Donya Choleng Camping Resort is not in Manila. It's not even in Luzon, as it's located on a…read moreseparate island of Cagbalete, Mauban, Quezon. You may drive to it, yeah, but unless you pay a ferry to bring your car there, you have to park it on mainland. We opted to ride the bus then, as it was less of a hassle for us. PROS: If you're the type of person who likes camping and sleeping inside tents, under the stars and close to nature, this Cagbalete resort is for you. There's loads of areas where a person can explore. Plus the beach itself was breathtaking. I always love beaches and their infinity blue horizons; No food baon? No problem. The resort has a kitchen and they cook and serve food for you that's fresh and tasty. CONS: Make sure you get to know the weather details when you get here. Swimming was a no-no for us then as the tide was very low; It's barely developed yet that there's no transportation system aside from the boats coming to and from the island. They only have electricity for certain hours thanks to generators; The sand is not as powdery-fine as I would've liked. TL;DR: For your next summer getaway, try rouging it up at Donya Choleng Camping Resort. Travel Time: Manila (JAC Liner Cubao) to Lucban = 3 hours, Lucban to Mauban (ordinary bus) = 2 hours, boat from port to Cagbalete Island = 1 hour, port to resort (by foot) = 20 mins. TOTAL: 6 hours and 20 mins.

This place was beautiful and loved all the activities offered but my only gripe is that it wasn't…read moreclose to the beach so it was pretty hot when we went there. We only did the day tour and didn't stay overnight. You can order prepared food there or bring your own to cook at their BBQ grills. We didn't reserve til the day before so we couldn't get a kubo but was able to have a shared covered area with tables and chairs. They had bathrooms with showers and a sink area to wash dishes. But as usual, bring your own toilet paper and soap. My family did the zip lining, repelling and rock climbing. They said they loved it. We used the pools which were an awesome site. We really liked the maze, too.

I expected a longer travel time to Shercon Resort & Ecology Park from the heart of Manila, so I was…read morepleasantly surprised when our bus rolled into its gates after a little more than two hours. But while the trip was convenient, the stay was not very much so as it does require a bit of walking from the function halls to the rooms to the pools and to the teambuilding areas. For families or small groups, bringing your own van might be best. Still, the forced exercise (we probably needed it anyway) was worth it, given the accommodations we received. It was no small feat, considering there were almost 200 of us for our office teambuilding, but we felt well cared for. Food was delicious and abundant, the staff were friendly and accommodating (they even went the extra mile to assist us when one of our members got sick), and the facilities were well-maintained. For the swimming addicts like me, you'll love that this resort has six (!) pools, so there's definitely no overcrowding at the pool. But the best part of our stay were the teambuilding activities they facilitated for us. We got to experience ziplining, wall climbing, rappelling, and games, which definitely boosted our group spirit. All these great experiences and extraordinary service, for suprisingly friendly rates. I will definitely be coming back. Winner!

We called the night before our visitation because we are fully aware that it is raining and asked…read moreif water activities will still be available by the morning, they 100% confidently said YES to us and even tried to explained that the waves is not that big, guess what? SURPRISE! No any activities are available at all and they still asked us to pay for the entrance fee without informing us about being nonsense inside the resort, even the food? NONE. They literally gave us a menu just for a display. 700 pesos per person for NOTHING.

Place has gotten better fr years I haven't gone back. Well maintained as it can be... only thing…read morewas signage said FREE access to shoreline dining... as how my sister remembers how it worked and yet they charged admission fee for my sister who i brought with me to have lunch while I go for a swim

One of my best friends grew up in Angono, Rizal, and she has always told me about this…read morearchaeological site that was discovered several years back in the nearby Binangonan town, which shares Angono's border. During one of their town fiestas, she took me up there to see it. Only roughly an hour away from Manila (and several minutes away from Antipolo) is the Binangonan Petroglyph site, which is a protected historical and cultural site. Apparently, the national authority for arts and culture have been testing the veracity and the authenticity of the site, but the marker from the National Museum must suggest that there has to be a certain level of credibility to the discovery Just a few minutes away from Angono's town proper, one would have to take a very steep mountain road to get to the developed uphill town near Thunderbird Resort and Casinos. Though the trail to the site itself is well-established, it is still recommended to wear your good hiking shoes because the dirt could be a little loose and rocky, especially during hot weather. There is a vast quarry that has a manmade, roughly hewn tunnel cutting through it which connects the highway to the other face of the mountain, where the Petroglyhs are located. With a minimal entrance fee, you will be able to see the Petroglyphs (stone drawings) which were apparently done by our cavemen ancestors hundreds of years ago, possibly even during the Neolithic age (broken vessels, remains and other artifacts were found in the site as well).The petroglyphs are known as the oldest form of folk art in the country. The said stone drawings featured tribal motifs for animals, humans and other natural objects, and they are etched to the faces of the rocks that jut out of the mountain. Some of the areas have been vandalized by people before the National Museum stepped in and built a barrier, restricting close access to the rocks. It is said that the cavemen who etched the designs onto the rocks are the ancestors of the people of Angono, who later on spurred an artistic Renaissance in the town, smaking it the Art Capital of the Philippines. Thankfully, preservation efforts have been done to keep the petroglyphs from being damaged by human activity and the elements. The site is also being petitioned to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

What do you think would be the oldest artwork in the Philippines? Definitely not the oil paintings…read moreon canvas or stone sculptures, but paintings too, or rather etchings on rocks, of our indigenous ancestors, long before civilization as we we know it was created. The Binangonan-Angono Petroglyphs are rock drawings of what looks like human and animal figures. There are about 127 still-visible drawings on a huge rock shelter on the hills bordering Angono and Binangonan. To get there, my travel companions and I rode up a hill before coming to an entrance of what seems like a cave. The guards told us to pass by the tunnel to get to the petroglyphs on the other side. We just walked straight and when we emerged out of the tunnel, we saw a structure that seemed like a house but which actually holds replicas of artifacts like stones and plates of baybayin, the ancient Filipino writing system. And then we went up a stone then wooded walkway to get to the rock shelter with the cave drawings. They do look like the real thing, though I read in some accounts that it is not yet proven without a doubt that the artworks are indeed authentic. But in any case, they indeed look beautiful and ancient, with some etchings deeper and more visible than others.

A top Philippines hiking destination [PAMPANGA, ZAMBALES, TARLAC Philippines]…read more I am not a seasoned hiker but I went along with my brother, sister (her hubby) and cousin. There were 5 of us. We booked this tour with Alvin and Angie Bognot Mt. Pinatubo Guesthouse and Tours located at the base of Mount Pinatubo in Sta Juliana, Capas. They offered an unforgettable tour to what was once one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mt Pinatubo erupted after 600 years of being dormant. Our tour included Mt. Pinatubo Day Tour with Tour Guide, Toblerone Hills and Crater Lake. The hike to the crater didn't seem long at first but to me it was! Mt Pinatubo has an elevation of 4875-feet above sea level. Getting there we had to ride a 4x4 jeepney from the guesthouse. We had tour guide assistance with us throughout our entire climb and they were excellent companions especially for beginners like me. The1.5-hr 4x4 drove through sandy and rocky terrain and even through little streams. It was crazy... hold on to your ears 'coz you'll be bouncing left and right and hopefully not fall off the jeep. We reached the foot of the mountain and passed by a group of hilly mountains shaped like triangles resembling the Swiss chocolates Toblerone. They called this Toblerone Hills. We had a chance to take some photos here. Then the hike... it was a bit of a challenge for me and while it took me awhile (almost 3 hrs) to reach the top I was feeling accomplished... the sweat, dust, dirt, and muscle aches were all worth it! I was glad I did it. We were rewarded with a panoramic view of the majestic caldera on a gorgeous backdrop of alpine-like rock formations. We rested and took in the beautiful landscape and scenery. By the way, there are three known trails of Mt. Pinatubo and this was the easiest. Happy trails... Review #3308

Normally when I take a trip somewhere, hiking is on the agenda. On my first trip to the…read morePhilippines, I learned about Pinatubo via a museum visit in Angeles City. I couldn't make the logistics work during that trip so I made sure it was at the top of the list for my 2nd visit. Before visiting Pinatubo, you should learn about it. Considered the 2nd largest volcanic explosion of the 20th century. When visiting nearby villages and areas, you get the sense that the area rose from the ashes of the eruption. It hits hard with the resilience of the Philippines and the people. The eruption was in 1991. After the primary eruptions, the area experienced numerous quakes, and smaller eruptions with a huge ash cloud. Some reports have some of the ash reaching as far as Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. The one thing that differs with hiking significantly in the Philippines as opposed to America. In America, you just go. You're on your own usually. Take your medkit, water, and anything to survive. One thing that took getting used to in the Philippines is that some things are locked down or there is usually a need to hire a guide to make it to remote areas. And trust me, without those guides... you'd be lost even if you could make it in. Pinatubo in particular is now part of a military base so you could very well see the military conducting exercises during your drive and hike. We hired a company to shuttle us to Pinatubo. Numerous companies do this. The one we used started super early(2 AM) in Manila. We didn't have to meet them until around 4:30 AM at the Dau bus terminal in Angeles. One thing with Pinatubo is that since it's on a military base, you have to be in and out of there by noon-1 PM so you're forced to start early. From there, it was about a 1-hour ride to the gate. From there, you're handed off, sign your life away, get to know the group you're with if you're with a group, and head off. The first 1-1.5 hours are spent offroading by jeep back to where you start hiking. The offroading part can wear you out in itself but it's fun. We were in the back with two other girls. You get to know your group simply because you're knocking knees during part of the offroading. The mask you're given... WEAR IT! I wore it about half the time and ended up paying for it that night/following days. The offroading stirs up quite a bit of dust. Who knows what I breathed in from metals, clay, rock, or whatever the eruption brought to the surface. After that, the hike starts. It's not a painfully difficult hike at all. You do cross numerous streams. Wear or bring shoes/sandals that drain well. I didn't think it would be so bad but you do cross quite a few knee-deep streams that keep you cool during the hike. At a few spots along the trail, some locals come out from their villages and have things to sell. Had I known that, I might not have brought so many snacks. I would've bought a couple of bananas from the little girls selling them if I didn't have any. I did come across a few young boys selling coconuts. We couldn't pass up a fresh coconut. I think with us buying one... it made others that come along buy them too. I can't believe that the locals still live close to the crater/lake. Aside from the lake and the final jungle trek, there's not much back there. It's almost like driving/walking through this rocky space-like planet. The last 500 meters being jungle is a nice welcomed shelter from the sun after the first few miles. After that, you make it to the lake. It truly is a beautiful place but there's not much to it. You can take an extra walk down these steep stairs to get closer to the lake. Our guide let us go but he wasn't going...lol. It seems like they would build some extra little areas so that you could walk around the lake and get other views. I guess it's hard because who knows if it'll ever erupt again. One thing our guide told us is they're working on extending the road back meaning... less hiking and possibly more tourists(because of that). Overall I'm glad we went but I'm not sure if it's a hike you need to do more than once or twice. On the way out, a local flagged us down so that he could get a ride back to town with his wife. His wife was painfully sick. I do hope they got the help they needed. She was hunched over in her husband's lap for most of the ride back. Feeling bad and offroading over all that rocky terrain... I think I would've just jumped off a cliff than go through that while feeling bad. The company we hired also prepared lunch for us. We were given a menu before to choose what we wanted. I went with chicken curry and she went with tinola. Both were delicious! We also ordered more coconuts to drink and eat and to top it off, our meal was in a treehouse.

Due to one week of rain, we were not able to reach the main falls, but rather the smaller falls…read more Nature along the river was spectacular. But five stars rating belongs to all the hardworking Filipinos who made it possible for both locals and tourists to reach the falls as safe as possible. We highly recommend this place and will definitely come back!

The best experience so far on my trip in the Philippines. If you are looking for places to go or…read moreexperience in the Philippines, this would be just one of them. The waters come from the national falls of the Philippines. It's about two hours from Manila due to the traffic but still a good experience. Just a warning, there will be tons of people diverting you to go to their Pagsanjan Falls tour ride up the mountain but I would say go to La Vista Pagsanjan Resort instead for their tours. Just to let you experience what happened to us. We were recommended by the restaurant to go to La Vista and they gave direction but we got lost. When you ask for directions around and word gets out on the street you are looking for the Pagsanjan Falls tour, they will follow you and knock on your window to go to their location instead. The people can be pushy so don't give in. When we couldn't find the location, we followed this guide on a motorcycle but make sure to lock your doors since this is 'unfamiliar waters' here. On the same path we found La Vista. The guy on the motorcycle was upset that we didn't go to their location as I am sure they get a cut. There was a lot of us going. The tour was great. Good for kids and senior citizens or ones who cannot swim as you will not fall in the water. You will get wet so wear wet gear and bring extra clothes. You are provided a life jacket and hard hat. The two guides on the boat gave great information about the places when we asked but of course, we asked in Tagalog to make it easier for them to communicate. You will go through 16 rapids up the mountain. Up, you say?! This is fresh water from the mountain and not salty at all. The water was merky but it rained the day before. Usually, they say the water is clear. You will be pulled by a loud motor boat until it gets shallow. The two guides will tell you to continue to wear the hard hat to pass the check point. After, you can take if off. I felt bad for the guides as the rapids were strong and we were not light...hahahaha. We used the hard hats again when we went underneath the falls. You will go on a bamboo raft with two guides. There is a large rope that the guides use to pull them to the falls. It was strong but they didn't actually put us in the middle of the falls, only the side and that was strong already!! The falls was stronger when we went due to the rain. I could barely see behind the falls. No wonder, you need the hard hats!! I would recommend to bring another hat or vizier to wear underneath the hard hat so your eyes have cover from the splashing water. I wish I could have taken pictures inside as well but I forgot my underwater phone bag. They let you come off the raft to swim behind the falls. It was actually cool water but refreshing from the warm humid weather in the Philippines. I know people don't like to tip these tours or don't know you should but I would as if you see the hard work they do for us to go up the mountain. What is $5 (@ 250 php) or give what you think. They have to spilt this tip among the two guides...People here don't make much money. They get a cut with the business but it may not be much from them...no pressure. I am just giving my opinion. Make sure to bring your waterproof camera or phone bag so that you can take images. It's very beautiful there. You are surrounded by tropical plants and high mountains. We got lucky as when we left our tour, it started to lightly rain again! =} Recommended!!

On a good day, Tagaytay is only about 40 minutes away from the southern parts of Metro Manila so…read moreaccessing this cooler part of the Philippines is pretty easy. Since most people also have this in mind, it can get pretty congested. If you've gone there several times in the last decade and you feel like you're running out of things to see, consider the Taal Volcano Hike. You'll find some boatmen along the highway offering this experience but for the more adventurous type you can actually do this on your own. Just drive down to Talisay via the road in Tagaytay (there are signages everwhere). Then, when you get there, you need to grab a boat to cross over to Taal Volcano. Boats are cheap and if you are travelling to as a group, you can actually split it because rental is per boat and not per person. When you get there, you have a choice of hiking up or getting a small horse. Of course, I got a horse but the rocky road leading to the top really made me think that I should have gone up by foot instead. The view from the top is exhilarating. Just the thought of peering down into an active volcano is so mind-blowing. Definitely a must-try experience.

In college, we had a course on Earth Science. Naturally, we studied about the physical aspects of…read morethe earth. It was an easy subject to coast through and what's more was that the professor announced a field trip! We were going to Taal Volcano! What the professor neglected to mention was that it was a rigorous hike. The field had tall grasses, the path wasn't very defined. We had to climb several hills and go down on our butts because the the ash was loose. All of us didn't know what to expect and at the end of the day, we were all sunburned and tired to the bone. Later on, we discovered that the path we took was for the horses. OMG. With a horse, the hike would have been really fun. The horse being a larger animal, could manage the terrain. On foot as a mere human, however - torturous. Don't get me wrong; it was really beautiful. Just be prepared.

A classic place for a retreat, immersion, or field trip, the Seven Lakes in San Pablo Laguna…read moreprovide a wonderful experience to those who want to experience nature from the perspective of the locals. Each of the seven lakes has its own character and story that one can already be amused with the tales of the local folklore (and occasional campfire horror story) that the local tour guides and residents will tell you. Being prepared for anything is a good idea, especially if you intend to hike, trek, or otherwise swim, wade or paddle all throughout your journey covering this massive area, which is composed not just of the lakes, but the forests and the hills, or even the nearby mountains. A trip, of course, best shared with a group of friends you can rely on and depend on. Truly another adventure that is more fun in the Philippines!