A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Cagbalete Island is a quiet island getaway that has been rising in popularity among backpackers and budget travelers. Located just off the coast of Mauban town proper in Quezon just a few hours from Manila, this island offers beautiful beachfront campsites and a wide white-sand beach.
Sibuyan is one of the three main islands and the second largest in the archipelago comprising the province of Romblon in the Philippines. It’s often described as “the Galapagos of Asia” because of its rich biodiversity and how it has remained in isolation from the rest of the country since it was formed. Beyond the moniker, Sibuyan has one of the most unspoiled ecosystems in the Philippines and is home to the world’s densest forest, making it an amazing destination for travelers looking for unspoiled places and raw adventures.
February is love month! If you’re looking for alternatives to dining out in mall-based restaurants in the city, nothing beats a scenic road trip for a romantic getaway. If you’re not the type who likes sleeping under the stars and camping outdoors, how about staying overnight in a cozy Bed and Breakfast or boutique hotel just a couple of hours from the metro?
Here are just a few romantic dining destinations and B & Bs I know of near Manila ideal for Valentine’s weekend, date rides with your significant other, intimate family getaways, girl’s day out bonding with friends or solo trip getaways where you can relax and recharge.
Continue reading “Romantic Getaways near Manila”With Taal Volcano’s ongoing eruption, everybody’s on edge. Thousands of residents who live near the lake have been displaced and animals have been abandoned on the island. The landscape of Taal’s Volcano Island will probably never be the same again.
It’s scary to think of what could happen in the future. It makes you wonder how prepared we are considering that the Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands, most of which are volcanic in origin. In fact, there are at least 300 volcanoes in the country.
Continue reading “Active Volcanoes in the Philippines”With the traffic in the metro getting worse and worse these days, and transport options like motorcycle taxis in jeopardy, now is probably the best time to consider buying your own motorcycle and learning how to drive.
Honda Philippines, Inc. raises the bar in the scooter segment once again as they recently launched The All-New Airblade150, a cutting-edge sporty AT bike that promises to make urban riding fun, comfortable and stylish.
Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal is a favorite weekend destination for mountain bikers based in Manila. Situated in the 360-meter high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, these headwaters of the Marikina River used to be the primary water source of Manila before La Mesa Watershed. The scenic destination is roughly just an hour’s drive away (depending on the traffic) from the big cities in the East of Manila.
Romblon is one of the three main islands and capital of the province of the same name in the Philippines. Formerly a trading post during the Spanish period, Romblon Island is popularly known as the “Marble Capital of the Philippines.” It’s also a rising ecotourism destination home to stunning white-sand beaches and uncrowded diving spots.
A lot of restaurants have come and gone along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. As a resident, I have top 10 personal favorites that I regularly go to including Friuli, Tomato Kick, Roberta’s Seafood Restaurant and Indonyaki, to name a few. While these days, the area seems saturated with food parks, Samgyupsal and milk tea places catering to the student crowd, some residences have been converted into restaurants ideal for quiet time or small gatherings. Here are some of the relatively newer restaurants (opened from 2017 to 2019) that offer unique food and a cozy homey ambiance in the Maginhawa neighborhood.
The town of Tanay in Rizal province is one of my favorite destinations near the metro for motorcycling road trips. Its proximity to Manila, refreshing mountain scenery, cooler climate, and generally uncrowded destinations makes it a good alternative to Tagaytay on any given weekend. Parts of Tanay pass through portions of the Sierra Madre mountain range, making it a great motorcycling and biking destination.
For weekend warriors and families, Tanay has lots to offer in terms of natural attractions. The resorts and leisure camps in the area also make it a popular destination for team-building activities as well.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Tanay, Rizal”Sometimes we all just need a quick getaway somewhere refreshing, but accessible. In the busy urban sprawl of Metro Manila, not everyone is lucky enough to have green spaces and gardens in their homes. Dining in garden restaurants can give you that quick fix of the great outdoors. Here are just a few garden restaurants in and near the metro worth hunting down for your next date, or food-trip session with friends.
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