Relaxing, hidden, and far away from the hustle and bustle of Manila. Despite the distance, this…read moreresort was worth the 3.5 hour drive from Metro Manila. Crystal Beach is in the town of San Narciso in the Province of Zambales. The resort features air-conditioned rooms, cottages, and beachside camping tents. They also have WiFi in the main area. There are a few bon fire pits and grilling stations for anyone to use. We opted for a day entrance just to experience the food, beach huts, and the sand. The admission fee, parking, and cost of food were very reasonable. The long journey from Manila definitely made us hungry. We decided to try out their restaurant located in the main common area. Seating was easy and we also chose the table closest to the fan for comfort. We ordered sisig, tuna salpicao, halo-halo, rice, and sinigang na hipon. The sisig has a nice mix of crunch with a citrus-pepper marinade. The tuna salpicao was tender and flavorful. The shrimp sinigang, which is a true Filipino favorite, was sour and savory. Halo-halo came last as a dessert. The bowl was filled with various sweet toppings and a generous scoop of ube ice cream. Post lunch coma started to kick-in and we decided to relax in one of the many beachside huts. Beach chairs were available along with the perfect view of the mountains and blue waters. The beach was almost empty and quiet. There are available surfboard rentals and surfing lessons for anyone seeking to ride the small waves. Showers are available near the common area. I would recommend this resort to anyone seeking a tranquil escape.

Very disappointed on this beach..first the sand of the beach is not that clean as you see on their…read morewebsite 2nd price of shake..120 pesos for melon and 100 pesos to mango!!! Any differnce? Cabin itself no restroom, lights need update, outlet for 15 person capacity have 3 electric fan!!! Food is so pricey..restroom is to far for the cabin ..not recommend this beach for my friend

Scrolling down my Facebook and Twitter timeline, I noticed that a lot of young people like me are…read moregoing to mountainous regions near Manila to try out hiking. I'm not really a fan of hiking or physical activities in general, but for some reason I got a bit jealous. I also wanted to go hiking with my friends as part of our yearly barkada goals. When my friend heard that I was interested in hiking, he immediately planned a trip to Tanay, Rizal. He told us that he knows this really cool place where we could hike. It took us 1 and a half hours to get to Tanay, Rizal. We first went to Brgy. Daraitan to contact a tour guide. When we finally found a tour guide for our day trip, we decided to head out to Mt. Daraitan. We only assigned one person from our barkada to take pictures, because we heard that a girl fell down the mountain while she was taking selfies (Yikes!). During our hike, there were many campsites and way points where we rested. There's also a super clean river down the mountain where some of my friends bathe in. If you want to visit an ecotourism site, you can take an alternate trail to Mt. Lugang, a beautiful mountainous region deep within Sierra Madre. This place will surely make you appreciate the beauty of mother nature. It was a very tiring adventure. At first, I was really scared, but the tour guide told me that I'll be safe as long as I follow all of his guidelines. This experience is definitely one for the books!

I was so amazed with how the river looks. Although the ride going to this scenic view is quite long…read moreand bumpy, its actually worth the wait. You have to go in groups though so you will not ripped off your pocket. Its also better if you have your own private car because the only means of transportation is trike going to barangay Daraitan. Just make sure the vehicle will endure the rocky road, literally its super bumpy and kinda steep. Also you have to pay for registrations, mandatory tour guide, bridge and so on.. that's why its better if you're in groups. Locals were nice and friendly though.

LOOK LEFT Pundaquit…read moreBeach is the dock-off point of travellers heading to the islands of Capones, Anawangin, and Nagsasa. We prepared less for this trip and it took us 6-hours to queue at the bus station. We took an Iba-bound bus for another 5 hours on the road. We arrived San Antonio by sunset. Quite honestly we are initially disappointed upon arriving at our accommodation. It is an extremely tiring trip and there's is a big group occupying half of the resort. They tend to be rowdy through the night. We stayed here since we refuse to camp in the islands. We got non-aircon cottages which is actually a steal for a budget of less than Php1000 per night. Meals is not a problem, they serve pretty good breakfast. Tables and chairs are also provided outside the cottages. There is also a tree house deck for relaxation. Like most backpackers inn, the rest rooms are communal but well-maintained. There is no vehicle parking in their premises but there nearby spaces available for rent. On to our second night of stay, as soon as the big group leave, it turned out as a quiet place to stay and unwind. The hotel staff also assisted us in getting a boat to Nagsasa for our Day Tour. We booked the boat for Php1200 back and forth. Tried Ohana Art Cafe for dinner. Food is just okay. We ordered the set meal for P350 per plate. For our last night in Pundaquit, we had a Filipino food feast at Canoe Beach Resort. Menu extremely affordable and surprisingly good. We had Sisig, Sinigang, Caldereta, Ensalada, Grilled Fish, and Drinks for Php1200.

Out of the other coves you can visit in Zambales, Nagsasa is my favorite. Just a few hours from…read moreManila, the campsite is not as crowded and you can go on a nice hike across the mountainous area to enjoy two waterfalls. There is also a very basic toilet and shower so you can still do your business and clean yourself up. I like that on the right side, if you're facing the cove, is an open area where you can play Frisbee or tan to your heart's content. The water is also calm and warm. Guides are available for the hike. We did this on a whim so we did not have the right attire, but we survived our in flip flops and swim shorts. It's always better to be prepared, though. If you're on a budget, buy food at the wet market before boarding the boat to the cove. You can cook in the little kitchen hut at the campsite, just remember to ask your guide nicely. You can also ask them to charge your gadgets for you for a small fee (less than P30), but that means they will take a boat back to your take-off point where there is electricity. If you run out of water, you can also ask them to get water for you. We found out that one of the waterfalls is the source of that water so if you're picky, bring plenty of bottles or a portable filter.

Somebody in our batch suggested Anawangin for our batch outing. We were asked to contribute about…read more500php each, that's to cover the transportation, the boat ride, the overnight stay and whatever's left would be money for food. Of course we were encouraged to bring snacks and whatnot because when you get to the island, you won't be able to buy anymore since there are no tindahans, there wasn't even a cellphone signal. It was one of the best and cheapest trips I've been to. At that time Anawangin wasn't full of people and it wasn't offered as a promo on the group buy sites. It gave me the chance to actually sleep in a tent, cook my own food, gather around a bonfire and live a full day without the comfort of technology. The view was spectacular, and the experience was awesome. It'd really give you a chance to bond with the group and appreciate the simple things.

One of the great unexplored past times in Manila is camping. Sure, the metropolis is smoggy and…read morecongested, but there are really nice forests and beaches just 3 or 4 hours away from the city. A weekend escape from the trudge of modernity is always a great way to relax and unwind, and trailblazers are always finding new places to pitch a tent. Over the past decade, Anawangin Cove has become one of the most popular camping spots close to Manila. Only a 5 hour drive away, the cove is surrounded by hills with an interesting feature: pine trees. While they aren't quite the Temperate variety, the back end of the beach is littered with pencil pines. The rustling of the needles creates a very soft white noise, and the place remains peaceful even with the presence of a large amount of campers. The beach is great too; wide enough for a good game of frisbee or beach football. We stayed here overnight and even barbequed our own steaks, and we couldn't help but notice eyes leering at us with envy. Fortunately, they were only envious campers and not smarter-than-your-average-bears.

This place was beautiful and loved all the activities offered but my only gripe is that it wasn't…read moreclose to the beach so it was pretty hot when we went there. We only did the day tour and didn't stay overnight. You can order prepared food there or bring your own to cook at their BBQ grills. We didn't reserve til the day before so we couldn't get a kubo but was able to have a shared covered area with tables and chairs. They had bathrooms with showers and a sink area to wash dishes. But as usual, bring your own toilet paper and soap. My family did the zip lining, repelling and rock climbing. They said they loved it. We used the pools which were an awesome site. We really liked the maze, too.

I expected a longer travel time to Shercon Resort & Ecology Park from the heart of Manila, so I was…read morepleasantly surprised when our bus rolled into its gates after a little more than two hours. But while the trip was convenient, the stay was not very much so as it does require a bit of walking from the function halls to the rooms to the pools and to the teambuilding areas. For families or small groups, bringing your own van might be best. Still, the forced exercise (we probably needed it anyway) was worth it, given the accommodations we received. It was no small feat, considering there were almost 200 of us for our office teambuilding, but we felt well cared for. Food was delicious and abundant, the staff were friendly and accommodating (they even went the extra mile to assist us when one of our members got sick), and the facilities were well-maintained. For the swimming addicts like me, you'll love that this resort has six (!) pools, so there's definitely no overcrowding at the pool. But the best part of our stay were the teambuilding activities they facilitated for us. We got to experience ziplining, wall climbing, rappelling, and games, which definitely boosted our group spirit. All these great experiences and extraordinary service, for suprisingly friendly rates. I will definitely be coming back. Winner!

The girlfriend and I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while, so we…read morescoured the internet for a good escape within driving distance from Manila. We ended up choosing Villa Socorro, a secluded farm in Laguna that lets you go camping on their grounds. You can also go river crossing, go hiking / mountaineering, trekking, rafting, or biking. We ended up doing none of these because we were so tired from everything that's going on. We just cuddled in our rented tent and watched the stars for hours, and then went swimming in the river the next morning. For a minimal fee, the farm will also serve you meals based on what they have available. Pro tip: email the owner, who is very nice, beforehand so he can arrange everything you need before you even get there.

Villa Socorro is one of the biggest sources of banana chips in the country, and I smile whenever I…read moresee their chips in stores all over the country because I was able to meet the owner, and he was one of the nicest people I have ever met. My lobster and I were looking for something new and fun to do on our six-month anniversary and we settled on communing with nature via camping and maybe a bit of hiking. We found Villa Socorro Farm online, and it offered both, among other things. We got in touch with the owner, and he personally made sure that we had the time of our lives. And we did.

Early Morning jog or night jog…read more Are the two decisions I have to make when going for a run at track 30 Beware sometimes can be over crowded if going at peak times. So I suggest a 5am run or a 10pm run perfect cool temperature so not many runners will distract your Also at these times you can avoid pollution from the traffic. Happy running!

Like what someone has mentioned before me, Track 30th is the older version of Terra 28th. The Kuya…read moreand the one upfront about his weight training to make pa-pogi to the chicas. Track 30th is part of my running routine as well. It doesn't have the quirkiness that Terra 28th has, but it has areas wherein you could do your free-weights training. I like how there were two structures there were assembled for pull-ups, sit-ups and stretching. There are labels on the wood installations, so don't fret! There's also a running track on another side of Track 30th. However, I don't think would deem suitable for anyone. Maybe for a kid, yes. There are also groups who do training sessions here. I've seen some who do arnis and dance trainings as well. But mostly free-weights training are ideal here. There's just so much space and you could bring your equipment, too!

Mountaineering can be a very expensive hobby, and it is one of those activities that require good…read moreand reliable equipment, or else you compromise your comfort, convenience and safety. In my climbing and hiking trips, I would get such equipment envy seeing other people with really specialized equipment, especially well-designed and hyper-functional camping backpacks and rucksacks. It is comforting to discover that for beginner hobbyists and mountain climbers, a local brand can compete to the very expensive foreign brands such as The North Face and Columbia. Sandugo is a homegrown brand that caters to the mountaineering crowd. Their entry-level equipment is reliable and handy enough for out-of-town camping trips, and even seasoned mountain climbers swear by the durability and the dependability of their equipment. They cost effectively a third of the big brand names, yet with their sandals, shoes, climbing gear, backpacks and rucksacks, you don't really have to sacrifice quality and hardiness. It is a perfect starting ground for when you are only testing the waters as far as mountain climbing is concerned. The knowledgeable staff in their Metro Point branch will tell you about the pros and cons of using their products. They are very honest and straight to the point, as they are also experienced climbers themselves. They are able to give you expert opinions as to what equipment will be more effective for specific types of travelers.

ROX is basically an outdoor lover's playground. Three floors of serious gear, an indoor climbing…read morewall that goes up multiple levels, and everything from bikes to hiking, camping, snow, and motorcycling essentials. The brand mix is solid, Birkenstock, Allbirds, Reef, Billabong, Roxy, Columbia, Garmin, Camelbak, New Era, Nike, Fox, Deuter and more. It's rare to find this range in the Philippines, which makes this place feel like a real destination, not just a store. Even if you're not shopping, it's fun to walk through and explore. If you're into the outdoors, this is the kind of place you could easily lose an hour in. Great value coming here

One day, I decided that I wanted to try Rock/Wall Climbing so I wrote it down on my bucket list…read more After a few days I started googling places that had Rock Climbing gyms. I found really good ones but they were in Quezon city, a bit far from me. Fortunately, I found one that was just a few minutes away. I found out that R.O.X., a one stop shop for anything outdoors, had Rock Climbing facilities. What's great is that their shop is in the heart of the city: The Fort, and they are just in Bonifacio High St. They're literally inside a mall. How convenient! So I skedaddled to their Rock Climbing facility and signed up for a class. The thing was, there are no classes. There's just a quick briefing about the activity, plus a few tips. A few warnings and advices later, I found myself with a harness, a wall to climb, and zero experience. The coaches were very friendly and supportive. They guided me at the start and when I got the hang of it, I just found myself at the top of the wall tired and sweay. When I was done, I had climbed three walls; one easy, one intermediate, and one difficult. The learning curve for rock climbing isn't that steep. All I needed was myself, the desire to learn, and I had fun with it. Rock Climibng was a bit challenging but it was a very awesome experience for me. I really had fun traversing the walls with just my arms, legs, and a harness for safety. It's a bit expensive though, but a good price for this kind of activity (considering that the coaches also help you if you're a beginner). You might spot famous rock climbers in this place! When I went there, I had the privilege of seeing one of the female Filipinos who climbed Mt. Everest. And yes, I was very intimidated and honored at the same time.

great place to unwind and friendly people…read more a lot of stores and restaurants and of private resorts around.