Day Trip: Nagcarlan's Underground Cemetery & Bunga Falls
Neighboring Nagcarlan delivers San Pablo's best quick side trip: a town of cool uplands, an ornate old church, twin waterfalls, and the country's most atmospheric cemetery.
The Underground Cemetery
Built in 1845 under the direction of Franciscan Fr. Vicente Velloc, the cemetery pairs a walled circular ground-level graveyard with a crypt beneath its chapel — burial niches in cool brick vaults reserved historically for friars and prominent families. Philippine history walked through here too: the crypt served as a secret meeting place for revolutionaries against Spain. It's now managed as a National Historical Landmark.
- Hours: generally Tuesday–Sunday daytime, closed Mondays; entrance is free [CONFIRM current hours before traveling].
- Conduct: it remains hallowed ground — quiet voices, no props-heavy photo shoots.
Add Bunga Twin Falls
A short tricycle hop away, Bunga Falls drops in two parallel ~20-meter columns into a deep green pool — swimmable, with minimal development and modest local fees. Combined with the cemetery, it's the ideal contrast: history in the morning, cannonballs after lunch.
Getting there from San Pablo
- By jeepney: Nagcarlan-bound jeepneys leave from San Pablo's terminal area regularly; the cemetery sits along the main road at the town approach.
- By car/tricycle hire: ~30–40 minutes via the San Pablo–Nagcarlan road; hiring a tricycle for the loop (cemetery + falls + church) is a common arrangement — agree on the price first.
Make it a full loop
Continue 15 minutes past Nagcarlan to Liliw for footwear shopping and café time — the classic San Pablo–Nagcarlan–Liliw day. Trekkers can instead link Nagcarlan with the Yambo/Pandin side, which borders this direction.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery famous?
It's the only underground cemetery in the Philippines — an 1845 crypt beneath a chapel, used historically for friar and elite burials and as a secret meeting site of Filipino revolutionaries. It's a National Historical Landmark.
Is there an entrance fee at the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery?
Entry has traditionally been free, with the site open Tuesday–Sunday during daytime hours and closed Mondays — confirm current hours before your trip.
How far is Nagcarlan from San Pablo?
About 30–40 minutes by road. Jeepneys run regularly from San Pablo, and tricycles can be hired for a loop covering the cemetery, Bunga Falls, and the town church.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Spot an outdated detail? Email support@sanpablolaguna.com.
