Metro Manila Adventure Tours: Philippines Travel Diary
Journeying in the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan (Ilocos Region) for 2 days (Day 37-38) helped us reveal the wonders of the islets. Snorkeling on its crystal-clear waters was such an extraordinary experience. Aside from banana boat riding, we also had helmet diving on the island, which we did for the first time. Also, being able to catch sight of its beautiful sunset made the visit to Pangasinan more remarkable.
Travel Diary for Day 39:
As the country’s capital city, Manila is where most locals and tourists process their documents, since most government offices are located here. No wonder why it is one of the hectic cities in the country.
Despite the fast-paced life in Manila, you can find a lot of fun here including the lots of activities to do and places to go to. So, are you ready to learn more about the rich culture of this vibrant country?
Day 39: How do we Organize the Travel Essentials in Manila?
31 March:
We're back in Manila, on the island of Luzon once again. For this day (Day 39), we organized the things we urgently need for our next Philippine travel adventure. We went to the Mall of Asia, and bought another external hard drive to store all our photos and videos taken during our trips to the different destinations in the country.
Wondering what made us decide to fly back to Manila just to shop for these travel essentials? That is because, we won’t settle for less. Mall of Asia is a renowned shopping mall in the Philippines that sells original brands and high quality equipment and gadgets. After shopping, we stopped by our friend Marc’s place in Makati, Metro Manila, and swapped our luggage around.
Back in the OYO 118 Hotel Merlo in Sampaloc, Makati (Metro Manila), Zak worked through the night to transfer all our trip footage to the new hard drive. He is an impressive and hardworking content creator. The hotel room was very cozy, making it an ideal place to stay in.
What are the Things to Know Before Coming to Manila?
Manila is the Philippines' cultural, economic, educational, and government center. It is one of the world's most densely populated cities. As the largest and most populated region of the country, it serves as the main entry point for international travelers flying to the Philippines.
To help you prepare for your next visit to the archipelago, here is a list of the things that you need to know before coming to Manila:
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The months of January to April are the most ideal time to visit Manila. During the dry season in the Philippines, you’ll definitely enjoy touring around the city by a rented motorbike or a car. When in Manila, make sure to stop by Intramuros, the country’s oldest city.
But here’s a heads-up! Journeying around bustling Manila by a rented motorbike or a private car is only recommended for those who can handle the heavy and chaotic traffic of the metropolitan. So, if you don’t have the patience to maneuver on a busy city street, book a Grab for a more convenient ride. Previously known as Uber, Grab is a popular mode of transport in the Philippines.
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The only airport in the Manila area is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with 4 operating terminals in different locations in the metro. In the National Capital Region to which Manila belongs, both NAIA and Clark International Airport (located in Pampanga's Clark Freeport Zone) are in working order. Clark is primarily a low-cost airline hub, and is expected to outshine NAIA as the Philippines' main airport in the near future.
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Manila, a city of fun and adventure, features an exciting nightlife and vibrant culture. On top of that, it portrays the country’s rich history, delectable cuisines, and interesting sights and activities that you would certainly love to experience. But because Manila is such a huge city, deciding where to stay can be difficult.
Here’s a kicker! Beautifully-seated at the heart of Metro Manila, Makati is a perfect place to stay if you're visiting Manila for the first time. Aside from being a clean and safe city, it is home to many fascinating activities to do and things to see.
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If you're looking for a vibrant and underrated city with a rich historical significance, look no further. Visit the walled city, Intramuros, Manila where the Spanish dominated their eastern territory for centuries. Be amazed with Manila’s Baroque churches and crowded frantic markets that aren't quite fragrant but are essential nonetheless.
Still located in Manila, Binondo is another exciting destination to explore. It is referred to as Manila's Chinatown, and is also the oldest Chinatown in the world. Here, you’ll never fall short of centers and malls to shop and restaurants to dine. You'll feel like you're in a whole other town when in Binondo. Check the complete travel guide to Manila: a cultural tour of the Philippine Capital.
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Just like traveling to other major cities in the country, roaming around Manila needs to be done with caution so that you won’t be a victim of pickpockets. But, if you follow standard safety tips and precautions, you’ll be safe and fine.
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Only in the Philippines can you see commercial centers which are frequently constructed as open-air strolling places. These are perfect for both casual walking and amusement. Aside from shopping, you can do a variety of activities in Manila Mall, including going to bars, seafood shops, churches, ice skating rinks, and karaoke dens.
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Still not convinced? When exploring Manila, you should not miss its food. From snacks sold on streets, to the fancy cuisines offered in the top-rated restaurants, you won’t run out of options. Eating is something you will surely enjoy in Manila because the Philippines is the home of food-loving people. It is known for its wide variety of typical Filipino dishes and international cuisines.
Day 40-41: How do we get from Manila to Leyte in Eastern Visayas?
Travel Diary for Day 40-41:
April 1-2:
We went to visit Cuatro Islas in the province of Leyte, Eastern Visayas. It is composed of 4 islands – Apid, Digyo, Mahaba, and Himokilan. We had so much fun in this ultimate Leyte adventure. Nothing beats our experience of spending the night inside a tent facing the beach. Feeling the fresh ocean breeze right in front of us was satisfying.
We explored the beautiful horizons of Leyte in Eastern Visayasfor 2 days (Day 42-41), and went back to Manila again to find a long-term accommodation where we can sort out all of the content we had during our entire Philippine trip. We will walk you through our 2-day Leyte adventure on a separate blog, so we can share the full experience of this stunning province.
Google My Maps Metro Manila Travel Adventures: Day 39 & Day 42-47
If planning a trip to Manila, check out the Google My Maps below to experience the activities and adventures, and get to know different routes and directions, accommodations to stay, attractions to visit, and restaurants to dine in. Visit the Manila travel Google My Map to learn more about our Philippines travel routes and adventures.
Day 42-47: How do we Find Long-Term Accommodation in Manila?
April 3-8:
We stayed in Manila for quite a while, trying to find long-term accommodation for a month. What we were looking for at that time was a small condo or an apartment with at least two bedrooms and access to fast internet connection. We planned to stay in Manila to work on all of the content we created over the past 40 days of our Philippine travel adventure.
It was the fourth day of our journey (Day 42-47) around Manila, searching for accommodation. Yet we still haven’t found anything that fits our needs. So, we ran around Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Taguig City, and Pasig City– the major residential suburbs in the metro. The above-mentioned cities are known for their wide array of accommodation facilities that can possibly provide you a place for long-term stay.
It’s best to get this task done ahead of time because everything seems to take longer in Manila due to heavy traffic in the area.
Google My Maps Philippines Travel Diary: Day 1 to Day 51
Check out the Google Maps below, to have an overview of the entire 51 days of Philippines travel adventure including exciting attractions and activities we did, destinations we explored, and travel directions in the Philippines.
Philippines Adventure Tours from Day: 1 to Day: 51
There are a handful of unexplored and extraordinary destinations in the Philippines that await your visit. What does that mean for you? Plain and simple! A trip to the country does not only let you enjoy the crystal-clear beaches, green mountains, soothing waterfalls, and noteworthy historical sites. More importantly, you’ll also learn a lot about the Philippines’ culture and its people. Here is a complete overview of the Philippines Travel Diary experience for our 51-day trip to the different destinations in the Philippines in 2017:
Day 1-2: Manila Adventure Tours
Day 3-4: Bantayan Island Adventure Tours
Day 5-6: Cebu City & South Cebu Adventure Tours
Day 7-8: Southern Visayas Island of Negros Adventure Tours
Day 9-11: Siquijor Island Adventure Tours
Day 12-14: Guimaras Island Adventure Tours
Day 15-17: Gigantes Island Adventure Tours
Day 18-20: Philippine Visa Extension & Food Tours in Metro Manila
Day 21-23: Puerto Princesa Adventure Tours
Day 24-25: El Nido Adventure Tours
Day 26-27: El Nido Motorbike Adventure & Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour
Day 28-29: Baguio City Adventure Tours
Day 30-31: Sagada Adventure Tours
Day 32-33: Buscalan, Kalinga Adventure Tours
Day 34: Banaue, Batad Rice Terraces Adventure Tours
Day 35-36: Pangasinan Adventure Tours
Day 37-38: Hundred Islands National Park Adventure Tours
Day 42-47: Metro Manila Adventure Tours
Day 40-41: Leyte Eastern Visayas Adventure Tours
Day 48- 50: The Bamboo Paraiso Beach Resort & Hundred Islands Adventures
Day 51: Best Tour in Pangasinan & Back to Manila
Why do we Create the Philippines Travel Guide?
Zak and Dani created the Philippines Travel Guide while on 51 days Philippines travel adventure in 2017. Focused on the idea to explore travel routes and documenting location information by using the Google Maps application in the Philippines.
We created a detailed Philippines travel diary each day about our Philippines eco-adventure traveling experiences, including the production of pictures and videos of our trip through the Philippine archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is passionate about helping other self-minded adventure travel lovers, to make the best out of the trip to the Philippines by providing real information that passionate travelers and enthusiasts need to know about the archipelago.
Philippines Travel Guide is an ongoing process to work out public shared and detailed Google MyMaps of the entire Philippines to provide easy navigation for travelers.
This website also contains a collection of interesting authentic insights and travel tips and tricks and destinations in the Philippines.
SUMMARY: Best Adventure Tours in Metro Manila
After our Leyte escapade, we spent another 6 days (Day 42-47) in Metro Manila in the National Capital Region to find a place to stay for a month. Serving as our refresher for this Philippine adventure, we organized our thoughts and processed everything before we moved on to our next Philippine adventure destination.
Although Manila is a hectic and busy city, it is the home to the best activities to do in an urban setting. It may be an underrated district, but it is definitely worth-visiting.
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