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Gumaca is a town along the Pacific coast of Quezon province, Philippines.
Understand
[edit | edit source]Gumaca was established by the Spanish in the 16th century. Wedged on a narrow coastal strip along Lamon Bay, an extension of the Pacific Ocean, it became the primary economic hub of the province east of Atimonan and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Gumaca, which covers eastern Quezon.
It is home to about 72,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) 
Get in
[edit | edit source]Gumaca is along the Maharlika Highway (Manila South Road, numbered Route 1/AH26) which also serves as the town's main street. It is a major bottleneck on the route in Quezon, although a bypass road ringing the town center has been built to alleviate traffic. A road starting from the junction with Maharlika Highway at Jollibee Gumaca also connects the town with Pitogo and other towns south along the Bondoc Peninsula.
There are plans to extend the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to Gumaca on its way to Bicol.
Gumaca is served by buses heading to Bicol region and other towns of eastern Quezon such as Lopez and Calauag. It also lies along the Philippine National Railways' South Main Line connecting Metro Manila with Bicol, although services have been suspended since 2014 and there is no expected reopening date.
- 1 Gumaca Seaport (Salome Seaport), Villa Bota. A small maritime terminal serving travelers to and from Alabat Island, across from Lamon Bay. There are plans to expand the facility to accommodate motor vehicles and larger passenger ferries.
Get around
[edit | edit source]
Tricycles are the main form of public transportation around town.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gumaca Cathedral (San Diego de Alcala Cathedral), P. Burgos Street, San Diego, ☏ +63 909 085 3653, toll-free: +63 42 731 2219. Gumaca's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in a Baroque style in 1690. It is also the headquarters of the Diocese of Gumaca.
- 2 Kutang San Diego (Fort San Diego), Nava Boulevard corner Quezon Street, San Diego. A Spanish-era coastal watchtower built in the 18th century to defend Gumaca against raids by Moro pirates and other foreign invaders such as the Dutch. The site was declared a national cultural treasure by the Philippine government in 2020.
- 3 Museo ng Gumaca, E. Aguinaldo Street, San Diego (beside Kutang San Diego). A local history museum.
- 4 Gumaca Municipal Hall, Maharlika Highway, Pipisik. Built during the American occupation in 1921, it is one of a few civic buildings in the country to survive World War II.
- 5 San Diego de Alcala Park, Maharlika Highway, Villa Bota. A small recreational space built on top of a limestone hill overlooking Lamon Bay. Its highlight is a monument to Gumaca's patron saint, Didacus of Alcalá.
- 6 Inaclagan Falls, Inaclagan. A cascade in the hinterlands of Gumaca.
- 7 Bosque Cave, Sisirin Road, Villa Mendoza. A set of two caves.
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gumaca Public Market, Maharlika Highway, Maunlad.
- 2 Puregold Gumaca, Maharlika Highway, Buensuceso (beside Iglesia ni Cristo).
- 3 Novo Department Store, Gumaca-Pitogo Road, Bagong Buhay.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gumaca City Coast Hotel & Restaurant, Maharlika Highway, Maunlad, gumacacitycoast@gmail.com. Mixed-use hotel, restaurant and commercial complex with a convenience store and gas station.
Connect
[edit | edit source]The town's postal code is 4307.
- 1 Gumaca Tourism Office, Maharlika Highway, Pipisik (inside the Municipal Hall complex), ☏ +63 970 111 7699, gumacatourismofc@gmail.com. 8AM-5PM M-F.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Gumaca |
| Daet/Naga ← Lopez ← | E  W | → Plaridel → Lucena |