Manille Guidée: Visite de Tondo Manille, Binondo et Intramuros

Mari was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable. Witty and funny.

Mari is the ultimate tour guide! I chose this tour because my dad was born in Tondo, Manila in 1927, sold cigarettes on the street to survive, studied hard and attended Mapua University. He experienced the Battle of Manila and witnessed the horrific atrocities of the Japanese during WWII. Mari walked us through her former neighborhood in Tondo and reminded us to keep an open mind—open to the sights, sounds and smells. This is key to everything in Tondo. The people were SO friendly and accommodating. The children were curious and welcoming…one 7-year old boy pointed to a banner that showed a graduate from college. He said the young woman in the picture graduated “Magna Cum Laude.” He understood the honor associated with the term. It’s sobering when I think of how tough life must be for these residents, but at the same time, it was heartwarming to see pride and acknowledgement of the importance of education, hard work and perseverance. Life in Tondo is difficult (quite an understatement!), but the spirit of the people is strong. Please take this tour and help Mari give back to her community.

Mari was an exceptional guide. She was very informative & attentive during the whole experience. Highly recommend this tour!

Fantastic! Beyond expectations! Our guide Mari oozed energy and excitement. Her knowledge of all the areas visited was impressive. Her humor was ever present and contagious. We visited and experienced things we never imagined and bonded with the many locals we met along the way. Visiting the open air market was jaw dropping. All that being said, the tour’s success was anchored by Mari and her enthusiasm!

This was an excellent tour experience we will not forget. Our Tour Guide Mari Santos, was very polite, professional, courteous, knowledgeable and funny. She was warm and engaging, her enthusiasm and expertise came through with each destination. Her communication with us and the Tondo community was genuine and heartfelt. The community was vibrant, bustling with energy, character and a zest for life. We visited the market and walked through many alleys and got a feel for the day to day life of the Tondo residents. This is the real authentic experience. I would highly recommend this tour for those who want to experience daily living in Manila.

We met our guide, Mari in the iconic 1919 cafe, and it was immediately apparent how passionate Mari was about her home city. Despite the torrential downpour, we visited Chinatown, then Mari's home area, the shandy area of Tondo, where she was treated as a celebrity 😀 everyone we met were pleased to see us and share their way of life, so poor, but aspiring to help their children do better. A walk around the market to learn of local foods, and of course the "wet" market! Mari took lots of photos on her phone and WhatsApped them to us later that day. Tuk tuk ride to Intramuros, and free to roam around this huge site as much as you like. Great guide, great value, just do it!!

Mari is really knowledgeable about the area and the history. We persisted despite the weather. I had a wonderful time and learnt a lot.

Amazing and informative tour through varied parts of Manila. The tour was very diverse and covered many areas along with unique historical facts. It takes you throughout the city and off the beaten path to see the true essence of Manila. Mari the tour guide is absolutely phenomenal and the tour is well thought out. The people you meet along the way and the local foods you try all contribute to an authentic experience. Would definitely recommend.

Tessie brought me to places that I would not have experienced if not for his tour. Got to ride a jeepney - Gus