The drive to Tagaytay is a little bit more than an hour. We left at about nearly 10 AM and took the Coastal Road route. I could immediately see that we were in Tagaytay when we reached the rotunda and took a left turn. The surroundings are cleaner and greener and to the left, you can get a glimpse of the breathtaking Taal lake scenery. We stopped over at GSP and got out of the car for a stretch and a walk, taking in the grassy environment and the wonderful fresh air. We also headed for the restrooms. The adorable, playful dog was there again, running around entertaining the guests (us).
Cute dog contemplating
TIERRA DE MARIA
Tierra de Maria, a haven of meditation and enrichment and the home of the majestic 50-foot image of Mama Mary, was our next stop. It’s open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. I remember coming here when I was still in high school. It’s a good place to reflect and pray for the Lord’s guidance. There are a row of benches on the side decorated with a backdrop of plants and a colourful array of religious paintings depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross.
Forming a Cross
There is a comfort room but it costs P5. There are also vendors of native delicacies (good for pasalubong) circling the place. The well-known Jesus Christ optical illusion can be seen everywhere. At the center is a Wishing Well where you can throw coins and wish for whatever you’re longing for as the trickling of the water soothes you.
Wishing Well
Beside it, you can light a candle for your intentions. The Inner Peace Healing Center is like a prayer room inhabited by life-size statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Jesus Christ on the Cross and Our Lady of Manaoag.
Life-size images
Just follow the instructions posted outside (and inside) the Center on how to proceed. A healing ‘pray-over’ is conducted daily and a Holy Mass is held in the Center every first Saturday of the month. On the second floor, there is a big liturgical calendar covering several walls where you can find out who your patron saint is based on your birthday.
Patron Saint Calendar
There are names under some dates (probably birthday celebrants on that particular date). On the third floor is Mama Mary’s Angels Meditation Garden (angel figurines are scattered around the place) where you can hold the hand of the huge statue of Mama Mary and marvel at the beauty of God’s creation with a view of Taal volcano.
50-foot image
Just try to ignore the not-so-charming property behind the Tierra de Maria. Along with the view of Taal volcano, you can also see the horseback riding adventure trail in Picnic Grove (where we will be sauntering with our horses later on). There’s another floor above, but there’s nothing much to see here except for a higher vantage point of Taal volcano. Before leaving, check out the souvenir shop for bits and pieces to complement your spiritual activities or give them to friends.
TAGAYTAY PICNIC GROVE
The Picnic Grove is just beside Tierra de Maria, located at Brgy. Sungay in the east-end of Tagaytay City. It is one of the cheapest attractions here in Tagaytay and obviously, one of the most crowded. Before we could unpack our lunch on one of the picnic tables in the area, we had to pay our parking and entrance fees in one of the big cottages used by the staff.
The Cottage
We paid P285 for the five of us and a car. There are no signs for parking areas so basically you can just park anywhere you see other cars park, too (but usually there are people who show you where). Just don’t park your car near a coconut tree with big, big coconuts and leaves threatening to fall sometime soon. We settled on one of the P150 picnic sheds (the price varies according to the size and ranges from P100 to P250). There were barbecue pits scattered all around the picnic area for grilling food and we wished we had brought fish and pork for some mouthwatering sinugba and inihaw.
Picnic shed
Families and friends flying identical kites, running around the rolling terrain or simply sitting on the soft grass provided a cheerful backdrop while we ate spaghetti, fried chicken and kare-kare. On the other side was a breathtaking view of Taal Lake in all its glory.
Simple pleasures
Mmm. To top it all off, the shed didn’t cost a thing. The woman in the reception area told us that someone would come up to us to collect the payment, but no one came. So we went on our way to the Eco-Adventure Trail. But first we stopped to go up the view deck where you can get another enchanting view of Taal Lake while enjoying the breeze and taking pictures.
Below the view deck
Right beside the view deck, is a sign marking the entrance to the Eco-Trail, a long boardwalk with a hanging bridge which spans a mini-valley replete with trees, shrubs and other vegetation.
Eco-Adventure Trail
This landscape makes it ideal for a 250-meter zipline and a cable car, giving guests a unique angle for viewing the lush scenery. Even if the zipline only lasts less than a minute.
Zipline
When you’re walking along the Eco-Trail, flying people in the background is a common occurrence.
Flying people
We tried out the 5-minute cable car. It’s a less exciting ride, but it goes on longer (plus you can snap pictures while on the ride 
). We made the most of our time in the cable car by taking pictures in every angle.
Green below
It was a weekend so we paid P200 for a one-way ride for each of us (P300 for a two-way ride). During weekdays, the rates are lower by a hundred pesos. The fact that it’s two-way offers a scenic form of transportation (albeit a very expensive one) from one side of the park to the other. The rides operate as early as 9 AM and close at 6 PM. Visit the zipline’s official website if you’re still curious about this new addition. There is a much better cable car in Tagaytay (according to my aunt) in the Tagaytay Highlands and it was free, as far as I can recall (it was a long time ago). Unfortunately, you need a member to have access to the place. I didn’t have the chance to ride the cable car although we were inside and ready to go. The operator informed us they were discontinuing the ride because there was a storm coming. I do remember riding this downhill train-like ride but I don’t know what it’s called (my memory’s so blurry). I also remember eating in a restaurant serving a lunch buffet and having this prickly sensation when I ate their tuna (I thought I was allergic, but it was probably just bad fish). Oh, and we scoured for real estate on the market although we weren’t actually intending to buy.
Anyway, back to Picnic Grove. After the cable car ride, we went to the souvenir shops lined up near the entrance and parking lots. The items they sell include t-shirts, caps, bags, keychains, slippers and some knitted pieces for cold climates. If you want Tagaytay to be branded on every souvenir you choose to take home, then this is the place for you.
Not ready to leave Picnic Grove yet, we decided to go horseback riding and opted for the adventure trail. There’s no fun in just going around in circles in a small flat space. Big horses cost P200 and smaller ones cost P150, plus an additional P150 for the adventure trail. The guides offered to give us big horses plus the adventure trail for P300 each instead of P350 and we accepted. The adventure trail is actually just the small even field you can see from the third floor of Tierra de Maria where horses carrying visitors amble about. If you’d rather choose a narrow uneven path over the wide level field, you can ask your guide to take you somewhere else more adventurous. Our guides took us to nearby areas where we came across cows and small huts and a ridge overlooking Taal.
Going to the alternative trail
It was brief. We were then escorted back to the adventure trail.
The guide called the horse I was riding Samantha several times so I assumed it was her name. I’ve had little horseback riding experience. The first time I ever rode (really rode and not just take a picture) on horseback was when I was trekking in Taal. The horse I got was a bit on the rowdy side (it liked to kick other horses), but other than that, it wasn’t bad. The next time was when I went riding in Picnic Grove. The problem was with the guide. The horse wasn’t as rowdy as the first one, although it did like to eat leaves from trees and wander off who knows where, ignoring my desperate attempts in steering it to the right direction with my guide nowhere in sight. But that’s another story.
After that more recent experience, I was uneasy about horseback riding. So when coming back to Picnic Grove, I was a little hesitant to try again. But I’m always ready to take chances, so I tried again. But before we set off, we told the guides to actually do their jobs and guide us. I think that paid off. A lot.
Horseback riding
This was one horseback riding experience that I actually completely enjoyed. At first, I was a little worried, but after a while, I got the hang of it. Plus the horse was just wonderful! She followed my cues and didn’t stray off the path. I’ll be sure to ask for her the next time around (if possible). I was starting to feel confident, telling the horse to go faster that when the time was up, I felt disappointed. I knew parts of my body were aching and tired but I didn’t feel it. I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Even so, it was beginning to be late and we had to go home to Manila, so regrettably I had to get off the horse. The experience was incredibly fun for me that it put a ridiculous smile on my face for hours afterwards and I was already mulling over the next time I would be hopping on a horse.
On the way home, we stopped at the fruit stands and pasalubong stalls along Aguinaldo Highway to buy fresh fruits and Collette’s buko pie, then made a U-turn to eat dinner at Andok’s.
Andok's
We were rather worn-out at this time and I felt like dozing off right then and there, but I came around a little when the food arrived. The bumper-to-bumper traffic was unbelievable in Dasmariñas (it was somewhere between 7 PM to 9 PM). I felt like pulling my hair out or getting a good night’s sleep on the wheel or a combination of both. Thankfully, my trusty iPod still had battery left so there was music to entertain me. I get really lonely and jealous when I’m the only one awake while the others are sound asleep. So I raised the volume on purpose to keep my companions from dozing off. Hehehe. Finally, we got past Dasmariñas and everything was fairly smooth after that. Before we knew it, we were home.
After some quick Googling, I found that there’s horseback riding in Manila Zoo. Hmm…maybe I’ll go check that place out. It would be great to go horseback riding more often here in Manila. Without joining an expensive and exclusive club (Manila Polo Club, anyone?).
View pictures of the trip on Flickr.
Visit the Mama Mary’s Movement website for information on Tierra de Maria.
Contact Nos. for Tagaytay Picnic Grove Complex:
(046) 413-4206
(046) 413-0346
Renting this way costs more as a standard feature if they are moving.
His lost bet doomed paphos car hire: the amount we need to go slowly to minimize damage.
In the case of the X. They may also experience preclampasia, which presents with
high blood pressure and the presence of the Saab 93 Castro –you can pick and choose
as you wish. As of late October,.
Posted by paphos car hire forum | March 27, 2013, 9:35 pmNice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web
host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Posted by source For this article | February 24, 2013, 2:08 amMay rooms ba sa picnic grove para sa couple for just a day?if ever meron. magkano?
Posted by miley | May 13, 2013, 9:25 amhi!!! ask ko lng poh kng mgkno ang entrance pag ngpnta dyn sa tagaytay? lht po ba ng papasukan eh my entrance how much poh pati po s picnic grove pede po b mgbaon ng food s picnic grove plz reply..
Posted by ana | November 23, 2012, 11:10 amplz reply po dto s no. n ito 09301596073 salamat po
Posted by ana | November 24, 2012, 12:53 pmnice place,im go there with my friends!!
Posted by cheradee sacueza | November 23, 2012, 5:24 ampwede ba ang aso sa picnic grove?
Posted by judith | November 17, 2012, 4:58 amas soon as possible poh tnx.
Posted by Ener Yob Macapagal | November 16, 2012, 6:33 amwe have a tour on picnic grove .i just want to know the ff:contact number,email,etc.pki email nlng po ako rtgtrvl@gmail.com
Posted by Ener Yob Macapagal | November 16, 2012, 6:31 amask ko lang po kung magkanu ang entrance at parking sa picnic grove pati po ung tables? pls email na lang po kau sa akin. tnx. thelma_delavictoria@yahoo.com
Posted by Thelma dela victoria | November 5, 2012, 4:32 amjust wnt to ask if could stay overnight and how much would it cost for a room to stay
Posted by mhay | October 28, 2012, 6:16 amHi, may bike rental po ba sa loob ng picnic grove? Magkan0 po?
Pls kindly reply.. thanks (:
Posted by green | May 19, 2012, 5:27 amano po ang contact no. ng hotel for rent sa loob po ng picnic grove..kahit cell no. po
Posted by carmen | May 10, 2012, 7:33 ammay idea po ba kau kung magkano po ung room rates for 2 person po? please reply p kaht sa email ko n lang or in this page po thanx
Posted by carmen | May 10, 2012, 7:31 amTanong ko lang din po kung open picnic grove bukas? Thank you in advance. Pa comment n lang din kung open nga sya bukas thanks!
Posted by Charlotte R Escaño | April 5, 2012, 10:06 ambukas po ba ang picnic grove tomorrow, Holy Thursday?
Posted by nicole | April 4, 2012, 12:36 ammay alam po ba kayo na tour package sa Tagaytay for an affordable price including a hotel to stay? thank you.
Posted by Nisa | March 24, 2012, 1:35 pmMy Husband and I are planning to spend an overnight stay there in picnic grove, just want to know the roomrates and how to make reservation, any contact number available.
Posted by Enn | January 6, 2012, 2:04 ampaano po pumunta ng tagaytay,mangagaling po aq ng sucat…and magkano ang ent…uhhmmm my rum b n puwede mag-overnight…??
Posted by alan febo | January 3, 2012, 4:13 pmI was looking for detailed descriptions of the picnic grove,and your site has been most helpful. Thank you!
Posted by hannah marie hisug | December 25, 2011, 1:36 amcan i ask how much all in all did you spend on the trip? thanks. if you could. kindly text me or email me the reply. i’d really appreciate it. super. thanks
09275483033/twisted_920@yahoo.com
Posted by mark | September 17, 2011, 10:31 pmhi there!
we will be having our trip to picnic grove this coming october 7. do they have their contact number?pls send me a reply at vieyan_ jL14@yahoo.com thank you so much
Posted by jievalyn | September 14, 2011, 3:34 amWHAT DO U THINK picnic grove is? do u think is it a recreational or sports club/? what ? please coz im conducting a study and this place is my study how can i knew if is it just a park or wht? please answer if u know
Posted by joanna | August 27, 2011, 1:24 pmmay i ask something? how do u consider PICNIC GROVE as picnic place? or what might u think consider picnic grove as?
Posted by joanna | August 27, 2011, 1:18 pmplease to ask kung may transcient house din po ba malapit dyan sa picnic grove? at pwede rin po ako mag luto ng food namin? we are 3 na pupunta dyan. myself, my 5 years old daughter and my cousin. please, you can text me at 09234690037. Planning to be there on November 2, 2011 @ 2 PM until November 3, 2011 @12 NN. thank you po.
Posted by Virgilio M. Ducusin, Jr. | August 25, 2011, 8:18 amif you have question and try to find an answer pls. try this e-mail address: sales@philippineholidays.com.au
Posted by Al | August 7, 2011, 10:59 pmhow old is this picnic area?
Posted by Al | August 7, 2011, 10:54 pmHello. We’re planning to go there on October 1-2, 2011. San ba pwedeng magpareserve. Pwede bang manghingi ng email address or cellphone number. Thank you.
Posted by Maverly | July 31, 2011, 7:08 amhi, im marjo we are planning this comming sept, 10, 2011 to celebrate my son’s bday,, just inquire, if how much is ur entrance fee, ur cottage that good for 10-15 person’s and other ammenities,, just email me at marjlayne_20@yahoo.com,, im still looking for asap reply,, thanks
Posted by marjo torres | July 18, 2011, 4:27 amhello….i’m planning to surprise my husband on our 8th yr Anniversary this coming June 29, i choose Tagaytay because he’s never been there…does anyone know where to find a cheap hotel or inn to stay overnight?…thank you…
please send thru my email:lhen_gabia@yahoo.com
Posted by Ma. helen Gabia-Abuan | June 23, 2011, 8:28 amplease need help….thank you…
Posted by lhen | June 23, 2011, 8:32 amPhp50 per person ang entrance fee sa picnic grove plus parking fee Php50 kahit wala ka gagawin kailangan mo magbayad basta lahat ng pumasok sa picnic grove
Posted by alma | June 19, 2011, 6:48 amhello, we’re planning to visit picnic groove on sunday…are dogs allowed inside the picnic groove..we have a labrador..thanks
Posted by jem | June 15, 2011, 2:41 pmYep, I think so.
Posted by lisvn | June 15, 2011, 2:45 pmhello, we’re planning to visit picnic groove on sunday…is dogs allowed inside the picnic groove..we have a labrador..thanks
Posted by jem | June 15, 2011, 2:40 pmdanda nman ng place nyo dyan sa picnic grove last nag punta na ko dyan at itinray lahat ng adventures?
09226540152 pls text me or call at 9702280
tnx <3
Posted by cherry de jeasus | May 16, 2011, 4:49 amikaw na liz ang talented. ikaw na!
Posted by bitter bitch | February 22, 2011, 6:21 ammay idea po ba kau kung magkano po ung room rates for 2 person po? please reply p kaht sa email ko n lang or in this page po thanx
Posted by jay | January 13, 2011, 3:37 am09186089040 pls. send po numbers ng picnic grove at paano tumawag sa cellphone?
Posted by Reygan | December 24, 2010, 7:25 ampls. pakisend naman po number ng picnic grove paano po magpareserve ng room>>??? pls po… text back po.. thanks
Posted by Reygan | December 24, 2010, 7:24 amplease give us your contact number for children field trip purpose. send to 09087680568
Posted by arnel tinte | October 9, 2010, 9:20 amplease give us your contact number for children field trip. send to 09087680568
Posted by arnel tinte | October 9, 2010, 9:18 amme & my whole family where planning to go there in tagaytay! ask ko lang po how much kaya ang mag ckeck-in dyan sa picnic groove for n nights? plase reply… thnks….
Posted by marie | September 23, 2010, 3:10 amdear madam/sir
im have a hard time surfing the web how to book a pavillion at picnic grove and maybe to stay in the hotel ,i just couldnt find the right web site how to book , can you please help me how to do it , or just simply send me the right web site that i can go to ,, also we got a family re-union on april,, could be 50 pax will be attending thats why i want to book a few picnic shed that can accomodate the family
Posted by alfredo tengtio | September 9, 2010, 4:26 amnakarating na po ako jan since 1996 pa talagang maganda ang picnic groove,now meron n akong family gsto po nmin mag check in jan,how much po ba?dati kc mag cchek in kmi jan,around 7 pm,sbi wala n daw available,galing p kmi s malayo lugar,tpos ung guard may kausap n tricycle driver at dinala kmi sa room outside picnic groove.pki email nman po kung magkano ty.
Posted by bernadette m. valenzuela | September 5, 2010, 3:29 pmisnt really nice and beautiful tagaytay?
Posted by yah it is located in tagaytay in residence inn | September 3, 2010, 7:38 amthanks s information about picnic grove…i want to experience all that.. thank u for sharing …
kelly:))
Posted by kelly | August 19, 2010, 2:30 amsalamat sa information dito. now i do havea clue kung ano ang ini ooffer ng picnic grove area. it had changed since my last time in 2006. i will definetly go back with my special one in the very near future.
thanks again.
Posted by tony m. | August 12, 2010, 3:20 pmwow i want to experience all that thing..thank you for sharing those picks…
Posted by alvin | June 22, 2010, 5:51 amall the information you have are very consistent.. thanks for that.. at least i already have some ideas when we get there this July.. can’t wait.. i just hope you also include how much are the souvenirs.. but that’s ok.. thanks anyway..
Posted by tine | June 14, 2010, 2:51 pmMy boyfriend and i are planning to spend an overnight stay there in picnic grove, just want to know the roomrates and how to make reservation, any contact number available.
Please reply @ 0927-3229828
Posted by Cherie | April 21, 2010, 3:13 amthank you so much this entry is soooo helpful!! I’m planning a trip this weekend…
Posted by Sheng Reyes | April 15, 2010, 1:07 amgudpm, where can i inquire on the rates for overnight stay in picnic grove? thanks
Posted by misis_so | March 19, 2010, 9:33 amnakaka enjoy ba mga kids at tagaytay picnic grove?
i just plan to bring along w my kids this holyweek
ty
Posted by kathy so | March 16, 2010, 5:11 amAm planning to spend an overnight stay there in picnic grove with my wife just want to know the roomrates and how to make any reservation, any contact number available.
Posted by Reden | March 4, 2010, 5:45 amGood day! How do i reserve for overnight accomodation for 30 pax on march 10, 2010 at tagaytay picnic grove? Kindly email me at gr8stainc@yahoo.com
big tnx,
aileen lawigan
Posted by aileen lawigan | March 4, 2010, 1:39 amhi,our group of 250 people would like to go this coming March 20,2010 Saturday but we don’t know who to contact to do a reservation for tagaytay picnic grove.and a lunch venue for 250 guest.all should be LOCAL FOOD.PLS eMAIL ME TO explorephiltour@yahoo.com and pls let me know if that day is still possible to make a reservation.
thank you
Jovy Ramos
Posted by JOVY RAMOS | March 1, 2010, 12:30 pmHi!
How to get to Picnic Grove by Bus from Makati City Luzon?
Posted by Cobie Bell | February 17, 2010, 4:47 ammagkano po ang bayad sa entrance kun gmeron man
and ung shed po b dun libre?thanks po pls reply to my number 09081165337 tnx
Posted by rachel | December 27, 2009, 3:14 pmWow..it really helps with my date..thanks a lot..:)
Posted by Anton | December 20, 2009, 1:40 pmim kit, from makati….
i just wanna ask if it is true n my entrance
nga ba tlaga s picnic grove????
how much?txt me 09212602770.. tnx
Posted by kit | December 15, 2009, 6:43 amvery informative and helpful! =D thanks much!
Posted by beverly | December 1, 2009, 12:04 amim mike nga pala 33yo from usa. miss ko na ang tagaytay hehehe
just reply sa yahoo id ko jackbauier
tnx
Posted by mike | November 9, 2009, 5:00 amhow much is the entrance fee now?
just reply to my yahoo id jackbauier
tnx
Posted by mike | November 9, 2009, 4:59 amthank you for sharing. it really help me a lot. God bless
Posted by shelo | September 14, 2009, 2:28 amuhm may i know….how to go to tagaytay picnic grove through local transportation?
Posted by angel | June 12, 2009, 4:52 amОтличная статья, спасибо!
Posted by Ferinannnd | May 25, 2009, 5:55 amhow to go to tagaytay picnic grove through local transportation?
Posted by Ren | May 19, 2009, 6:35 amThis site has info on how to get to Tagaytay via different modes of transportation:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Tagaytay#By_bus
There is a jeepney terminal before you reach the Tagaytay rotunda. The jeepneys can take you to Picnic Grove. They can also take you to the People’s Park In The Sky, if you choose.
Posted by lisvn | November 3, 2009, 9:59 amhi…
does anyone know kung magkano rate ng rooms sa picnic grove?
answer pls. thanks
Posted by xander | May 2, 2009, 8:41 amTry this:
http://www.wowpinoy.net/merchant.php?keyword=hotel%20resort%20spa&destination=&id=1526&modname=hotel
Posted by lisvn | May 3, 2009, 11:43 amthanks for sharing…itz juz a pic but i enjoy & feel like the urge to experience it too…nice details…
Posted by jennie | March 30, 2009, 5:38 pmnice images
godbless .
Posted by ella :) | March 20, 2009, 1:10 amJust passing by.Btw, you website have great content!
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