The heat was searing as I tried to conquer the simple looking Aerial Walk Challenge at the newly opened Sandbox at Alviera in Porac. It looked easy, but once I set foot on its obstacles, sweat started to pour from my body like there was no tomorrow.

ALVIERA SANDBOX IN PORAC

Sandbox at Alviera is the newest outdoor adventure park to hit the province of Pampanga.

Like its name suggests, it is a playground of sorts, but with a twist—the games here are really not all for kiddos. Dotting its thousand or so hectares are two sets of giant swings, a rappelling, climbing and free fall tower, an aerial walk complex, a roller coaster zipline, a pump-track for bikes, and an ATV station for a longer rides outside the complex.

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GIANT KITES BEING FLOWN ALONG THE GROUNDS

We came straight from Manila through an hour and a half van ride. Giant circular kites greeted us as we entered the grounds of Sandbox at Alviera. And although I have been hearing about this adventure park on television and travel blogs months before our visit, it was actually the first time it has opened to the public.

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ALVIERA SANDBOX’S AERIAL WALK

With tickets to most of the park attractions, we headed to the Aerial Walk first since there were no queues for it. After strapping in, we launched into an assault of wall climbs, rope and log walks, ladder climbs, and all sorts of punishing obstacles.

It really looked easy at first glance but it was a very challenging course. It was nothing like Subic JEST camp, which was literally a walk in the park. It took us more than thirty minutes and all of our energy to finish the whole thing.

THE GIANT SWING

Still pouring buckets of sweat, we immediately headed to Sandbox at Alviera’s Giant Swing. Soaring almost thirty three feet high, we watched as visitors were hoisted to the peak before they were snappily released and plunge down, hollering and screaming, as they swing back and forth across the air.

My heart was in my throat as our turn came. We actually have a choice of doing the ride in singles and doubles, I chose the latter. It was an exhilarating experience from the moment we were suspended in the air to the actual plunge. It was such a fun ride that we requested for one more swing.

DIDN’T GET TO RIDE THE ATV

The ATV ride was our next target. I’ve been addicted to these since experiencing the Mayon Volcano ATV ride.

It was surprising that there were no queues when we got to their booth. We soon found out why—a ride costs ₱2,500.00 per hour for the ATV and ₱3,000.00 for the UTV. We checked our tickets and it wasn’t included in the package we have. Too bad as I was really looking forward to riding through Porac’s ash-laden landscapes which I first saw on my Mount Pinatubo hike years back.

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SISIG RICE FOR LUNCH

The intense heat of the midday sun forced us to stop a bit and check out the local wares and dishes being sold at the Sandbox at Alviera’s tent. But what caught our attention instead was a booth selling sisig rice. We forgot about buying souvenirs and quickly sat down for lunch.

THE ADVENTURE TOWER

Right beside the Sandbox tent is the Adventure Tower. It’s a five-story high structure where one can rappel, wall climb, do a free-fall jump, and ride the roller coaster zipline—or the Avatar One as they dub it.

WALL CLIMBING, NOT REALLY FOR US

I’m not really interested in wall climbing and rappelling, but I was rarin’ to try the free-fall jump and the zipline, which as Sandbox at Alviera claims, is the first in the country.

THE AVATAR ONE, THE FIRST ROLLERCOASTER ZIPLINE IN THE PHILIPPINES

The queue was quite long and a bit disorganized, which is I guess understandable since it’s their opening day. It took almost an hour before I was able to ride Avatar One, and after which, there was no more time to try the free-fall jump. It was quite an experience though as it differs so much from your normal straight-cut zipline. At Sandbox’s Avatar One, you actually zip through like a rollercoaster; from left to right, up and down.

IT WAS AN ACTION-PACKED DAY AT THE ALVIERA SANDBOX

The sun was on full blast the whole time we were at the Sandbox at Alviera; it was quite hot, with not that much shades on the ground. Some of the queues were quite long and the activities were very physical. But all in all, it was still a very fun visit. We can just guess how our muscles and joints would ache the following day, but yes, we would gladly do all of it again.

~ BIG THANKS TO ALVIERA FOR INVITING US TO VISIT THE ADVENTURE PARK. VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE ALL MINE.

 

SandBox at Alviera
Address: Porac Access Road, Porac, Pampanga
Contact Number: +63 (917) 803-3099, (045) 432-0014
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 9:00AM to 5:00PM
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GPS Map Coordinates: 15.112755, 120.509681