A day trip to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is like travelling back in time. Set on a 400-hectare land in Bagac, Bataan, Las Casas is a heritage resort that showcases the Filipino cultural heritage and traditions through the restoration of old, historic houses. There are about 34 houses dating from 18th and 19th centuries that have been transported from their original sites in provinces and cities in Luzon, to this heritage resort.
The restoration work on each house was done by craftsmen who painstakingly reconstructed houses by keeping true to its original designs and woodwork. The heritage resort exudes an old village ambiance that comes complete with a plaza that features sculptures depicting rustic scenes of the olden days.
It also has, apart from accommodation facilities, a swimming pool, restaurants, souvenir shops, a watersports rental shop, and an entertainment and game room featuring local Filipino games. In essence, the tour offers a glimpse of how the older generations of Filipinos lived during the Spanish era through its architecture and lifestyle.
On the way up, visit San Jose Church in Las Piñas to see the world-famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. Built in the 19th century by Spanish priest Fr Diego Cera, the organ is made up of more than 800 bamboo pipes. It is a powerful symbol of Filipino Catholicism and has been declared a national cultural treasure.
We’ll then visit a local ‘jeepney’ assembly plant for an inside look at how these popular vehicles, unique to the Philippines, are built. Time permitting; we’ll stop by at a either pineapple or coffee plantation to sample the local produce, or at one of the local wood-carving workshops dotting the roadside.
Meeting point: Pick-up in Makati and Manila Bay area hotels between 8.45am and 9.15am, returning from 5.15pm.
Other information: Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour.
Pick up from city hotel. We will proceed to the countryside and visit a Durian Plantation. Experience how they are being harvested and processed to different delicacies. Eat fresh Durian fruit from the tree. A sumptuous garden lunch will be prepared for you at the farm. After that, a chance to visit a Durian Candy Factory on your way back to downtown area. If you are not into Durian, you may try the other fresh produce of Davao at the fruit market, if not try the irresistible Durian Cappuccino or Coffee. Transfer back to hotel.
Explora El Nido, un municipio filipino en la isla Palawan conocido por sus playas de arenas blancas, sus arrecifes de coral y también por ser la principal entrada al archipiélago de Bacuit, formado por un grupo de islas repletas de empinados acantilados de roca caliza y relieve cárstico.
Día 1
Reúnete con nuestro agente y serás trasladado a la ciudad El Nido en un viaje de cinco horas. Aprovecha el día a tu gusto después de hacer el registro en el hotel sobre las 14:00 horas.
Día 2
Prepárate para pasar un día increíble con un tour por las maravillas del Nido. Al acabar el tour a las 16:00 horas puedes volver al hotel o quedarte en la costa.
Empieza por la pequeña laguna o Small Lagoon, situada en una cala de la isla Miniloc. Nada a través de un pequeño agujero o coge un kayak para llegar hasta ella y enamórate de sus tranquilas aguas cristalinas de color turquesa, de sus muros de piedra caliza bordeados de orquídeas y de la gran diversidad de vida marina que ofrece.
Descubre la Big Lagoon o laguna grande a bordo de una canoa polinesia. Maravíllate con la belleza de sus aguas cristalinas repletas de vida marina. Esta laguna es conocida por ser una importante área de reproducción de peces y crustáceos.
Conoce la playa Seven Commandos (siete comandos), nombrada así por los siete comandos japoneses rezagados después de la Segunda Guerra mundial que se quedaron a vivir en la isla. La isla tiene una larga playa de arenas blancas bordeada de palmeras.
Explora la isla Shimizu y sus impresionantes acantilados de piedra caliza en los cuales anidan aves como la salangana y el vencejo. Sus nidos se usan para hacer una sopa con poderes curativos según las creencias de los asiáticos.
Déjate cautivar por la isla Pangalusian que tiene uno de los tramos más extensos de playa de arena blanca del Nido. Se pude aprovechar para tomar el sol, ver la puesta del sol o para hacer otras actividades en la playa. Sus aguas repletas de arrecifes de coral hacen que sea un lugar perfecto para bucear o hacer esnórquel.
Visita el punto Cadugnon y su cueva, importante lugar antropológico, donde se hicieron joyas y objetos de alfarería que datan de la dinastía Sung (960 – 1279 a. C.). Los antropólogos creen que los habitantes de la cueva eran de Borneo y viajaron a través del antiguo puente que unía Palawan y Borneo. Una pequeña abertura escondida entre las rocas cerca de la playa revela una catedral que parece una cueva habitada por gorriones de mar. Maravíllate con la belleza de las formaciones de piedra y descubre la forma de subir una pequeña colina de piedra caliza.
Recorre la isla Pinasil y la cueva Catedral, accesible solo en batel o kayak. Su frescor interior se ilumina a ciertas horas del día cuando la luz del sol acaricia la cima a través de una grieta.
Maravíllate con la belleza de la isla Snake, situada cerca de la isla Pangalusian. Se le conoce como isla serpiente debido a su fina arena natural que tiene forma de “S” dando la impresión de serpentear sus orillas cuando la marea es baja. En los dos lados de la arena hay zonas para nadar poco profundas. Escala la colina de la isla cercana para tener una impresionante vista panorámica del paisaje marino y la bahía de Bacuit.
Día 3
Desayuna en el hotel y tómate la mañana libre antes de emprender el viaje de vuelta a Puerto Princesa
Idiomas
Inglés
Explora El Nido, un municipio filipino en la isla Palawan conocido por sus playas de arenas blancas, sus arrecifes de coral y también por ser la principal entrada al archipiélago de Bacuit, formado por un grupo de islas repletas de empinados acantilados de roca caliza y relieve cárstico. El tour por el Nido incluye las lagunas, playas y santuarios más importantes de la zona.
Idiomas
Inglés
In the morning depart from Manila for your flight to Tagbilaran, Bohol. Bohol is located east of Cebu is an island province that is naturally beautiful and historically rich. First stop is the Philippine Tarsier Foundation in the town of Corella, which serves as a refuge for the smallest primate in the world, the tarsier. Observe these rare, nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat and be amazed by their agility as they move about, leaping from one tree to the other, and swivel their heads nearly 360 degrees. Then proceed to Baclayon, make a short stop at the historical Blood Compact site, where Spain’s Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain, sealed their friendship with a symbolic drink. In Baclayon, visit a centuries-old stone church that houses a museum containing a collection of religious art, ecclesiastical vestments, as well as librettos of church music inscribed in Latin on animal skins. Proceed with the tour, passing by Bilar man-made forest, a thick undergrowth of towering mahogany trees grown on the fringes of the highway leading to the Chocolate Hills, the country’s geological wonder. From a distance, these hills look like huge candy drops that change in color with the season, and are aptly named ‘chocolate’ when the hill grasses turn deep brown in summer. Hike up to the viewpoint for a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area before moving on to Loboc River where a cruise downstream on a floating restaurant is made more enjoyable with a delectable lunch served on board. Return to Tagbilaran Airport to catch the late afternoon flight back to Manila.
Drive through the City of Mandaue, known as the furniture capital of Cebu. Visit Maple and Pine Classics, which showcases quality wood and cane furniture, exported world-wide. Next stop is a Fashion Accessories store that offers costume jewelry, gift items, and home novelties made of local materials.
Drive to Mactan Island to see how export quality guitars are made at the famous Alegre Guitars. Continue the tour and visit a high end fashion accessory shop named Avatar, a pioneer business that has garnered numerous awards and recognition for design excellence. Finally, take a relaxing drive up north to Liloan and see how native bamboo is used by local craftsmen to make baskets, and the interesting “nipa hut,” the traditional Filipino house using palm leaves as roofing, bamboo slats for the walls and bamboo poles for the basic structure. Return to hotel early in the afternoon.
Colorful jeepneys snake through Metro Manila’s major roads and by-ways, making them an essential part of contemporary Philippine culture. These flamboyantly painted public transportation vehicles are progenies of US Army-issued surplus jeeps from World War II which were reconstructed by ingenious Filipinos into passenger vehicles. Enjoy an extraordinary experience that is uniquely Filipino by riding in an air-conditioned jeepney whilst taking in the sights of Manila.
Travel through the financial district of Makati, passing down Ayala Avenue where gleaming skyscrapers stand cheek by jowl with less than distinguished-looking structures. As we approach the bustling metropolis of Manila, drive past the Cultural Center of the Philippines and on to Roxas Boulevard. Stop at Rizal Park, named after the country’s nationalist hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Then proceed to the Walled City of Intramuros which was the nucleus of the old Spanish town. Venture into Fort Santiago in its strategic location overlooking the Pasig River and Manila Bay and stroll along its ramparts where once stood the bamboo-palisaded stockade of its chieftain, Rajah Sulayman. Continue on to San Agustin Church, the only church built within Intramuros that has survived the collective onslaught of numerous calamities including fire and war. Beside the church is a museum that houses a collection of manuscripts, rare books, and religious arts and artifacts.
Not far from San Agustin Church is Casa Manila, a reproduction of a 19th century house equipped with oriental and European decor, as well as Philippine antique furniture. Crossing the Pasig River, we move on to the Chinese Cemetery, a virtual “town for the dead” complete with streets and houses. Be awed by its ostentatious mausoleums, some of which are two-story high, equipped with air-conditioning units, kitchens, furniture, stained-glass windows, running water and electricity. Winding our way through traffic, end up in a small side street in La Loma, Quezon City, where rows of native food stalls selling lechon line up the street. Here pig sucklings of every size and shape can be observed roasting in charcoal pits - a mouth-watering feast for the hearty gourmand and every cardiologist’s worst nightmare. End the tour with a drive by the narrow, flower-bedecked street of Dimasalang and the busy highway along Quiapo which houses the Shrine of the Black Nazarene, a 17th century miraculous life-size statue of Christ bearing the cross.
Begin this adventure with an early morning drive to the former US naval facility in Subic, Zambales, 75 miles northwest of Manila.
Known as the Subic Naval Base, it was America’s largest naval facility in the Pacific region until the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 led to its abandonment. The area has since been converted into a modern free port and tourism zone.
Witness the aftermath brought by Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption (considered the strongest volcanic eruption in the last century) while passing through the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. Then visit a JEST Camp (Jungle Environmental Survival Training Camp) where indigenous people called Aetas demonstrate survival skills in a tropical rain forest. Experience a Zoobic Safari with its ride-through tiger enclosure (the only one of its kind in the Philippines.)
There is an option to stop by duty free shops inside the Freeport Zone before the return trip to Manila.
Whale sharks, locally known as 'tuki' or 'butanding', are found off the coast of Tan-awan, in Oslob, about 10 kilometers away from the town center. Start your trip by meeting the gentle giants of the sea. Locally known as “tuki” or “Butanding”, the whale shark is the largest fish in the world. With its vast size it resembles the whales from which the common name is derived.
It can reach up to 12 meters (40 feet) in length and weigh an average of 5 tons. It uses mouth filters to feed on tiny plankton and small fish. Don't miss the opportunity to watch, snorkel or dive with the whale sharks and get fascinated by these friendly creatures. Return back to hotel in the evening.