Private Resort in Rizal · Hidden Gem in Rizal
Best Resorts in Rizal (2026): 12 Picks by Town, Pool and Group Size
The best resorts in Rizal by type: private villas, lakeside and full-service resorts, Antipolo stays, a wave-pool park and Tanay retreats, with who each suits and what to check.
The best resorts in Rizal depend on what your group wants from the day. For one group with its own pool, a whole private villa in Binangonan or Antipolo fits best. For hotel service and events, Thunderbird Resorts Rizal in Binangonan is the main full-service option. Punta de Fabian in Baras offers lakefront suites. Ciudad Christhia 9 Waves in San Mateo has a wave pool for children. Tanay suits cooler highland stays, team-building camps and waterfall trips. This guide lists 12 resorts across five Rizal towns: what each one is, who it suits and what to check before booking.
Disclosure: City on a Hill Journal is published by City on a Hill Private Villas, the first entry on this list. We describe our own villas from first-hand knowledge. For the other resorts we used their own pages, the Rizal provincial and Baras municipal tourism portals and booking-site listings, all linked under Sources. We did not take payment from any resort on this list. Updated October 2026.
Which resorts in Rizal are worth booking? The 12 at a glance
| Resort | Town | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| City on a Hill Private Villas | Binangonan | Whole private villas, each with its own infinity pool | One group of 20 to 30, lake and city-light views |
| Thunderbird Resorts Rizal | Binangonan | Integrated resort with hotel rooms, villas, casino and spa | Hotel service, events, separate rooms |
| Punta de Fabian | Baras | Lakefront resort with suites and a lagoon pool | Couples and families who want a lakeside resort |
| Loreland Farm Resort | Antipolo | Farm resort with pools, cottages, rooms and spa | Day tours with children |
| Luljetta's Hanging Gardens and Spa | Antipolo | Spa and wellness resort | Couples, pampering, small celebrations |
| Date and Dine Resort | Antipolo | Resort with rooms, outdoor pool and dining | A short stay close to Metro Manila |
| Mount Purro Nature Reserve | Antipolo (Calawis) | Family-run eco-park with simple lodging | Time among trees, not a pool party |
| Ciudad Christhia Resort 9 Waves | San Mateo | Wave-pool resort with slides and rooms | Families with children, water-park days |
| Bakasyunan Resort and Conference Center | Tanay | Highland resort with pools and conference rooms | Seminars, retreats, large families |
| Momarco Forest Cove Resort and Hotel | Tanay | Forest resort-hotel near Daranak Falls | Waterfall trips with an overnight stay |
| Pranjetto Hills | Tanay | Resort with an Olympic-size pool and a grand ballroom | Company events of several hundred people |
| Sacramento Valley Resort | Tanay | Camp and team-building venue, open since 1982 | Team building and outdoor programmes |
Ranked by type, not by score: a family reunion, a company seminar and a couple's weekend need different places, and a single "number one" would mislead at least two of them.
Private villa resorts: one group, one pool
1. City on a Hill Private Villas, Binangonan
City on a Hill is three whole villas, Zachary, Zoie and Zuriel, side by side on a hill in Mahabang Parang, Binangonan, above Laguna de Bay. Each villa is rented to one group, so the pool, kitchen and living areas are not shared with other guests.
- Pool: an infinity plunge pool with a jacuzzi in every villa; jacuzzi heating is a paid add-on in Zachary and Zoie.
- Group size: 20 guests as standard; with the host's approval up to 25 in Zachary and Zuriel and 30 in Zoie, at ₱500 per extra guest. All three villas together take 60 as standard and up to 80 with approval.
- Inside: three bedrooms, a kitchen set up for 20, an outdoor griller, pergola, fire pit and videoke.
- Times: check-in from 3:00 PM, check-out by 12:00 NN.
- Price: in October 2026 the availability page listed ₱25,000 for a whole villa on most nights, about ₱1,250 per person for 20, and January to March weekdays from ₱12,000 by group size. Rates change monthly.
Best for: birthdays, barkada overnights, family reunions and team retreats that want the whole day together at one pool. Not for: guests who want hotel service or daily housekeeping, and families who need a lifeguard; there is none, so adults supervise children. Compare the three villas, other infinity-pool resorts in Rizal, or see live rates for your dates.
Searching for other whole-villa rentals? Antipolo and Binangonan have many private homes with pools on Airbnb and Facebook. Use the questions at the end of this guide before paying a deposit; see also private resorts in Binangonan compared.
Full-service and lakeside resorts
2. Thunderbird Resorts Rizal, Binangonan
The Rizal provincial tourism office describes Thunderbird as a 35-hectare integrated resort and casino in Binangonan, beside the 18-hole East Ridge golf course and about 45 minutes' drive east of Metro Manila, with views of the Sierra Madre and Laguna de Bay. Its own site lists hotel rooms and villas; booking listings mention an outdoor pool, a spa, ziplining and an Italian restaurant.
Best for: groups who want separate hotel rooms, restaurant meals and an events team. Check: which pools your room package includes, and breakfast, which some listings sell separately.
3. Punta de Fabian, Baras
The Baras municipal portal describes Punta de Fabian as a resort with lakefront suites and guest rooms in a Filipino-zen style, with a lagoon-shaped pool and a jacuzzi. The provincial office lists it on three hectares, about 90 minutes from Manila. It now appears on booking sites as "Punta de Fabian powered by Cocotel".
Best for: couples and families who want a quieter lakeside resort further east. Check: recent reviews, because booking sites disagree on its room types and number of pools; it is also about 14 minutes by car from Daranak Falls.
Antipolo resorts: closest to Metro Manila's east side
4. Loreland Farm Resort
Loreland in San Roque, Antipolo, sells rooms, cottages and pool access, with a separate spa, and the provincial office notes it has operated for over ten years. Day tours run in a daytime window, about 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in its published FAQ, and the pools are shared with other day guests.
Best for: a day out with children. Check: current entrance, cottage and room rates; prices quoted in older blogs are out of date.
5. Luljetta's Hanging Gardens and Spa
Luljetta's, on Loreland Road in Antipolo, presents suites, wellness treatments and celebration and corporate packages. Choose it when pampering or a hosted event is the point of the trip, and ask which pools and areas are exclusive to your booking.
6. Date and Dine Resort
Date and Dine describes rooms, an outdoor pool and dining, with its entrance through Antipolo. It is a short drive from Metro Manila for a one-night stay. Check room capacity if you are bringing a large group.
7. Mount Purro Nature Reserve
Mount Purro is a family-run eco-park in Calawis, Antipolo, with a nature and community focus and simple lodging. It describes itself as different from a hotel or resort; choose it for trees, trails and quiet. For more Antipolo options, including Hinulugang Taktak, read resorts in Antipolo by type.
Water-park resorts for families
8. Ciudad Christhia Resort 9 Waves, San Mateo
The provincial tourism office lists Ciudad Christhia in Ampid, San Mateo, for its nine-wave swimming pool, separate children's and adults' pools and a double-loop water slide, along with an events hall, conference rooms, an organic farm, wall climbing and rooms for overnight guests.
Best for: families with school-age children. Check: wave-pool schedules, whether overnight guests pay a separate pool fee, and weekend crowd levels.
Tanay resorts: cooler air, retreats and team building
Tanay is further out, up the Marilaque Highway and the Sampaloc road, and it is the usual choice for seminars, camps and waterfall trips. Plan for a longer drive, and in the rainy season, for fog and slower roads. For pools, halls and camps in more detail, see resorts in Tanay, Rizal.
9. Bakasyunan Resort and Conference Center
Bakasyunan, on the Marilaque Highway, is listed by the provincial office as a cool-climate nature retreat. Booking listings show several pools, including a children's pool, poolside and private room types, and conference facilities. Guest reviews are mixed on room condition, so ask which buildings were renovated recently.
10. Momarco Forest Cove Resort and Hotel
Momarco lists its pools on its own amenities page, and booking listings describe two outdoor pools plus a children's pool set among trees, near Daranak Falls. Listings also say pets are allowed for a nightly fee. It pairs well with a morning at Daranak and Batlag Falls.
11. Pranjetto Hills
The provincial office describes Pranjetto Hills in Sampaloc, Tanay, with an Olympic-size pool, air-conditioned family cottages, a playground and a grand ballroom. Its venue listing describes a main hall for about 300 to 500 guests and training rooms, about 70 minutes from Makati or Ortigas. Best for: company events too large for a villa.
12. Sacramento Valley Resort
Listed by the provincial office as a team-building, camp and adventure venue operating since 1982. Choose it when the programme matters more than the pool, and ask what facilitation is included. Our team retreat guide compares a camp with a private villa for groups of 20 to 30.
Which Rizal town should you choose?
| Town | Why stay there | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Binangonan | Lake views from the Eastridge ridge, private villas, Thunderbird, Angono's art and cafés nearby | Hill roads; fewer commercial resorts |
| Antipolo | Closest to Ortigas and Marikina, the cathedral, Pintô Art Museum and many view cafés | Weekend traffic on Sumulong Highway and Ortigas Avenue Extension |
| Baras and the lake towns | Quieter lakeside stays further east | Longer drive, fewer restaurants |
| San Mateo and Rodriguez | Water-park resorts, Wawa Dam and Mt. Pamitinan | Mostly day-use crowds on weekends |
| Tanay | Cooler air, Masungi, Daranak Falls, camps and conference resorts | The longest drive from Metro Manila |
If the plan is to spend the day together at the pool, the property matters more than the town. If the plan is sightseeing, base yourself near what you will visit: see Rizal tourist spots and their distances.
Which resort type fits your group?
- Family reunion of 20 or more: a whole private villa, so everyone shares one pool and kitchen; for 30, 60 or 80, see private resorts for big groups. See also private villa vs public resort vs hotel.
- Coming from Manila for one night: Rizal is the closest; compare Rizal, Laguna and Batangas private resorts.
- Children who want slides and waves: a water-park resort such as Ciudad Christhia, as a day trip.
- Couples: a spa resort such as Luljetta's, or a lakeside suite at Punta de Fabian.
- Company seminar of 100 or more: a conference resort in Tanay, or Thunderbird.
- Barkada on a budget: a whole villa split by head; see what a group really pays per person.
What should you ask any Rizal resort before paying?
- Is the pool exclusive to our group, or shared with day guests?
- How many guests are allowed, and what does each extra guest cost?
- How many real beds are there, and how many people sleep on extra mattresses?
- What are the check-in and check-out times, and is early check-in possible?
- Is there a lifeguard? Are children allowed in the jacuzzi?
- What is the security deposit, and when is it refunded?
- Are outside food, caterers, videoke and pets allowed, and until what time?
- How many cars can park on site?
To check whether a resort is accredited by the Department of Tourism, see how to check DOT accreditation in Rizal.
Planning a group stay with your own pool? See all three villa calendars together.
Sources
- Province of Rizal tourism office: resort directory by municipality (Thunderbird, Punta de Fabian, Loreland, Ciudad Christhia, Bakasyunan, Momarco, Pranjetto Hills, Sacramento Valley), accessed October 2026
- Municipality of Baras: accommodations (Punta de Fabian)
- Thunderbird Resorts Rizal: rooms and villas
- Loreland Farm Resort: operator site
- Luljetta's Hanging Gardens and Spa: operator site
- Date and Dine Resort: operator site
- Mount Purro Nature Reserve: operator site
- Momarco Forest Cove: amenities page
- Pranjetto Hills venue listing: function hall capacity
- City on a Hill availability page: villa rates, October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the best resort in Rizal?
It depends on the group. For one group that wants its own pool, a whole private villa such as City on a Hill in Binangonan fits best. For hotel service and events, Thunderbird Resorts Rizal in Binangonan. For a lakeside resort, Punta de Fabian in Baras. For children who want a water park, Ciudad Christhia 9 Waves in San Mateo. For seminars and team building, the conference resorts and camps in Tanay.
Which Rizal resorts are closest to Manila?
Antipolo resorts such as Loreland, Luljetta's and Date and Dine are the closest to Metro Manila's east side. Thunderbird in Binangonan is described by the provincial tourism office as about 45 minutes east of Metro Manila. Tanay and Baras resorts are further, about 70 to 90 minutes or more depending on traffic.
Are there private resorts in Rizal with a swimming pool?
Yes. Many whole villas and houses in Binangonan, Antipolo and Tanay are rented to one group with their own pool. At City on a Hill in Binangonan, each of the three villas has its own infinity plunge pool and jacuzzi, and takes 20 guests as standard, up to 25 or 30 with the host's approval.
How much is a resort in Rizal for a group of 20?
It varies by resort, date and group size. As one example, City on a Hill listed ₱25,000 for a whole villa for up to 20 guests on most nights in October 2026, about ₱1,250 per person, with January to March weekdays from ₱12,000 by group size. Always compare full quotes for the same dates, including extra-guest charges, deposits and fees.
Which town in Rizal is best for a resort stay?
Antipolo for the shortest drive and city views, Binangonan for Laguna de Bay views and private villas, Tanay for cooler air, nature trips and team-building camps, San Mateo for water-park resorts and Baras for quieter lakeside stays.
