Los Baños sits about 65 kilometres south of Manila on the south shore of Laguna de Bay, nestled at the foot of the dormant volcano Mount Makiling. The name means "The Baths," and the town earns it: numerous spas draw on thermal springs that bubble up from the volcanic ground beneath.
An ambitious hike to the top of Mount Makiling passes through hot mud springs and dense virgin rainforest. Though the King Cobra makes its home here, you are far more likely to come in contact with small land leeches that wait patiently for passing flesh.
Los Baños is home to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) — where the Green Revolution began — and the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The resulting mix of students, academics, and researchers gives the town a lively, well-serviced character that sets it apart from other towns in the region.
The UPLB campus and botanical gardens are worth a visit. And don't leave without trying buko pie — a coconut custard tart that is the local specialty and sold at roadside stalls throughout town.