Featured Rideout Polillio Island

Discussion in 'Rideouts, Trackdays, Touring & Spotted' started by Trierer, Jul 29, 2025.

Tags:
  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  1. Trierer

    Trierer Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2025
    31
    63
    Manila, Philippines
    Had a nice rideout to the island of Polillo for three days recently. Some 150 km East of Manila it takes a ride along the MaRiLaQue Highway (a.k.a. Marcos Highway) to get there - a perfect winding road leading away from congested Manila into the forest of Rizal province. Quite a decent road, too, and great to ride and do the twisties if you disregard the occasional stray dog crossing the street or the overland bus flying towards you at the speed of sound on your side of the road. Upon arrival in Ungos Port I caught a rather aged ferry to Polillo Island, which I reached after roughly three hours at sea and paying 15 Euros for the fare.

    In Polillo itself it's such a lovely ride on small winding island roads. Almost no cars, almost no traffic, except from a few local bikers on their Kawasaki Barako 175 ccm, mostly with a sidecar to transport some stuff. Helmets are basically nonexistent, it's the perfect place to ride with nothing but flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt on the half paved half unpaved country roads. It's not the place for speeding, though, one might encounter a calabaw (water buffalo) on the street behind every second turn. Apart from the warmer temperatures it was like a ride through the European countryside must have felt a hundred years ago, reminding me of T.E. Lawrence's description of his rides through the English countryside.
    On one occasion I parked my bike on the beach, took a dip while the bike was parked right beside the shore and carried on to the other side of the island (Burdeos village) through the rainforest which still covers 80 % of the island. Hard to believe that the Manila traffic congestion and chaos was just a three hours ride and a ferry ride away. It's still hard to get a beer on Polillo, even harder to get a cold one, as electricity is not available everywhere and the price of a beer is still a lot for many locals, as it's around 1 Euro per bottle. They have Lambanog, though, distilled coconut tree sap which tastes a bit like grappa and will render you unable to safely ride a bike.
    Now I'm back in Manila, but it was definitely a great ride out!

    20250612_182629.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 10
  2. joe mc donald

    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    15,824
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    @Trierer Nice bike great picture. Lovely location wishing i was there even just for a while.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. Markus

    Markus Crème de la Crème
    Subscriber

    Oct 28, 2020
    4,633
    1,000
    AUSTRIA
    @Trierer:
    Thanks for sharing your impressions with us!;)
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    24,260
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Thanks for a wonderful description of your rideout, @Trierer. Polillo Island sounds like a lovely and peaceful place. I don't know about the lack of cold beer, though...... That might be a deal-breaker for me. ;):joy:
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. Dauntless

    Dauntless New Member

    Aug 18, 2025
    10
    3
    Solomons, MD
    Thanks for your story Trierer.
    I was deployed to NAS Cubi Point (Subic Bay) Philippines for six months, along with many other detachments in the 70's and 80's. I had a deployment turnover Honda that I rode down and back the hill to the flight line every day. Saw the country mostly from the air. Would love to go back and enjoy a ride as you describe. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. Lots of nice memories for me!
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
Loading...

Share This Page