Road Trip to SubicBeaches, theme parks, ocean adventures, nightlife, historical and nature sites---name it, a place up in the north has it. Subic is definitely an accessible tourist spot in Luzon and not just that, Subic is also a place for everyone to take pleasure in as budgeting trips to Subic can be as affordable as tourists want it to be without bumping off the fun.
This famous ‘Subic Bay’ in the Philippines actually first started as just a Subic Navy base which was transformed into an economic zone. The transformation turned the rather featureless navy base into a zone where domestic and foreign tourists share recreational activities and a wide variety of accommodations while enjoying the historical sites and natural beauty of Subic.
The Road to Subic
Unlike other tourist destinations in the Philippines where one has to travel by bus for more than 8 hours or board a RORO just to get to the place, Subic offers an easy access to its tourists without the hassle of long road travels. Current road construction improvements made from Manila to Subic has added a plus point to Subic’s tourism appeal. The North Luzon Expressway or NLEX connecting Manila to provinces up in the north has got connected to a 45-kilometer expressway going to Subic, Clark and Tarlac or most famously called the SCTex making the areas close to each other.
From Manila to Olongapo City, tourists can either choose to ride at the Victory Liner Bus Station in EDSA Pasay or at the Saulog Transit Bus Station in Paranaque City with both trips available daily. A 2.5 to 3 hours bus trip from Manila to Subic lengthens travelers’ itinerary in visiting Subic.
What’s in Subic?
Subic Bay Freeport Zone is one of the most interesting places tourists visit in Olongapo City, Subic. This area has been said to make interesting jungle activities, water sports, wreck diving, bar hopping, and other environmental sight-seeing activities. Theme parks in Subic Bay Freeport Zone such as the Zoobic Safari, Ocean Adventure and Tree Top Adventure are present to jumpstart the activity of local and foreign tourists.
At a rate of about 500 Php per adult and 375 Php per person below 11 years old, children and adults can experience a daring adventure into the animal kingdom with Zoobic Safari. This peculiar zoo features exotic wildlife animals to tourists better than zoos available in other cities in the Philippines. The presence of safari jeeps is one exciting ride tourists can enjoy as they travel into the Tiger habitat. These safari jeeps are enclosed with a wire serving as a screen protecting tourist inside the jeep as tigers can get close to the vehicle. Amongst the main attractions inside Zoobic Safari are the Serpentarium, Zoobic Park, Bone Museum, Rodent World, Croco Loco and the close encounter with the tigers.
Diverting tourists’ attention to the world under the sea, Ocean Adventure in Subic ushers in the exciting world of marine life in the country. At about 500 Php per adult, tourists can watch large marine animals like false killer whales and dolphins live and play in their natural ecosystem in clear waters with other marine creatures. Ocean Adventure, thus, plays a significant role as a theme park promulgating conservation of marine habitat in the Philippines.
Tree top adventure, however, is perfect for groups who wanted to experience an unspoiled forest adventure while taking risks with some unconventional sports such as doing a Superman as one can zip along the zip line, rapelling from a platform from some 60 feet above the ground to the surface and tripping a view at the horizon from some 100 feet above the ground. More to that daring activities at Tree top are the lovely presence of suspension bridges and the earthly soil cuddled with fallen branches from big shady trees adding a different feeling as tourists trail the jungle in Subic.
Staying There
Tree top adventure, Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure are just three of the main attractions found in Subic that can make any camera drain its battery and full its memory. Subic beach swimming and wreck diving, however, suggest another thrilling activity to experience the next day; and yet the most memorable bonding activity is when groups of friends and families finally sit down, relax, enjoy the setting sun and talk about what they have just experienced the whole day at their very own rented home unit accommodations that are likewise available in Subic to complete the whole vacation trip faithful to its planned budget without spoiling the fun and relaxation tourists look for.
