The "Green Corridor" Just Outside Metro Manila is the Change of Scenery You Need

It's 2021, and no one can blame you for dreaming of travel while also simultaneously feeling cautious of it. But when you need a break from society, it helps to travel only to nearby destinations with open-air activities.

You’ll be able to do a lot of that now in the “Green Corridor."

The Green Corridor is a Department of Tourism initiative that clusters tourism spots across municipalities and cities in Calabarzon, together now in a “travel bubble”or “travel corridor" that's open to local tourists.

Consider it travel’s new normal: an agreement by which several locations agree to open their borders to each other while maintaining specific health and safety protocols. This helps to ensure safe traveling within the corridor. Some protocols include QR-coded green passes and cashless transactions in all accredited tourist spots and establishments.

Why these destinations? The DOT zoned in on the areas because they are “blessed to have many open-air, nature, culture-based tourism products that many Filipinos would like to experience amidst the pandemic." The Green Corridor is, indeed, very green—anyone who's visited Calabarzon, as well as Cainta, Antipolo, Angono, and Taytay know that there are many natural attractions.

But of course, it's also about the convenience and ease of access, the DOT acknowledges. "And best of all, [it] can be accessed quickly and conveniently from Metro Manila through land travel, which is the most ideal way for Filipinos to travel in the current situation.”

Here’s some fun activities you can do within the Green Corridor area:

Take in a spectacular view at Tanaw Park

The name itself lets you know what you'll be doing here: Tanaw Park in Rizal offers visitors a sweeping, panoramic view of San Pablo, Laguna Bay, and other nearby towns. First, enjoy a open-air stroll at Tanaw Park, and take some time to be around nature. Then, make your way up the hill to Noah's Ark, the viewing deck marked by a large cross. That's your vantage point to a spectacular view—one that may just help to ease the worries you'll come home to when you return to the city.

Learn to make pottery at Crescent Moon Cafe

Try something new by signing up for the pottery workshop at this artist-owned cafe-and-pottery studio in Antipolo. You can also enjoy their Asian fusion dishes while you’re at it. Interesting note: their food is cooked from ingredients they grew themselves. We also recommend that you try their three variations of suman for dessert. You can choose from the Suman Itim, Suman at Mangga, or Suman a la Mode. Better yet, go for all three!

Appreciate local art at the Blanco Family Art Museum

All along the Green Corridor, you can feel the energy of the arts. Rizal boasts of many art galleries and museums, open to visitors looking for a little culture and inspiration. You don't have to be an artist yourself to appreciate a trip to a place like the Blanco Family Art Museum. It contains the works of the Blanco family, including its patriarch, the renowned muralist Pitok Blanco. His children also went on to become artists, and so their works hang here as well. Pitok was well-known for his realism, but as a family, the Blancos developed different artistic styles. As such, visitors to the gallery can expect to enjoy a wide variety.

Eat bull testicle soup at Balaw-Balaw Restaurant

Yeah, you read that right: Balaw-Balaw Restaurant in Angono is famous for its exotic dishes, including special kinds of tapa (deer and wild boar), crickets, and a soup made with the testicles and rear end of a bull. Apart from offering these exotic dishes, Balaw-Balaw is also an art gallery, so there's much more to do than chow down on interesting menu items.

Enjoy the art and relaxing vibes of Pinto Art Museum

If you’ve been living under a rock and have never heard of this famed museum, now is the time to visit Antipolo’s Insta-worthy attraction. Art lovers will appreciate its curation of modern and traditional paintings and sculptures by many Filipino artists. The museum is largely open-spaced with lots of gardens to stroll in. It also has cafes with al fresco seating within the museum, perfect for merienda or snacks after a day of art appreciation.

For updates and travel guidelines on the Green Corridor travel initiative by the Philippines' Department of Tourism, visit the official website of the Department of Tourism.