Las Piñas–Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area

Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat spans about 181 hectares near Manila Bay with two separate landmasses called Long Island and Freedom Island, featuring extensive mudflats and mangrove forests. The two sections are divided by a road and offer different habitats for the wildlife that moves between them.

This wetland emerged from the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road and Reclamation Project in 1973, which created barrier islands across the expressway. What began as a construction project eventually became recognized as an important natural habitat worth protecting.

This habitat serves visitors and students as an environmental learning space through its Wetland Center Museum dedicated to conservation education. Local communities and school groups visit to understand the importance of protecting these waters and the life they support.

You need to apply for access at least five working days before you plan to visit by submitting forms through email. Plan your visit in advance since conditions can vary by season and the reserve may have restrictions on certain days.

The reserve attracts around 5,000 birds daily and contains 11 different mangrove species, making it a critical ecosystem within the city. This concentration of species and birds is rare to find so close to Manila's urban center.