7 Fun and Unique Activities Near Metro Manila That You Can Try

Vacations are not meant to be spent at home binge-watching the latest TV series, though that has increasingly become the norm. You would forgo any trips outside because you feel like you’ve done them all: camping, kayaking, ziplines, trips to the beach, etc.

It feels like attractions outside Metro Manila don’t offer much… that is, until you’ve tried (almost) every single one on this list:

Fly an ultralight (Angeles City Flying Club)

ULTRALIGHT. It’s kind of like a bare-bones aircraft that’s perfect for beginners to learn how to fly on./PRIMER FILE PHOTO

They don’t hand out pilot’s licenses the same way they do driver’s licenses (though we heard that will improve soon enough). You can, however, get a feel for what it would be like by visiting the Angeles City Flying Club in Pampanga.

Located about 16 kilometers outside of Clark Airfield, it’s the best place to learn how to fly that’s within two to three hours of Metro Manila. Try your hand at flying an ultralight, which is like a plane stripped of the entire fuselage, for only P2,466. If you have too much fun, you can take it to the next level and be a full member!

Angeles City Flying Club
Woodland Airpark Talimundok, Sta. Maria Magalang, Pampanga
www.angelesflying.com
0918-920-3039 or 0916-456-8588

 

Try your hand at flowboarding (Flow House Manila)

JUST GO WITH THE FLOW. A quick trip to Brgy. Molino in Bacoor, Cavite nets you a chance to try flowboarding./IMAGE Flow House Manila

Flowboarding (sometimes called flowriding) is a hybrid sport of sorts, combining surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, and skimboarding. In our opinion, there’s only one place to visit if you want to try flowboarding: Flow House Manila.

Related article: Flow House Manila

Before you get any ideas, no, it’s not located in Metro Manila (even if it has “Manila” in its name). It’s located in Bacoor, Cavite, roughly an hour or so away from Metro Manila. Their state-of-the-art FlowRider is designed to let even beginners experience the feeling of surfing a wave without being in the open ocean. They also play host to the Asia FLOW Tour, one of the premier flowboarding competitions in Asia, as well as being a place to hang out (they’ve got their own bar and grill and can act as a party venue!).

Flow House Manila
Elements Mall, Molino Blvd., Brgy. Molino III, Bacoor, Cavite
12:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Wednesday – Thursday; 11:30 am – 10:00 pm, Friday – Sunday
0995-158-9225, 046-416-9442
facebook.com/FlowHouseManila

 

Wakeboarding (Republ1c Wakepark)

CABLES INSTEAD OF BOATS. Wakeboarding usually requires a speedboat, but not at Republ1c or CWC./PRIMER FILE PHOTO

Yes, it sounds a bit common, but we’re pretty sure you’ve never even thought about wakeboarding until you saw videos of people doing it in the CamSur Water Complex. Unless you’re willing to get a plane ticket to Naga (one hour ride) or brave the nine-hour drive to Camarines Sur, we suggest visiting Republ1c Wakepark in Nuvali.

Also read: Republ1c Wakepark

It’s the closest wakepark to Manila (two hour drive max) and is 100% beginner friendly. They’ve got professional wakeboarders who will teach you how to wakeboard at their beginner area. Already a wakeboarder? Then shred the waters at Republ1c with their new ramps!

Republ1c Wakepark
West Diversity Boulevard Nuvali, Calamba, Laguna
8:30 am – 5:30 pm, Monday – Thursday; 8:30 am – 10:00 pm, Friday – Sunday
republ1cwakepark.com
bookitrepublic@gmail.com
049-559-4835/36

 

Glamping (Nurture Wellness Village)

IT’S CAMPING WITHOUT CAMPING. Take away the hike and all the other manual labor in camping and you get glamping./IMAGE Nurture Wellness Village

Glamping is a relatively new trend that’s sweeping most millennials (or at least those who hate hassle). It’s like camping but without the hassle of, well, camping: pre-pitched tents, meals prepared in advance, electricity, and a bathroom.

You can go to Zambales (3-4 hours) for a bout of glamping at Crystal Beach Resort in Zambales, but we have a suggestion that’s a bit closer to Manila: Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay (only 1-2 hours!).

Related article: 5 Glamping Spots in PH that You Need to Visit this Summer

 

Throwing plates into a wall (Tacsiyapo Wall, Isdaan Floating Restaurant)

HAVE CARE OF HOW you speak (or in this case, curse). Only “tacsiyapo” is allowed, but then again, that’s all you need./IMAGE Alt3rnate Route

Ever wanted to throw something at someone just because you’re pissed at them? We won’t recommend you do that, but you can choose to throw something at a wall while yelling “Tacsiyapo” at Isdaan Floating Restaurant.

Isdaan is as the name implies: it’s a man-made floating restaurant which started in Gerona, Tarlac and has a branch in Calamba, Laguna if you’re closer to the south. Both places are essentially the same: a man-made floating restaurant/theme park where you can eat, ride a boat, take photos… and throw ceramics at a wall while yelling a Kapampangan curse word: tacsiyapo. (No, we are not translating it as this is a family-friendly website.)

You’ll have to pay for what you throw and are not allowed to bring your own, but it’s a win-win situation: you don’t need to replace what you break, and you get to let out a bit of steam.

Related: Isdaan Floating Restaurant and Fun Park

Isdaan Floating Restaurant
MacArthur Highway, Gerona, Tarlac; National Highway, Calauan, Laguna; Brgy. Bagong Silang, Talavera, Nueva Ecija

 

Fling your friend into the air (Inflatable Island)

SEND YOUR FRIEND FLYING! Here’s a video about the things you can do at Inflatable Island… like launching your friend into the air (skip to 0:28)./VIDEO Inflatable Island Ph on Facebook

Long weekends offer an opportunity for you and your friends to get together for some fun. Last-minute plans are (strangely) effective, and the idea of launching someone into the air is just too hard to resist.

Also read: What to expect at Inflatable Island

You can do both at Inflatable Island in Subic Bay, Zambales. A three-hour drive away from Metro Manila, it’s the largest floating playground in Asia with 3,400 square meters of nothing but wet and wild fun. It has a lot of options for play (trampoline, several slides, rock climbing, giant swings, Tarzan Slide) but our personal favorite is the Human Launcher.

Just have your friend sit or lie down at one end while you jump on the other end to launch them in the air… and (hopefully) hear them scream. It’s oodles and oodles of fun!

 

Fine dining dinner date in the sky (Philjets)

GO FULL-ON SWANKY. Take a helicopter to dinner with PhilJets./IMAGE PhilJets on Facebook

Adrenaline-pumping activities are fun and all, but there are times that you just want to go on a relaxed, sightseeing flight from Manila to Antonio’s Restaurant in Tagaytay. Technically, this starts off within Manila, but this is exactly what you’ll get with PhilJets.

Also read: Date in the Sky with Helicopter Fine Dining via Philjets

Having partnered with several of the country’s finest eating establishments (including Antonio’s), PhilJets offers a helicopter fine dining experience which includes flights to and from almost anywhere in Manila, a sightseeing tour of either Manila or Taal Lake, champagne onboard the chopper, and landing fees at Antonio’s.

philjets.com/special-occasion/fine-dining-helicopter-experience-philippines
02-851-0639, 0998-974-0497, 0998-843-5956
Price varies depending on pick-up point and number of passengers

Got any other interesting activities around Metro Manila? Hit us up in the comments section below!

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Written by Andronico Del Rosario