Outdoor Fun at Sandbox, Alviera

I’m the most lampa outdoor person there is. It’s not an innate thing but I think I’m too lazy to push myself more. I can cliff dive and swim for hours but that’s just it. Beyond that, I’d think twice. So when an invitation came to grace the debut of Alviera’s Sandbox in Porac, Pampanga, I was freaking out as I was signing up. I dunno if I can manage to try all the Adventure Park’s attractions.

It was scorching hot that Saturday morning. A van collected us from Trinoma mall and drove us all the way to Alviera in Porac, Pampanga. A good one hour and a half prepped us for the day’s activities.

A local band was playing as we arrived at the Sandbox Adventure Park. A day pass for almost all of the attractions was given and we plotted our battle plan for the day while savouring Pampanga’s delicacies. 

Sandbox in Alviera is the brainchild of Ayala Land Inc. It offers different attractions that everyone can enjoy. There’s the Giant Swing (the country’s tallest swing), the Aerial Walk Challenge, the Avatar One (the country’s first roller coaster zipline), the Adventure Tower (rappelling, wall climbing, free fall jump and the view deck), ATV and mini-ATV rides, Pump Track (biking and cycling), kiddie playgrounds, mini golf, camping sites, kite workshop and other outdoor activities to come. This place is a haven for those who love outdoor activities.

Our first stop was the Aerial Walk Challenge. It seemed like a simple series of activities using high ropes and nets that test your agility, balance and flexibility. As for me, it tested my patience. Really.

I volunteered to go first to ease the agony of waiting. Safety harness and other gear were strapped into me as they were giving me a brief instruction on how to navigate the whole course. I find the whole course effortless at first. Well, I was wearing safety harness so if ever I’d fall I wouldn’t hurt myself. Or so I thought.

Ropes, nets, hanging bridges, ascend, descend, walkways and more challenging courses. I was struggling to finish it. I was exerting all my efforts to cross every obstacle along my way. It was not easy considering I detest pushing myself. And when I reached the top I couldn’t be much happier. But then I have yet to continue with the D-I-Y ziplines – there were three ziplines to finish. And this will be my first.

D-I-Y ziplines

I locked my harness into the cable and just pushed myself forward. And then another one. And then the last one. Whew! I was already in my victorious mood with what I accomplished when I saw that there were still two walkways to finish. See, you can’t back out once you’ve done half of the course. I literally crawled into the last walkways and when I finally stepped into the last platform I slumped and waited for a few minutes before going back to the base camp.

Exhausted but happy

It was exhausting, challenging and fun. I’m glad I finished it in one piece and didn’t fall even once. Huh!

After our group finished the Aerial Walk Challenge, we headed straight to the ATV ride booth. I was so excited for this would be my first ride ever. But upon learning that it wasn’t included in our day pass and needed to pay 2,500 for an hour ride we ditched our plan and moved on to the Giant Swing instead.

2,500 pesos/hour

The Giant Swing has two options; the single and double rides, I went with my buddy on the double ride. It can go up to 10 meters above the ground. It seems simple but once you get suspended up in the air with no clue on when you’re going to be “thrown” it can be really scary.

As high as 10 meters above the ground

I volunteered to go first again (pa-bibo lang) and I wasn’t scared at all. I love heights and the thrill of being thrown up in the air. It was so fun that we asked for another swing which the operators obliged.

We were famished after doing just two of the attractions. We headed to one of the tents that houses Pampanga’s local dishes. Sisig rice was the star of our lunch.

Right after the meal we went straight to the Adventure Tower to continue some of the attractions. We weren’t prepared for the long and disorganized queuing system but still waited for our turn. It was understandable for it’s their opening day but I hope they could do something about it. I really wanted to try the Free fall jump and the Roller Coaster zipline but only did the Wall Climbing attraction.

And again, it’s my first time in wall climbing. It looks easy but I had a hard time pushing myself while thinking about where to place my feet and hands. I went up to the middle and gave up. Haha.

Wall climbing is not my friend

Free fall jump, you're next

Avatar One, the country's first roller coaster zipline

At 4:00 p.m., it was time for us to go and bid goodbye to Alviera’s Sandbox. It was the opening day and not in its full operation mode but we had fun. I did three attractions and promised myself to come back again soon to conquer the other attractions. It’s really an afternoon full of fun and adventure. Go ahead and test your strength and patience with all of the attractions in Alviera’s Sandbox.

Alviera Sandbox Adventure Park

Porac Access Road, Porac, Pampanga, Philippines

Contact number: (+63) 917.873.3781

Website: http://www.alviera.ph/

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AlvieraPH

Open hours: Tuesdays-Sundays | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Package rates: Click here

Location Map: Click here