BY APRIL ANNE VILLENA
Spanish colonial architecture and luxury historical park — this is the pride of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Approximately 400 hectares and 34 Filipino heritage houses, this tourist attraction in Bagac, Bataan will take you on an exciting and educational trip down memory lane.
Spare yourself from the far trips to Vigan and Silay. Here are the top 4 (among many) activities you can do at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar!
1. Be a tourist for a day
Rekindle your appreciation for Filipino culture by spending a day breathing in the good old days of 18th to 20th century Philippines. Go on a Heritage Historical Tour around a collection of traditional Spanish houses and fine architectural landscapes. The day tour is facilitated by fun and perky tour guides who are nothing short of entertaining. An afternoon at Las Casas might just be the reason you get into the hype of loving local.
2. Unravel secrets and mysteries
These stunning houses are skillfully restored from different parts of the country brick-by-brick. However, you need more than just craftsmanship to bring them back to their former glory. Alongside notable back-stories of the houses come the juicy ancestral gossips and scandals of their former owners. Travel junkies, feast your eyes and ears because Las Casas is a place where historical controversies come to life.
3. Live like an Ilustrado
Eat, dress, and stay in! Spending the night in any these ancestral houses will take you into a multi-sensory nostalgic experience — complete with spot on furniture, fixtures and superb room service. For food? Enjoy fine dining at Café Marivent for a traditional Filipino Cuisine or have pandesal at the Panaderia. Las Casas caters to other services like taking pictures in historical outfits, shopping for souvenirs and antiques, and massage services at the spa. Now that’s a well-spent staycation in Bagac, Bataan!
4. Enjoy the sun, the water and the waves
No vacation is complete without the chance to get a tan and go swimming. Guests have access to the picturesque beach area and the river-inspired pool. Apart from packing your travel essentials, this could also be the perfect opportunity to wear your Sperry Topsiders. You’ll need all the right things if you want to enjoy both sightseeing across hectares of beautiful houses and enjoying the sandy shores of the beach.
The 3 to 4 hour drive to Las Casas is more than enough for you to have a whole weekend of relaxation.
What are your favorite staycation activities? Share them with us in the comments section below.