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Nagcarlan

Nagcarlan is a municipality of the Philippines in the province of Laguna. It is also one of the oldest towns in Laguna and was also a precolonial settlement. At first glance, it is a less touristy town than neighboring Liliw and relies more on its commercial location on a major road junction, but it also has some colonial structures, including the only underground cemetery in the Philippines, and cold springs that compete with those of Liliw.

Understand

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Nagcarlan is known in Philippine history as the first place where wheat was grown in the country following its introduction by the Spanish. It became a scene of major confrontations during the Philippine Revolution and the Second World War, when its underground cemetery was used as a headquarters and refuge by Filipino revolutionaries and guerrillas.

It is home to about 66,000 people (census, 1 July 2024) "edit wikidata"

Orientation

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Nagcarlan has a similar geographical layout with Liliw, although a secondary commercial hub exists in the lowland barangay of Calumpang. Its eastern edge is bounded by the Santa Cruz River system, while its northern and western edges are bounded by hills making up the Laguna Volcanic Field and Mount Kalisungan. To the southwest, a pass between the Kalisungan hills and Mount San Cristobal leads to Rizal and San Pablo.

Mount San Cristobal and Nagcarlan town

Get in

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Map
Map of Nagcarlan

Nagcarlan is a hub for jeepneys coming from San Pablo, Majayjay and Santa Cruz. However, there are few to no jeepneys operating at night. It is far more convenient to rent a car (or a van for large groups) to reach the town due to this. As a secondary hub for Nagcarlan, Barangay Calumpang has direct jeepney connections with Santa Cruz.

Get around

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Nagcarlan is a busy town and is a crossroads for those heading for Liliw, Santa Cruz, Calauan and San Pablo via Rizal. Tricycles and jeepneys are the most common form of motorized transport in town.

See

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Nagcarlan underground cemetery
  • 14.13135121.414821 Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery, Rizal Avenue, Barangay Bambang, ☏ +63 915 249 1151, . 9AM–4PM, closed Mondays and holidays. The only cemetery of its kind in the Philippines, it was built in the 19th century on an octagonal layout, it retains its Spanish-era chapel containing a sculpture of the dead Christ, and its underground crypt with the remains of Nagcarlan's high society still inside. Beside the entrance to the compound is a small but informative museum about the concept of death in Philippine culture. An urban legend claims that the cemetery is connected underground to the parish church, Mount Banahaw and even to Pagsanjan, 41 kilometres (25 mi) away. The cemetery was declared a national historical landmark in 1981. Free, donation optional. Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery on Wikipedia Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery (Q18128430) on Wikidata OSM directions (updated Jul 2026)
  • 14.13629121.41742 San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church (Nagcarlan Church), J. Lirio corner Mabini Streets and J. Coronado corner E.A. Fernandez Streets (for pedestrians only); P. Zamora Street (for vehicles), Barangay Poblacion III (drop off at Nagcarlan Town Plaza or Municipal Market). A Spanish colonial church built in a Baroque style with Moorish-inspired crenellations, and supporting exterior pillars that seemingly wrap around the structure like a cast. Look for the ornate altar and painted wooden carving of the Final Judgement made by carvers from Paete. Nagcarlan Church on Wikipedia Nagcarlan Church (Q18354284) on Wikidata OSM directions (updated Aug 2026)
  • 14.133328121.4151573 Nagcarlan Municipal Hall, Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, Poblacion II. Built in 1941, it is one of the few remaining civic buildings in the Philippines to survive World War II. OSM directions (updated Apr 2026)
  • 14.146804121.3979424 Bunga Falls, Bunga. Twin waterfalls system with a drop of 10–15 metres (33–49 ft). OSM directions (updated Apr 2026)
  • 14.0675121.49255 Mount Banahaw. An inactive volcano straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. At 2,170 metres (7,120 ft), it is the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region, and a sacred monument for the Tagalog people. Mount Banahaw here on Wikivoyage Mount Banahaw on Wikipedia Mount Banahaw (Q806074) on Wikidata OSM directions (updated Aug 2026)

Do

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Buy

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  • 14.136792121.4164751 Nagcarlan Public Market, E.A. Fernandez corner J. Coronado Street, Poblacion I. OSM directions (updated Apr 2026)

Eat

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There is a McDonald’s in the town center, just north of the municipal hall.

Drink

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  • 14.131812121.4156651 Telang's Cafe, Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, Bambang (in front of Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery). 4PM-11PM, Wed-Sun. A cafe with rice meals. PHP95-225. OSM directions (updated Jun 2026)

Sleep

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Most accommodations are clustered outside downtown, particularly south on the roads leading to Rizal municipality and the Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal complex.

Stay safe

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On the highway between Liliw and Nagcarlan, drive carefully as the road has two sharp curves around the Liliw and Talahibing bridges, with the latter being more treacherous for vehicles ascending the approach to Nagcarlan.

Go next

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  • Liliw - just adjacent to Nagcarlan.
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