Subic Bay Information Travel - Subic, Manila, Anilao, Philippines

Join Diver's Network at Bella Baia Scuba Diving Center and Resort in Subic Bay, Philippines. Our Padi Gold Palm Resort is fronting the beautiful bay of Subic.

Subic Bay Free Port is the shining jewel in Central Luzon, geographically located 110 kilometers northwest of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. There’s something about Subic Bay that makes you want to stay. It could be the history and civilization. It could be the warmth of the people. It could be the relaxed pace. The sea breeze. The food. Whatever it may be, Subic will captivate you and you will find yourself exhilarated with bliss. Strategically positioned in the dynamic Asia Pacific Region, Subic Bay, Philippines occupies a 60,000 hectare complex including some areas of its neighbors - Zambales and Bataan.

Subic Bay Free Port has been recognized for many centuries as a deep safe harbor. The Spanish were the first to realize Subic Bay’s potential, using the bay in the17th century as a port to defend and maintain the Philippines as past of their empire. In the following decades the Spanish decided to build a navy base utilizing the safe harbor and its natural resources.

Following the loss by the Spanish to the US in 1898, the US established a naval repair and supply base in Subic Bay. Subic Bay was only accessible by sea up until 1932 when the zig zag road was cut through the mountains linking Subic Bay and Olongapo to the rest of the Philippines.

In 1941 Subic Bay was bombed by the Japanese and was held by them for the next four years, until the US took back the Philippines in 1945. The control of the navy base returned to the US. During the two invasions by both the Japanese and the US, a number of naval ships were either bombed or scuttled in Subic Bay Philippines. They have now created an underwater tourist hit, with scuba divers from around the world enjoying the wrecks in there underwater graveyards.

Subic Bay Information.

Subic Bay Sports and recreation.

Subic Bay Sightseeing.

Wellness and Healing.

Where to stay - Accommodation.

Where to stay - Accommodation.

Nightlife.

Where to eat - Dining out.

Arts and Heritage.

Environmental Protection.

How to get to Subic from Manila .

Subic Bay Map

Subic Bay Sports and recreation

Beach Volleyball / Pool / Pot-luck - Sundays at Mango's has always been Pool League Day.

Boating

Bowling

Boxing - "Bobby Pacquiao keeps RP title," heralds one boxing coverage firm, announcing the triumph of the Philippine's very own featherweight champion. Subic Bay's boxing stable became a witness to this country's pride.

Cock Fighting

Eco Tours - One of the more popular spots is the Apaliin Trail where one can discover the wonders of the Subic Forest.

Gambling - The city of Olongapo still has a casino located on Magsaysay drive, inside the (SBMA) Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. There are two other casinos

Golf - The Binictican Golf Course has some monster sand traps and club rentals are available. Another course can be found at the BASA Air Base.

Hash House Harriers - Most Asian veterans are familiar with this walking/running/drinking club.  It meets Mondays at 4 p.m. at the Beachside Cafe. Visitors are welcome.

Horse Riding - Argentina-bred horses offer leisurely hour rides over a virgin forest trail. Riding lessons and mounts are available.

Jungle Survival - When the US military bases were in the area, Subic’s tropical rainforest was home to the only jungle survival training school. Now everyone can enjoy this dense environment.

Seaplane Charter - Subic Seaplane can provide travel facilities to and from virtually any part of the archipelago. Fly over Subic Bay or Pinatubo Volcano and its surrounding lava fields.

Surfing - About 30 minutes north of Barretto along the Zambales coast are the Capones Islands.

Swimming - can be done along much of the coastline or at your hotel swimming pool.

Taekwando - can be practiced at the Olongapo City National High School.

Trekking - combined with other activities can be done at Mt. Pinatubo. Sense a relaxing mood while kayaking at the Mt. Pinatubo crater-lake. Discover hot springs, cool mountain pools, lava fields and canyons as you trek.

Water sports such as water skiing, parasailing,jet skis, paddle boards, aqua cycles and boats for rent.

Subic Bay Sightseeing

Aquarium - There is an ocean ‘aquarium’ where you can view tropical fish in their natural setting. This is a must do activity for those that don’t fancy getting wet themselves. Ask at your hotel for details.

Bat Kingdom - Be mesmerized at Subic's Bamboo Bats and Flying Foxes. Over 10,000 fruit bats, the biggest of its kind in the world roost in the protected forest reserve of Subic along with the Bamboo bats, which are the smallest in the Philippines.

Bicentennial Park - Enjoy outdoors at these scenic picnic grounds. Native fishing gear is available for those who would like to try their hand at fishing in the man-made lagoon.

Butterfly Garden - Contained inside the Cubi Point Zoo by high netting through the upper trees an enclosure boasts hundreds if not thousands of butterflies in every imaginable species and co lour. Walk along rock trails across miniature bridges with babbling brooks flowing quietly alongside, amid landscaping with gorgeous plants and flowers.

Camachile Park - is a perfect stop shaded by numerous Camachile trees.

Cubi Point Zoo - This mini-zoo is located at the Upper MAU camp and is an environmental education centre.

Enchanted Castle - This castle is located on coral reef not far from the shoreline of Baloy Beach Resort.

Friendship Park - Adjacent to the main gate of the Subic Bay Freeport.

Grand Island - Enjoy a scenic boat ride to the island and swim and dive to your hearts desire on arrival. This is a good day’s outing with the family or a romantic spot for couples.

Hill 394 - Subic's most popular peak takes you 394 meters above sea level and offers a spectacular view of the legendary Mount Natib.

Magasaysay Drive and Rizal Avenue - Chains of bars, nightclub, restaurants, hotels and sauna baths can be found here.

Marikit Park - has been designed for the enjoyment of children and the young at heart.

Ocean Adventure - has whale viewing and whale encounters. Using 'False Killer Whales' which are slightly larger than dolphins (7-8 meters) they put on a show for the general public. Also on site is an aquarium with many species of fish native to the area including sea lions, sharks and dolphins.

Redondo Beach - Is popular for its beauty and the fact that it is undeveloped. Explore the riches of the shores of the Redondo Peninsula or laze in the sun, swim and relax.

Spanish Gate - This main entrance to the fortified Spanish naval settlement that was Olongapo, still stands today inside the US Naval Base.

Subic Lighthouse - This old lighthouse is found along the National Highway going to the North overlooks the Subic Bay area and I a good spot for photography.

Triboa Bay, Mangrove Park - Drive through Subic's low-lying forest and visit the mangroves.

Waterfront Boardwalk - Watch the majestic rising and setting of the sun, as it unfolds over Subic Bay.

Wellness and Healing

Health Clubs - Develop a good physiological upkeep by going to the gym for workout. Improve or maintain your physical fitness with various fitness centers and exercise facilities.

Spa Clinics - Retire to a comforting massage or invigorating spa from our wellness centers around the area. Does Jacuzzi sound soothingly fun? How about a visit to the sauna for rejuvenation? Go on; make your day with these calming encounters.

Natural Healing Institutions - Alongside modernized hospital and health centers in the Freeport are alternative healing centers for enthusiasts of conventional healing processes. These centers rely mainly on the use of medicinal plants and organic vegetables to effectively alleviate a patient's unhealthy physical condition.

Where to stay - Accommodation

More than 1000 Hotels and resort to choose from. Check

Nightlife

Discotheques, nightclubs, coffee shops, karaoke bars, open air bars and restaurants with live music and entertainment compete for attention in Subic. Most of the nightlife is located around The boardwalk where our Diveshop is located, outside of the Bay is knowned for Go Go bar area.

Small shops and good restaurants as well as glittering clubs compete for the attention of passers-by. Some of the restaurants offer fresh seafood, live right out of tanks, cooked to order and dinner can be eaten on small piers that extend onto the water.

Where to eat - Dining out

Dining in Subic is a pleasure, with great food at great prices. Dozens of food stalls - where you can dine al fresco for nearly nothing - line the main road. For gourmets, fresh seafood straight from the tank, and a variety of Filipino, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Mexican, American, etc., compete for your palate, at very reasonable prices.

Elegant dining can also be found at the better hotels. Most of hotel has a breathtaking view of the bay. The Royal Cliff has ten unique restaurants.

Check some of the restaurants in Subic Bay.

Arts and Heritage

Revive the sparkle of a wonder-packed history! Check

Environmental Protection

SBMA continues to pursue its environmental protection responsibilities. The Authority has an Ecology Center that studies and monitors the preservation of the Subic Bay's natural resources and wildlife. All development projects are required to submit Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies to ensure compliance with existing environmental standards.

The Subic Watershed Forest Reserve (SWFR), located at the southern portion of the Zambales Bio geographic Zone, 160 km. by road northwest of Manila, is one of the ten priority sites of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), noted for its high bio diversity and endemism. This lowland diphtheria forest covers approximately 9,800 hectares, 3,000 hectares of which is closed canopy. The forests were protected from over exploitation for more than 50 years while under the jurisdiction of the Americans during the US Naval Base period.

The SWFR lies entirely within the metes and bounds of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). SBMA has administrative jurisdiction over these protected areas under the authority of Republic Act 7227 of 1992, and in a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the SBMA.

A wide range of habitats are present in the forest due to the terrain, presence of streams, fringing grasslands and other breaks in the canopy. It is possible to draw an imaginary line through the rain forest, running water, grassland and mangrove habitats that blend into the marine sea grass and coral reef habitats. These represent the major habitats of the tropics.

The preliminary results of the forest bio diversity survey revealed 745 plant species. Three of which are endangered while four others are potentially threatened. Hence, the urgency of preserving the Subic Forest is highlighted.

Ecologically and economically important tree species such as White Lauan, Apitong, Guijo, Palosapis are most dominant in Subic forest. A rattan palm species previously found only in Mt. Arayat was discovered.

At the southwest portion of the reserve is a well maintained network of paved roads which links two piers to a complex of 6 groups of earth-covered, concrete ammunition bunkers formerly known as the Naval Magazine. These bunker groups are enclosed in fences. It is linked to the rest of the Freeport Zone by a two-lane road intersected by a narrower road leading to the municipality of Morong, Bataan. This area has been reserved for low-impact, eco and adventure tourism oriented development.

The Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium project is taking shape. The Camayan Wharf is now home to Subic Bay Ocean Adventure, the first and the most amazing attraction in the country exposing some of the world's most attractive sea mammals like dolphins, false killer whales and sea lions in their natural habitat.

The western side of Grande and Chiquita Islands contains the highest coral cover in the bay with up to 75% of which are living. There are 75 species of fish present in Subic Bay. Important reef fish species comprises 96.25%. The world's rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtle and Hawksbill dwell in Subic Bay. Six species of seagrasses are growing in the marine preserved areas of Triboa and Ilanin Bays.

Eco tourism has tremendous potential given the variety of flora and fauna and the presence of streams, waterfalls and trail systems. Eco tour attractions are plentiful

How to get to Subic from Manila

By Car ( Diver's Network Car service)

For US $55 a car and driver will whisk you through the Manila madness, onto the expressway, through San Fernando and onto Zambales and Subic. This is a 2 to 2 1/2 hours drive depending on your arrival time and Manila traffic.

International Airport

The Subic Bay International Airport has a regular direct international scheduled and chartered flights. Far Eastern Air Transport provides international scheduled flights to Taipei and Kaohsiung Taiwan on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

By Air

A 3 passenger seaplane can take you Manila-Subic or Subic-Manila. Mike O'Farrell has been operating this service for several years. Contact him at seaplane@svisp.com or phone 63-47 252-2230.

By Bus

The least expensive way is to take a taxi to Pasay (pronounced PASS-EYE) bus terminal. Here Victory Liner busses leave every hour until 10 at night for Olongapo City. The taxi will cost you about $3.00.  Again this depends on the Taxi driver, don't count on the meter working.  For about another $2-$3 you get a clean, (fairly) safe air-conditioned ride complete with a movie. The last Air-conditioned bus leaves for Olongapo about 8:00 at night. After that you have to take a regular bus. These can be packed and very uncomfortable. The trip by bus is about 3-4 hours.  Once you arrive at the Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo look for the jeepneys to take you to your hotel.

By Ferry

The ferry service is called the Mt. Samat Express and they use a Supercat 6 called OK Ka Ferry. It leaves from the Philippine Cultural Centre (PCC Bldg) on Roxas Boulevard and goes to Orion in Bataan. It is but a 50 minute crossing to the Bataan peninsula. Once there a transportation desk can get you a van to Subic. Departures times are listed below, and run basically every hour and a half during daylight hours. It is about a 50 min. trip and costs about P180. If it is stormy weather they will not run.

If you're already in the Subic area and you need to go to Manila and your business is in the Ermita, Binondo, Pasay, US Embassy area you will need to drive to Orion.  They have secure day or overnight parking. Again the ferries do not operate in bad weather. Same travel time and price as Manila to Subic and you arrive at the ferry terminal across from the Cultural Centre on Roxas Blvd. Taxi's are right outside in a secure area.

Ferry Times

 Tip: Before going call and check the current times by telephoning: 02-551-5290.

Note: The above arrival/departure times and costs are subject to change and intended as a guide only. Therefore you are advised to check on these details before you depart.

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Padi / DSAT / ANDI and TDI Instructor and diver courses - Diver's Network - Subic, Manila, Anilao, Philippines.