Rizal (Laguna)

For other places by the name, see Rizal (disambiguation).

Rizal is a municipality of the Philippines in the province of Laguna. One of the smallest towns in Laguna in terms of both land area and population, it is obscure even among many residents in the province, but has a budding nature-oriented tourism industry.

Situated on the foothills of Mount San Cristobal, Rizal was formerly a barrio of Nagcarlan known as Pauli. It became a separate municipality in 1919 and was renamed after the national hero and native son of Laguna, Jose Rizal, but remains probably the least known town in the province. A common joke within Laguna goes that the first question outsiders will ask of a person who introduces themselves as from Rizal town is where in Rizal province do they come from.

It is home to about 19,000 people (census, 1 July 2024)

Rizal is located in a forested valley. Its eastern edge is bounded by Nagcarlan, while its northern edge are bounded by hills making up the Laguna Volcanic Field and Mount Kalisungan. To the west, a pass between the Kalisungan hills and Mount San Cristobal leads to San Pablo.

Rizal is along the northern half of a circumferential highway network around Mount Banahaw that runs between San Pablo and Lucban in Quezon Province. It is along the jeepney route running between San Pablo and Liliw via Nagcarlan.

Tricycles and jeepneys are the most common form of motorized transport in town.

• 14.062222121.4230561 Mount San Cristobal. A towering 1,470 metres (4,820 ft) inactive volcano south of Rizal, along the boundary with San Pablo and Quezon Province. Situated alongside Mount Banahaw, a religious pilgrimage site, it is said to be the mountain's "evil twin", having been dubbed the "Devil's Mountain" for malevolent entities said to inhabit its slopes.  (updated Aug 2026)
• 14.072154121.407532 Tayak Hill (Tanaw de Rizal), Tala. A 736 metres (2,415 ft) high hill at the foot of Mount San Cristobal. There is a 30 feet (9.1 m) cross on its peak and has views reaching up to Laguna de Bay.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 14.111232121.3912533 Rizal Elementary School, Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, Talaga. The town's primary school retains its American-era administrative building, colloquially known as the Gabaldon, and a smaller and much older school building on stilts.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 14.109715121.3934154 Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church (Rizal Church), Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, West Poblacion, toll-free: +49 521 0100, sanmiguelarkanghelrizal@gmail.com. Rizal's main Roman Catholic church. It has a thick and striking red brick façade.  (updated Nov 2026)

• 14.074573121.4100541 Tayak Adventure Nature And Wildlife (Tanaw) Park, Tala. A sprawling 600 hectares (1,500 acres) ecotourism and recreational complex and combined nature reserve on the forested approaches to Mount San Cristobal. Its main attractions are Tayak Hill and the remains of an airstrip built by Allied forces during the closing days of World War II in 1945.  (updated Nov 2026)

• 14.111056121.3947881 Rizal Public Market, Bonifacio Street, Paule 2.  (updated Nov 2026)
• 14.11053121.392872 7-11, Nagcarlan-Rizal Road, West Poblacion.  (updated Nov 2026)

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

The town's postal code is 4003.

• 14.111391121.395611 Rizal, Laguna Tourism, 2/F New Municipal Building, F. Arban St, Pauli 2, toll-free: +63 49 521 0672, tourismofficerizallaguna@gmail.com.  (updated Nov 2026)

• Nagcarlan
• San Pablo