I don’t think you’ll run out of places to visit in a country where there are more than 7,000 islands to explore!
Now more than a backpacker’s paradise, its flourishing tourism industry provides more options and better choices for a traveling family to choose from.
Here’s the second part of the 100 family-friendly travel destinations in the Philippines. (For Part 1, click here)
11. Lake Pandin, Hidden Gem in the City of Seven lakes
Lake Pandin, with a depth of approximately 180 feet, is the most pristine lake in the Seven Lakes of San Pablo. The next time you want to take your family to another private pool in Pansol, Laguna, think of this alternative. This is not yet a popular option to private swimming pools that seemed to be everywhere in Laguna. I suggest you make this family-friendly travel destination a ‘must-visit’ and experience yet another natural beauty that calms the spirit and a restless mind.
It is actually half of the scenic Twin Lakes of San Pablo. The other lake is named Lake Yambo, separated from Lake Pandin by a narrow strip of land. The lake’s calming beauty takes you to a different kind of family adventure. You can swim in its clean waters, swing on vines, and have a family picnic while on a floating raft with thatched roofs. Lunch will be prepared for you by local women for a minimal cost. Don’t worry about safety, as all tourists are required to wear life vests.
The rafts can fit the whole family of six to eight members. It has a bamboo table in the middle of the raft for a unique floating lunch experience. The oarswoman/ tour guide can take you on a short trek to a view point where you can also marvel at the beauty of Lake Yambo. It’s interesting to note that Lake Pandin, among the seven lakes of San Pablo, are all crater lakes.
Where to Stay? Check out the options here.
How to Get There:
Take a Lucena- bound bus from Manila bus terminals and asked to be dropped off at Medical Center, San Pablo city. Ride a jeep going to “Bayan”. From Bayan, ride another jeep going to “Ilog”. Ask the jeepney driver to drop you off at Lake Pandin Parking Lot. Lake Pandin is 10 to 15 minutes’ walk away from the parking lot. Usually one of the locals will guide you to the lake.
By private car, go over the Skyway via SLEX and the Calamba Exit.
How Much It Costs:
The rafting tour takes 3 hours, paddled by local oarswomen and costs 360 pesos per person. The packaged tour includes a sumptuous lunch of shrimps, fish, veggies and rice. Without lunch the tour costs 180.00 per person. Visiting this hidden gem can actually help boost the livelihood of the locals, and help maintain the cleanliness of this eco-tourism site. If commuting by bus, fare would cost 127 pesos one way if coming from a Buendia bus terminal.
12. Pagsanjan Falls (also known as Magdapio Falls)
A trip to one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines is one that your family will never forget, not in a long time. The action-packed “shooting the rapids” activity is part of the whole adventure of going to and from the waterfalls.
Trained boatmen (licensed and accredited after six months of training) will literally “pull up” the boat up the river. All you have to do is watch the cinematic mountain forest scenery – lush tropical vegetation, rocks and canyons that surrounds you- passing by seven waterfalls and a number of short rapids for an hour’s boat ride.
Upon reaching the basin near the falls, you have the option to transfer to a raft pulled by ropes going directly under the waterfalls. You’ll pass through the cascading waters and into Devil’s Cave. Behind the cascading curtains, tourists are allowed to rest and prepare for the next highlight of the trip. Shooting 14 rapids on your way back is actually safe and an awesome activity for a family adventure trip. All tourists are required to wear life vests and helmets. The whole trip will have you and your family gaping in awe at the wonderful sights of nature, and if you’re lucky, maybe spot a colorful bird flying overhead.
While in Laguna you can visit the paper-mache making and wood-carving town of Paete, several old churches, pina-weaving and embroidery town of Lumban, Caliraya Lake and the tsinelas-making town of Liliw. Travel time from Manila takes roughly 2 to 3 hours with normal traffic.
How to Get There:
Take the HM Transport bus from Cubao or Green Star Terminal in Buendia, Manila going to Sta. Cruz. From there you can take a jeep going to Pagsanjan, Siniloan, Paete, Lumban and Caliraya – all of which passes by the town of Pagsanjan. Go straight to the Pagsanjan Tourism Center. You will be given directions in getting a guide if you are not booked in an inn or hotel. Otherwise you can just take a tricycle going to any one of the several inns, lodges and hotels in the town of Pagsanjan.
By car, coming from Makati City, take SLEX going to Calamba exit, head straight to Calamba and then turn right at Calamba Junction. You will reach the town of Pagsanjan along this route and then you can go to the inn or hotel of your choice to park or go straight to the Tourism Center if you’re just going for a day tour.
Where to Stay? Check out the options here.
How Much It Costs:
Shooting the Rapids tour costs 1,250 pesos per person inclusive of helmet, life vest and the services of trained and accredited boatmen. You are expected to give a tip to the boatmen. Standard room accommodations at inns and hotels range from 800 to 3,000 pesos. Several diners and restaurants dot the town of Pagsanjan Falls and meals can range from 100 to 300 pesos. One way bus fares from Manila is 140 to 150 pesos.
13. Calaguas – Mahabang Buhangin (Long Beach) Cove, Tinaga Island and Maculabo Island
Calaguas used to be a backpacker’s secret beach haven. With its exceptional, crystal-clear blue waters and powdery-fine white sand, a secret like this can’t remain secret for long. Soon resorts grew like mushrooms in this hidden beauty of Camarines Norte, Bicol Region. Local tourism made the beach haven accessible even to families with kids, making it a good alternative as a family-friendly destination in the Philippines.
Resorts in Calaguas offer a laid-back, idyllic island life far away from the entrapments of city life. This is now a kid-friendly travel destination, where you experience island life without totally giving up modern comforts. Here you can have a nice room with bath, delicious and fresh-from-the-sea island seafood fare, and breath-taking views of hills and sea. I just spent a few days of my last summer in this place with my daughter. You can also try camping in a tent. My daughter had an amazing time stargazing at night while lying on the shore.
I noticed that the place has now turned from a deserted beach cove into an exotic, rustic family vacation place, judging from the number of children I saw playing by the shore. On weekends, a party at one of the resorts might be held so ask the resort first if any beach party event will be held on the day you are scheduled to go. Mahabang Buhangin( Long Beach) has a long coastline lined with resorts. It’s always best to choose the one with a quiet ambience away from the beach party crowd if you are aiming to relax with your family.
If you hire a boat exclusively for your family, don’t forget to ask the boatman to dock at Maculabo Island on your way back to the mainland for a lazy afternoon. Make sure to bring food for picnic as the beautiful white sand island does not have any amenities at all – but it actually has island residents living a short distance from the shore. Compared to the Mahabang Buhangin cove, Maculabo Island exudes an understated, untouched, pristine air that you wouldn’t want to miss.
How to Get There:
Last time I went there, I hired a van for family and friends. Travel time from Makati City all the way to Paracale Port took 8 hours with stop-overs at places of your choice. If you’re commuting by bus, take the buses bound for Daet at Pasay or Cubao bus terminals. Travel time takes an average of 8 to 10 hours.
From Daet Bus terminal take a jeepney ride to Vinzons or Paracale. Hire a boat and travel 2 hours to get to Mahabang Buhangin shores. It is highly recommended to book your vacation on a weekday if you want to avoid weekend crowds that can easily turn the usually deserted place into a crowd akin to the beach crowds of Puerto Galera or Boracay.
You can also fly to Naga Airport from Manila, and from Naga, Daet is a two hour drive away.
Safest time to go there is from the dry months of February to early June.
Where to Stay? Check out the options here.
How Much It Costs:
Bus fares range from 450.00 pesos to lazy-boy type seats that costs 750.00 pesos. Based on personal experience, I hired a private van for family and friends. An 18-seater van can comfortably seat 12 to 14 people with weekend luggage for roughly 11,000 pesos inclusive of gas and toll fees. If you prefer to camp, camping fee is 100.00 pesos. However, it is more practical to book a room at one of the resorts now lining up the coastline of Mahabang Buhangin Cove.
Resort or hotel accommodations for the family can range from 2000 to 3,500 pesos.
A packaged tour can range from 2,500 to 3,500 per head inclusive of accommodations, meals, and boat rentals.
14. Caramoan Islands
Caramoan was first known to the world when the TV reality “Survivor” version from France chose Gota Beach as its shooting location. Before then, fine white sand beaches, crystal-clear aquamarine waters, picturesque rock formations, several islands with fantastic coral reefs and diverse marine life remained undiscovered to the beach-going public.
Primarily known as the ultimate island-hopping venue in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, the group of islands has now become a great option to Boracay and other fine white sand beaches in the country. Several tour packages offered by tour agencies now made it easy for families to travel to enchanting Caramoan Islands.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Boracay.
How to Get There:
The best and fastest way going there is to take the 45-minute flight to Naga. Take a 2 hour van ride from Naga to Sabang Port, where you need to catch the public ferry at Guijalo Port before 11am. From Guijalo port, travel by sea for roughly 2 hours and head to your hotel accommodation.
For backpackers like me, I chose the long 10-hour journey by land via bus going to Naga, and from Naga rode a 2 hour- ride to Sabang Port to catch a ferry at Guijalo Port. (Whew). Not an ideal option with your family in tow, unless you’re a family who enjoys backpacking and long travel time on the road. By the way, I avoided Gota Beach and stayed at a local’s private rest house with the very basic amenities at Lahuy Island, with the hired boatman’s residence conveniently living close by.
How Much It Costs:
A fuss-free itinerary complete with accommodation, ferry transfers, boat and island-hopping services by a Caramoan tour agency can range from 2,000 pesos to 4,000 pesos per person excluding fares going to Naga. If you prefer to rough it out you can take the 10-hour bus trip to Naga from Manila. Bus fare costs approximately 800 pesos traveling directly to Sabang Port if booked a seat at the Penafrancia Bus Lines. Otherwise, take the buses headed to Naga and then take a van going to Guijalo Port. Fare costs 100 pesos.
15. Tagaytay City, Cavite
A picturesque city and popular tourist destination located in the province of Cavite, Tagaytay is famous for its outstanding scenery and cool weather unlike that of most of the Philippines. Besides its location being very near to Metro Manila, it overlooks not just the odd yet magnificent Taal Volcano and Lake in Batangas (wherein there is a lake with a volcano with a lake within, and an island in the middle of that small lake), but also Manila and Laguna Bay due north and east respectively.
Tagaytay offers recreational facilities, cozy resorts and lodges, inns and hotels perfect for family retreats amidst breathtaking natural creations. Tagaytay houses establishments like the Sky Carnival offering the “Sky Eye”, the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines. All of these and more makes Tagaytay the perfect sight-seeing and get-away place near Manila.
How To Get There:
For those who opt for public transportation, there are numerous buses stationed at bus terminals in Cubao, EDSA, Pasay, Baclaran, and beside the Coastal Mall in Paranaque at Metro Manila. Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses labeled “Mendez, Tagaytay, or Nasugbu” will take you to your destination in only two hours. Besides being linked to most national highways, it is also connected to the provinces of Batangas and Laguna. This is where it is easiest to head to the towns of Talisay and Santa Rosa and take the Talisay-Tagaytay Road and the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road respectively. However, if you have your own car or will rent one, you can follow the route through SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) or drive via Aguinaldo and, passing through Cavite towns, will come to a stop at Tagaytay, which is next to the municipality of Silang.
How Much It Costs:
Bus fares are usually ninety to one hundred twenty pesos. For family rooms in hotels, the prices range from two thousand to eight thousand pesos. Park fees in Tagaytay are around fifty pesos, with rides and activity fares ranging from fifty to two hundred pesos. However, the price may vary and go up to three hundred pesos on weekends and holidays, so make sure to be prepared with the schedule you are going. Some establishments may cover parking fees, which range from thirty-five to a hundred pesos.
Where to Stay in Tagaytay? Check out the options here.
16. Taal Volcano and Taal Lake, Batangas
Taal Volcano is a peculiar and fascinating beauty. It is a lake with a volcano with a lake within, and an island in the middle of that small lake. It will surely enthrall your kids not just with that mind-boggling fact, but also because of the adventure, thrill, and worthwhile beauty they get to see.
Though active, be reassured that you will be duly informed if in case it is dangerous to continue the tour. Just an hour’s drive away from Manila, the famous active volcano of Batangas, Philippines is truly living up to its name – the “small but terrible” volcano. Have a unique, unforgettable trekking experience in as short as 20 minutes using the Calauit Trail, or go up on horseback. Boat ride to the small village on the volcano takes 25 minutes.
Taal is also rich in heritage sites. Taal Basilica,built in 1878, is Asia’s largest Catholic church. It is one of these century old structures that you can find, among other century old churches in Batangas. It is part of Filipino Catholic tradition to make a wish when you’re visiting a church for the first time, so that’s what I did, even tossing a coin in the wishing well.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Batangas.
How To Get There:
From Manila, some find it easier to take the Tagaytay route. Again, it is a two-hour drive through SLEX or the Aguinaldo highway. There will be jeeps that go from Tagaytay to Talisay, Batangas, and from there, you can take a banca to Taal Lake itself.
The easier alternative, though, is to drive or hire your own car.
Where to Stay? Check out the options here near Taal Lake.
How Much It Costs:
If you’re checked in at a resort like Club Balai Isabel, a Taal Volcano Tour Package will cost 3,300 pesos for a group of six persons. The package includes boat rental fees (usually 1,500 per boat), environmental fee, tour guide, and landing fee.
17. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Also known as BGC or The Fort, Bonifacio Global City is a financial district which is also home to Fort Bonifacio, the national army headquarters, numerous hotels and shopping districts, hospitals, international schools and developmental projects. However, it is also a great tourist spot with various activities for all of the members of the family. This is truly one of the best family-friendly travel destinations in the Philippines.
One can walk through the city and visit three Ayala Malls at once (Market!Market!), Serendra, and Bonifacio High Street). Stroll along Serendra at Bonifacio High Street to watch street performances, view street artwork while letting the kids roam through the grass and play with art installations.
You can also take them to Active Fun. Active fun is an indoor playtime spot built with slides, hanging bridges, trampolines, tunnels and ball pools. Just across it is Terra 28th, an 8, 344 square meter park where you can have a family picnic. You can frolic along the ”Larong Pinoy” area (where one learns how to play the traditional Filipino games such as patintero, habulan taya, piko and holen) or play with the interactive art installations.
For an interesting educational bonding and play time, the family can go to The Mind Museum. It is the first world-class science museum in the country. It houses the five different galleries showcasing over two hundred fifty interactive science exhibits – with a T-Rex inside, too. If ever the little ones get restless, there’s still a park outside they can spend their boundless energy on.
With the hotels only a few steps away from the dining areas and establishments, Bonifacio Global City is the perfect place for a staycation.
How to Get There:
As it is in the city, there are many routes to choose from. The easiest and fastest way to get to BGC is to go to MRT-Guadalupe and get a Fort Bus by the Ayala Shell Station. This bus will take you anywhere and everywhere in BGC. If not, you can take the jeepney with the routes Guadalupe-Fort and Pasay (PICC) Gil Puyat Avenue-Kalayaan Avenue-Fort.
How Much it Costs:
On public transportation, the maximum train fare(MRT) is twenty pesos. The jeepneys’ ranging from seven to eight pesos, and the Fort Bus’ twelve pesos.
Active Fun’s fees range from one hundred twenty-five pesos to three hundred pesos. On holidays and weekends, however, the price range can go as high as 140 pesos to 150 pesos. For the adults, the entrance fee is one hundred twenty five pesos.
The Mind Museum entrance fees vary: an all-day pass will cost 750 pesos. Kids in public schools go in for a 3-hour tour for 150 pesos. Those in private schools go in for 450 pesos. The little ones that are no taller than two feet can go in free. For the adults, the entrance fee is P600.
18. Enchanted Kingdom, Laguna
The Enchanted Kingdom, or simply “EK” to locals, is a world-class Philippine theme park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It currently enjoys the reputation of being the Disney Land of the Philippines.
Widely renowned for its seven-themed zones with corresponding rides and activities (Victoria Park, Boulderville, Midway Boardwalk, Jungle Outpost, Spaceport, Brooklyn and Portabello), none of its rides were known to malfunction due to good maintenance.
Locals and tourists continue to patronize it as the best adventure and theme park in the country. The rides range from fun to extreme thrills. Outside, a big Ferris wheel dubbed as the Wheel of Fate offers a wide panoramic view of not just the city, but the mystical Mount Makiling, its mountain silhouette formed like a woman resting on the ground.
How to Get There:
From Manila, the 30-kilometer distance to Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa is a short one to two hour ride. You may take a taxi to Intercon Opening Center beside SM Makati, or ask directions from a guard to a K3R, the official shuttle service provider of Enchanted Kingdom.
Where to stay? Check out the options here in Sta Rosa, Laguna
How Much It Costs:
On weekdays, the regular day pass is P400 pesos. For children three to four feet tall – or so-called “Juniors”-, the day pass is 250 pesos, while kids below three feet can go free. On weekends, a junior day pass is P320 pesos, while the regular one costs 500 pesos.
19. Campuestohan Highland Resort, Bacolod City
Situated in the highlands of Talisay, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, the Campuestohan Highland Resort exudes the cool climate similar to other highland resorts like Baguio and Tagaytay in Luzon. When in Bacolod City, give this kid-friendly destination a try. Your kids will surely love it.
Giant DC and Marvel characters, Kung Fu Panda and superhero statues and even a giant replica of King Kong are placed around the resort. The whole place is a quaint kids’ wonderland garden setting- truly a sight to behold. The giant statues are actually one of its major attractions, perfect for taking lots of fun selfies and group pictures.
I once stayed at one of their Bonita huts (a cute, dome-shaped structure) when I was there. Sleeping in a quaint room awakened the kid in me. I looked out of its cottage windows and posed for a photo in its doorway – the cottages look like they’re lifted straight from a fairytale storybook. The Bonita hut has a comfy bed and is actually a cottage room good for four. The owners of the resort cooks the meals themselves, offering local specialties that are delicious and satisfying for the whole family.
It boasts of two large swimming pools and a children’s playground in an outdoor setting with a view of the highlands. For the adventurous types, you can go zip lining and horseback-riding, or have the group go through a rope and obstacle course.
How to Get There:
Flights from Manila go directly to Bacolod city daily. From Bacolod City, the resort can be reached by private car. If you don’t have one you can book a private charter with the resort 3 days in advance. Another option is to go to Villa Angela Arcade Parking Lot in front of Lopue East Center, where a shuttle service can take you to the resort for 100 pesos.
How Much It Costs:
The private charter can pick you up anywhere in Bacolod. It costs you 3,000 pesos. As mentioned above the shuttle service from Villa Angela Arcade parking lot costs 100 pesos per person. Entrance fees to the resort cost 150, and family room accommodations can range from 2,000 pesos to 5,000 pesos per night.
20. Intramuros, Manila – Old Manila
Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, has often been overlooked as a travel destination in itself. It served as the central hub and jump-off point to anywhere in the Philippines. Look beyond the busy surroundings and see Manila like an oyster – an oyster with a pearl inside once you crack it open. More than a kid-friendly travel destination, Manila is rich with Spanish-era heritage sites. You can glimpse the beauty of Old Manila at Intramuros, where you can try riding around the walled city in a calesa, a horse-drawn carriage. A visit to the National Museum will help you learn about Philippine culture and heritage.
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Manila.
As you go around the city, your kids will love Manila city parks such as Luneta Park, Manila Ocean Park and Museo Pambata. Museo Pambata located near Luneta is a worthwhile place for kids to visit, ensuring endless fun in an interactive museum for kids. Do a sunset cruise at Manila Bay, or go to Star City, the theme park situated at the heart of Manila. Star City is located near the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where you can watch various theater performances and plays. Enjoy gustatory delights at Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown.
How to Get There:
Manila is an international destination and many international airports have direct flights going to Manila from any given country.
Where to Stay? These are the hotels near Intramuros.
How Much it Costs:
Museong Pambata has an entrance fee of 100 pesos.The calesa ride at Intramuros costs 250 pesos. Manila hosts several five-star, four- star hotels that you can choose from as well as other comfortable lodges and inns. Standard hotel rooms range from 2,000 pesos to roughly 10,000 pesos depending on room type and location.
There are definitely more family-friendly destinations in the Philippines but these are the first on the top of my head. Most tourist spots in the Philippines are accessible and easy enough for a family with children to explore. As always, err on the side of caution when travelling with little ones. Older kids can adapt well to the ups and downs that goes naturally with travelling long distances. One of the first things you need to consider when traveling with kids is its proximity to modern comforts and access to modern conveniences.
If you want to add a few more, please do share some of your ideas. We would love to hear from you!