A few weeks ago, I visited J.E.S.T Camp with my friends Roch and Justin. After more more than a decade, I'm quite surprised with the development of the Subic Area. The last time I went there was with the family in a hiking adventure with Aetas to Boton Falls so I guess that was really ancient. I'm ecstatic to see what's in store for us J.E.S.T Camp.
J.E.S.T Camp is an adventure park that offers activities like the
Aerial Adventure (Tree Top Obstacle Course),
Goliath Swing (Swing Over A Cliff),
Wildlife Walk About (Jungle Trek) and
Wall Climbing and Rapelling. There's also the
Jungle Surivival Demo show every 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30pm and 4:00pm.
J.E.S.T Camp also offers team building packages just inquire.
The newest attraction at
J.E.S.T Camp is the Magaul Bird Park. It is also paired with the Macaw Market where you can buy dolls and shirts for souvenirs. And, a Bird Shop where you can buy birds. It also has the Winged Wonders Bird Show.
So here's thee map of the
Magaul Bird Park.
Here are all the park activities, shows and schedules and their rates.
Magaul Bird Park (Day Tour 200 php)
 |
| Blue and Gold Macaw |
They have a vast variety of birds. I saw coloful
macaw (
Blue and Gold Macaw,
Green Winged Macaw and
Scarlet Macaw), lories (
Red and Blue Lory,
Violet-Necked Lory,
Black-Capped Lory and Chattering Lory) and lorikeets (
Rainbow Lorikeet). There were also toucans (
White-Throated Tucans) and hornbillls (
Palawan Hornbill,
Rufous Hornbill,
Luzon Hornbill and
Mindanao Writhed Hornbill).
There are also pigeons (
Pouter Pigeon,
Fantail Pigeon,
Rock Pigeon), Eagles (
Honey Buzzard Eagle,
Philippine Hawk Eagle),
Brahminy Kite and
Philippine Eagle owls.
 |
| Peahen (Pavo Cristatus) |
In the
Flightless Section, there' the
Peahen, Pheasants (
Silver Pheasant,
Golden Pheasant and
Common Pheasant),
Ostrich...
and the
Hen.
Magual Bird Park has adequate signs so you always know where you're going and there's lot of informational boards to educate you about the origin, habitat, diet, rarity level and even fun facts about the birds.
Bird Sanctuary
My favorite part is the
Bird Sanctuary which had a set up like a natural paradise and birds are flying freely. You can go close to them and even feed them.
Cuckoo Chitchat
In the
Cuckoo Chitchat, you can talk, feed and take photos (50 php) with your choice of birds. Just take note of the feeding time schedule:
- Parrot 10:30am and 2:30pm
- Bird of Prey 4:00pm
- Hornbill 11:00am and 3:00pm
Butterfly Sanctuary and Insectarium
There's also the butterfly sanctuary where you can see and touch butterflies and the insectarium where you can learn a lot about insects and more.
Bird Discovery
The bird discovery is an air-conditioned interactive learning hall. Through lots of their activities, you can learn more about birds.
Winged Wonders Bird Show (250 php)
Every 11:00 am and 3:00pm, they have the
Winged Wonders Bird Show at the Amphitheater. For the opening of the Winged Wonders Bird Show, the General Manager
Ms. Katrina Kay Lacap welcomed us and Subic Bay Chairman
Roberto V. Garcia gave his congratulatory speech. In case you're wondering, the park is named after Magaul, the bird in the Filipino creation myth who pecked the bamboo where Malakas and Maganda came from.
The bird show was really an aerial amazement! Birds where flying across the audience towards the guides back and forth.
Aside from just a display of bird flight skills, we were also being educated about the birds.
I've also been amazed with how Eagles flapped their wings...
There was a fun relay of birds as the audience cheered for their chosen participant. The birds were couched by
Mr. Jordan Bustamante, the Operation Manager of Magaul and the other staff for the
Blue and Gold Macaw.
Audience are being called to participate too.
I couldn't help but smile with gladness during the show finale. There were over hundreds of birds on or above the stage. There flightless ran while the other birds flew over the skies and some lands on the stage grounds.
The show is approximately 20-30 minutes. At the end of the show, you can also take a photo of the birds up close.
Aerial Adventure (200 php)
In the
Aerial Adventure, you will walk along monkey vines, crawl through barrels and cross rope bridges. Kids can also play at the
Spider Web.
Goliath Swing (200 php)
 |
| My Friend Justin Having Fun at the Goliath Swing |
My favorite is probably the
Goliath Swing. You will be taken up really high so then release so you can swing offer the cliff in a fast velocity.
Magaul Maze Quest
 |
| Magaul Maze Quest |
The
Magaul Maze Quest is a giant maze where you have to find the 5 stations where Magaul is.
Low Elements
Before leaving
J.E.S.T Camp, make sure you stop by the
Low Elements and take a breath with this stunning view of
Subic Bay Port.
Overall, we Travel Tripsters suggest J.E.S.T Camp and Magaul Bird Park as an addition to your Subic itinerary!
| J.E.S.T Camp |
| Address |
JEST Camp, Upper Mau, Cubi-Triboa, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Olongapo, Philippines |
| Budget Per Person |
250 php to 1,000 php |
J.E.S.T Camp Map |
| Payment Options |
Cash
|
|
| Operating Hours |
Monday to Sunday:
(except for the December 24 and 31)
8:30 am- 5 pm |
| Reservation Required |
No (Encouraged) |
| Contact |
(6347) 252-1489 |
(632) 218-9023 (manila) |
(63917) 904-8777 |
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