Paete

Paete is a lakeside municipality in the province of Laguna, located near Laguna de Bay and the town of Pakil.

• Exact Barangay/City: Paete, Laguna
• Best For: Intricate wood carvings, paper mache (taka) handicrafts, and local artistic heritage walks
• Average Spend: ₱200 - ₱600 for dining and small wooden souvenirs, but up to ₱15,000+ for large custom-carved religious statues
• Power Outlets & Wi-Fi: Power outlets are only found in a few small eateries near the town plaza; mobile data connection is decent but free public Wi-Fi is essentially non-existent

Wood and Chisels

Honestly, the moment you step out of your ride in Paete, the first thing that hits you is the smell. It’s the sweet, earthy scent of freshly shaved wood. Almost every single family in this small town has at least one member who is into wood carving. The level of craftsmanship here is absolutely mind-blowing. You can walk down any narrow street in the town proper and literally watch master carvers—some of whom have been doing this for half a century—working on massive religious statues or intricate floral reliefs entirely by hand, using nothing but traditional steel chisels and a wooden mallet. It's a living tradition that has somehow survived the age of mass-produced plastic.

The Marathon Commute from Manila

Let’s be real: commuting to Paete is a marathon, not a sprint. It is located on the northeastern loop of Laguna, and there are no direct train routes. If you are coming from Manila, you have two painful choices. You can go to the Buendia or Cubao bus terminals and board a bus bound for Santa Cruz, Laguna. Once you arrive at the Santa Cruz terminal (which easily takes three hours depending on the traffic at SLEX and Calamba), you have to transfer to a jeepney headed to Paete or Siniloan. Alternatively, you can take the LRT-2 to Antipolo, ride a jeepney to Tanay, Rizal, and then transfer to another jeepney bound for Siniloan before taking a final jeepney or tricycle to Paete. Yes, you read that right—that's three separate jeepney transfers. By the time you arrive, you’ll be covered in road dust and completely exhausted from the winding mountain roads.

When you finally reach the town, your main way of getting around is by foot or via the local tricycle terminals near the town plaza. The streets are incredibly narrow, built long before cars existed, which means driving a private vehicle here is a nightmare. There are virtually no parking spaces, and if you block a street, you will quickly face the wrath of local tricycle drivers who rely on these tight lanes for their livelihood. Do yourself a favor: park near the municipal hall and just walk. The town is small enough to explore on foot anyway.

Art Beyond the Wood

While wood carving is the main draw, Paete is also famous for its **taka**—colorful paper mache horses and dolls that you’ve probably seen in traditional fiestas. It’s a craft that started back in the Spanish colonial era when wood became too expensive for toys, so the locals adapted. You’ll find families painting these bright red horses on their doorsteps. If you want to buy, just talk directly to the artisans. They are incredibly welcoming and will gladly explain their process. Just remember to bring cash because credit card terminals and digital wallets are almost unheard of in these backyard shops. Supporting these local artists directly helps keep this beautiful, centuries-old industry alive in a world that is moving too fast.

Updated on Jun 19, 2026 by George Gemson