Why Subic Should Be Your Next Weekend Getaway

Whenever there is a need for a weekend getaway, Subic is always on top of my list because of its attractions and close proximity to the metro. Just a couple of hours away from Manila, it offers a nice change of scenery from the hectic city life.

If you have just a couple of days to spare (a weekend should be enough), here are some things you can do if you find yourself in the former site of the U.S. Naval Base.

Choose your own adventure.

Take some time off from your electronic devices and do something fun! How about one that involves interacting with animals and nature? Or maybe something that teaches you survival skills? Head to any of the following places for a quick dose of adventure.

Zoobic SafariSubic Bay Freeport Zone

Zoobic Safari, an adventure park that has been around since 2003, allows its guests to meet wild animals up close. You can pet friendly animals like miniature horses, guinea pigs, ferrets and more. If you’ve never seen an ostrich or deer in real life, this is a good place to check them out.

Photo from balance31.com

If you’re daring enough, try going on their Tiger Safari where you’ll literally come face to face with this ferocious feline. You’ll be driven around their tiger enclosure using their safari vehicle where you can watch tigers roam around, just inches away from you. As if that’s not enough, they also get fed from the same safari vehicle you’re in, allowing you to see a close up view of their wide open mouths… with just a metal grate separating you from them.

Sometimes, they even jump on top of the vehicle! Definitely an adventure not for the faint of heart.

Zoobic Safari
Group I Ilanin Forest, Forest Adventure Park, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
Open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
+63 929 707 2222 / +63 47 252 2272
zoobic.com.ph/

Ocean AdventureSubic Bay Freeport Zone

Established back in 2002, Ocean Adventure is the first marine park in the Philippines. Here you can watch a diving exhibition, a sea lion show, and a dolphin show.

Photo from Ocean Adventure’s Website

If you have spare time and absolutely love dolphins, you can also experience a dolphin swim encounter that will last for about 30 minutes. You can swim with the dolphins, hug them, kiss them, or even dance with them! Ocean Adventure also offers encounter programs with their sea lions, reef sharks, jack fish, and sea turtles.

Ocean Adventure
Camayan Wharf, West Ilanin Forest Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
Open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
+63 47 252 9000 / +63 2 706 3344
oceanadventure.com.ph

Subic Treetop AdventureSubic Bay Freeport Zone

TreeTop Adventure is the ideal spot for thrill-seekers and people who love heights. Here they can satisfy their spirit for adventure with some heart-stopping activities.

You can start off with a fairly easy activity — the Canopy Walk. You walk along suspension bridges that are 100 feet (30m) high, linked from one tree to another. No sweat.

From there, you can take the Canopy Ride (still at 100 feet high) where you sit on a cable car and watch the serene forest from above as it slowly takes you from one platform to another.

You can then move on to their Superman Ride where you’re positioned to look like Superman, face down and with your arms and legs stretched out. It may look like a zip line but this one pulls you back and forth to two platforms.

Tree Drop Adventure from Sleek in the City

After these three activities, you should now be ready for the Tree Drop Adventure! This is where you get dropped from a 60-ft (18m) tree in a matter of seconds!

You even get to choose how you want to be dropped – using the Conventional Style (sitting down), Lizard Style (head first, feet up) or Australian Style (facing down with your arms and legs spread out).

Subic Treetop Adventure
JEST Camp Area, Upper Mau Cubi Point, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
+63 915 838 9354 / +63 922 576 9156
treetopadventureph.com/

JEST Camp SubicSubic Bay Freeport Zone

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy Seals and Special Forces units learned jungle survival and warfare tactics from the indigenous Aetas.

Photo by Mike Laagan

After the U.S. Navy left Subic, this military training camp was converted  to the Jungle Environmental Survival Training Camp (JEST) to provide Aetas an opportunity to teach these same skills to civilians.

If you want to learn how to survive in the jungle, this place is for you.

Learn to identify drinkable trees, how to make fire using just wood or even turn bamboo poles into utensils. Check out their Butterfly Garden, Mini Zoo, Bird Sanctuary, and JEST Museum for extra knowledge.

Photo from Rina’s Rainbow

If you’re dying for some action, go on their Goliath Swing, a self-releasing ginormous swing that’s pulled up 30 meters high after which the swing is released. You can also go on a ropes course on tree tops with their Aerial Adventure Walk or hike to reach Boton Falls.

For the truly hardcore, JEST Camp also offers a 3-day survival bootcamp where you’ll receive the sort of training you need in case a zombie apocalypse happens and you’ll need to actually live in the wild. Just how hardcore is it? JEST Camp recommends that you get one week of exercise before taking the course.

JEST Camp
Upper Mau, Cubi-Triboa, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines
Open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
+63 47 252 1489
jestcamp.com

Do some water sports.

If you’re worried you’re starting to look like Edward Cullen from Twilight, it’s time you get a tan. Go to one of the beaches along the bay where there are calm waters.

Not a fan of calm waters? There are beaches along the coast of Zambales that have nice waves good for surfing. You can also try wake boarding at the DECA Wakeboard Park in Clark.

Photo from My Life on Board

If lying around the beach sounds too lazy for you and you consider surfing and wake boarding to involve too much physical activity, try inquiring at beach resorts for water activities such as parasailing and jet skiing. You can even go scuba diving and check out the reefs and variety of shipwrecks in the area.

Experience the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Be like Richie Rich for a day and charter a yacht. Imagine yourself sipping a cool cocktail while going sunset sailing. Be prepared to shell out a hefty sum though.

Live like Jordan Belfort from the movie The Wolf of Wall Street | Photo from Agents and Seers

Yacht rentals start at ₱11,000 for two hours and can go as high as ₱20,000 for three hours. Most yachts can accommodate up to 15 or even 20 people so if your friends are up for it, it can be a good barkada trip.

You can check out Subic Yacht Club for more information on yacht rentals.

Subic Bay Yacht Club
Rizal Highway cor. Burgos St. Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
+63 47 252 5211 / +63 47 252 6586
subicbayyachtclub.ph

Go on a food trip.

Treat your taste buds to different flavors and explore Subic one plate at a time through dining spots like Meat Plus, Texas Joe’s House of Ribs, and Xtremely Xpresso, among others. Diners line up for the specialty steaks of Meat Plus, which is practically an institution there—it’s a casual restaurant that some meat-lovers deem as heaven.

Barbecued Pork Ribs Combo from Eric N.’s looloo review for Meat Plus

If you’re craving for some smoked ribs, go for Texas Joe’s where you can order a strong-flavored full slab. Then to get your caffeine fix, grab a table at Xtremely Xpresso and have a snack while you’re enjoying the local brew.

Go duty free shopping.

Photo from What I See Is What I Blog

Numerous duty free and factory outlet stores pepper the Subic area. From Pure Gold Duty Free to Royal Subic Duty Free, you can take your pick from the lot and spend some time walking from aisle to aisle to get the best deals on various imported goods from chocolates to liquor and everything in between.

There are other spots to explore and more things to try should you have more time to spend in Subic, but these places of interest and activities are definitely worth checking out when all you have is a weekend to spare.