Luçon

Understand

Luzon is the Philippines' largest and most populous island, occupying 110,000 km2 (43,000 sq miles), a bit over a third of the Philippines land area, but it has more than half the country's population. It is the fourth most populated island in the world, behind Java, Honshu, and Britain.

The island is divided into three major cultural regions. Ilocano and Igorot cultures dominate the northern side. Tagalogs consider central and southern Luzon (which includes Metro Manila) their homeland, alongside smaller ethnic groups including the Kapampangan and the Pangasinan, while the Bicolano people inhabit the southeastern tip and outlying islands of Catanduanes and Masbate. There are other indigenous peoples that form sizeable minorities like the Aeta (Negritos) of mainland Luzon and the Mangyan of Mindoro.

Luzon's climate varies from east to west, with the western part facing the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea being dry and wet, and the east facing the Pacific being wet all year. Most of Luzon experiences a cool season, a hot season, and a wet season, while the wetter parts having no clearly defined seasons.

Get around

It can be a hassle getting around but if you know your way, it is not really a big problem. Taxis are common in major cities such as Manila and Baguio. In most cities and provinces, the public jeepney is a way of going around the main roads and routes while tricycles are better for specific destinations in minor roads. There is a fixed rate in jeepneys and fares can be found on a table pasted behind the driver.

See

Luzon has everything the adventurous traveler will want to see: the heritage towns of Vigan or Taal, mountains and volcanoes such as Mayon or the Taal Volcano, vast swaths of rice, corn, coconut and sugarcane plantations, the big cities of Manila and Baguio, beaches and rainforests. While the island is densely populated, there are still some relatively unspoiled locations around the island.

Eat

Luzon has a wide variety of regional cuisines, from the vegetable-heavy Ilocano cuisine with bagnet and pinakbet/dinengdeng to the spicy Bicolano cuisine with their pinangat and Bicol Express. The best-known culinary scenes in Luzon are of the Kapampangan and of the Tagalog.

Drink

There are many local rice or coconut-based wines, such as basi of the Ilocos provinces and lambanog of the Southern Tagalog provinces. Batangas is known for their kapeng barako, made from locally grown Coffea liberica.

Stay safe

Luzon is mostly fairly safe, but it is always good to pay keen attention to your surroundings. Common crimes include pickpocketing, other small thefts, and various common scams used mainly against tourists.

While the region has tolled expressways that are good quality, traffic, and local driving habits are nerve-racking. While many drivers obey pedestrian crossings and traffic lights, always watch out, especially in the countryside, where traffic enforcement is virtually non-existent. Raising a hand before you cross is advisable, as not all drivers, especially motorcyclists and truckers, respect pedestrian crossings.

Go next

The main nearby destinations are Palawan to the west and the Visayas to the south.