LUZON

Luzon is one of the three primary geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Visayas and Mindanao.  It is located in the northern part of the Philippine archipelago.

Fast Facts

Luzon is also the largest island of the Philippines, occupying the northern part of the Luzon island group.

It is comprised of the Luzon mainland, the Batanes, Babuyan, and Ilocos groups of islands to the north, Polillo Islands to the east, and the outlying islands of Palawan and the Cuyo Archipelago to the west, and Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, Mindoro, among others, to the south.

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is located within this island group, on Luzon island.

The major cities on Luzon island are:

RANK	CITY	CITYHOOD	AREA (km2| mi2)	POPULATION	REGION
1	Quezon	1939	166 km2| 64 mi2	2,936,200	NCR
2	Manila	1901	43 km2 | 17 mi2	1,780,200	NCR
3	Caloocan	1962	53 km2 | 20 mi2	1,584,000	NCR
4	Taguig	2004	54 km2 | 21 mi2	805,000	NCR
5	Antipolo	1998	306 km2 | 118 mi2	776,400	CALABARZON
6	Pasig	1995	31 km2 | 11 mi2	755,300	CALABARZON
7	Parañaque	1998	47 km2 | 18 mi2	665,900	NCR
8	Dasmariñas	2009	90 km2 | 35 mi2	660,000	CALABARZON
9	Valenzuela	1998	47 km2 | 18 mi2	620,500	NCR
10	Bacoor	2012	46 km2 | 18 mi2	600,600	CALABARZON
11	Las Piñas	1997	33 km2 | 13 mi2	588,900	NCR
12	Makati	1995	22 km2 | 8 mi2	582,600	NCR
13	San Jose del Monte	2000	106 km2 | 41 mi2	574,100	Central Luzon
14	Muntinlupa	1995	40 km2 | 15 mi2	504,500	NCR
15	Calamba	2001	150 km2 | 58 mi2	454,500	CALABARZON
16	Pasay	1947	14 km2 | 5 mi2	416,600	NCR
17	Angeles	1964	60 km2 | 23 mi2	411,700	Central Luzon
18	Imus	2012	65 km2 | 25 mi2	403,800	CALABARZON
19	Mandaluyong	1994	21 km2 | 8 mi2	386,300	NCR
20	Rodriguez (Montalban) Town	NA	313 km2 | 121 mi2	369,222	CALABARZON

Luzon accounts for about one-third of the landmass of the Philippines (104,688 km² | 40,420 mi²),  and more than 54% of its population (approximately 60 Million). 

The coastal areas are generally mountainous, the highest peak being Mount Pulag at 2,928 meters (9,606 feet). 

The fertile central plain is a major rice-producing region. The indigenous Igorots also farm rice on the steep mountain terraces. 

The Bicol peninsula in the southeast  has many coconut plantations. 

It has important mineral deposits, such as gold, chromite and copper. 

Manila Bay is one of the world’s finest natural harbours and has been the landing point for countless invasions. 

Luzon has been at the epicentre of Philippine nationalism, leading revolts first against Spanish rule in 1896, and then against US rule in 1899. In 1941, the Japanese invaded the island. US forces staged a last desperate stand on Bataan peninsula in 1942. In 1945, the US finally expelled the Japanese. Several US bases remain on the island. 

Map

Popular Destinations

DESTINATION	AREA (km2| mi2)	POPULATION	ISLAND	PROVINCE	MAP
Alaminos City	164 km2 | 63 mi2	89,700	Luzon	Pangasinan	MAP
Angeles City	60 km2 | 23 mi2	411,700	Luzon	Pampanga	MAP
Baguio City	58 km2 | 22 mi2	345,400	Luzon	Benguet	MAP
Balabac Island	582 km2 | 225 mi2	40,150	Balabac	Palawan	MAP
Baler Town	93 km2 | 36 mi2	39,570	Luzon	Aurora	MAP
Batanes Islands	219 km2 | 85 mi2	17,250	Batanes	Batanes	MAP
Batangas City	283 km2 | 109 mi2	329,900	Luzon	Batangas	MAP
Bicol Region	18,156 km2 | 7,010 mi2	5,796,990	Luzon	Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon,	MAP
Burias Island	424 km2 | 164 mi2	90,300	Burias	Masbate	MAP
Busuanga Island	890 km2 | 340 mi2	73,850	Busuanga	Palawan	MAP
Caloocan City	53 km2 | 20 mi2	1,584,000	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Catanduanes Island	1,492 km2 | 576 mi2	260,970	Catanduanes	Catanduanes	MAP
Coron Town	689 km2 | 266 mi2	51,810	Busuanga, Coron	Palawan	MAP
Corregidor Island	5 km2 | 2 mi2	1,140	Corregidor	Cavite	MAP
Culion Island	500 km2 | 193 mi2	20,140	Culion	Palawan	MAP
Cuyo Archipelago	130 km2 | 50 mi2	45,720	Cuyo	Palawan	MAP
El Nido Town	923 km2 | 356 mi2	41,610	Palawan	Palawan	MAP
Ifugao Province	2,628 km2 | 1,015 mi2	202,810	Luzon	Ifugao	MAP
Huma Island	0.13 km2 | .05 mi2	NA	Huma	Palawan	MAP
Laguna Province	1,918 km2 | 740 mi2	3,035,100	Luzon	Laguna	MAP
Legazpi City	154 km2 | 59 mi2	196,700	Luzon	Albay	MAP
Makati City	22 km2 | 8 mi2	582,600	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Manila City	43 km2 | 17 mi2	1,780,200	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Magalawa Island	.56 km2 | .21 mi2	370	Magalawa	Zambales	MAP
Marinduque Island	953 km2 | 368 mi2	234,530	Marinduque	Marinduque	MAP
Masbate Island	3,268 km2 | 1,262 mi2	706,900	Masbate	Masbate	MAP
Metro Manila	619.5 km2 | 239.22 mi2	12,877,260	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Mindoro Island	10,572 km2 | 4,082 mi2	1,331,480	Mindoro	Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro	MAP
Pagudpud Town	195 km2 | 75 mi2	23,770	Luzon	Ilocos Norte	MAP
Palawan Island	12,189 km2 | 4,706 mi2	886,310	Palawan	Palawan	MAP
Pasay City	14 km2 | 5 mi2	416,600	Pasay	Metro Manila	MAP
Polillo Islands	629 km2 | 243 mi2	64,810	Polillo	Quezon	MAP
Barangay Port Barton	357 km2 | 137.8 mi2	5,850	Palawan	Palawan	MAP
Puerto Princesa City	2,381 km2 | 919 mi2	255,200	Palawan	Palawan	MAP
Quezon City	165 km2 | 64 mi2	2,936,200	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Romblon Islands	1,533 km2 | 592 mi2	292,790	Romblon	Romblon	MAP
Sagada Town	83 km2 | 32 mi2	11,130	Luzon	Mountain Province	MAP
Sibuyan Island	445 km2 | 172 mi2	59,280	Sibuyan	Romblon	MAP
Subic Town	287 km2 | 111 mi2	104,780	Luzon	Zambales	MAP
Tablas Island	840 km2 | 324 mi2	164,100	Tablas	Romblon	MAP
Tagaytay City	65 km2 | 25 mi2	71,200	Luzon	Cavite	MAP
Taguig City (BGC)	54 km2 | 21 mi2	805,000	Luzon	Metro Manila	MAP
Ticao Island	334 km2 | 129 mi2	95,130	Ticao	Masbate	MAP
Vigan City	25 km2 | 10 mi2	53,900	Luzon	Ilocos Sur	MAP
Adams Town	159 km2 | 61 mi2	1,800	Luzon	Ilocos Norte	MAP

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To learn more about popular destinations within each island group, make a selection by clicking on one of the divisions below.