To most Filipinos, a typical bonding day is spent relishing in the crisp air-conditioned spaces of shopping malls. Who can blame us? In this tropical country, it’s hard to go anywhere else without sweating like pigs. But when the pandemic taught us that crowds and enclosed spaces were a recipe for disaster, many turned towards the city’s most underrated spots: nature parks.
After years of being overlooked, nature parks finally reclaimed their potential as the best spots to hang out in. So below, we round up 13 parks in Metro Manila that maintain open spaces, teeming plants, and broad areas for social distancing.
Also read: Philippine National Parks Every Pinoy Can Visit For a Nature Trip
Nature parks in Quezon City
1. Quezon Memorial Circle
At the heart of the ever-busy Elliptical Road is the Quezon Memorial Circle, colloquially called “Circle.” It is one of the few parks in Metro Manila that houses several amenities, the most remarkable being its centrepiece, the Quezon Memorial Shrine. Marking the park, the 66-metre mausoleum of former President Manuel L. Quezon has an observation deck where visitors can view the city. The park also has several museums: the Museo ni Manuel L. Quezon, the Quezon City Experience (an interactive museum), the Quezon Heritage House, and the Presidential Car Museum.
Beyond the historic museums, the Circle also hosts fun amenities for guests of all ages, including the small amusement park, Circle of Fun, and Pedal N Paddle, which offers go-kart rides, boat rides, and other fascinating attractions. Children’s playgrounds and bicycle rentals also abound in the area. And if you get famished? The Circle also has a variety of restaurants and stalls where you can dine.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 5am–8pm
Address: Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
2. Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife
Dubbed the “Nature Park in the City’s Heart,” the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife (NAPWC) boasts unique park facilities, including a Mindanao-inspired fishing village, a biodiversity museum, a tea house, an amphitheatre, and a picnic shed. The 22.7-hectare park also has an artificial lagoon, aquarium, playground, and botanical garden. But what primarily makes the NAPWC special is its wildlife centre, which hosts indigenous plants and animals.
Entrance fee: ₱30 (adults); ₱15 (students); ₱100 (foreigners); free (senior citizens, PWDs, and children below seven years old)
Opening hours: Tues–Sun, 7am–5pm
Address: Diliman, Quezon City
3. La Mesa Ecopark
Located in Greater Lagro, the La Mesa Ecopark is a 33-hectare public park that stretches along the La Mesa Watershed Reservation. Not only does it flourish with diverse plant species, but it also provides various activities, including hiking, rappelling, zip-lining, and fishing. The park also has a lagoon where guests can ride a paddle boat, as well as an eco-trail and an orchidarium.
Entrance fee: ₱40 (QC residents); ₱50 (non-QC residents)
Opening hours: Weekdays, 6am–12nn; weekends, 6am–3pm
Address: East Fairview, Greater Lagro, Quezon City
4. Balara Filters Park
Situated adjacent to the University of the Philippines Diliman, Balara Filters Park is one of the oldest recreation parks in Quezon City. The 60-hectare park hosts art deco buildings (Escoda Hall, Orosa hall, and an Italian-style chapel), natural landscapes, and playgrounds. It also contains the Balara Filtration Windmill, swimming pools, an elevated picnic grove, a replica of the Carriedo Fountain in Santa Cruz, and the Anonas Amphitheater.
Unfortunately, despite its promising amenities, Balara Filters Park has not been maintained. Overgrown trees cross over its old buildings, and most of its structures are closed off to the public. However, visitors can still enter the area if they wish to roam around this rustic park in Quezon City.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily
Address: Katipunan Ext, Matandang Balara, Quezon City
5. Bernardo Park
The first public park in Quezon City, Bernardo Park opened in 1948 and has since served as a social centre in Kamuning. Divided into a north and south side, the park lodges a playground, picnic area, and sports facilities (a basketball court, a skating rink, a biking area, and a swimming pool) on one side, and a picnic area and the Ponciano Bernardo monument on the other.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily
Address: Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Quezon City
Nature parks in Manila
7. Rizal Park
One of the most iconic parks in Metro Manila, Rizal Park, aka Luneta, is also among the largest ones in the country. Once known as Bagumbayan, the 58-hectare park holds a rich history dating back to the Spanish colonial period. In 1896, national hero Jose Rizal was shot in this very area; a few years later, the declaration of Philippine independence from the United States was held here, too.
Luneta is divided into three sections: the Northeastern Section, which accommodates the National Museum Complex; the Central Section, which houses the Rizal Monument and its nearby attractions; and the Southwestern Section, which hosts the Burnham Green, Quirino Grandstand, and the Manila Ocean Park.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 5am–9am; 11am–8pm
Address: Ermita, Manila
8. Arroceros Urban Forest Park
Known as “Manila’s last lung,” Arroceros Urban Forest Park is a pocket of green in Manila that hosts thousands of plant species and birds. The riverside park also sits at the foot of Quezon Bridge, providing fresh air to the bustling capital city. Recently renovated, Arroceros Park now has tiled pathways, clean comfort rooms, jogging lanes, a koi pond, a fountain, and a coffee shop.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 8am–5pm
Address: 659 A Antonio Villegas St, Ermita, Manila
Also read: UCM Adventure Park Lets You Ride ATVs, Camp Out, and Enjoy Thrilling Rides
Nature parks in Makati
9. Ayala Triangle Gardens
From cyclists and fur parents to casual passers-by, Ayala Triangle Gardens welcomes everyone who needs a breather. This two-hectare manicured park in Makati has a triangular shape (hence the name) and marks the centre of the Makati Central Business District.
Fringed with rain trees, palms, and other lush foliage, the Triangle offers a much-appreciated respite for Makati dwellers. It also harbours public art pieces by local artists Ovvian Castrillo-Hill and Ral Arrogante. Aside from art and nature, the Triangle also accommodates a number of al fresco restaurants.
Still best known for its Christmas displays, the Triangle hosts an annual Festival of Lights to celebrate the holidays. It also throws music festivals every now and then.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 6am–10pm
Address: Paseo De Roxas St Cor Makati Ave, Cor Ayala Ave, Makati
10. Legazpi Active Park
Another urban oasis in Makati, Legazpi Active Park is best known as a fitness park as it provides free routes for jogging and cycling, as well as opportunities for yoga, callisthenics, frisbee, and other outdoor activities. Legazpi Active Park also has a children’s playground, comfort rooms, park benches, and tiled pathways.
Although privately owned, this park in Makati is considered a public space and hosts a Sunday market called the “Legazpi Sunday Market,” where stalls sell farm fresh produce, personal care products, and artisan crafts.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 6am–10pm
Address: Rada, Legazpi Village, Makati
11. Salcedo Park
Salcedo Park, officially called Jaime C. Velasquez Park, is a pocket park in the Makati CBD that features a pet park, a children’s playground, a trellised walkway, an expansive lawn, and stone benches. But, it is most famous for the Salcedo Community Market, a Saturday market (open from 7am to 2pm) with hundreds of merchants offering diverse regional cuisine. Customers can also find plants, supplements, and household items in the market.
Filipinos also flock to Salcedo Park for the bi-annual modern art fair, Art in the Park. Every Summer, the area gathers art pieces from local artists and displays and sells them to the public.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily
Address: Velasquez Street, Salcedo Village, Bel Air, Makati
12. Makati Park and Garden
One of the largest riverfront parks in Metro Manila, the Makati Park and Garden sits along the Pasig River. It features a bird sanctuary, a plant nursery, a small lake, fountains, an artificial waterfall, and a floating gazebo. It is also most booked for the Artist Pavilion, a function hall that caters for weddings and birthdays.
You can also find the Makati Aqua Sports Area, a recreational facility with an Olympic-sized pool, in this park.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 5am–9pm
Address: H374+RG4, Dr Jose P. Rizal Ext, Makati
13. Washington SyCip Park
Another privately owned public park in Makati, Washington SyCip Park was a birthday gift to the eponymous Filipino accountant in 2006. In the park are indigenous tropical plants and sculptures by local artist Impy Pilapil, including the Wishing Stone, Faith, Entry, Sungka, the Mangrove Nature Embrace, stone turtles, and giant urns. The park also has gazebos and other resting places to encourage city dwellers to relax and relish in nature.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: Daily, 6am–10pm
Address: Legazpi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati
Also read: 10 Bike Trails in and Near Quezon City
Are you planning to visit any of these parks in Metro Manila? Tag us on Instagram when you do!
Featured image credit (L-R): Notthebestusername; TanjalaGica via Canva Pro
