Good food opens the right doors. This three-hour visit takes you into chef Isi’s Manila home, where you can pick calamansi and lemongrass from her garden, help prepare family recipes, and sit down to eat what you made. I like the private setting and the chance to learn about Filipino food from someone who grew … Read more
A cave cruise worth the long road. This Puerto Princesa day trip takes you through the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park by paddle boat, with forest, wildlife, sea views, and a centuries-old cave all packed into one outing. I like the excellent cave experience and the fact that transport, lunch, boat transfers, taxes, … Read more
Boracay looks different from two wheels. This two-hour Dualtron ride gives you a lively way to reach Mt. Luho, Puka Beach, and Bolabog Beach without spending the whole outing inside a vehicle. It is one of the island’s newer activities, and I like that it mixes sightseeing with a hands-on skill. I especially like the … Read more
The lagoons are the main event. El Nido Island Tour A packs Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach into an eight-hour boat trip for $22 per person. I like the strong mix of limestone cliffs and white sand beaches, and I also like that life vests, a guide, permits, … Read more
Makati looks best after sunset. This three-hour night out takes you to three rooftop bars, where you can watch Manila’s lights come alive, try drinks, and move through different nightlife settings with Venus as your English-speaking guide. I like the easy meeting point at the lobby of I’M Hotel and the promise of photographs, since … Read more
Cebu packs centuries into one day. This private outing combines the city’s most important Spanish-era sites with the National Museum, Taoist Temple, Sirao Gardens, Temple of Leah, lunch, and wide views from Busay. I like the private vehicle and flexible pace, and I like having one guide explain both the religious history downtown and the … Read more
Come hungry, leave with a skyline view. This three-hour Makati evening tour pairs Filipino street food with a retro diner stop and a rooftop finish at Antidote bar. I like the broad food selection, from sisig and kwek-kwek to balut and grilled intestines, and I like the personal help with ordering when there is no … Read more
The river turns into your playground. This Cebu adventure takes you through the canyon that feeds Kawasan Falls, combining swimming, scrambling, water slides, trekking, and optional cliff jumps. You finish at one of Cebu’s best-known waterfalls, but the journey through the canyon is the real attraction. I especially like the private format, which gives your … Read more
See Boracay beyond White Beach. This three-hour private tour strings together beaches, photo spots, local stories, and short tuk-tuk rides, giving you a quick look at the island without the usual group-tour shuffle. I especially like the private format and the guides’ strong photography skills. The main catch is pace: six stops in three hours … Read more
Sunset looks better from the water. This short Bacuit Bay cruise gives you a front-row view of El Nido’s limestone cliffs, clear water, and changing evening light aboard a traditional Filipino paraw. I like the quiet sailing atmosphere and the chance to sit on the boat’s side netting for a close view of the sea. … Read more
