In the past two years, more and more folks have made it a priority to escape the city, usually by driving to nearby vacation destinations like Baguio, Tagaytay, or La Union. Another favorite, which is only about a two-hour drive away from Metro Manila, is Pampanga. If you’re thinking of visiting the province, you may want to check out the municipality of Porac—more specifically, the mixed-use estate known as Alviera. Alviera is a joint development of Ayala Land and Leonio Land that’s gearing up to be a new growth center in Luzon—a la Nuvali, but up north. The community is a one-stop weekend destination for all kinds of outdoorsy activities—enough for a full day’s itinerary and more.

Here are all the cool things you can do at Alviera in Porac, Pampanga:
Test out your athletic skills at Sandbox

Probably the most well-known spot in Alviera, Sandbox is a two-hectare outdoor adult playground where you can get your heart racing with a series of exhilarating activities that are as fun as they are challenging. Cool attractions inside the playground include a rock-climbing wall, a rappelling wall, a zip line, an obstacle course, a free-fall jump, and a giant swing, just to name a few.

The park officially reopened to the public on April 23. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to attractions can be purchased on a per-use basis, but they also offer day packages depending on which activities you’d like to do on your next visit. Packages range from P450 to P770, but note that you also need to pay a P100 entrance fee.

Give car camping a try

Car camping has become an increasingly popular activity amid the pandemic and you can try it out for yourself at W Camp in Alviera. The 5,000-square meter campsite will be open to the public by April 30. You’ll have to bring your own tents—along with other basic camping necessities—but the campsite will have toilet and bath facilities as well as lots of space to enjoy the fresh air or do outdoor activities with friends and family. Traditional campers are also welcome as are those who prefer glamping, but take note you’ll have to request the latter ahead of time.

Ride your bicycle (or motorbike) through a sprawling green trail

While bike enthusiasts and newbie bikers alike usually cycle around the busy streets of Metro Manila, nothing beats biking through nature. The Alviera Bike Trail offer scenic routes designed for travel and gravel bikes. The five-kilometer trail features multi-terrain routes that vary from leisurely to intense and is open to cyclists of all ages and skill levels.

Those who prefer motorbiking can opt to visit the KTM Off-Road Track, which is a three-hectare motocross course made in collaboration with motorcycle manufacturer KTM. Aside from providing motorists with space to ride around, the track also hosts road events and even offers training programs complete with obstacle courses.

Immerse yourself in nature

In case a day of physical activities isn’t exactly what you had in mind and you’d prefer to chill out, you’ll want to lounge around in Alviera’s Greenscapes area. It’s ideal for those folks desperately in search of laid-back outdoor hangout spots—it’s no secret the Metro is lacking in them, after all. The three-hectare green space and plant nursery is where you can breathe fresh air, appreciate the beauty of nature, take long walks, and even have a picnic.

Rent a villa for the weekend

While Alviera’s wide range of outdoor activities is designed to offer visitors enough to do for jam-packed a day trip, you can also opt to spend the weekend there. As of writing, the estate has two three-bedroom villas, each with a maximum occupancy of six people, but two more villas are expected to be added by May. The villas are located at the residential community in the estate known as Avida Settings Greendale. Bookings can be made at the Alviera Country Club membership office. Rates start at P11,000 per night for non-country club members.