A travel & adventure blog by Kara Santos
Marilaque, the highway that spans Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon, has always been our go-to destination for weekend rides. For those based in cities in the North and East of Metro Manila (like Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina, etc.), this highway leading to Infanta through the Sierra Madre Mountains is the favored destination for road trips, much like Tagaytay for Southerners.
Caliraya Lake is a favorite destination among motorcycle riders and bikers based in Metro Manila for weekend rides. Located in the mountainous area of Lumban, Cavinti, and Kalayaan in Laguna, the area surrounding Caliraya Lake has also known as a top destination for outdoor recreation, water sports, retreats, and fishing.
Since travel has eased again after the pandemic, the area seems to be becoming more popular among families for car camping, glamping, and other outdoor nature activities. There are a lot more family-friendly resorts, glamping destinations, and new al fresco restaurants serving wider food options that have popped up in the area in the past two years.
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Caliraya Lake-Pagsanjan Bike Loop”For road bikers and urban cyclists, coffee rides have become a big thing for weekends. There are just so many new minimalist cafes that have popped up all over the metro that you can ride to every week just to go somewhere new or hang out on those Tambike rides with friends.
But for mountain bikers, there’s nothing quite like a mug of ice cold beer to beat the heat and help you relax and recharge during longer weekend rides, night rides, and bike camping.
Baler is a laid-back coastal town in the province of Aurora that’s known mostly as a surfing destination. But it’s also an amazing base for riders and bikers to explore. In 2019, we took a road trip from Manila to Dingalan, Baler, Dipaculao and back by motorcycles and loved the vibe, so we decided to return and ride at a slower pace on bicycles in April 2022 as soon as travel restrictions eased.
For those coming from Metro Manila, Tagaytay in Cavite is one of the most popular choices for a road trip or quick weekend getaway. You can enjoy the cooler climate with a refreshing view in this mountain town overlooking Taal Lake without having to drive too far.
We’ve all been cooped up for the past 2 years since the pandemic hit, and it’s great that we can finally rediscover and revisit our favorite spots again.
Last year, as pandemic restrictions and border checkpoints started easing, we started biking more to the outskirts of cities whenever possible. One of the most memorable rides we did last September 2021 was to Mt. Parawagan in the area of Rodriguez (formerly Montalban) in the nearby province of Rizal, one of the most popular hiking and mountain biking destinations near Manila.
Mt. Parawagan, which stands 480 meters above sea level, is classified as a beginner-friendly hike for mountaineers, and offers a fun and rewarding ride for mountain bikers.
Continue reading “Biking to Wawa Dam & Mt. Parawagan in Rizal”Bikers are always on the lookout for scenic spots to visit for a bit of nature and greenery in the city. Aside from Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and Quezon Memorial Circle, one of the public parks currently open to visitors as of January 2022 is La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City.
While the pandemic has kept most of us grounded compared to years of travel in the pas, it’s been a good time to rediscover the city and nearby destinations on two wheels. We’ve been biking for years long before the pandemic, and even short errand rides around the neighborhood has kept us sane throughout the different levels of quarantine restrictions we’ve had over the past two years.
Once travel restrictions eased and destinations started opening up again in the last quarter of the year, we started going on longer bike rides revisiting top biking destinations near the metro including Wawa Dam, Mt. Parawagan, Camp Sandugo, and Puray Falls, which ended up being my first Century Ride (over 100 km long).
Continue reading “Travel Guide: Biking to Mangantila Cafe and other scenic spots in Baras, Rizal”Banner photo: Winner, Special Award – Wide Angle, Paul Joseph Aristorenas
Amateur and professional underwater photographers, divers, and marine enthusiasts once again masterfully captured the beauty of Anilao in the entries to the 7th Anilao Underwater Shootout (AUS), recently mounted by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Dubbed as the “World Cup of Underwater Photo Competitions,” the event highlighted the town’s teeming marine biodiversity, including its world-famous nudibranchs.
Continue reading “Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback”Anilao in Batangas is known as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. The small barangay in the coastal town of Mabini is one of the most popular diving destinations accessible by land travel for those who live in Metro Manila. Anilao is said to be the home to more than half of the Philippines’ documented shore fish species as well as over 300 species of coral.
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