Discovering Alfonso, Cavite: The Perfect Place to Invest in Agri-Tourism and More

“The Philippines is a developing nation with ideal conditions which position it as one of the best destinations for agri-tourism.”

– Asia Research Media, “The Rise of Agri-Tourism in the Philippines” on October 2013

By Realttorney^®

Image source: The Playground in Royale Tagaytay Country Club. The club is a nine-hole garden golf course that is 3,079 yards long. It is described as a garden golf course because of the beautiful flora that surrounds it. It is located in Brgy. Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite.

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Alfonso is part of the third Growth Area, under the Cavite Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan 2021 – 2030, known as Metro Tagaytay or the Tourism Haven and Food Basket of the Province. It is an upland town situated in the southwestern part of the Province of Cavite.

Alfonso, Cavite is 74 kilometers from Manila via Tagaytay. Magallanes is on its western side, Batangas Province on its southern side, Mendez and Tagaytay on its eastern side, General Aguinaldo on its northwestern side, and Maragondon and Indang on its northeastern side.

Images from Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso,_Cavite

Why write about Alfonso, Cavite now? Well, aside from frequenting it often, it is a municipality that has gained attention for its natural beauty, cool climate, and emerging real estate opportunities. As a licensed real estate broker who has been a resident of Indang, Cavite for more than a decade, I will provide critical insights that are valuable for those interested in investing in real estate in Alfonso, Cavite.

Here are 5 key facts you need to know about the upland town of Alfonso.

1. Alfonso was once part of Indang, Cavite. The town was originally part of Barrio Lumampong in the town of Indang. Over time, the pocket settlements grew into sitios and later into barrios. The town became a separate district municipality from Indang on March 16, 1859, through the efforts of the community leaders Bonifacio Aveo and Felix del Mundo.

The new town was called Alas-as for seventeen years. The name refers to the pandan tree used for the construction of houses and bears sweet fruit. It was, eventually, named after King Alfonso XII of Spain, son of Isabella II.

On October 15, 1903, the adjacent towns of Bailen (now, the Municipality of General Emilio Aguinaldo) and Mendez-Nuñez merged with Alfonso under Act No. 947 enacted by the Philippine Commission. Both towns were later separated in 1915 to become independent once again.

2. Climate Excellence. One of the distinguishing features of Alfonso is its cool climate, reminiscent of Tagaytay, but less crowded and with more lush greenery. This climate advantage makes it a preferred destination for those seeking respite from the heat of urban areas.

The temperature in Alfonso has a yearly average of 20 to 27 degrees Celsius, with the highest temperature reaching 29, 30, and 29 from March, April, and June, respectively.[1] But you will still enjoy its cold breeze from late afternoon to nighttime.

This climate advantage is not just an environmental boon but also a factor that real estate brokers can leverage in marketing properties, especially for those looking to invest in second homes, vacation rentals (Airbnb), restaurants, resorts, and/or events places, and other development projects.

3. A Place of Culinary Distinction. There are numerous restaurants in Alfonso, Cavite. The entire municipality offers a gastronomic adventure, with flavors from around the world at every bend on the road. Here are some of the best restaurants in Alfonso, Cavite itself.

First, Lime and Basil offer Thai cuisine. Second, Lequestria Cafe and Restaurant offers French, Indian, Filipino, and Asian cuisine. Third, Marcia Adams offers Mediterranean cuisine. Fourth, Surugin Ramen House offers Japanese cuisine. Fifth, Amare La Cucina Tagaytay offers Italian cuisine. Finally, Sentro Botanikos offers Vegan and Healthy cuisine. These places are purely restaurants, and they are not the only places that satisfy the epicurean delights of their customers.

In addition, Alfonso is also home to various wedding venues and bed and breakfast businesses with onsite restaurants. The first example that comes to mind is Sonya’s Secret Garden located in Brgy. Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite. Second is Girasol along Tagaytay Nasugbu Highway. And, finally, Hill Creek Gardens along Luksuhin-Mangas Road.

FUN FACT: When you see the website addresses of Girasol and Hill Creek Gardens both include the word “Tagaytay”. But, now you know that these wonderful places are located in Alfonso, not Tagaytay.

4. Infrastructure Development. While it is not as urbanized as neighboring Tagaytay, Alfonso has been experiencing gradual infrastructure development, including road improvements and utilities.

One of the major roads that have been opened to serve the residents and visitors of the Metro Tagaytay area is the Tagaytay-Alfonso Bypass Road. If you are still unfamiliar with this new road, it starts at the end of TCI Road where the Tagaytay Public Cemetery is situated, and ends at the Luksuhin-Mangas Road.

As of the time of this writing, a portion of Bypass Road that passes through Brgy. Mahabang Kahoy Balagbag, Indang, Cavite connecting it to Brgy. Patutong Malaki North, Tagaytay City is still unpassable. Moreover, the portion from Tagaytay-Mendez Road to Maglabe Drive in Brgy. Guinhawa North, Tagaytay City is likewise still unpassable.

Aside from the Bypass Road, the East-West Lateral Road creates greater accessibility going to the Municipality of Alfonso. The Lateral Road is a 41.67-kilometer road project that will connect two national roads: the Cavite-Batangas Road in the east and the Ternate-Nasugbu Road in the west.

It will traverse the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo, Indang, Maragondon, General Aguinaldo, Magallanes in Cavite, and Nasugbu in Batangas. The project is part of the Build, Build, Build program of the government and is expected to be completed by 2024. The road will provide faster and easier access to the tourist destinations and agricultural areas in the region.

Finally, the proposed Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEX) will provide faster and easier access to the tourist destinations and agricultural areas of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez, and Alfonso in Cavite – all part of Metro Tagaytay – before crossing into Nasugbu, Batangas. If all goes as planned, there will be 2 interchanges of CBEX that will be located in the Municipality of Alfonso.

The net effect of the opening of new portions of the Bypass Road (even though not completely opened), the completion of the East-West Lateral Road, and the future opening of CBEX is that real estate values have been rising in almost every corner of the Alfonso, Amadeo, and Indang. Easy access to once inaccessible parts of Alfonso has attracted new businesses and promoted economic growth in the municipality as well as the Metro Tagaytay area.

5. Agricultural Richness and Agri-tourism Potential. Did you know that Alfonso has a strawberry farm? It is called Queens Strawberry Farm and it is a farm-to-table agri-tourism complex composed of a farm, restaurant, and Bed-and-Breakfast accommodations. Aside from Sonya’s Secret Garden mentioned above, Luntiang Republika is a sustainable and eco-friendly farm. This farm offers guided tours, workshops, and other activities to educate visitors about the importance of sustainability and the benefits of organic farming.

Another agri-tourism site that you can visit and take ideas from when you want to create your own agri-tourism complex is Preziosa Farms. Previously known as “Preziosa Botanical Park and Farm Resort,” it is located in Brgy. Sulsugin, Alfonso, Cavite. It has 3 main features in all – The Farm, The Akela Campsite and The Villas.

And, another agri-tourism site located in Brgy. Palumlum is The Coffee Farmhouse. It is a farm that is all about coffee. But, it also has Bed-and-Breakfast accommodations and several recreational facilities where activities like biking, strolling, swimming, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, billiards, darts, camping, and relaxing on a hammock under coffee trees are available to do in the Farmhouse complex.

The final agri-tourism site that comes to mind is probably one of my favorite due to its proximity to our home in Indang, Cavite. Camp Benjamin is situated in Brgy. Taywanak Ilaya, Alfonso, Cavite. It is an all-inclusive resort with a Hotel and Restaurant, Event Center, Farm, and other indoor and outdoor amenities.

With the 10-year moratorium on building residential housing projects in Alfonso, Cavite, the best investment opportunities here are agri-tourism projects and farm lot development projects. As you can see, Alfonso is an agricultural treasure trove. The municipality is known for its fertile lands suitable for various crops such as coffee, pineapple, and other agricultural products (vegetables and high-value commercial crops).

Plus, the potential for agri-tourism is quite significant. Real properties can be developed for agri-tourism projects, catering to the growing interest in sustainable and experiential lifestyles of Filipino urban dwellers. And there are numerous opportunities in properties that can be good candidates for such projects.

In conclusion, the Municipality of Alfonso presents a mosaic of opportunities and considerations for those involved and interested in real estate. From its history, climate excellence, and a place of culinary distinction to its agricultural richness and agri-tourism potential coupled with the infrastructure development sprouting in and around it, this municipality could be your perfect area of investment in the near or medium term.

If you want to know more about the opportunities for real estate investments in Alfonso, and other parts of the Metro Tagaytay area, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to assist you in determining whether your project is best suited to be located in Alfonso. Hope to hear from you soon.

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Atty. Jojo is a real estate attorney, an estate planning attorney, a licensed real estate broker, and a PRC-accredited Lecturer/ Speaker for Training Programs in Real Estate. He is committed to helping new and veteran real estate service practitioners be well-informed of the latest laws, rules, regulations, and information relevant to the real estate service sector.

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[1]See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso,_Cavite