Discover Intramuros on a Historical Bamboo Bike Tour

Manila is a major Asian city of the 21st century, but its old historical center gives visitors a much different experience of the city. Constructed in 1590, the walled city district of Intramuros is one of the oldest and most culturally important places in Manila. Understanding its history and cultural significance is easier with a guided tour – and the best way to discover the old town has become a tour with a difference: a historical bamboo bike tour of Intramuros.

Taking in the History of Intramuros

From 1590, when it was first built under orders of the Spanish King Philip II, to its eventual capitulation to the Japanese during World War II, Intramuros has seen its fair share of action over the centuries. Architecture within its walls tells stories of both its Spanish origins, as well as testament to its former occupiers, including examples of Japanese military installations. Its position secured by multiple fortresses, examples of which can still be seen today, the old town has served as both a core of culture and education – being home to the country’s first university – as well as a barometer for support in hostile times. After its liberation from Japan in 1945, Intramuros became home for a short time to refugees from war-torn Europe.

The Eco-Friendly Way to Sightsee: The Bamboo Bike Tour

Nowadays, visitors seeking to learn more about the multicultural past of Intramuros can do so without breaking the bank. Instead of joining other tours with an expensive ticket price – and an environmental cost to match – visitors can now explore the storied walled city on an eco-friendly bamboo bike tour.

Organized in association with GetYourGuide, the tour provides an affordable and exciting means for discovering Intramuros’ secrets in a unique way. The bikes are all hand crafted from bamboo, first introduced to the Philippines from Europe rather later than one might expect. The use of bamboo means that not only is pedal-power quieter and therefore less disruptive than other motorized forms of transport, but also carries less environmental impact than with traditional sightseeing tours – something that’s increasingly important to many travelers in these days of responsible travel.

The tour itself follows a route that offers up all the highlights of Intramuros, led by an experienced tour guide. The tour takes in some of the major sites around the walled city, including Santiago Fortress and Nuestra Señora de Guia Church, before crossing Pasig River to take in Rizal Park itself before finishing at San Agustin Church. In between, you’ll also find some impressive structures built by the Japanese during their militarization of the area.

Saving Money and the Environment With an Eco-Friendly Tour Demo

Indeed, it’s not just the environment that benefits from this bike tour – so do participants who sign up for it! Tickets cost from as little as $10 per persoṇ, meaning travelers on limited budgets can save tremendous time and money when compared with many other guided tours of Intramuros District.

Even better for those with limited funds for sightseeing, GetYourGuide’s prices include not only the tour itself, but also all the necessary equipment like helmets, water bottles and bamboo bike frames. This makes it easier than ever for travelers to fully explore this economic yet evocative area without breaking their budget.

Improving Eco-Friendly Sightseeing in Manila

By introducing eco-friendly touring options like this one into its portfolio, GetYourGuide is helping to bring responsible tourism more into focus in geographic regions like Manila where traffic volumes spike during certain times of day. Instead of contributing to this problem with traditional sightseeing tours that involve taking vehicles across busy roads during peak times, these new tours offer wildlife enthusiasts a valuable insight into their destination in a considerably quieter and more eco-friendly way.

As far as recreational expeditions go, a historical bamboo bike tour of Intramuros is hard to beat when it comes to eco-friendly sightseeing. Offering a unique experience at an affordable price, it’s no wonder that this experience has grown in popularity so quickly over recent months. Whether you’re after a unique experience to save money or looking for ways to save the environment or both, this 3-hour experience ticks all the boxes.

If you’re eager to explore Intramuros District in a new way while also saving your wallet – and that of Mother Nature – check out the Historical Bamboo Bike Tour. Not only will you get a great cultural insight into this magical city while also helping preserve its future – you may even get yourself a few memorable Instagram shots too!