Biking Around the Surrounding Barrios

Not many people know that Lipa sits on a plateau where rivers wend through, so the landscape is of rolling terrains and gentle gorges. And in the Malarayat foothills where we are in, practically all roads are good, mostly winding and hardly flat. It's a pleasant place to bike in: we have a touring bike which I enjoy using, with my then-still-a-pup Vitra coming along to drop by the neighbor's or run an errand. Other times, I go further with my mountain bike on Sunday mornings and have a short work-out before breakfast. 

Just behind the barrio is a quiet country road that goes towards Quezon (province); it goes down a lush gorge until you hit the river and cross one more barrio before hitting the Batangas-Quezon border.

A typical weekend countryside scene, San Celestino

This same back road lead to many trails to Malarayat. I've not begun exploring beyond the river and into the mountain, but I'm sure once you're off the paved roads, the possibilities are endless.

Otherwise, keeping to the roads and biking around the next barrios of San Benito and Santo Niňo would lead you to more farms and country homes, quiet and sprawling private properties tucked in the most idyllic countryside spots.

A thoroughbred from a farm full of polo horses, San Benito

The Katigbak coffee nursery, San Benito

Mid-term duriáns in July, Barrio San Benito

An acácia-lined driveway

An unusual sight: alpácas in Barrio Talisay, Lipa! 

Mango trees line a horse farm, Barrio Santo Niňo

A California-style country-house, Barrio San Benito