Pagsanjan is a town in Laguna province in the Philippines. The town attracts visitors wishing to explore its heritage buildings, pray at the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, or visit nature-related attractions such as Pagsanjan Falls.
Understand
[edit]Pagsanjan (pronounced "pag-san-HAN") is on the junction of a river of the same name and the Bumbungan River, downstream of Pagsanjan Falls. It is home to about 46,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
It was the capital of Laguna during the Spanish period from 1688 to 1858. The town was devastated by American bombing during World War II, but retains some of its colonial-era houses, the Pagsanjan Arch, and its Roman Catholic church that was rebuilt in its original design.
In the 1970s up to the 1990s, Pagsanjan became infamous as a hotspot for child sex tourism involving foreigners but has since cracked down.
A municipal government site has some tourist information.
Orientation
[edit]At the town center, the Calamba-Pagsanjan Road terminates at the junction between the church, the town hall and town plaza, with vehicles going to Lumban, Paete, Siniloan and northeast Laguna turning left, and those heading to Cavinti, Luisiana and Lucban turning right and immediately passing the Balanac bridge over the Pagsanjan River towards mountainous terrain.
When taking a bus from Metro Manila, HM Transport and LLI, which give Santa Cruz as their final destination, actually have their terminals at Barangay Pagsawitan in Pagsanjan, a few meters past the arch (not to be confused with the Pagsanjan Arch further ahead) marking the boundary between the two towns. To add to the confusion, the immediate barangay on the Santa Cruz side of the arch is also called Pagsawitan, with its eponymous junction leading to Santa Cruz town proper marking the last bus stop before the terminal in Pagsawitan, Pagsanjan.
Between Pagsawitan and Pagsanjan town proper is the Public Market, located beside Sambat Junction where jeepneys from Santa Cruz turn right to F.T. San Luis Avenue on their way to Magdalena, Majayjay, Liliw or Nagcarlan.
Get in
[edit]You can take a bus from the Buendia or Cubao bus terminals in Metro Manila to Santa Cruz. It takes about 2-3 hours, depending on traffic. The buses leave very frequently, and the bus fare was ₱140 as of 2009. A cab driver in Manila should be able to direct you to the correct bus terminal, namely HM Transport, LLI, or DLTB. The last bus returning from Santa Cruz to Manila leaves at 7PM.
Once you arrive in Santa Cruz, you can take a jeepney to Pagsanjan for ₱15 per person (as of 2025). If coming from Rizal province, take the jeepney from Siniloan. From Quezon province, take the jeepney from Lucban via Luisiana and Cavinti.
Take the jeepney to the tourism office -- they will direct you to the river and find you a boatman.
Alternatively, you can take a motorized tricycle direct from the bus terminal to the boating station for ₱20 per person (as of 2009), saving the walk from the tourism office to the falls. You can now buy tickets directly at the boat stations.
Get around
[edit]
Basic modes of transportation are the tricycle and the jeepney.
See
[edit]- 1 Pagsanjan Falls. It is a moderate-sized waterfall (perhaps 15-20 meters) upstream from the town, but very pretty. The trip there is mostly through wild jungle in a deep canyon. Very scenic. If you are fortunate you may even see monkeys in the jungle along the canyon walls.
- 2 Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Pagsanjan Church), J.P. Rizal St., Poblacion Uno. The town's Roman Catholic church, it was rebuilt in its original Spanish colonial-style minus its dome after sustaining heavy damage from World War II-bombardment. It houses a venerated image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was donated by Mexico. A side chapel contains funeral plaques of residents from the colonial era. Free.
- 3 Pagsanjan Arch (Arco Real), J.P. Rizal St., Poblacion Uno. One of the few-surviving town gates in the Philippines from the Spanish era, the three-portal structure is a designated National Cultural Treasure that sits directly on the highway from Santa Cruz. Free.
- Heritage Houses. Despite heavy bombing during World War II, Pagsanjan retains a sizeable number of houses from the colonial era, some of which have been converted into restaurants or commercial outlets. These are concentrated in the town center, particularly in J.P. Rizal, Mabini and P. Caballes Streets.
Do
[edit]The trip up-river to the falls is the main attraction here. There is a standard fare for a boat ride, regulated by the tourism office. It costs ₱1000 per person plus ₱100 compulsory insurance, as of 2009. Tipping is optional, but a small tip for each boatman (there are two per boat) is expected.
Recommended outfitters:
- Pagsanjan Falls Tour : This package includes round trip A/C van transfer from Manila, round trip boat ride for shooting the rapids, raft ride to fully experience Pagsanjan Falls (aka Magdapio Falls), refreshments on board, lunch at resort, free use of shower facilities in the resort. For more information email [email protected].
- Pagsanjan Floating Station and Restaurant. A package (including transportation from Manila) can be booked through AVA Sightseers, +63 917-648-8382. Ask for Alex or Angel. If you wish you also can have a dinner on the river (included in one of the packages).
Buy
[edit]The newly opened BDO (Banco De Oro) has an ATM and accepts major cards. Traveler's checks might be accepted at the PNB, but expect a long wait and you'll need a photocopy of your main passport page.
- 1 Pagsanjan Public Market, Calamba-Pagsanjan Road corner F.T. San Luis Avenue, Barangay Biñan.
Eat
[edit]Half-way through the boat ride, there is a stop where you can buy food on the river. Chicken, eggplant, rice, beer, buko juice, and drinks are for sale. For those seeking the familiar, fastfood outlets (Jollibee, McDonald’s, Mang Inasal, KFC) and roast chicken chains can be found in the town center and along the highway leading to Santa Cruz. For a quick bite, convenience stores can be visited in the town center, in Pagsawitan and the public market.
- 1 Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo, 169 Gen. Luna Street, Barangay Maulawin (Turn right from Calamba-Pagsanjan Road over the Balanac bridge leading to Cavinti.), https://www.facebook.com/taleng1933/Mail with wrong format. 8 AM–10 PM. In operation since 1933, it serves Filipino dishes and delicacies in group-sized portions. The highlight is the halo-halo, which includes sweetened heart of palm (ubod). It also sells takeaway Filipino snacks such as banana chips and biscuits. ₱200–400.
- 2 Calle Arco Restaurant, Calamba-Pagsanjan Road, Barangay Poblacion 2, ☏ (049) 501 4584Country code missing, [email protected]. 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Set in a 70-year old house full of antiques and souvenirs from the owners' travels abroad, it serves Laguna dishes based on recipes passed down by the owners' family. PHP200-500.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Dragon Hotel, KGA Building, Dita Road, Biñan Road. Choice of A/C or non A/C rooms, starting at ₱300 and ₱200, respectively. Has free WiFi. Daily rate from ₱595.
- [dead link] La Corona de Pagsanjan Resort and Training Center, ☏ +63 49 501-1753. Houses an obstacle course (High Altitude Ropes Course Challenge) and a 2-hectare camp site. It also offers 35 cottage-style rooms, 2 swimming pools, function rooms, and various sports facilities.
Stay safe
[edit]Exercise caution when taking pictures of Pagsanjan Arch, as it is located right in the middle of a busy highway with vehicles passing right underneath its three portals. Likewise, be careful when driving through the arch as the two-lane highway widens briefly on its approach before narrowing back afterwards. The arch can accommodate light vehicles, small trucks and single-decker buses, but if you are unsure about your vertical clearance, take Mabini Street, which runs parallel to the highway.
Cope
[edit]There is a Mercury Drug Store and a 7/11 beside the Town Plaza.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Pagsanjan |
| Calamba ← Santa Cruz ← | W  E
|
→ END |
| Famy ← Lumban ← | N  S
|
→ Continues south as 
|
| Continues north as ←
|
N S
|
→ Cavinti → Lucban |