Tag Archives: Park

Voyage To Danasan Eco Adventure Park

My trip to Danasan Eco Adventure Park was initially sparked by a passing recommendation from a friend. Before going all I knew was the park was fun and that I needed to take a bus to Danao; then from there ask somebody to take me to Danasan.

The following morning I was up early, ready to take the bus to Danao. The ride to Danao City was trouble free for us; in just under two hours we had arrived there from Cebu cities north bus terminal. Once in Danao, we were directed towards a group of motorcyclists who would be able to take us to Danasan Eco Adventure Park.

So within minutes of arriving in Danao, we were back on the road heading towards the park. This part of the ride was amazing, to say the least, it was actually one of the highlights of my day. I rarely venture outside of the major cities like Cebu and Manila so this was a relatively new experience for me.

Not long after beginning the ride we were weaving through an unsealed road surround by jungle landscapes. This followed shortly after by views of the mountains, which were dotted with patches of land that had been cleared to grow crops. The views offered by the ride to the park was worth the journey alone.

As we would pass through the villages the kids would run out to us. They would be shouting and waving, trying to greet us as we passed through their little village. It was amazing to see the full spectrum of environments people live in within this country; from the inner city condo to deep in the wilderness, high up in the mountains.

Once we got to the park I was surprised with how big the place looked. It was strange to think such a high-quality park was tucked away in the mountains, hours away from Cebu.

Once you arrive, make your way to the reception area out the front of the main building. From there it is as simple as picking out which single activity or package you want to try. I chose the ATV riding, basically because the pictures made it look the most exciting.

You are then taken in the back on a truck to the location of the activity. You then put on your equipment and then you’re briefed on how to use the motorbikes. After a few photos, we were on our way. Our leader took us through some roads around the property, which was quite fun. 

After a while, we got to an opening which had a loop style track with a hump in the centre. From there we were able to ride freely around the track for quite a while. This bit I loved, we were free to ride the bikes how we wanted, so everybody immediately began racing their ATVs around the track.

The ATV tour was actually quite long. After we finished it was already late in the afternoon. But we were already at Danasan Eco Adventure Park, we had to squeeze in as much as we could while we were there.

So next we chose to do the zip line and horseback riding. It was getting late so it seemed like a good idea to squeeze in activity which features two different experiences.

The zip line was fun, although I do it at so many places across the Philippines so it wasn’t really anything new. The horseback riding was quite fun. It was also my first time on a horse, or even using an animal as a form of transport. It was a nice experience riding through the property on a horse. Although because we were inexperienced we had to have guides leading the horses for us.

By the time we finished the horseback riding the sun was beginning to set. We only had a few minutes until our friend who took us to the park was going to arrive to pick us up; it was time for us to leave Danasan Eco Adventure Park. Even though we only had time for two activities I still had a lot of fun. Plus we still had the fun motorbike ride back through the mountains to do, so I was looking forward to that.

Danasan Eco Adventure Park rates

The activities range anywhere between P380 – 760 per person. It may seem expensive for some but the activities are all very long and engaging experiences, so you do get value for your money. For updates on the adventure and activity rates, please check their official website here. Danasan Eco Adventure Park also offers accommodation packages for their guests. They have a wide range of options to suit all price ranges. For an up to date summary of their rates, view their official website here.

How do I get there?

Danasan Eco Adventure Park offers a shuttle service. They can pick you from Parkmall in Cebu at 6:30 am and take you directly to Danasan (roundtrip for a minimum number of 10pax.) 450 per head (round trip). Alternatively, rides are available from Danao (Nano`s Pizza) at 9:00 am to Danasan (roundtrip) 300 per head (round trip) Transportation will depart from Danasan at around 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

Alternatively, you can make your own way there, which requires a little extra work but was quite enjoyable. Buses to Danao are available from the North Bus Terminal in Cebu. Once you arrive in Danao city centre ask around for directions to the Jeepney terminal. There you will find plenty of motorbike riders who will be more than happy to take you up to Danasan. I can’t remember what I paid, but it was actually quite cheap.

 

 

Star City, A Fun Filled Theme Park In The Heart Of Manila

Star City is one of two dominant theme parks in Manila, the other being Lagunas Enchanted Kingdom. Having been to both theme parks, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer Star City over The Enchanted Kingdom.

Although Star City does not have the same attention detail as The Enchanted Kingdom; it has the advantage of being right in the heart of Metro Manila as well as still offering a wide variety of rides and attractions for its patrons.

With an extensive range of indoor and outdoor rides, Star City can accommodate guests in all weather conditions. Although a few of the rides did look dated due to the theme park opening in 1991; the park undergoing a lot of maintenance and construction work at the time, so it appears that the park’s management is actively updating its rides as well as expanding on what it has to offer.

One thing I noticed is how wide the variety of rides on offer is. It has all the traditional roller coaster, and ferris wheel style rides you would expect at a theme park. It then has offers other alternative attractions such as a haunted house exhibit and its snow world. There is also an entire section dedicated to smaller arcade games where patrons can relax after enjoying the more intense rides.

Star City schedule and directions

Star City business hours are from 4 pm until late on Monday through to Thursday; 2 pm until late on Friday through to Sunday.

Star City is located within the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City; a short drive from SM Mall Of Asia. It is a 15 – 30 minute drive from Makati and Manilas international airport; although these times can be significantly longer due to frequent traffic in the area.

How much is the Star City entrance fee?

Star City offers a wide variety of ticketing arrangements from Admission only to ride all you can tickets. You will also be able to buy tickets for their alternative attraction such as Snow World and Scream Avenue. Discounts are offered when you pair your attraction tickets with your ride all you can tickets.

Ride all you can tickets are currently P450, while the cost for the other attractions ranges between P100 – 150. For updated ticketing information, please check the official website.

For more information on Star city and what it has to offer, visit the official Star City website here.

Why should you visit Manila Ocean Park?

On my various adventures around Manila, I have found myself at Manila Ocean Park a handful of times. On every visit, I still enjoy my stay. It is packed full of so many things to see, so there was always something new for me to experience.

They have a wide range of exhibits which are entertaining while also having some educational and historical aspects to them. The main attraction guests gravitate towards is the oceanarium. It’s full of a wide variety of species, which you can look at up close through the walkway tunnel beneath the aquarium.

My other personal favourite is the evening shows. I have seen the sea lion show in which the sea lions display their skills as well as talks on the conservation efforts made by the park. There is also the evening symphony show, which at first I wasn’t too excited about going. But the show exceeded my expectations; it contained fire, water and lighting synchronised to the music; it was surprisingly entertaining.

How much is the Manila Ocean Park entrance fee?

The entrance fee can be expensive due to what is actually on offer. It roughly P500-1000 per person depending on which package you choose. If you are looking for up-to-date fees, it is best to check the Manila Ocean Park website.

On my visits, I have bought the basic ticket with one of the evening shows. These tickets kept me occupied for most of the day, and the evening shows were always excellent quality. So you can get away with buying the cheap tickets and still having a good time there.

Other amenities at the complex

Despite the name, Manila Ocean Park is not purely a home for marine wildlife. The complex also houses a wide range of other amenities to keep guests comfortable and entertained. There are a wide range of specially stores throughout the premises as well as a range of restaurants catering to guests look for a snack to guests wanting a fine dining experience.

The complex also houses a fully functioning hotel, Hotel H2O. The hotel in itself offers a range of dining and spa experiences for its guests. For pricing and availability, book direct through the Hotel H2O website, or take advantage of the various promos available through Agoda.com.

How to get to Manila Ocean Park

The first major attraction you want to head towards is Rizal Park. As everybody knows where this is, this should be your first goal; once you arrive at Rizal Park, the rest of the journey is quite easy. From Rizal Park, you should walk toward Roxas Boulevard in the direction of Manila Bay. Once you cross Roxas Boulevard, you should then be walking towards Quirino Grandstand, which is not far from Roxas Boulevard. Once you pass Quirino Grandstand, you should see the large building and signs for Manila Ocean Park.

The Manila Ocean Park hours are between 10am – 8pm, check the official website for any updates or changes.

Feel free to ask any other questions in the comments box, I have spent quite a bit of time here, so I should be able to help you with any questions.