Discover a world away from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila with these unforgettable trips within easy travel distance of the capital.
Corregidor Island
History buffs should make time for a trip to Corregidor Island. The small rocky island at the entrance of Manila Bay was the last stronghold for Filipino and American soldiers against Japanese forces during World War II.
A tour package to this scenic island usually includes round-trip ferry transfers from Manila, shrine and terminal fees, a guided island tour and lunch. Daily trips leave from Manila at 8am and arrive in Corregidor Island in a little over an hour.
Pagsanjan Falls
A two-hour drive from Manila is all it takes to reach Pagsanjan Falls — one of the most well-known waterfalls in the Philippines.
Hire a small boat to take you upriver to the falls, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of gorges, cliffs and wildlife that call the riverbank home. Once you reach the main falls, you can then go on a raft ride through the falling water.
Tagaytay City
This charming little town in the province of Cavite, is the yin to Manila’s bustling yang. Tagaytay is home to Taal Volcano (dubbed the world’s smallest active volcano), which you can view from afar or get really close to either with a boat ride tour or a guided trek.
If trekking the volcano is a bit too much adventure for you, you can explore the Tagaytay Picnic Grove recreational park, which has picnic spots, an eco-trail, horse riding, a zip line 91 metres above ground, and a cable car. Or you can just go on a food trip and check out well-known restaurants such as Sonya’s Garden, Antonio’s and Marcia Adams.
Snorkelling in Sombrero Island
Snorkelling is a great way to see the Philippines’ spectacular marine wildlife up-close. Sombrero Island in Tingloy, Batangas is among the most popular spots for first-timers, and you can find a number of different tour operators that cater to both seasoned divers and novice snorkellers.
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 was reputed to be the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, blasting out enough ash and gas to bring down global temperatures for almost two years.
Today, Mount Pinatubo has become a top tourist attraction, especially for hikers. The final destination is often the picturesque lake inside the volcano crater, but the journey to get there is also quite scenic as you make your way past vast canyon walls of ash and rocks, as well as fascinating boulders and rock formations.
