The Best Tourist Spot in SIlang Cavite – A Local’s Guide
Silang, Cavite is often called the “Weekend Getaway Capital of the South.”. As a longtime local, I want to share an insider’s guide to 5 must-visit attractions that best encapsulate the charm of this growing destination just outside Manila.
In this blog post, you’ll discover some hidden gems – from an internationally-renowned designer outlet mall to a beautifully preserved colonial church. I’ll share need-to-know tips for crafting your ideal Silang itinerary, whether you love farm-to-table dining, hands-on pottery making, or simply immersing yourself in local culture and history.
My goal is to convince you why Silang deserves a spot on your Philippine travel bucket list. These curated recommendations offer a glimpse into the rustic beauty, storied past, and one-of-a-kind experiences that make my hometown a getaway for weary city souls.
1. Gratchi’s Getaway Tagaytay Farm Resort
Gratchi’s Getaway is the perfect place to start exploring Silang’s beautiful landscapes. It is set on eight hectares of lush farmland. This farm resort has activities for people of all ages, such as meeting animals and learning how to hatch eggs. There are also conference rooms and wedding pavilions.
People with kids can go on educational farm tours where they can feed ostriches, milk cows by hand, or play with horses, goats, and sheep in their natural environments. If you go at the right time, you might even see an egg hatch or an animal give birth that is truly amazing. Ducks, turkeys, and other birds will be fun for the kids to pet and feed.
After getting to know the animals, visitors can go on jogging trails that go through vegetable and flower gardens. I suggest you visit Pinoy Sari-Sari, their on-site café and restaurant that serves healthy “farm to fork” food. A crispy puto bumbong fritter or a sweet, ripe mango—both of which are grown right at the farm—are the best things in the world.
2. Acienda Designer Outlet
As someone who loves to find deals, Acienda Designer Outlet is one of my personal favorites. When it opened in 2017, this huge complex put Silang on the map for tourists from other countries because it was strategically placed along the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway.
Acienda is said to be the first luxury outlet mall in the Philippines. It has well-known global brands like Coach, Kate Spade, Superdry, and more all under one air-conditioned roof. I could smell perfumes and watch Tory Burch bags being sewn for hours here.
Some expensive items may still be out of your price range, but it’s still fun to look around the well-designed stores and admire the fancy decorations inside. While the parents shop, the kids can play on the playgrounds outside. You should also check out the Filipino specialty stores to find stylish modern barongs, woven bags, and graphic t-shirts that are in style.
3. Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church
For a glimpse into Silang’s storied past as a village established in 1599, be sure to visit the picturesque Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church. Its Mexican-era colonial architectural style features a striking pink exterior, towering spire, arched open windows, and impressive carved doorway built in the 1800s.
Don’t miss seeing intricately gilded painting framing the altar inside, depicting the Virgin Mary and various religious motifs. Historians will appreciate the church’s museum with artifact displays from Silang’s earliest settlement eras. I love attending mass here and witnessing the local devotees, elderly ladies in Filipiniana gowns lighting candles and reciting rosaries – it provides deep insight into Filipino cultural traditions.
Pro Tip: Weekend masses tend to be crowded so go on a weekday. Saturday mornings are lively as well due to weddings. To fully experience the church’s tranquility, I recommend early morning or sunset visits when beautiful natural sunlight streams through the windows.
4. Cornerstone Pottery Farm
For more hands-on fun, head over to Cornerstone Pottery Farm which offers pottery painting sessions amid gorgeous landscape views. This art haven brings out anyone’s creative side, from kids decorating piggy banks to couples jointly creating plates as wedding souvenirs. Visitors can glaze and embellish pre-moulded pottery pieces like mugs, jewelry holders, animal figurines using acrylic paints and colored glass beads.
Don’t worry about getting your hands dirty! Just put on an apron, get equipped with brushes and let your imagination run free. Cornerstone’s tranquil gardens are dotted with vibrant public art murals and architectural accents using repurposed materials like colorful glass and bamboo shoots. It’s a camera-ready backdrop for those coveted social media vacation pics! Sign up for a pottery session or just drop by Cornerstone’s adorable barn-style cafe Milkshake & Friends for artisan gelatos and shakes paired with pretty patio views.
5. Gourmet Farms
No trip to Silang is complete without a visit to the pioneering Gourmet Farms. Since opening in 1987 off Marcos Highway, it’s become an iconic landmark – the birthplace of specialty coffee culture and farm-to-table dining in the Philippines.
Be sure to explore Gourmet Farms’ sprawling 14 hectare plantation with 6,000 coffee trees, exotic fruit orchards, herb gardens, and vegetable plots. Sign up for informative coffee tours and watch how berry sorting, sun-drying, roasting and grinding results in that satisfying cup of Cordillera Arabica coffee.
Make a b-line to their restaurant Cafe De Lipa which serves heavenly sandwiches, pastas, salads featuring ultra-fresh produce straight from the farm. Don’t miss their signature Tablea Chocolate Cake too – moist chocolate layers doused in creamy native chocolate syrup made from cacao beans grown on-site. Before leaving, shop for goodies like homemade jams, honey and pasalubong food gifts showcasing Silang’s bountiful harvests from family-owned farms like Gourmet Farms.
Conclusion:
And there you have it – a locals-only guide to 5 attractions that allow you to fully immerse in the sights, sounds, flavors and one-of-a-kind experiences unique to my beloved hometown Silang. Whether you fancy getting your hands dirty on a farm, devouring farm-fresh cuisine or shopping for artisan wares – I hope I convinced you Silang should be your next quick weekend getaway outside Manila!
Let me know if you need me to add or modify anything. I can also draft more sections highlighting other popular spots in Silang if you’d like!
