Santa Rosa (Laguna)

Santa Rosa is a city in Laguna, a light industrial and commercial hub close to Metro Manila. Major tourist draws are the Enchanted Kingdom theme park, the Nuvali mixed-use development, and shopping spots like SM City Santa Rosa and Paseo de Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa is a major stopover for travelers to Tagaytay via Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road (Route 420).

Understand
Santa Rosa is one of the largest cities in Laguna, forming the urban sprawl along the western coast of Laguna de Bay. The city has a population of 415,000 (2020), one of the densest in Laguna, ahead of San Pedro. Despite the industrial and commercial developments in the city, Santa Rosa still serves as a bedroom community south of Manila.

It is best known as a regional industrial center, home to major producers like Toyota Motors Philippines, Monde Nissin and Coca-Cola Philippines, lending its nickname "Lion City of the Philippines". There are also industrial parks and major residential communities.

The city was founded from parts of the pueblo of Tabuko (present-day Cabuyao), and first named Bukol (Bucol), soon to be renamed as Santa Rosa, after Saint Rose of Lima, in 1792. Agriculture and family businesses once served a major component in the local economy until urbanization began in the 1970s, which gave the city's present appearance.

The local population is mostly Tagalog, but there are also expat communities formed by Chinese and Americans. Significant local migrant populations of Visayans also exist. Most Western expats live in affluent communities, generally gated subdivisions.

Orientation
Santa Rosa's growth is horizontal, just like the other sprawling cities nearby, and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) can serve as an important boundary between the industrialized and commercialized west and residential east. The sides of the city shows contrasts: eastern Santa Rosa is the crowded, noisy and ordinarily Filipino city, while western Santa Rosa is mostly industrial and affluent in character (exceptions are barangays Pulong Santa Cruz and Santo Domingo, which are crowded barangays).

The Balibago area is home to cheap shopping and the major transport terminal. The Poblacion, rather a lumping of five barangays, contains the old downtown and government offices. National Highway (Route 1) is the main commercial street, home to large malls like SM City Santa Rosa and Robinsons Santa Rosa Market. Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road (Route 420) hosts most of the city's industries, and the section between Paseo de Santa Rosa and Nuvali houses classy shopping and dining.

Tourist information
Information for tourists about sights and places to eat can be found at the Visit Santa Rosa page of the city government.

By bus
The only city bus connection is by way of Biñan. Take Route 15 Ayala-Biñan, and transfer to the Biñan-Balibago jeepney route.

From the south, multiple bus routes terminate at the, beside SM City Santa Rosa.

By premium bus

 * UBE Express operates point-to-point buses from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and get down at either Seda Nuvali or Robinson's Santa Rosa Market. Fares cost at about.
 * TAS Transport operates point-to-point buses to Nuvali from Circuit Makati, for one-way. Buses depart every 20 minutes from 7-8 AM, half-hourly from 8-9 AM, hourly from 9AM-5PM, and 20 minutes from 5-8PM

By jeepney
From Alabang in Muntinlupa, you can take an express jeepney from South Station into Balibago terminal. The whole trip costs, but taking a provincial bus is far cheaper (but you need to wait at the bus stop under the Alabang Viaduct). On the terminal in Balibago, transfers to local jeepneys or tricycles are available.

By car


If you drive, you can take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), which has 2 exits serving the city:
 * Santa Rosa Exit (exit 38) - Enchanted Kingdom, Balibago Complex, Paseo de Santa Rosa and Nuvali. This can get packed during weekends and holidays when many travelers head to Enchanted Kingdom, Nuvali, and Tagaytay.
 * ETON City Exit - Alternative exit if going to Paseo de Santa Rosa or Nuvali

You can take Mamplasan Exit (exit 36) in nearby Biñan if you are going to SM City Santa Rosa. Once you exit in Mamplasan, drive Greenfield Avenue for a distance, then turn to Santa Rosa Access Road. Note that the access road is closed at some times.

By train
There is one station, Santa Rosa Station, along the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Metro Commuter Line, but train services are only available in the evening (#1807 and #1937) and the early morning (#456 and #546). Travel by train is not practical until the new electrified railway line to Los Baños opens around 2024.

Get around
You can bring your car with you to visit most attractions in the city, but beware: traffic jams and driving behaviors are not for the faint-hearted. Most tourist spots like Enchanted Kingdom, Paseo de Santa Rosa and Nuvali can be easily reached by car, but alternatives are available.

You can also take a jeepney once you get down the bus or express jeepney in Balibago, and it will bring you to most locations in the city. Fares start at for the first  and an additional  for each additional kilometer.

The Poblacion area is best accessed through tricycles and foot, but the roads are narrow and watch out for vehicles if you walk.