but it can cost ₱60 if you catch one alone (or a "special" trip), for example, on a trip from Crossing to the Rizal mansion. Anywhere in Pansol can be reached by tricycle, with stands near the subdivision entrances.

By car Traveling by car within the city proper is inadvisable. Traffic jams are common at the Crossing, Pansol and Real, and parking is hard to find at the poblacion. That said, most malls, the City Hall, and the City Park have free parking. The resorts at Pansol are more conveniently accessed by car.

See

1 Museo ni Jose Rizal (Bahay ni Rizal), Francisco Mercado co. Jose Rizal Sts. (Beside Saint John the Baptist Parish Church), [email protected]. 8AM–4PM, closed Mondays and holidays. The birthplace of the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal. It houses the restored colonial-era mansion of Jose Rizal, which contains his memorabilia. (updated Dec 2025) 2 The Plaza, Chipeco Avenue (in front of the Calamba City Hall). Open 24 hours. A park built to commemorate Rizal's 150th birthday. Opened in 2011, it houses a 6.7-meter (22-foot statue) statue of Jose Rizal, formerly the tallest. (updated Nov 2023) 3 St. John the Baptist Parish, J.P. Rizal Street, Barangay 5 (Poblacion) (across the street from Rizal Shrine). The oldest Roman Catholic church in Calamba, built in Baroque style and rebuilt after World War II. This was were Jose Rizal was baptized and attended mass in his early years. (updated Apr 2026) 4 Calamba Baywalk, Barangay Lingga. This is also the jump-off point for the ferry that goes to Calamba island in Laguna de Bay. There are food stalls here from which you can buy quick meals and refreshments. Free. (updated Nov 2023) 5 Jose Rizal Monument - The Plaza, Chipeco Avenue. Open 24 hours. The largest statue of Dr. Jose Rizal that can be found in the city of Calamba. The statue was unveiled in the sesquicentennial anniversary of his date of birth (2011). (updated Nov 2023) 6 San Pedro Calungsod Parish Church - (Diocese of San Pablo), Villa de Calamba, La Mesa. 9AM–noon, 3–6PM. (updated Nov 2023)

Do

1 Republ1c Wakepark, West Diversity Avenue, Canlubang (inside Nuvali). A wakeboarding park inside the Nuvali development in Canlubang (updated May 2018)

Buy

1 SM City Calamba, Maharlika Highway, Poblacion, ☏ +63 49 530-0062. 10AM-10PM daily. Huge SM mall, providing a refuge from the cacophony of the Calamba Crossing area. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Walter Mart Calamba, Maharlika Highway, Real, ☏ +63 49 545-7037, [email protected]. M-Th 10AM-8PM, F-Su 10-9PM. (updated Dec 2018) 3 Walter Mart Makiling, Km. 54 Maharlika Highway, Makiling, ☏ +63 49 530-0854, [email protected]. M-Th 10AM-8PM, F-Su 10AM-9PM. Another Walter Mart mall, with some fast food restaurants and shops, a Uno department store, and supermarket. (updated Dec 2018) 4 Calamba City Public Market, Public Market Inner Road. (updated Nov 2023) 5 Novo Department Store - Calamba, J.P. Rizal Street. 8AM–8PM. (updated Nov 2023) 6 Lianas Supermarket, Manila South Road. 8AM–9PM. (updated Nov 2023)

Eat

For the familiar and budget options, fastfood chains and streetfood stalls are scattered across the city and in the malls.

1 Ippon Yari, Maharlika Hwy, Turbina, ☏ +63 49 502-0333. M-Sa 11AM-2:30PM (lunch) 5-11PM (dinner); Su 11AM-2:30PM (lunch), 5-9:30PM (dinner). Authentic Japanese dining, including common Japanese fare like bento, ramen, sushi, tempura and shochu. Tables have tatami mats. (updated Nov 2023) 2 Bulalo sa Banga, 19 San Juan Road. 10AM–9PM. (updated Nov 2023) 3 Carmi's Kitchen, 381 Ilang-ilang Street. 10AM–9PM. (updated Nov 2023) 4 Tuding's Original Porkchop, Real Road. 8AM–10PM. (updated Nov 2023) 5 PAULS dining + kitchen, Ipil-ipil Street. 11AM–9PM. (updated Nov 2023)

Drink & nightlife

1 Brew and Co. Calamba, 6 San Jose Road, San Jose. Tu-Su 10AM–10PM, closed M. Coffee shop also serving sandwiches and pasta. ₱95-400. (updated Apr 2026)

Sleep

1 RedDoorz @ Chipeco Avenue, 3 Chipeco Avenue. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Nov 2023) 2 RedDoorz near SM City Calamba, Manila South Road. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Nov 2023) 3 Castle Rock Inn, Manila South Road, ☏ +63 922 407 6303. (updated Nov 2023)

Go next

The city serves as a tourist hub to other destinations in Laguna like:

Los Baños - Bordering university and resort town, noted for the University of the Philippines Los Baños campus, the International Rice Research Institute, and hot springs Pagsanjan - Home to Pagsanjan Falls