Discover the Wonders of Marine Life at the Manila Ocean Park (Philippines)
- Andi Dela Torre Griffiths
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9
It was a sunny weekday when my husband and I went to the oceanarium, and we didn’t expect to stay there for more than four hours. We arrived at the venue around 1 PM and left around 7 PM. We were tired, but it was the good kind of tired. We saw a lot of animals and enjoyed the show. It was worth it because our package included passes to the biodome, so it's like hitting two birds with one stone that day.
Today, I'll share how our experience went and give you an idea of what to expect when you visit.
Whether you’re a foreigner on vacation or a local who wants to explore city attractions, Manila Ocean Park is a great pick (especially if you are an animal lover or are traveling with kids).
You can find this Oceanarium in Ermita, City of Manila (not to be confused with Manila as a National Capital Region).
Address & Operational Hours
The place is literally behind the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila.
Weekdays (Monday to Friday)- 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Weekends (Saturday & Sunday), Public Holidays- 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entry to the Park
The entry was hassle-free because there was no need to claim anything on the counters if you booked via Klook or KKDay. You can go straight to the attractions (exhibits). They will scan your QR codes there.
The Attractions
Currently, they have the following: Oceanarium, World of Creepy Crawlies, Sea Lion Show & All-Star Bird Show, Trails to Antarctica (Penguin Exhibit & Christmas Village), and Jellies Dancing Sea Fairies.
There is also a souvenir store where they sell a variety of toys you can give as gifts.
You are free to start wherever you want, but take note of the Sea Lion and All-Star Bird show times to make the most of your visit (see bottom of post for the schedule).
What to Expect on your Visit | Our Experience
We started with the Oceanarium, which was way bigger than we expected. You can find this on the right side of the concourse.
Once you go past the entrance, you’ll find small aquariums, ponds, and hanging roots. Keep going, and this will take you to the section for bioluminescent animals. From there, you can follow the path and enjoy your oceanarium adventure! Here are some photos:
Just this section alone already made the experience worth it. There were plenty of sea animals, and I was happy to see them up close. Their facility looked more animal-friendly because the tanks and aquariums were larger (compared to Aquaria).
According to their website, the oceanarium is home to 14,000 marine creatures. Cool!
The World of Creepy Crawlies (not in photos) is the reptile section of the aquarium, so expect lizards, worms, bugs, iguanas, and snakes! They had massive snakes in one section; that sure gave me the creeps. I actually took photos, then deleted them hehe. One looked like it could fit three people.
Spend Some Time Close to the Ocean
There are many spots where you can have a great view of Manila Bay, such as the outdoor dining area of Fried Rice Paradise (where you can also get lunch), the viewing section at the Feeding Station, and at the al fresco areas of the restaurants inside.
The Trails of Antarctica is where you can find the penguins. It's also a large section where you can learn about the Arctic and the Antarctic. You can find this on the second floor, in front of the stingray feeding area.
Bamboo Shark & Stingray Feeding
At ₱200 per tub, you can feed the stingrays and bamboo sharks. You can even go in the water and walk around, only if you want. We tried this out and shared one tub (with five chunks of raw fish). It was fun feeding them! The water level isn't high, so no worries. They also won't bite your feet. The bamboo sharks had thick, textured skin, while the stingrays were slimy. To feed the baby sharks, you have to drop the fish because they still have small teeth that can scratch you. But for the stingrays, you just have to put the food right at their mouths. This was a bit ticklish, we felt like they suctioned our fingers! Hehe.
If you don't want to feed them, you can still touch the bamboo sharks, just ask for assistance from one of the caretakers.
Food & Drinks
Aside from the exhibits, there are souvenir stores and food concessions.
There is also a cafe near the entrance called Garden Cafe by H2O. I liked the Aqua Bavarian donut because it was tasty but not too sweet, but the Hot Mocha I ordered wasn’t the best.
Sea Lion & All-Star Show at the Ampitheater
Of course, you can't miss the afternoon animal performances; there are two show times you can pick from.
Manila Ocean Park Sea Lion & All-Star Bird Show Schedule
Weekdays: 12:30pm, 4:30pm
Weekends & Public Holidays: 12:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm
They do the shows outside, so please bring your cap and sunnies. The trainers don't encourage the use of umbrellas because it's distracting for the animals.
I suggest going to the amphitheater early so you can pick your seats. The place gets occupied quickly after a while (we went on a weekday).
Overall Experience
We had a great experience, and it exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend this to couples or families looking for a fun, interactive activity in the city.
Book Your Tickets Now
You can get your tickets on-site or through discount apps like Klook or KKDay (highly recommended). It's more convenient and will save you time when you arrive at the venue. You can also earn points that you can use for future travels.
Others
Strictly no re-entry for all attractions. You are free to go out and go back inside the venue, but you cannot do the same thing for the attractions (the exhibits);
Most restaurants only accept cash, but there is an ATM inside the park by the entrance;
No outside food and drinks are allowed- bottled water is available at ₱50.00.
I guess that would be all for today. Next time, I would love to visit Cebu Ocean Park- the largest ocean park in the country.
