Should you need a tour of Manila, allow me to recommend the following guides. I'm not the only game in town, you know. Bookmark this page in case you need them.
This is an updated version. April 2016
For the best guides in town:
MABUHAY GUIDES of the Department of Tourism. Trained by Blue Badge of London, they are perfect for touring around dignitaries or your own relatives who are in town visiting. They are young, fun, street smart, and are the kind of people you would want to hang out with anyway.
MABUHAY GUIDES
Ms. Goya Reynoso (63) 917 8411246
MANILA FOR A DAY - Dustin Ancheta does really creative tours of Manila. Time travelling he calls it. Intramuros is his specialty and he can tailor make tours to your preference. Check his site here: MANILA FOR A DAY
Reservations : Ms. Anne (63)939 397 6478
BAMBIKE TOURS - Award winning bamboo bicycle designer Bryan Mclelland has put together a team of guides to take you all around the walled city on their funky rides. They were featured on CNN and are totally the most hipster thing you could do when in town. Check out their site here: http://bambike.com/ecotours
(632) 5258289
ecotours@bambike.com
SMOKEY TOURS - See the deepest heart of. Go around the city's lesser known parts and discover gems in the rough. Visit an old dumpsite, visit a prison, a marketplace, a slum, a cemetery, or see a cockfight. A tour that is for people with big hearts, not faint ones. And this isn't "Poorism". The guides are involved in uplifting the communities you visit. Check out their website: www.smokeytours.com
(63) 917 578 5398
(63) 2 622 1325
info@worldexperience.ph
GREG DORRIS - Tall American (easy to spot when walking through crowded areas). Also has a book of archival photos of Old Manila like mine. My official alternate.
(63) 916 7669170
gahdorris@hotmail.com
BRYAN OCAMPO - Blue Badge trained veteran of the Mabuhay Guides. Aside from his Manila tours, he now has his own operation which specialises in food tours of Pampanga (1.5 hours out of Manila. Check his website: www.mangankapampangan.com
(63) 917 899 3948
IVAN MANDY - The master of Chinatown. Does tours of Binondo, San Miguel, and Chinese Cemeteries. Check oldmanilawalks.com for his schedules. He is the master of his own walking tour operation called: Old Manila Walks.
(63) 917 3291622
oldmanilawalks2@gmail.com
ARMANDO HILDAWA - One of the smartest tour guides in town, if not THE smartest. His specialty is Corregidor. He practically lives there.
(63) 916 4940623
VITO HERNANDEZ - Smart dude from University of the Philippines. Really really nice guy. Knowlegable in history, sociology, and geology.
(63) 916 6349649
PATRICK TUDANCA - Speaks German. Affable and organized. He does out of town trips too and is quite knowledgable
(63) 917 5266786
PJ CARITATIVO - Department of Tourism trained French speaking guide. Charming and knows the ins and outs of Old Manila. She also does tours of Sagada, Banaue, and other points north.
(63) 915 1426468
pearl.caritativo@gmail.com
JULIUS GERARD MAGNO - Department of Tourism trained Spanish speaking guide. Perfect for those who want to learn about Manila's Hispanic past. Also part of a whole bunch of DOT accredited guides.
(63) 917 8664137
MILA ALCUAZ METHARAM - Great Spanish Guide. Been around the tour guiding scene for a while. Can tailor make a day for you.
(63) 917-8204747
(63) 932-1277437
milalcuaz@yahoo.com
JJ YULO - Best Food Tour Guide in the City. No one knows how to go about Filipino food the way this man does. He also has his own blog: PINOY EATS WORLD. He is Makati based and can do early evening dining tours.
(63) 917 5301160
FOR THE CITY OF VIGAN AND ILOCOS AREA:
CARLO CALDITO - Premier Tour Guide of Laoag. The act to beat up north. Very Theatrical and knows all the cool places in the great North.
(63) 917 4396759
FOR PUERTO PRINCESA AND HONDA BAY:
GENER and KAT (TAO TOURS) - Does a highly recommended Honda Bay tour on a traditional sailboat and picnic. Amazing.
(63) 9052646377
CEBU:
Ka Balbino Guerrero - A guy who certainly knows the Queen City of the South. Check out his facebook profile here.
(63) 9328151975
Tell them I sent you.
Cheers!
