The Caleruega church is very solemn. a quiet place where you can reflect and be closer to god. Landscapes are very beautiful and you can feel the cool mountain breeze. There is also a small trail going to another church at the top of the hill, you will pass a series of koi ponds downhill and needs to cross a hanging bridge before hiking uphill.
Don't let the 'church' word scare you (in case you're non-practicing/agnostic/etc like moi). It offers vast, beautifully landscaped grounds filled with koi ponds, localized stations of the cross, hanging bridges, and nature paths. The place is so quiet and peaceful, and it offers a breathtaking view of Tagaytay. Lots of places to eat, rest, and meditate in as well, provided you follow the simple rules of the place (which are all pretty sensible: don't litter, don't make loud noises, etc.)Truly a perfect place for pre-nups and the like: you'll always find a terrific place to shoot in.The most amazing thing for me is that the entrance only costs a measly Php30. Other tourist spots in Tagaytay should be ashamed of themselves!How to get there:1) From Olivarez Rotonda (home base of all Tagaytay tourists), ride a jeep to Nasugbu. Ask the driver to drop you off at Evercrest/Caleruega. Travel time: 40+ mins.2) From the drop-off point, cross to the other side of the road and approach one of the trikes. Tell them you want to go to Caleruega Church. Schedule a roundtrip fee of Php100 or less. Travel time: 10 mins.
We arrived as a wedding was taking place; a good place for the couple's photographs. The better part of the attraction are the well-kept gardens, with walkways, a swinging bridge and lots of places for those inclined to simply sit and reflect. Good views of the surrounding countryside. The last kilometer of road to the church could do with some upkeep.
Just had my first visit to this retreat place and it was really amazing. If you are looking for some peace and solemnity, this is the place. Not very far from the city, take a bus going to Mendez, Cavite, get off save more then take another bus to Nasugbu and tell the driver to drop you off Hillcrest golf course, there would be tricycle waiting to take you there for 20p each. Warning, it's a bumpy ride, the road was a bit worn out, so watch out. A minimal fee of 30 at the entrance. The churches were built in Spanish replica, hence the name Caleruega. It was very spacious and a popular venue for weddings. You would really get an awesome pre-nuptial here, with all the greens, blues, reds, all the colors that surrounds the area. There's also a hanging bridge and the open transfiguration chapel on top, which would take a little trekking. So, you would have to be fit if you wish to explore the area. My total expense, I guess around 1000k, of course that includes my little side trip to Tagaytay Skyranch and some "pasalubongs"
I enjoyed the walk from the main entrance up to the Chapel because of the colorful and attractive flora and mountain backdrop. The Transfiguration Chapel is indeed a delight to see... a perfect intimate wedding venue. The entire place needs some renovations though. I also noticed the place is visited by many yet the roads leading to the retreat place and their toilet facilities are not ready for visitors. Perhaps if they increase a bit the entrance fee it could provide better public amenities.
Perfect place for nature-lover. It made me speechless for a while. If you are planning to have a walk for the whole place, expect around 2 to 3 hours. Make sure you wear your sunglasses, hats or SPF lotion for protection against the sun.
The view is really nice, also the ambiance with flowers, bridges and aquarium... the church is good for weddings
I have always skipped Caleruega because it seemed so near and I have seen thousands of photos making me feel like I have been there. I went anyway last weekend and felt the solemnity of this retreat venue/chapel in the midst of the beautiful natural setting. It seemed like God had a direct hand in creating Caleruega. First visited the koi pond and the hanging bridge, saw the camping area and amphitheatre, and hiked up the tent chapel. Back to the parking area, went thru the Cenaculum to go to the main attraction, the Transfiguration Chapel.Having seen the beauty of the place in such tranquil setting, I wonder no more why Caleruega is the preferred chapel for weddings south of Metro Manila.
We're very thankful that our destination Caleruega turned out to be a very good one. We arrived at this place and found it so nice and almost costless (P30 per pax only). There is ample space to roam around and take pics while walking over ponds with kois, hanging bridge, and finally the hilltop chapel. We all returned to Manila, happy and refreshed. It's worth spending Chinese New Year and the 2nd day of Lent at Caleruega.
This church is famous for celebrity weddings at the top hill side of nasugbu near tagaytay, also a place for retreats, seminars, team buildings, it has a very scenic part that looks like you're at the alps, cool breeze, full of greenery, theres hanging bridges and walkways surrounded by beautiful nature, perfect for weekend picnics with family and friends.