End your day with a lovely evening cruise along the shorelines of Manila Bay aboard a dining yacht. From the hotel, travel to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to board your cruise. Choose one of the following cruise options:
1. The Sunset Cruise - just in time to catch the world famous Manila Bay Sunset
2. The Mid-Evening Cruise - view the frantic lights of Roxas Boulevard
3. The Night Cruise - enjoy a calm atmosphere and watch as the city settles down
Onboard, take pleasure in a dinner of native cuisine and live entertainment. Exhilarating views of Manila Bay and the cityscape top off the night. Enjoy a truly unforgettable evening!
Explore the heart of Manila! Begin the day with a morning drive through the Mall of Asia, the Coconut Palace, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Rizal Park. Learn about the Philippines’ rich history and its diverse culture with a visit to Manila’s three famous museums.
Our first stop is the Casa Manila. This reproduction of a Spanish ""Ilustrado"" home is located in the heart of the walled city of Intramuros.
Afterward, visit the nearby San Agustin Church Museum, home to the richest collection of religious art in the country. Our last stop will be the National Museum where important artifacts are on display that were recovered from sunken Spanish Galleons. Learn more about the thriving galleon trade that dominated this period of history when goods were transported between the Philippines and Mexico.
Begin the day with a drive to the picturesque city of Tagaytay. Located on a ridge 2,250 feet above sea level, it offers a panoramic view of Taal Lake and Volcano. A visit to the Palace in the Sky, the ""rest house"" of former President Ferdinand Marcos, presents breathtaking views of the lake and volcano. We’ll stop for a brief lunch in one of the local restaurants to sample cuisine and delicacies popular to the region. During lunch admire the famous panoramic views. Then prepare for the trip back to Metro Manila.
Our sightseeing tour of Manila starts with a visit to the American War Memorial and Cemetery. Experience the hustle and bustle of Makati, as we make our way to the country’s capital city Manila via the scenic Roxas Boulevard. Pass through Rizal Park on the way to the "walled city" of Intramuros. Then travel back in time down cobbled stone streets to the San Agustin Church with the final stop being at Fort Santiago.
Revisit Philippine history with a glimpse of Manila’s past and present. This fully guided sightseeing tour of Manila starts right in the heart of the country’s financial center, the City of Makati. Stops include Nielson’s Tower along Ayala Boulevard, Forbes Park (an exclusive residential enclave fittingly dubbed as “Millionaire’s Row”) and the American Cemetery and Memorial.
Continue to the old City of Manila via the scenic Roxas Boulevard passing through Luneta (also called Rizal Park) on your way to the "walled city" of Intramuros. Inside the city fortress are ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish Conquistadors era.
Then travel through the cobblestone streets to San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country. End at Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress where Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, spent his last days in incarceration and wrote his famous "My Last Farewell.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a picturesque drive up to the city of Tagaytay. Located on a ridge 2,200 feet above sea level, the city offers a panoramic view of Taal Lake and Volcano. Savor this awe-inspiring vista from atop the Palace in the Sky, one of the rest houses of former President Ferdinand Marcos. On the way up, visit San Jose Church in Las Pinas to see the world famous Las Pinas Bamboo Organ. Built in the 19th century by Spanish priest Fr. Diego Cera, the organ is made up of over 800 bamboo pipes.
We’ll then visit a local "jeepney" assembly plant for an inside look at how these popular modes of transport, unique to the Philippines, are built. Time permitting, we’ll stop by a pineapple or coffee plantation to sample the local produce or by one of the local wood carving shops dotting the roadside.
Begin this adventure with an early morning drive to the former US naval facility in Subic, Zambales, 75 miles northwest of Manila.
Known as the Subic Naval Base, it was America’s largest naval facility in the Pacific region until the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 led to its abandonment. The area has since been converted into a modern free port and tourism zone.
Witness the aftermath brought by Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption (considered the strongest volcanic eruption in the last century) while passing through the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. Then visit a JEST Camp (Jungle Environmental Survival Training Camp) where indigenous people called Aetas demonstrate survival skills in a tropical rain forest. Experience a Zoobic Safari with its ride-through tiger enclosure (the only one of its kind in the Philippines.)
There is an option to stop by duty free shops inside the Freeport Zone before the return trip to Manila.
Visit the world’s smallest volcano, Taal Volcano. Located on the edge of a 30 kilometer wide caldera, Tagaytay City is about an hour and half outside of Manila. The volcanic crater was created over 100,000 years ago and the city provides breathtaking panoramic views of Taal Lake. You will enjoy a peaceful picnic on the lake shore before taking quick boat ride to Volcano Island.
Riding on horseback along black lava flows, you will reach the spectacular viewpoint overlooking Crater Lake and Vulcan Point.Visit the world’s smallest volcano, Taal Volcano. Located on the edge of a 30 kilometer wide caldera, Tagaytay City is about an hour and half outside of Manila. The volcanic crater was created over 100,000 years ago and the city provides breathtaking panoramic views of Taal Lake. You will enjoy a peaceful picnic on the lake shore before taking quick boat ride to Volcano Island. Riding on horseback along black lava flows, you will reach the spectacular viewpoint overlooking Crater Lake and Vulcan Point.
This convenient, refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of city life is your chance to recharge your batteries. Enjoy a variety of fun filled activities in the rural setting of the Escudero Coconut Plantation. About a two hour drive south of Metro Manila, this quaint, historic villa 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 villa also has its own museum which houses the family’s vast collection of historic, religious and cultural artifacts, some dating back to pre-Hispanic times. The highlight of the day is sitting down to a sumptuous lunch served beneath a man made dam. Feel free to immerse your feet in the cool rushing waters from a nearby lagoon. A swim in Villa Escudero’s spring-fed pools will complete this memorable visit.
A tour of Manila provides one with an introduction to the country's history which dates back from the Spanish colonization till the American and Japanese occupation. It takes in the historical, cultural and religious sites of the country, all of which help make it the political, social, cultural, religious, educational, industrial and commercial center of the country.
Manila's city tour starts with a visit to Rizal Park, named in honour of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. After a brief picture stop, proceed to the historic Walled City of Intramuros. Travel through the cobbled streets of San Agustin Church, the country’s oldest stone church and view its wide collection of ecclesiastical icons, vestments and other religious articles. Across it is Casa Manila, a reproduction of 19th century house equipped with Oriental and European decor, as well as Philippine antique furniture. Continue on to Fort Santiago, Manila’s main line of defense against invaders from the sea.
The stone fort guards the entrance to the city from Manila Bay and the site of many tragic moments in Philippine History. From the Fort, drive to Quiapo, Manila’s central district, often referred to as the heart of Manila with its market, pilgrimage church of the Black Nazarene, jeepney terminals and bazaars. Then proceed to the Chinese Cemetery, where the mausoleums are as big and as elaborate as houses and where fusions of Buddhist and Christian religions are very much in evidence. End the tour with a drive by Ayala Avenue or via Roxas Boulevard, the city's seaside drive.
Colorful jeepneys snake through Metro Manila’s major roads and by-ways, making them an essential part of contemporary Philippine culture. These flamboyantly painted public transportation vehicles are progenies of US Army-issued surplus jeeps from World War II which were reconstructed by ingenious Filipinos into passenger vehicles. Enjoy an extraordinary experience that is uniquely Filipino by riding in an air-conditioned jeepney whilst taking in the sights of Manila.
Travel through the financial district of Makati, passing down Ayala Avenue where gleaming skyscrapers stand cheek by jowl with less than distinguished-looking structures. As we approach the bustling metropolis of Manila, drive past the Cultural Center of the Philippines and on to Roxas Boulevard. Stop at Rizal Park, named after the country’s nationalist hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Then proceed to the Walled City of Intramuros which was the nucleus of the old Spanish town. Venture into Fort Santiago in its strategic location overlooking the Pasig River and Manila Bay and stroll along its ramparts where once stood the bamboo-palisaded stockade of its chieftain, Rajah Sulayman. Continue on to San Agustin Church, the only church built within Intramuros that has survived the collective onslaught of numerous calamities including fire and war. Beside the church is a museum that houses a collection of manuscripts, rare books, and religious arts and artifacts.
Not far from San Agustin Church is Casa Manila, a reproduction of a 19th century house equipped with oriental and European decor, as well as Philippine antique furniture. Crossing the Pasig River, we move on to the Chinese Cemetery, a virtual “town for the dead” complete with streets and houses. Be awed by its ostentatious mausoleums, some of which are two-story high, equipped with air-conditioning units, kitchens, furniture, stained-glass windows, running water and electricity. Winding our way through traffic, end up in a small side street in La Loma, Quezon City, where rows of native food stalls selling lechon line up the street. Here pig sucklings of every size and shape can be observed roasting in charcoal pits - a mouth-watering feast for the hearty gourmand and every cardiologist’s worst nightmare. End the tour with a drive by the narrow, flower-bedecked street of Dimasalang and the busy highway along Quiapo which houses the Shrine of the Black Nazarene, a 17th century miraculous life-size statue of Christ bearing the cross.
Retrocede en el tiempo con un viaje que combina la esencia de la colonización española y el sabor oriental de Manila. Los conquistadores españoles que llegaron a las orillas de Manila en el s.XVI dejaron una impronta en la arquitectura y cultura de la ciudad. Recorre dos de los barrios históricamente más ricos de la ciudad y explora las influencias que erigieron la Manila de hoy.
Retrocede en el tiempo con un viaje que combina la esencia de la colonización española y el sabor oriental de Manila.
DESTACAMOS:
* Explora el barrio chino más antiguo del mundo
* Pasea por la ciudad y el río en un carruaje de caballos
* Visita la ciudad amurallada de Intramuros
Los conquistadores españoles que llegaron a las orillas de Manila en el s.XVI dejaron una impronta en la arquitectura y cultura de la ciudad. Recorre dos de los barrios históricamente más ricos de la ciudad y explora las influencias que erigieron la Manila de hoy.
Empezaremos el tour en el Parque Rizal, cuyo nombre responde a un homenaje al héroe nacional del país, el Dr. José Rizal, antes de dirigirnos a la ciudad amurallada de Intramuros. Salpicado de recuerdos de los conquistadores españoles, este barrio rebosa historia. Detente en el Fuerte de Santiago y pasea por las calles empedradas en dirección a la Iglesia de San Agustín, la iglesia de piedra más antigua del país, para admirar su colección de iconos eclesiásticos. Cruza la calle y llega a Casa Manila donde subirás a bordo de un carruaje de caballos y trotarás por el barrio chino, en Binondo, al otro lado del río Pásig.
Fundado por los españoles, este es el barrio chino más antiguo del mundo. Baja del carruaje en la Iglesia Binondo y camina hacia Ongpin, una calle visible por sus arcos de estilo chino a la entrada. Deambula por las calles estrechas y callejuelas repletas de pequeños establecimientos y tiendas de joyería de oro, cerca de la Iglesia de Santa Cruz. Visita Escolta, utilizada en el pasado como una ruta de convoys por la marina británica, así como el edificio Regina y Pérez-Samanillo, dos edificios anteriores a la II Guerra Mundial con diferentes estilos arquitectónicos. Dispon de tiempo libre para explorar la zona antes de regresar a tu hotel.
Punto de encuentro: Recogida en el hotel.
Duración: 4 horas.
Hora de inicio o apertura: A las 9:00 horas.
The tour provides one with the opportunity to be as close as he can be with Mt. Pinatubo, whose eruption in 1991 was deemed as the most powerful volcanic explosion of the century so far. Its eruption marked the end of its 600 years of lying dormant; it spewed tons of ash and rock, emitting gaseous discharges up to 40 kilometers high, and altered weather patterns worldwide.
Early pick up and drive about an hour and a half to Pampanga where your local guide will meet you. Upon arrival, transfer to a 4x4 vehicle for a 2-hour ride to the jump off point where you will begin your trek to the summit of the volcano (trekking will take approximately two hours). At the summit, enjoy the magnificent view of this once dormant volcano. Mt. PInatubo's eruption in 1991 altered the global climate and caused mudflows to cascade down its slopes, destroying everything along its path and leaving behind a labyrinth of towering lahar cliffs. The crater lake within the mouth of the volcano has a halcyon shade of blue that contrasts with the black, strombolic fury it exhibited years ago. After lunch, end the tour with a brief visit at San Guillermo Church in Bacolor, Pampanga, and see how the lahar flow half-buried this church during the eruption.
A festive night of feasting on local cuisine and traditional songs and dances. The show is a production of Filipino creativity and artistic expression of tradition and culture. From the hotel, transfer to a typical Filipino restaurant for dinner and viewing of Filipino folk dances that are performed by young university students in their colorful native costumes. At the end of the show, participate in some of the dances and the sing-along that follows.
Day1 – Villa Escudero Coconut Plantation Tour: This convenient, refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of city life is your chance to recharge your batteries. Enjoy a variety of fun filled activities in the rural setting of the Escudero Coconut Plantation. About a two hour drive south of Metro Manila, this quaint, historic villa 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 villa also has its own museum which houses the family’s vast collection of historic, religious and cultural artifacts, some dating back to pre-Hispanic times. The highlight of the day is sitting down to a sumptuous lunch served beneath a man-made dam. Feel free to immerse your feet in the cool rushing waters from a nearby lagoon. A swim in Villa Escudero’s spring-fed pools will complete this memorable visit.
Day2 - Taal Volcano Trekking Tour: Visit the world’s smallest volcano, Taal Volcano. Located on the edge of a 30 kilometer wide caldera, Tagaytay City is about an hour and half outside of Manila. The volcanic crater was created over 100,000 years ago and the city provides breathtaking panoramic views of Taal Lake. You will enjoy a peaceful picnic on the lake shore before taking quick boat ride to Volcano Island. Riding on horseback along black lava flows, you will reach the spectacular viewpoint overlooking Crater Lake and Vulcan Point.
The tour starts right in the heart of the country's financial center - the City of Makati. Drive through Nielson's Tower along Ayala Boulevard and Forbes Park, an exclusive residential enclave fittingly dubbes 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 memorial outside the Continental United States. Then proceed to the old city of Manila via Scenic Roxas Boulevard (also known as the Dewey Boulevard in the recent past), passing through Luneta Park (also called Rizal Park in memory if the country's national hero).
After then proceed to your second stop: The ""Walled City""of Intramuros, here you will see ancient walls, church ruins and other relics of the Spanish Conquistadores. Travel through the cobbles streets to San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country.
Your last stop would be at the Fort Santiago, a Spanish fortress that 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"".