Bambike is without doubt one of the hottest locally-made bicycle manufacturers within the Philippines. These distinctive bicycles created from sturdy and all-natural bamboo and abaca supplies are hand-made and crafted by builders from Gawad Kalinga, a Philippine-based neighborhood growth group. Bambike goals to be one of many greenest bikes on the planet.
Except for crafting and promoting sustainably-made bicycles, Bambike is understood for providing Eco-Excursions, which give vacationers an opportunity to discover the nation’s vacationer spots aboard these cool bikes.
For first-time worldwide vacationers visiting Manila, there’s no higher place to strive driving a bamboo bicycle than in Intramuros, the Historic Walled Metropolis of Manila. Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of the capital of the Philippines.
Whereas the remainder of capital is generally chaotic and trendy, on this district, you may nonetheless discover previous Spanish-era constructions, well-preserved church buildings and get to pedal alongside cobblestone streets proper subsequent to classic horse-drawn carriages.
Location
The Bambike Headquarters is situated in Plaza San Luis Advanced. Actual St, cor Normal Luna St, Intramuros, Manila Metropolis. This is identical constructing as Casa Manila Museum (which is value a go to by itself), with a facade that’s made to appear like a home that was constructed within the
On the HQ, visitors can select from all kinds of Bambike designs which embrace their signature Ligtasin Cove seaside cruiser, Victoria metropolis bikes
There are vintage-looking bikes outfitted with baskets so you may carry your issues simply in addition to sportier bike fashions. Every Bambike is exclusive, so that you’re certain to search out one thing that fits your style and elegance. The HQ has plenty of cool bike-related stuff and bamboo merchandise on the market together with Bamboo Shades.
The Intramuros Bambike Ecotour is a 2.5 hour guided bike tour goes by means of 8 – 10 main historic and cultural websites inside Intramuros. Vacationers who need to hear from a educated information and get a background on the historical past of every vacation spot can avail of this tour for about P1,200 per individual. The principle stops embrace:
- Plaza San Luis
- Japanese Cannon
- Puerta Actual Gardens
- Baluarte de Dilao
- Puerta Del Parian
- Aduana Constructing
- Plaza Roma/Manila Cathedral
- Fort Santiago
- San Agustin Church
The Categorical Tour is a 1-hour tour the place you may select from the websites you need to go to above for P600 per individual per hour. Vacationers can actually cowl extra floor than strolling round. Biking additionally supplies a extra lively and enjoyable strategy to get round in contrast touring round by motorized transport, making this a fantastic exercise for pals or households. Solo vacationers may also be a part of up the schedule tour teams.
However if you wish to discover the Intramuros space by yourself with out a information, you may merely hire bikes for P200 per Bambike per hour. Since biking buddy Outdoors Slacker and I are primarily based in Manila and are aware of a lot of the websites right here, we determined to simply bike across the Intramuros space on our personal. It’s a enjoyable exercise particularly for these staying in one of many inns within the Pasay space and have a morning or afternoon to spare or in case you simply need to rediscover Manila with pals.
The key landmark you may and will go to is Fort Santiago, a citadel and protection fortress of the walled metropolis thought-about one of the vital historic websites in Manila. Nationwide Hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned right here earlier than his execution on 1896 and the Rizal Shrine museum shows memorabilia of the hero of their assortment and the fort options, embedded onto the bottom in bronze, his footsteps representing his closing stroll from his cell to the placement of the particular execution.
The historic Manila Cathedral is one other common cease. This cathedral was broken and destroyed a number of occasions because the authentic construction was inbuilt 1581 whereas the eighth and present construction of the cathedral was accomplished in 1958.
Except for heritage spots and church buildings, Intramuros is a superb place to identify trendy avenue artwork which may be seen adorning a few of the housing complexes and partitions alongside the side-streets and alleys. I actually just like the piece “Ang Bakunawa at Minokawa” by Ang Gerilya alongside Gen. Luna Avenue nook Anda Avenue, which options Philippine mythological creatures. The Bakunawa is a huge sea serpent that swallows the moon inflicting an eclipse. The Minokawa is a huge chicken from the dragon household that swallows the solar.
We actually felt the warmth biking round, so we determined to cease for a snack at Ilustrado Restaurant, a traditional restaurant that’s been serving Spanish and Filipino delicacies since 1989 in an enthralling old-world setting.
One among their uniquely Filipino specialties right here is Sampaguita Ice Cream, impressed by the fragrant nationwide flower of the Philippines.
We biked some extra across the aspect streets and alleys earlier than looping again to the principle start line in Casa Manila, the place you could find one other main focal point proper throughout. The San Agustin Church of Manila is one among 4 Philippine church buildings constructed in the course of the Spanish colonial interval designated as a World Heritage Web site by UNESCO, underneath the collective title Baroque Church buildings of the Philippines. It was named a Nationwide
We capped our DIY bike tour with recent fruit shakes and
Intramuros Night time Expertise
For individuals who choose to bike within the night when it’s not too scorching, Bambike has a brand new Intramuros Expertise Night time Version, the place you may benefit from the evening scenes of Outdated Manila and have native craft beer after your biking tour! They now serve native craft beer on faucet and bottles within the Bambike HQ.
Who ought to strive it
Taking the guided Bambike excursions or renting bicycles to go round by yourself in Intramuros is a good way particularly for first-timers to discover the historic walled metropolis and is without doubt one of the most beneficial actions to do in Manila. The guided biking excursions give visitors a deeper perspective about Filipino life in the course of the Spanish colonial interval.
It’s a fantastic exercise for historical past buffs, photographers, households, teams of pals, {couples} or solo vacationers, who simply need to be taught extra about tradition and historical past or take
Except for Intramuros, Bambike additionally affords different Bambike Eco-Excursions and bike leases in several spots round Metro Manila and the remainder of the Philippines together with:
- Poblacion, Makati (Z Hostel)
- Bonfacio World Metropolis (BGC), Taguig (Avenue artwork tour)
- Corregidor Island
- Iloilo Metropolis, Iloilo
- Panglao Island, Bohol
- Baler, Aurora
Charges
- Bambike Intramuros Full Tour – Ph 1,200.00 per individual (Ebook by way of Klook for reductions)
- Bambike Intramuros Rental – P200.00 per hour per Bambike (further P100 per hour)
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Journey Suggestions & Helpful Data
- Tour schedule: Mondays to Sundays at 10:00 and three:00. Visitors are requested to reach half-hour earlier than their tour to allow them to select their most well-liked Bambike.
- What to put on: Athletic put on and solar protecting gear are beneficial.
- What to carry: To assist scale back plastic waste, Bambike encourages everybody to carry their very own reusable water bottles.
- Route information: The tour begins and ends on the Bambike Headquarters in Casa Manila Advanced close to San Agustin Church, Intramuros.
- Toddler seats can be found on request if suggested upon reserving.
- Different modes of transportation may be offered for many who can not bike. Merely inform the tour operator upon reserving. They’ve a motorcycle with a sidecar (like a pedicab) for these touring with children or visitors who can’t trip bikes.
Handle & Contact Data
Bambike HQ, Plaza San Luis Advanced. Actual St, cor Normal Luna St, Intramuros, Manila Metropolis, 1002 Metro Manila
- Web site: www.bambike.com
- Fb web page: @BambikeEcoTours
- Instagram: @Bambike
- Contact: 5258289