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Photo Credit: Bambike Ecotours Intramuros

I just found this recent review in Trip Advisor by "JL V" about biking around Intramuros with "Bambike Ecotours Intramuros", using rented bicycles from a great local vendor. I have walked around parts of Intramuros on my own but I can only imagine how wonderful it would be going by bicycle and having a tour guide as well. The following review covers some pros and cons as well as some great tips to make your excursion the best possible! Read what JL V has to say:

We took the Intramuros tour this afternoon with Mr. Ian Salaysay, and it was so much fun!! 
Pros:1) The bikes were amazing since the frames were made of Bamboo by a local community2) Our guide Ian was a well of information! I learned so much in 2.5 hours!3) It's an off the beaten path kind of tour. So our stops weren't as crowded as one would expect on a Sunday afternoon.4) The breeze from riding a bike was refreshing!5) We booked the tour on a discounted rate, which is promotional for the Independence Day celebration. Much savings there!6) My mother and aunt decided they weren't too confident riding a bike around the walled city. So Ian was kind enough to get a bike with a sidecar so that they could still join us for the tour. We were all well taken care of.
Con:1) the experience is weather-permitting. But it's easily solved by just bringing a small umbrella, in case it rains, and sunglasses and a hat if it's too hot.. Oh, and grab a bike with a basket, so you could place your things there..
The overall experience was worth the p800, and even the full priced p1200 rate. Not only for the experience, but knowing that by booking a tour, you're helping a Gawad Kalinga community.I would do it again if given the chance.

So now, I am inspired to get back down there to the intramuros to check this out… maybe even with some friends and family just like JL V did. What a great time, eh?

Let's check out another of the really great reviews available on the TripAdvisor site, this time from "Foodiesonholiday:"

I've recently moved to Manila so am always looking for interesting tours and things to do for when we have guests. This didn't disappoint. We thoroughly enjoyed riding the beautiful handmade bamboo bicycles and finding out a little about their manufacture and the social enterprise that surrounds them (a short video was played at the beginning of the tour). With it being a very hot day (35C+), the team at Bambike Tours were mindful to give us some tips on how to avoid a very hot seat, provided us with water at the beginning and ensured that any rest stops and discussions were undertaken in the shade (very considerate!) The tour itself was an enlightening and interesting journey through 300-400 years of PH history, much of which was very new to me. Ian, our guide, was jolly and gave the impression of being very proud of being able to share the colourful and at times heart-wrenching stories of his wonderful nation. I highly recommend this tour and the Bamboo bike is on my Christmas list - such a beautiful piece of art!

You can fully check out these and many other reviews about this excursion including ratings at the TripAdvisor site.