Situated in the province of Albay, Tabaco is a somewhat sleepy city which seems to have little to offer tourists at first glance, and many people pass straight through after crossing into the Philippines via Tabaco Port.
However, the city is surrounded by diverse natural beauty. The island of San Muguel is just waiting to be explored, while climbing the volcanic Mount Mayom offers spectacular views from the summit. There are a number of beaches and islands around Tabaco, but there are better strips of sand to be found elsewhere in the Philippines.
There are a number of vibrant festivals held in Tabaco and many people try to time their trip to catch one of them. Tabaco is cooler than much of the Philippines, making this a good place to retreat from the heat.
Getting There & Away
Getting to Tabaco is a bit tricky as there is no airport or train station. The easiest way to reach Tabaco is by minibus from the city of Legaspi (30 minutes). Legaspi is a 55-minute flight from Manila and its international airport, or a 15-hour train journey. There are also regular buses to Legaspi from neighboring cities such as Casawa and Isarog.
Things to Do
Tabaco Attractions
- Mayon Planetarium
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Situated near mount mayom, sit back and watch a documentary about tabaco’s mighty mountain.
- San Juan]] Bautista Church
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This beautiful spanish church was built in 1861 and offers good views of tabaco from the bell tower.
Side trips from Tabaco
- San Muguel Island
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A great daytrip destination of diverse natural beauty.
- Mount Mayom
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Climb to the summit of this volcanic mountain for superb views.