Things to do in Manila

Come along for a tour of Manila’s past and present. The tour starts right in the heart of the country’s financial center - the City of Makati. First stop is Nielsen’s Tower along Ayala Boulevard. Drive through Forbes Park, an exclusive residential enclave fittingly dubbed Millionaire’s Row on your way to our first stop – The American Cemetery and Memorial - reputed to be the largest and most beautiful of American memorials outside the Continental United States. Then proceed to the old city of Manila via scenic Roxas Boulevard (also known as Dewey Boulevard in the recent past), passing through Luneta Park (also called Rizal Park in memory of the country’s national hero) on your way to the "Walled City" of Intramuros. Here you will see ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish Conquistadores. Travel through the cobbled streets to San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country. Then we wrap the tour up with a visit to Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress that watched over the entrance to Manila’s Pasig River. It was here that our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal spent his last days and where he wrote his famous "My Last Farewell."

The tour starts with a drive up to the picturesque City of Tagaytay. Located on a ridge 2,250 feet above sea level, the city offers panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano, the "lake within a volcano within a lake within a volcano". This view is best savored from atop the Palace in the Sky, rest house of late President Ferdinand Marcos. Enjoy a brief lunch stop at a local restaurant to enjoy some local cuisine and delicacies in an atmosphere designed for panoramic views. Then we start our drive back down to Metro Manila. First stop is the American War Memorial & Cemetery, the largest and most beautiful of American memorials outside the Continental U.S. Have a glimpse of Makati’s hustle and bustle as you drive through on your way to the capital city - Manila via scenic Roxas Boulevard (also known as Dewey Boulevard in the recent past) passing through Rizal Park (named in memory of the country’s national hero) on your way to the "Walled City" of Intramuros. Here you will see ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish Conquistadors. Travel through old cobbled streets to San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country. The tours wraps up at Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress that once watched over the entrance to Pasig River. It was here that our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal spent his last days and where he wrote his famous "My Last Farewell."

About an hour and a half drive south of Metro Manila lies the picturesque City of Tagaytay. Located on a ridge 2,200 feet above sea level, it offers a panoramic view of Taal Lake and Volcano - a lake within a volcano. This awe-inspiring vista is best savored atop the Palace in the Sky - resthouse of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Explore Tagaytay’s freshest produce with a farm tour. See how vegetables, herbs, and coffee beans are grown and harvested. Savor this awe-inspiring vista from atop the Palace in the Sky, the abandoned “rest house” of the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, where you can find breathtaking views of the lake and volcano. Enter the Museo Orlina Art Museum and take the chance to view an extensive collection of glass sculptures by renowned glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina. The tour includes lunch in one of the local restaurants where you can enjoy sumptuous Philippine cuisine and delicacies popular to the region. Time permitting, you will have a short visit of Talisay at the Pasalubong Center, showcasing the process of preparing Freshly Baked Buco Pie.

Following pickup from your hotel in Manila, head straight to the Pagsanjan Falls on a 2.5-hour drive south. From there, your driver will assist you in getting to the paddle raft, which will be manned by two local guides. Experience a multiple-rapid adventure as you continue toward the falls. Swim to the cave that lies within the magnificent Pagsanjan Falls, feeling refreshed by the cold water. Set off on another two-hour drive over to the Taal Volcano ridge in Tagaytay City for the Taal Volcano eruption sightseeing tour. Taal Volcano suddenly erupted at 2:36 PM on Sunday, January 12, 2020, forcing all to flee from the island. For the next 24 hours, ashes coming from the crater traveled all the way to Metro Manila and nearby areas as 150,000 people fled from their homes. Taal Volcano is now considered the most active volcano complex after this eruption. See the devastation firsthand and take in dramatic views of Taal Lake and the steaming Volcano Island from the ridges of Tagaytay City. Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) with a view of the whole lake, in the center of which steams the Taal Volcano, the Philippines smallest but most active volcano as of today.

"Shoot the Rapids" in dugout canoes and experience nature’s wonder. Drive two and a half hours south of Metro Manila through the countryside to beautiful town of Pagsanjan, Laguna. Be prepared to board a native banca (canoe) skillfully driven by two boatmen and maneuvered upstream through rocks and boulders amidst steep gorges and lush tropical vegetation. Your destination - Majestic Pagsanjan Falls. Take a swim or board a bamboo raft through the falls into a cave behind the veil of water. This is an exhilarating, spine-tingling, adrenaline-pumping, two hour boat ride from the Bumbungan River to Pagsanjan Falls whose booming water cascades down from high atop a cliff to the river 300 feet below. Your ride downstream is an exciting rush through the same rocks and boulders you passed on your way upriver.

Located 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of metro Manila, you’ll find the former American naval facility known as Subic Naval Base - touted as the biggest U.S. naval facility in the Asia-Pacific region before the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 forced the early pull-out of American troops. Since then, the area had been converted into a modern free port and tourism zone. Early departure from Metro Manila, passing through the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. Along the way, you will have a chance to witness the wrath brought by the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, considered the strongest volcanic eruption in the last century. Pass through the town of Bacolor in Pampanga, which was almost buried by lava flows in 1995. Then visit a JEST Camp (Jungle Environmental Survival Training Camp) where indigenous people called Aetas demonstrate survival skills in a tropical rain forest. The tour continues towards the province of Zambales where Subic Bay is located. You also have a chance to encounter tigers and other animals at the Zoobic Safari, including a ride through the Tiger Enclosure.

A convenient and refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, take this chance to recharge your batteries and enjoy a variety of activities in the rural setting of the Escudero Coconut Plantation. About a two hour drive south of Metro Manila, this quaint and historic estate is set amidst a pastoral grove inside a coconut plantation, a picturesque showcase of old plantation life. Guests will tour the plantation on board a carabao drawn cart while serenaded by a native band. This resort estate also has its own museum which houses the Escudero Family’s vast and interesting collection of historic, religious and cultural artifacts, some dating back to pre-Hispanic times. The highlight of your day may be sitting down to a sumptuous lunch served beneath a man made dam with your feet immersed in cool rushing waters from a nearby lagoon. A swim in Villa Escudero’s spring-fed pools will complete your memorable visit.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of a meaningful WWII location in the Philippines. Join a guided day trip from Manila to the renowned Bataan province. Explore landmarks such as the Mount Samat National Shrine, the Bataan Surrender Site, and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Get picked up from your Manila accommodation and take in views of the countryside as you drive into the Bataan region. Notice the roadside memorial honoring the grueling Bataan Death March. Learn about this event, as well as the Bataan Peninsula's role during WWII, from your tour guide. Arrive at Mount Samat to visit the National Shrine, erected as a monument to the struggles and sacrifices of the soldiers who fought there. Step into the museum to sense the fury, fear, defeat, and humiliation experienced by the troops after their surrender. Up next, admire panoramic views of the vast countryside from an observation deck inside the tallest cross in the Philippines. Discover the Bataan Surrender Site, where the exhausted, sick and starving soldiers surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. Before heading back to Manila, enjoy a guided tour inside Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Walk across villages and ancestral homes, all filled with centuries of history.

Get on your bamboo bike made by local craftsmen to explore all major historical sites of Intramuros, the historical district of Manila. Start your tour by picking the best bambike that fits you. Start your tour with the guide by riding to Plaza San Luis, a complex inside Intramuros where you can find a Japanese cannon used in World War II. Spend time listening to your guide's explanation about Intramuros's history at Puerta Real Gardens, surrounded by local fauna. The next stop is Puerta Del Parian, one of the earliest gateways to Intramuros. You will then be directed to the Aduana Building, Manila Cathedral and Plaza de Roma, the historic center of Spanish colonial times of Manila. Refresh yourself with a cold towel and an ice cream after the tour!

Meet your guide and dive into the history of the Philippines, beginning with the oldest stone church in the country. Hear about how and why the Spanish ended up on this side of the world, as well as the everlasting marks they left after over 300 years of occupation. Next, cross the street and enter an expertly restored, 19th-century aristocrats' home and marvel at the furnishings and design, located at the point where east and west influences meet. Make your way toward a rarely visited part of the historic wall of Intramuros and catch a glimpse into its marvelous past.  Then, step into the history museum, which offers further insight into Manila's old city and its history intertwined with the Catholic Church. Continue onward through the narrow streets, making a quick stop at the WWII memorial to hear about the role of the Philippines in the war. Another quick stop at the Cathedral that represents the seat of the Catholic Church in the Philippines Then we learn about the Filipino's fight for independence at the old military garrison.