Municipality in Laguna, Philippines
Photo: Ramon FVelasquez, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Majayjay (pronounced as “mah-high-HIGH”) is a highland town in the province of Laguna in the Philippines. Situated at the northern slopes of Mount Banahaw, it is known for its waterfalls, Spanish-era bridges and Romanesque Catholic basilica.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Majayjay Church
The only Catholic basilica in Laguna and a national cultural treasure, Majayjay's church burned down several times during the Spanish era, with the last being in 1711. Instead of razing the structure, its priest instead ordered the ruins to be encased inside a -thick layer of brick and plastered in pink, resulting the façade exuding a fortress-like aura. The interior contains an ornate altar and an upper-level catwalk that rings the nave. Unlike most Spanish-era churches in the Philippines, the basilica was built in the Romanesque style. The parish office sells some souvenirs.
Puente del Capricho
In the 19th century, a Spanish priest ordered his parishioners to build a bridge connecting Majayjay and Magdalena over the Pagsanjan River. He treated his workers badly and frequently whipped them in the buttocks, hence its name (Tulay Pigi literally means Buttocks Bridge, while Puente del Capricho literally means Bridge of Caprice). This ultimately backfired, and the bridge was left unfinished as Majayjay was depopulated by residents fleeing from the priest's abuses. The bridge's overgrown state and missing span, which was later filled with a steel contraption, is best admired from the bottom of the structure.
Imelda Falls
The most visited waterfall in Majayjay, with a height of .
A cold stream running from Mount Banahaw. At the gorge surrounding Dalitiwan Bridge are two resorts allowing access to the stream and partially channeling the waters to create man-made cascades and rock pools.
An 18th-century chapel containing a venerated image of the Virgin Mary.
Majayjay's colonial era municipal hall burned down sometime in the 20th century and was abandoned in favor of a new site near Majayjay Church. Nevertheless, the old building's shell remains as an imposing ruin, with the stairs and parts of its portico still intact.
Placed beside the Olla (Santa Cruz) river, this was where the Nuestra Señora de Porteria image was originally thought to have been placed before the chapel in the town center was built.
A privately-owned zoo with more than 900 animals in the woods outside town.
Kilangin Falls
A waterfall at the boundary of Majayjay and Liliw that is claimed by both municipalities.
Another set of waterfalls upstream from the Dalitiwan Bridge.
An inactive volcano straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. At , it is the highest mountain in the Calabarzon region, and a sacred monument for the Tagalog people.
Majayjay is situated at a crossroads between Laguna and Quezon Province. To the east, there are roads leading to Luisiana and Lucban. To the north is the road to Santa Cruz via Magdalena and Sambat Junction in Pagsanjan.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Manila (Pasay) · International · MNL
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Majayjay and Philippines.
Full 2026 list of visa-free countries for Philippine passport holders. Check ASEAN entry rules, stay limits, and Bureau of Immigration clearance tips.
6 min read
Explore the best islands to visit in the Philippines, including Palawan limestone lagoons, Boracay white sands, Bohol hills, and Cebu waterfalls.
6 min read
Learn the real difference between Palawan and Boracay with our breakdown of sand quality, boat tours, nightlife, travel transit, and vacation costs.
7 min read
Real-world 7-day Philippines travel budget covering hotel prices, domestic flights, island hopping tours, tricycle fares, and food costs.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.