Travel Up

10 Camping Destinations near Manila

Sometimes we just need to get away from the city to enjoy fresh air and nature. Camping weekends where the main agenda is to do nothing but go stargazing, roast marshmallows over a bonfire and sleep under the stars can offer a quick escape. However, the most beautiful camping spots usually require long hikes up the mountains or boat travel to smaller islands and remote beaches.

Bikepackers and motorcycle riders are always on the lookout for natural spots that are still accessible by vehicles or with secure parking nearby.

Here are just 10 campsites located just 1 -4 hours away from Manila that I’ve personally visited or have been planning to visit. These camping areas are located in areas close to nature, with spacious grounds for pitching your own tents and have facilities like restrooms, running water and places to buy food nearby.

Hue Hotel and Resorts, Boracay

Summer is just around the corner and Boracay is ready to accept tourists once again to their tropical island paradise. The top destination in the Philippines was one of the first island destinations that reopened to domestic tourists last October 2020. Amid the pandemic, top hotels and tourism establishments have put safety measures in place to ensure that guests can enjoy relaxing and safe stays on the island.

2021 Travel Guide: Boracay, Philippines (New Normal)

The tropical island paradise of Boracay in Aklan is one of the first destinations that reopened to domestic tourists during the COVID era in the Philippines. Well-known for having a long stretch of powdery white sand beach, crystal clear waters, a stunning sunset and a wide variety of hotels, resorts and restaurants to choose from, Boracay has always been one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

ArtSector Gallery & Chimney Café 360º in Rizal

I’ve been meaning to visit ArtSector Gallery & Chimney Cafe 360º for a while now. This special events place located in my husband’s hometown of Binangonan has become one of the most popular spots on social media this past year because of the stunning views it offers. The relatively new café perched on a hill offers a 360º view of Laguna Lake, Sierra Madre Mountains, Pililla Windmills, sunset, moon, and city lights.

Artistic restaurant & pottery studio in Antipolo: Crescent Moon Café

Crescent Moon Café is a long-running establishment in Antipolo. This artistic restaurant known for their Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine and pottery products from the studio of Lanelle Abueva-Fernando has been around since 1997. I’ve written about this place several times before, but with all the travel restrictions these days, there’s been renewed interest in accessible and open-air restaurants near Metro Manila, so I though I’d share more photos and details about the place from visits over the years, before and during the pandemic era.

Kaulayaw Café: Coffee & craft beer with a view in Antipolo

Antipolo has its fair share of restaurants and cafes that offer stunning views overlooking the city. Kaulayaw Café is one of the newest dining destinations along the Antipolo ridge, specializing in locally sourced coffee. Because of the ongoing pandemic, open-air dining destinations with nature views are much more preferable for dining out rather than enclosed indoor restaurants in malls.

Batala Bar: Cozy craft beer bar in Intramuros

Batala Bar in Intramuros recently reopened! Right before the lockdown restrictions in March 2020, I met up with good friend Mica of Senyorita for a “business meeting” in the area and we spent a chill afternoon with mugs of local craft beer here. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed random meet-ups with friends over drinks and it’s nice to know that more establishments are finding ways to reopen with the proper health and safety measures, like contact tracing and health declaration forms in place.

Romantic sunrise & sunset resto in Antipolo: Maura’s Place

I’m always on the lookout for unique places to eat for road trips. These days, with the restrictions because of the pandemic, we’ve been dining mostly at home, or in accessible spots where we can enjoy fresh air and nature views not far from the city. To kick off the new year, we checked out a new place in Antipolo that’s been getting some buzz online for its rustic and romantic look.

Biking safety tips during the COVID-19 pandemic

A lot of people got into biking last year because of the lack of transportation and as a recreational activity. This year, more people will probably be interested in venturing further from the cities for bike exploration or are planning to meet up with friends for group rides. While borders have started easing up, we’re still not out of the woods yet. As long as vaccines are not yet available, it’s better to err on the side of safety.

That being said, biking is a physical exercise that’s beneficial for maintaining health, fitness, and the body’s immune system. When done alone or with members of your household, it can be a relatively safe and rewarding activity.

A Guide to COVID-related Travel Requirements in the Philippines

It’s a really challenging time for travelers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of medical jargon being thrown around, unknown acronyms, long list of requirements that vary per destination, expensive tests, and the very real risk of getting sick or stuck in a quarantine facility. Most people have chosen to avoid traveling altogether unless it’s really essential, and I can’t blame them.

I recently had to go through the tedious process for a work trip to Bohol that involved air travel. And while I enjoyed the destination very much once I got there, what went on behind the scenes before and after made me reassess if it’s really worth traveling for leisure at this time.

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