If you are wondering where to go in Antipolo, but GCQ restrictions limit your planning, it is best to consider less crowded areas. This is especially true if you are taking your kids with you.

Definitely, Antipolo City is becoming the people’s go-to place for a quick weekend getaway or road trip due to its proximity to Manila and other key cities. Antipolo City is merely 20 kilometers away from Metro Manila, so anyone can squeeze a little quality time going here.

Nonetheless, heightened restrictions apply when under GCQ (general community quarantine). For example, tourist destinations and attractions can only operate at 30% and 50% indoor and outdoor capacities, respectively.

So when visiting a GCQ-status city, it is wise to avoid the crowd. The fewer people you interact with, the lower the risk of contracting the virus. Good thing, in Antipolo City, there are several places to visit that fit the said conditions.

Places to go to in Antipolo during GCQ

Boso-Boso Church

Antipolo City is home to several historic churches such as the Antipolo Cathedral and the Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church, better known as Boso-Boso Church.

A Roman Catholic church, it was established by Franciscan missionaries in the mid-15th century. Thus, Boso-Boso Church is over 400 years old, probably the oldest church in Rizal. Unfortunately, an earthquake damaged the church in 1880 and was never reconstructed. In 1930, it was supposed to be demolished to give way to a dam, but the plans were abandoned. Then, a fire razed it until the Camillian order rebuilt the church in 1986 into what it is today.

The church is located in Barangay San Jose, approximately 20 kilometers from Masinag. You won’t see it along the road, though. Instead, you need to turn left before you reach the bulalohan stalls. It’s a remote location, and the church is flanked by colossal acacia trees, lending serenity to the place overall.

Mount Purro Nature Reserve

Another sightseeing spot around this area is Mount Purro Nature Reserve. It is a farm-style family eco-park, and like Boso-Boso Church, it is also found near the Sierra Mountain Range foothills. It’s a tourist destination void of Wi-Fi, TV, air conditioning system, etc.一indeed a place for a digital detox. 

You will genuinely commune with nature when you disconnect from your busy city lifestyle. That is what the owners一the Malvars一really want to achieve with Mount Purro. The reserve has nature playscapes where fun outdoor activities such as forest hiking, river walking, bonfire lighting, and tree planting occur. There’s also a swimming pool and game rooms to enjoy during your spare time.

Dining is an experience at Mount Purro as well. Meals are served at the communal dining area called bahay kubo, complete with bamboo tables and wooden furniture pieces.

From the bulalohan, there’s a road on your left going to Mount Purro. It takes another 25 kilometers to go to the area.

Hinulugang Taktak

Hinulugang Taktak Nature and Adventure Park, or simply Hinulugang Taktak, is a 12-meter high waterfall. A pride of Antipolo, it is also the nearest waterfall in Metro Manila. The local government has been rehabilitating the national park for several years now, adding new attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Today, Hinulugang Taktak has a viewing deck and gazebos to accommodate visitors who wish to picnic here. There are also swimming pools. For the adventure-seekers, you can try the hanging bridge, rappelling, and wall-climbing areas. You may also view the surroundings from the spider-web view deck.

Pinto Art Museum

No list of Antipolo City tourist attractions would be complete without mentioning Pinto Art Museum. The museum is owned by Dr. Joven Cuanang, a neurologist who is also an art patron. He championed The Salingpusa, a revolutionary art collective movement. Dr. Cuanang started his art collection in the 1980s, almost all of which is displayed at the museum. 

Pinto Art Museum opened its doors to the viewing public in 2010. Since then, people from all over the world have visited the museum to appreciate primitive and contemporary art. In 2016, Artnet listed the museum as one of the most Instagrammed museums globally. Tatler Asia also named it the #1 most Instagrammed museum in Asia.

Designed by the renowned Filipino artist Antonio Leaño, the museum is located in a two-hectare estate. It now includes a shop, cafe, and tattoo shop.

Crescent Moon Cafe

Crescent Moon Cafe is one of the hidden gems in Antipolo, making it perfect for exploration during GCQ. The unorthodox diner serves Southeast Asian cuisine. 

The cafe doubles as a pottery store to buy potted products such as plates, bowls, mugs, novelty items, and other decorative items. The owners host pottery-making and other creative workshops.

In 2016, the owner launched The Glass Bar, where the workshops occur. It is also a great place to host small-scale meetings; the bar can accommodate 20 participants. 

Advanced booking is required, though. Fees are inclusive of the meals.

Angono Petroglyphs

You might be wondering why Angono Petroglyphs is on this list of places to go in Antipolo. The truth is, this attraction is more accessible from Antipolo than any other parts of Rizal like Angono, Taytay, and Binangonan.

Angono Petroglyphs is located at the borders of Angono and Binangonan. Its actual name is Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs. It preserves the oldest known artwork in Philippine history. The engraved figures on the rock walls date back to circa 3,000 BC. Carlos “Botong” Francisco, a national artist, discovered the petroglyphs in 1965 during a boy scout field trip.

Angono Petroglyphs is included in the list of National Cultural Treasures.

Visitors cannot take their vehicles inside the area. Instead, they need to leave them outside, near the entrance, before traversing the cave-like path going inside. It takes a 5-minute walk towards the rock walls. There are tables set up for those who want to picnic there.

Also, mountain bikes are welcome inside since it is near the Thunderbird Resort trails. Speaking of which, if you are having a staycation at one of the villas or rooms, you may easily go to the petroglyphs.