Subic Bay

A former US naval base turned bayside freeport, with a marine park, safari zoo, rainforest trails and beaches — a weekend favorite for Manila families.

Subic Bay lies in Zambales province in west-central Luzon, right next to Olongapo City and about 110–130 km from Manila. It was once the largest US naval base overseas; after the Americans withdrew in 1992 it became the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBMA), keeping its tidy roads, large tracts of tropical rainforest and solid infrastructure. Today it is a popular spot for Manila families on weekend getaways and for duty-free shopping.

The freeport's attractions fall into a few areas: around Camayan Point in the southwest are Ocean Adventure (dolphin and sea lion shows, plus a water park) and Camayan Beach, with Zoobic Safari nearby (ride a jeep to see tigers); around Cubi Point in the north are Tree Top Adventure and the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail, where Aeta guides teach jungle survival skills; the waterfront road and boardwalk in the middle of the bay are great for an evening stroll at sunset, there's an inflatable island water park out on the water, and boats run to Grande Island at the mouth of the bay. Outside the freeport, about 40 km north in San Antonio (Pundaquit), outrigger boats head to Anawangin Cove for camping and to the lighthouse on Capones Island — a popular weekend camping route.

The best time to visit is the dry season from November to May, when seas are calm; the June–October rainy season often brings typhoons and some water activities are suspended. Getting there: Victory Liner and other buses take about 3–4 hours from Manila to Olongapo, or drive the SCTEX expressway in about 2.5 hours. Attractions inside the freeport are spread out, so drive, hire a car or take taxis. Plan on 2 days; weekends and holidays get crowded, so book park tickets and accommodation ahead. Note that traffic rules inside the freeport are strictly enforced, with frequent speed and seatbelt checks.

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