South Luzon Loop – Day 5: The Family Adventure Ends at Manila Ocean Park and Digital National Arts Museum
Our South Luzon Loop journey was almost over, and our last stop was a fun-filled day at Manila Ocean Park to celebrate my hubby’s birthday! Not quite the eat-and-chill type of Sunday most dads would’ve wanted, but hey, we have these kids to make memories with, so… his birthday turned into a mini educational tour for the whole family. 😁
I honestly can’t remember the last time I went here. Was I still a kid back then, or maybe a teenager? I kept wondering if it was during my second year in high school. 🤔 But anyway, I’m back here! And this time, I’ll make sure my kids remember this day as one of their core memories of spending time together as a whole family.
Since we had checked in at Hotel H2O the night before, we started our day with a breakfast buffet at Makan Makan Asian Food Village. They served a variety of dishes that had us going back for more! 😋
I didn’t get the chance to take a good photo of the resto, though, so credit goes to the respective owners of the first two pictures below.
After having a hearty meal at the buffet, it was time to explore Manila Ocean Park!
We had already experienced the Ocean Park Aquatic Adventure the night before, so this time, it was all about exploring the Oceanarium and seeing what had changed over the years.
Before I tell you the story and take you around the place, here’s a 2026 map guide to Manila Ocean Park:
We didn’t book our tickets to Manila Ocean Park ahead of time because I wanted to decide on the spot what to see and where to go. I honestly didn’t have much of an idea of what the theme park looked like now, so I thought it would be better to explore our options first.
However, if you’re planning to visit Manila Ocean Park, I’d suggest booking your tickets in advance through this website/app to score better deals and enjoy discounts!
Ticket Price:
For the tickets, we paid a total of Php 6,600.00 for 6 adults and 1 senior citizen. (Children above 2 feet tall are required to pay the full ticket price.) We got a bundle pass for Manila Ocean Park and the Digital National Arts Museum.
Our tickets specifically included:
- Digital National Arts Museum
- Oceanarium
- Sting Ray Dry Encounter
- Trails to Antarctica – Christmas Village
- Trails to Antarctica – Penguin Exhibit
- Creepy Crawlies Show & Tell
- All Star Bird Show
- Sea Lion Show
- World of Creepy Crawlies – X
The tickets were valid for one day only and also came with a raffle ticket entry—which, to this day, I still have no idea what happened to. 😅 LOL!
And now, let’s get started!
Digital National Arts Museum
Since we were staying at H2O Hotel and had just finished breakfast at Makan Makan Asian Food Village, the nearest attraction to the ticketing area was the Digital National Arts Museum.
It’s an immersive digital art experience that uses flowers, light, and sound to explore the emotional connection between nature and human healing.
Here’s an overview of the map and its 12 tech-driven zones powered by AI:
Since the DNA Museum is the Philippines’ newest immersive healing art museum, visiting it was a memorable first experience for all of us.
Upon entering, you can already feel the sense of calm that this attraction exudes. The museum blends nature-inspired digital art with cutting-edge technology to create a multisensory space that promotes calmness, creativity, and emotional connection among its visitors.
The visuals, the sounds, and the overall vibe it gives off are simply what you’d call healing and fun in their own way.
Even my parents, who are already approaching their senior years, found themselves dancing, laughing, and playing around in the interactive rooms! Every area was worth exploring, and to top it all off, they even have a cozy café at the last stop where you can sip tea while enjoying the calming underwater view of the Deep Sea Diorama.
Oceanarium
Manila Ocean Park’s Oceanarium is home to approximately 14,000 marine creatures representing around 277 species, primarily from the Philippines and Southeast Asia. One of its main highlights is the underwater tunnel, where you can walk through a curved glass pathway while watching marine life swim above and around you. It’s definitely one of those places where you’ll want to take lots of photos! 🐠
The Oceanarium takes you through different underwater environments, allowing you to discover marine life and appreciate the beauty of our oceans. Before heading to our next attraction, Trails to Antarctica, let’s take a closer look at the different areas you can explore.
See the photo below for the full map guide to the Oceanarium and its surrounding attractions.
The seven sections and attractions you can explore are:
- Jungle Trek – Discover aquatic life in a nature-inspired, jungle-like environment.
- The Reef – Explore colorful tropical fish and fascinating coral reef habitats.
- Lost Atlantis – Experience an underwater-themed area filled with marine exhibits.
- Living Ocean – Walk through the underwater tunnel and see marine creatures swimming all around you.
- Deep Sea – Discover the mysterious world of deep-sea marine life.
- Aquascape Café – Take a relaxing break and enjoy refreshments in an aquarium-inspired setting.
- Stingray Dry Encounter – Observe fascinating stingrays up close without getting into the water.
Trails to Antarctica
The Trails to Antarctica section of Manila Ocean Park has two main attractions: The Christmas Village (also known as Snow Village) and the Penguin Exhibit.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to find the photos I took during our visit to The Christmas Village, so for now, here’s a photo shared by Manila Ocean Park on their official Facebook page:
Just a few steps from the exit of The Christmas Village, you’ll find the Penguin Exhibit. There’s usually a long queue of visitors waiting for their turn to take photos and experience feeding the penguins up close.
However, this experience wasn’t included in the admission ticket we purchased at the entrance of Manila Ocean Park. It’s an optional add-on for those who want a closer encounter with these adorable creatures.
The session costs around ₱700 and includes a close-up experience with the Humboldt penguins, along with an 8R printed photo souvenir. You can also get a digital copy by simply scanning the QR code provided.
Just take note that the digital copy is only available for claiming within 90 days. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to download ours before the deadline, so… here’s a lower-resolution version of the photo instead. LOL! 😅
Creepy Crawlies Show & Tell, All-Star Bird Show & Sea Lion Show
The last part of our mini tour brought us to the three shows at Manila Ocean Park!
Since January 4 fell on a Sunday, there were three show schedules available for visitors: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM, and 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM, following the Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holiday schedule.
After five days of traveling and exploring, we were all pretty exhausted, so we decided to catch the first show at 12:30 PM.
We bought some popcorn and bottled water for snacks while watching these adorable and amazing creatures perform in front of the crowd.
But what amazed me even more were the people behind the shows. The ones who feed and train these animals, and who dedicate their time, effort, patience, and love to caring for them. You guys have such wonderful hearts! 🩷
…And that concludes our 5-day journey! From traveling all the way from Manila to celebrating the New Year’s Eve in Albay, witnessing the beauty of Mayon Volcano and riding an ATV on the first day of the year, enjoying a smooth ride from Albay to Tagaytay on the second day, exploring Taal Volcano on the third day, and ultimately celebrating my hubby’s birthday at Manila Ocean Park on the fourth!
It was a fully packed adventure, suuuuper memorable, and one that left us all with happy hearts. Definitely one for the books and another beautiful experience to add to our growing collection of core memories as a family. ❤️
Our Day 5 Highlights at Manila Ocean Park and Digital National Arts Museum:
Our 5-Day Adventure:
Day 1: South Luzon Loop – Day 1
Day 2: South Luzon Loop – Day 2
Day 3: South Luzon Loop – Day 3
Day 4: South Luzon Loop – Day 4
Some Useful Links:
View My Original Facebook Post: HERE
Manila Ocean Park: FB Page
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