Motorcycle Ride Destinations in the Philippines

What counts as a destination

A destination on Waypoint is a place worth riding to: a viewpoint at the top of a climb, a landmark on a famous highway, a lake, a beach, a food stop riders keep coming back to. It is somewhere you can park, take off your helmet and say you made it. Every destination is pinned to a real location and belongs to one of the country's 18 regions, so reaching it counts toward that region's stamp in your Waypoint Passport.

Below are the best motorcycle rides in the Philippines to start with: three picks per island group, chosen for the ride as much as the place. Riders have mapped destinations in all 18 regions. Luzon has the deepest list so far, and the Visayas and Mindanao are filling in fast.

Motorcycle rides in North Luzon and the Cordillera

Mountain passes, cool pine air and a coast road that seems to hang over the sea.

• Patapat Viaduct

  A ribbon of elevated road between towering cliffs and crashing waves on the Ilocos coast.

• Highest Point, Halsema Highway

  The highest point on the Philippine highway system, with ridge-top views and cool, thin air.

• Lion's Head, Kennon Road

  The giant lion carving at the top of Kennon Road's twisty climb, a rite of passage for Cordillera riders.

Motorcycle rides in South Luzon and Bicol

Twisty mountain highways, a volcano on the horizon and long coastal curves. Sulit ang byahe.

• KM90 Laguna-Quezon Boundary (Marcos Hwy)

  The photo stop on Marilaque, the "Twisties of the East," where the climb crosses into Quezon.

• Mayon Volcano Viewpoint (Cagsawa)

  Open road through farmland with Mayon's perfect cone in view the whole way in.

• Tiwi Coastal Road

  Winding curves along the shore, with the open sea right beside you.

Motorcycle rides in the Visayas

Island riding. Sometimes a ferry first, then highland roads and landmarks you've seen in every photo.

• Chocolate Hills Viewpoint

  A ride across Bohol's countryside, then a climb to a view of more than a thousand symmetrical hills.

• San Juanico Bridge Viewpoint

  Cross the San Juanico Bridge with the sea wind in your face and the strait wide open below.

• Guimaras Windmills

  Ferry across to Guimaras, then ride past mango orchards to hilltop windmills above the sea.

Motorcycle rides in Mindanao

Wide-open highlands, bay views and a waterfall worth the long ride.

• Communal Ranch

  Endless green hills and steady wind. The classic Bukidnon ride.

• Sarangani Highlands

  Sweeping curves climb to a wide view of Sarangani Bay.

• Tinuy-an Falls

  A palm-lined road that ends at a thundering, wide curtain of white water.

How we pick and review destinations

Destinations come from the Waypoint team and from riders who submit a destination. Every rider submission is reviewed by hand before it goes live. We check the pin, compare it against places already on the map to avoid duplicates, and set the name, category and description. Places that don't fit are declined, and approved ones credit the rider who sent them in.

The picks on this page are chosen by the Waypoint team, only from destinations that already have a full page with a written description, photos and a confirmed region. We favor places where the ride there is part of the reward, like a mountain pass, a coast road or a climb to a view, over places you would just drive to anyway.

When is the best time to ride in the Philippines?

The dry season, roughly November or December through May, is the main riding season. November to February brings the coolest, clearest days, which is when the mountain roads fill up. March to May is hot and dry: great for the coast, tiring on long rides, so start early and drink water at every stop. Holy Week is the busiest week of the year on the road. The rainy and typhoon season runs roughly June to November. Riders still ride, just shorter and with more room to change plans. Check the weather, watch for landslides in the mountains, and read our guide to riding a motorcycle in the rainy season.

Where should I start if I'm riding from Manila?

Head south or east first. Tagaytay, the Marilaque highway and the Rizal hills are the usual first rides out of the city, with Bataan and Zambales to the northwest. Our list of rides out of Metro Manila collects the places riders keep going back to. Tara, labas na.

What are Waypoint Passport stamps?

The Waypoint Passport has one stamp for each of the country's 18 regions. A stamp only lands when you actually ride into that region with Waypoint recording, so your map fills in one real trip at a time. Walang shortcut. Arrive at a destination and you also get a postcard and an Arrival Trophy. See how the Waypoint Passport works.

Is Waypoint free?

Yes. Waypoint is free on iOS and Android, with no ads and no subscription. Points come from riding, not buying, and you redeem them in the rewards shop for real riding gear like gloves and helmets. Here's how riding points turn into gear.