In comparison with many different cities world wide, Metro Manila will not be a bike-friendly vacation spot. The town itself, with the city sprawl, horrible visitors, and lack of protected and safe bicycle lanes, makes it fairly scary to discover on two wheels. Positive, you’ll find many areas for city biking within the metropolis however chances are high, these spots are tough to get to otherwise you’ll be uncovered to the polluted metropolis more often than not.
For many who wish to bike safely someplace with a refreshing view of nature, there are solely a handful of locations in and close to the metro which have scenic trails and parks ultimate for biking. These are only a few of the very best that I can personally advocate.
NOTE: This was initially written through the pandemic in 2020. Some areas round Metro Manila have developed higher bike lanes, whereas others have been paved over or privatized for business developments.
UP Diliman Campus, Quezon Metropolis
The 493-hectare campus of the College of the Philippines is a haven for joggers and cyclists. The State College is thought for its 2.2 kilometer lengthy tree-lined Tutorial Oval with a delegated bikers’ and runners’ lane, among the finest locations to do rounds within the metropolis on any kind of motorcycle.
On Sundays, the complete space is closed off to motorized automobiles so it’s a prime vacation spot for runners, bikers, longboard skaters and households who simply wish to benefit from the shade of the timber.
Other than circling the oval, you can too discover lots of huge grassy areas and hidden trails across the campus together with behind The Science Advanced, Heartbreak Hill, College Avenue Pump Monitor and Lagoon space.
Factors of curiosity in UP embody the Oblation statue, UP Vargas Museum, public artwork installations, avenue meals and avenue artwork. Seasonal sights embody the hearth timber (summer time), sunflowers planted alongside the College Avenue throughout commencement season and the Lantern Parade (Christmas). Sadly, the UP Bike Trails, the 2 quick XC tracks close to the School of Human Kinetics (CHK) which used to function a venue of varied races and bike occasions, has been became a baseball area.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: None
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual. The campus has a Bikeshare system for his or her classic commuter bikes the place you may join free (however I feel that is just for college students).
- Hours: The UP Diliman campus is open day by day 24/7. The tutorial oval is closed to motorized visitors on Sundays.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Stunning surroundings and pure environment, devoted bike lanes, bike parking, a lot of bike-friendly spots to eat
- The place to eat: There are a number of locations for bikers to eat or purchase meals contained in the UP Diliman campus together with Gyud Meals Hub and Mang Larry’s Isawan close to the School of Tremendous Arts; Artwork Circle Cafe and ROC inside Bahay ng Alumni; Nomu Cafe, Rodic’s Diner, and Snack Shack throughout the Bahay ng Alumni; College Lodge which has a espresso store, bar and resto; plus the entire of JP Rizal Avenue, which is lined with budget-friendly eateries. You too can discover few meals parks and many restos within the close by Maginhawa space the place you may deliver your bikes.
Quezon Memorial Circle
The Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC is a nationwide park situated inside a big visitors circle referred to as the Elliptical Street in Quezon Metropolis. QMC is thought primarily for the 66-meter tall mausoleum containing the stays of Manuel L. Quezon, the second official President of the Philippines, which is the principle landmark of the town.
The QMC serves as the principle park of the town, housing a shrine, museums, playgrounds, picnic cottages, and open areas for relaxation and recreation. The city park options a number of smaller gardens inside its grounds together with a flower backyard, a tropical backyard, and a demo city farm.
Other than being a refreshing place to jog, stroll and go biking and have picnics, QMC can be a terrific place to purchase crops together with potted herbs, decorative crops, succulents, and different dwelling gardening necessities. A brand new Elevated Panorama Promenade is at the moment being constructed to attach Quezon Memorial Shrine to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Middle, which is one thing to look ahead to.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: None
- Bikes for lease: Bikes can be found for lease on the QMC bicycle station.
- Hours: Open from 5:00 am to eight:00 p,
- What makes it nice for bikers: Enjoyable pure surroundings and environment. Bike ramps on stairs. To soundly cross the highway by bike, use the underpass from Quezon Metropolis Corridor which now has bike ramps. Plenty of benches and picnic tables to relaxation. Some bike-friendly restos.
- The place to eat: There are many meals stalls inside QC Circle together with CocoBistro (a resto that serves Coconut-based dishes and helps coconut farmers) and Simply Espresso, a brand new al fresco espresso store. You too can discover just a few eating places together with Max’s, Aristocrat, Kamameshi Home, and Tropical Hut.
Marikina River Park
The Marikina River Park is a system of parks, trails & open areas alongside an 11-kilometer (6.8 mi) stretch of the Marikina River within the jap a part of Metro Manila.
This city riverside park covers an space of 220 hectares (540 acres) working by means of a number of villages. For the reason that foremost walkways are closed off to motorized automobiles, this provides a protected and refreshing space to get some train and contemporary air.
You could find a brief tree-shaded bike path right here with statues of various animals and recreations of iconic landmarks from across the nation. A pleasant addition to the realm (put up throughout Christmas 2019) is a set of 16 Mosaic Artwork shows of nature scenes created from supplies like glass tiles, bottle caps, stones, plastic bottles, foam bits, slippers, plastic clothespins & extra.
Nevertheless, as of April 2024, some sections of the Marikina Riverbanks had been broken by a hurricane whereas others are now not accessible as a consequence of river dredging.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: None
- Bikes for lease: Bikes can be found for lease on the Marikina Riverbanks space
- Hours: Open every day
- What makes it nice for bikers: Scenic riverside routes, bike lanes, a lot of bike-friendly cafes, public bike parking spots, pocket parks to relaxation
- The place to eat: There are just a few picnic tables and cottages alongside the river banks and goto-type stalls alongside the river banks catering to bikers. Some notable eating places close by embody Mama Chit’s, Sundays and Rustic Mornings close to the Marikina Footwear Museum. Different bike-friendly spots embody Greg & Sally’s Tree Cafe and quite a few bike-friendly cafes across the aspect streets.
The Bike Playground at Circulo Verde
Hidden proper within the metropolis accessible by C-5 close to Eastwood and Libis is The Bike Playground in Circulo Verde. That is the nation’s first internationally-designed indoor bike park, which has a world-class pump monitor, a 1-km lengthy outside path and a child’s path.
The spotlight right here is the internationally designed pump monitor, constructed by Velosolutions headed by Swiss mountain biker Claudio Caluori. Not like different pump tracks, this one has a roof which makes it a great biking vacation spot even within the wet season. The pump monitor is product of asphalt, giving tires extra traction.
The outside path could be very quick, however well-designed and provides just a few twists, ramps and jumps for a fast path biking repair. Bikers can deliver their very own mountain bikes appropriate for the path and pump monitor, however additionally they have bikes for lease. There’s a bathe room and lounge for bikers and many bike parking areas close to the eating places. For the reason that space is secluded, not lots of vehicles go right here, making it protected for teenagers to bike on the highway.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: P100 per hour
- Bikes for lease: YES. Mountain bikes and pump monitor bikes can be found for lease at P500 for two hours, whereas kiddie bikes price P350 for two hours.
- Working hours: The Bike Playground is open from 7:00 AM to eight:00 PM Monday to Sunday.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Availability of motorcycle rental, bathe room, lounge for bikers, bike parking close to eating places
- The place to eat: There are a number of locations for bikers to eat in Calle Industria inside the similar advanced together with McDonald’s, Chef & Brewer, Kambal Pandesal and Chill High Bar. Eastwood, Libis and the newly developed Bridgetown and Parklinks areas (which I’ve but to discover) are additionally very close to.
Intramuros, Manila
Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core in Manila, Philippines. It’s the one district of Manila the place you may see outdated Spanish-era structure.
It’s additionally one of many few locations within the metro the place you may truly lease bicycles and go on bike excursions. Plus, you get to make use of Bamboo Bicycles crafted by a social enterprise.
For first-timer overseas guests who need a fast tour of the historic sights within the metropolis, this can be a good choice. The route is generally paved, however you can be biking by means of cobblestone streets and a few scenic areas like Fort Santiago, a well-maintained park, the Baroque San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral. As of 2024, higher bike lanes inside the space are being developed.
There’s a community of motorcycle lanes and pedestrian walkways being constructed as a part of the Pasig River Esplanade, with scenic areas behind the Manila Central Put up Workplace and good lanes crossing Jones Bridge and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.
TIP: Bambike additionally provides Bamboo Bike Excursions in numerous elements of the town like Poblacion, BGC and provides bike leases in different places (Corregidor, Iloilo, Bohol, Baler, and many others.)
TRAVEL TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Bikes for lease: YES. P100 per Bambike per hour (no information)
- Bike Excursions: Intramuros Expertise, a 2.5 hour lengthy tour to go to 10 key websites (P1,200 per particular person). The worth is inclusive of motorcycle & helmet rental, bottled water and entrance charges. The Specific Tour is a 1 hour tour the place you may select your individual journey for P600 per particular person per hour
- Tour schedule: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm and three:00 pm – 5:30 pm.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Availability of motorcycle leases, bike lanes, parks, stunning historic buildings serving as nice photograph backdrops, bridges, bike parking, bike equipment on the market on the Bambike HQ, some bike-friendly cafes
- The place to eat: There are a number of bike-friendly locations to eat in Intramuros together with Barbara’s, Cafe Intramuros and Batala Bar inside the Plaza San Luis Advanced close to the headquarters of Bambike. Different suggestions the place you may park bikes safely embody Ilustrado Restaurant, Belfry Cafe and Papa Kape inside Fort Santiago.
La Mesa Nature Reserve, Quezon Metropolis
La Mesa Watershed Nature Reserve is a forest reserve with multi-use trails situated northeast of Quezon Metropolis close to SM Metropolis Fairview. It surrounds the La Mesa Reservoir, which is the supply of many of the consuming water of Manila. Take observe that that is completely different from La Mesa Eco Park.
NOTE: La Mesa Nature Reserve and Laa Mesa Eco Park are at the moment closed, however they’re set to reopen in June 2024 underneath the administration of MWSS.
Sometimes called the final remaining rainforest in Metro Manila, La Mesa Watershed Nature Reserve provides 52 kilometers of wonderful mountain single tracks, dust roads and firetracks all inside a dense forest. La Mesa provides nice trails for each newbies and superior riders. It’s a standard venue for bike races and duathlons. Convey a hydration pack with path meals sufficient to final you for half a day if you happen to plan to bike right here..
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: P200 per particular person for a minimal group of 5 (or P1000 per group) plus P200 per further rider. In case your group has fewer than 5 riders, you continue to need to pay P1000. Reservations are required to bike right here.
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual.
- Services: Rest room, rescue automobiles, bike wash (P50.00)
- Hours: Open 6:00 a.m. to five:00 p.m. day by day aside from Christmas and New 12 months. In addition they shut the place throughout occasions so name them first earlier than making any plans.
- What makes it nice for bikers: Stunning pure surroundings and stress-free environment, protected place to bike away from visitors
- The place to eat: There isn’t any place to eat inside La Mesa Nature Reserve, so deliver your individual packed meals/snacks and drinks. Generally, roving distributors inside promote gentle snacks & drinks on the Kawayanan space.
- For inquiries, name Bantay Kalikasan at:(02)410.9670 (02)415.2272 loc 4551 (Bantay Kalikasan Head Workplace) or inquire straight with Mr. Mar Zeri Ramirez at 0926.6700320 or 0908.493 8239. For more information, go to: the Bantay Kalikasan web site.
Heroes Bike Path, Taguig
Nestled proper smack between C-5 and BGC is Heroes Path, a brief cross nation monitor situated inside a army camp. It’s truly situated contained in the Libingan ng mga Bayani compound, a cemetery. In line with bikers who frequent the realm, it’s fairly well-maintained, low cost and comparatively straightforward to get to for many who stay within the space.
The Heroes Path might be ridden by riders of all talent ranges – from Downhill riders to newbies. It’s a great coaching floor for many who stay within the space and is used as a venue for biking occasions like Bike Demo Day.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: P50 pesos (you may experience all day)
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual.
- Services: Restroom, bike parking, typically drinks and bike accessories are offered by distributors
- Hours: Open from 5:30 am 5:00 pm every day
- The place to eat: Generally distributors arrange meals stalls throughout bike occasions, however it’s greatest to deliver your individual snacks or drinks.
C-6 Bike Lane, Taguig
The C-6 or Circumferential Street-6 Bike Lane is a part of the Laguna Lake Freeway, a thoroughfare connecting Paranaque to the Metropolis of Taguig, Pasig, and the municipality of Taytay in Rizal. Whereas the principle freeway remains to be underneath development, there are some parts which can be already open to cyclists and runners together with a 3-meter huge bike lane and a 1.5 meter huge sidewalk.
It could be a few years earlier than the entire route turns into absolutely operational, however this lakeside route appears like a promising biking vacation spot and shortcut to the areas within the South like Alabang, Paranaque and Muntinlupa.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge: None
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual.
- Services: Bike lane
Timberland Mountain Bike Park, Rizal
Mt. Maarat in Timberland Heights is sometimes called the mountain biking capital of the nation, providing a wide range of purpose-built mountain biking trails. Technically, it’s now not in Manila, however it’s close to sufficient for a day experience. The park reopened in 2024, launching 12 trails with various levels of problem—that includes single-track, drops, rollers, and berms.
This space in San Mateo, Rizal simply on the outskirts of the town was an everyday coaching floor for path runners, mountaineers, and mountain bikers. Bikers coming from the metro normally handed by means of Marikina to entry the principle entrance of Timberland Heights.
Bikers who wish to check their endurance uphill can scale “The Wall”, a 2 kilometer-long paved highway ascending as much as the gates of Timberland. There’s additionally “Shotgun”, a good harder and longer climb which you can bike to totally free. However you could possibly skip that and go on to the technical trails (which has a separate entrance charge) by bringing your mountain bikes up by automotive.
Pattern the paths full of fireplace roads and singletracks on the Inexperienced Zone, Blue Zone and Black Diamond. Different factors of curiosity right here embody the pine tree-lined avenue of the Roxas Fundamental Path, the Ten Commandments Statue in Mt. Sinai and the Sandugo BaseKamp Path and Pump Monitor.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance charge:
None. No reservations required to bike at Timberland Heights. Simply depart your ID on the guardhouse.Beginning February 10, 2024, a day go now prices P550 per rider - Parking charge: P30.00 close to the Timberland Sports activities and Nature Membership. Free if you happen to park your automobiles earlier than heading up The Wall.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 4pm, with the final entry at 1pm.
- Bikes for lease: YES. Bike rental is accessible on the Journey Farm in Timberland Heights for P100/head per hour inclusive of security gear, with a further P50 for succeeding hours. I additionally was in a position to borrow a Sandugo Brusko unit at BaseKamp Biker’s Pit Cease one time however most bikers deliver their very own bikes.
- What makes it nice for riders: Fantastic nature trails, surroundings, presence of motorcycle retailers and bike-friendly cafes. Bike equipment are typically offered alongside the highway throughout weekends
- The place to eat: Aling Tina’s, All Terra Biking Store and Cafe, Marc’s Retailer, Bikers Cafe, Ka Vergel, Large Retailer, Camp Sandugo, Phillip’s Sanctuary, Pestano Farm and different smaller eateries.
Eastridge, Rizal
Beforehand, Antenna Hill was one other biking vacation spot in a city on the outskirts of the town close to sufficient for a day journey. Positioned in Tayuman, Binangonan, Rizal, getting up the hill concerned a really difficult ascent, however when you get to the highest, you could possibly take pleasure in steep tracks and drops that are standard with downhill riders.
Other than the downhill bike trails, this biking vacation spot had lots of bonus areas you could possibly discover together with a Thunder Path.
Whereas I’m not sure if these trails are nonetheless accessible as of 2024, you may nonetheless go to the historic Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs and take a tour of the artwork galleries and eating places in Angono.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: None.
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual.
- NOTE: Since this can be a non-public subdivision, you’ll want to depart an ID on the gate to get in.
- The place to eat: Plenty of new cafes have popped up within the space together with ArtSector Gallery and Cafe, Espresso Rush and Cafe Giya. Different choices embody Nemiranda Artwork Home and Balaw-Balaw Unique Restaraunt in Angono (earlier than heading as much as Eastridge)
Rodriguez, Rizal
Although Tanay in Rizal provides extra scenic and delightful biking locations, it may take some time to bike all the best way there.
For many who have restricted time or need one thing nearer (for a half-day biking journey), there’s Rodriguez (previously referred to as Montalban), the northernmost city of the neighboring province of Rizal. It’s comparatively close to the town, however brings you near a surprisingly scenic view of mountains.
One of many standard vacationer spots you may bike to is Wawa Dam, a gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River located within the 360-meter excessive Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water hole within the Sierra Madre Mountains, simply east of Manila. The rocky river dam is a well-liked vacation spot for swimming, mountain biking and mountaineering.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: None
- Bikes for lease: None. Convey your individual.
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- The place to eat: There are many small eateries close by, however don’t anticipate something fancy. Wawa is a well-liked spot for picnics amongst locals who normally deliver their very own meals.
Nuvali, Laguna
Nuvali is a 2,290 hectare master-planned residential, business and leisure growth advanced situated in Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Laguna. Nuvali has a great community of paved roads and designated bike paths that supply lots of alternatives for leisurely highway biking.
Beforehand, it provided an in depth bike tracks and a path system, which included roughly 50 km of off-road biking and working trails. Sadly, as of April 2024, among the mountain bike trails are now not accessible as a consequence of new developments within the space.
Nuvali was the venue for Nuvali Filth Weekend, one of many largest and most anticipated mountain biking occasions within the nation. On common days, bikers who deliver their very own mountain bikes can take pleasure in going across the flowy singletrack and scenic cross-country driving with contemporary air and nice views.
TIPS & USEFUL INFO:
- Entrance Charge: Free for many who deliver their very own bikes.
- Bikes for lease: Street bikes can be found for lease for P60/hour. It’s worthwhile to current a legitimate ID and signal a waiver earlier than renting highway bikes in Nuvali. Bikers must put on helmets (supplied) always. Put on correct closed footwear (sandals and slippers aren’t allowed).
- Services: Bike parking, bike trails, pump monitor (particular occasions solely)
- Hours: Open every day from Monday to Sunday 8:00 am to five:00 pm
- The place to eat: There are many locations to eat in Nuvali from quick meals joints to high-quality eating restos.
Different Bike Trails / Locations in and close to Manila
- Camp Aguinaldo Bike Path – closed
- Bathala Bike Park – closed
- Fort Bonifacio Military MTB Path
- Filinvest Bike Path in Alabang, Muntinlupa
- Vermosa Abilities Bike Park, Daang Hari, Cavite
- Twin Lakes Mountain Bike Path, Tagaytay
NOTE: Extra pictures from Exterior Slacker. Try his web page for extra biking assets.
