Motag Living Museum
Motag Living Museum
5
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
SEE THE PAST COME TO LIFE; Step back in time and experience life in Boracay as it was before the tourists arrived Visit the FIRST INTERACTIVE LIVING MUSEUM in the Philippines! Reservation required.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
156 reviews
Excellent
140
Very good
13
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Daniel T
11 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We had a whale of a time, the tour was really enriching and interactive. It was a great change of pace to a beach holiday here in Boracay. Everyone was really hospitable and friendly, there was even a really endearing surprise at the end. I highly recommended for everyone! 😊
Written May 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate C
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Fantastic cultural experience, a must do for families or groups. Very well put together. A chance to give back to the local community and gain an insight to some history.
Pearli was amazing, a great guide.
Pearli was amazing, a great guide.
Written December 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paulophonic
New Jersey30 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
I visited Motag Living Museum with my Mom and Dad (who are Filipino) and my American spouse. It was my Mom's idea, and I was skeptical at first -- I thought it might be gimmicky, fake, tacky, or tourist trap-y. But I am SO glad I went because it was a wonderful, eye-opening, charming and heartwarming experience -- for both Filipinos and foreigners alike, as my little group can attest.
The museum allows visitors to experience rustic Philippine village life (to be precise, 1930s Philippine village life, if I remember right: no electricity, no nails in construction, and no farming technology). Think of places like Casa Manila, or the Chinese shophouse-turned-museums in Hoi An and Penang, whose draw is that they are "dressed up to emulate another era"... except here at Motag, absolutely nothing is cordoned off. You're encouraged to touch, try, taste everything.
The museum experience is completely guided (there are two tours a day, every day except Monday, and you have to call the day before). It starts in a pretty garden, where you can draw water from a well and learn about old-fashioned showering and toilet use practices. Then you're led through a hut (bahay kubo) built entirely of bamboo and coconut products -- again, with no nails -- where you can learn to roll tobacco or stuff pillows from village ladies, and learn about ingenious old-fashioned kitchen technologies. Next is the main draw of the place, the rice-planting experience, where you can actually wade into muddy fields and bend over to stick grains into the ground, and see a carabao (water buffalo) up close -- even ride it. The last portion (my personal favorite) was a busy field with lots of work and play going on: old-fashioned rice threshing (not unlike stomping grapes); weaving huge coconut leaves into panels for roofs and walls; twisting palm fronds into charming little toys like balls and birds; trying out stilts made from bamboo; and having your fill of native snacks and ginger and lemongrass tea. At the end of the visit, the staff comes together to sing a gentle farewell song in native Aklanon.
I loved the tastefulness, authenticity and warmth of it all. It's very pretty and photogenic -- nothing tacky or over-the-top (which, sad to say, a lot of touristy things in the Philippines tend to be). Moreover, everyone in the staff seemed so happy to have us there and to share their knowledge and experiences with us -- they even gave us all the toys they had been crafting from coconut fronds, wheras at other places, they would have tried to sell those to us -- so much so that we ended up not only learning about their lifestyles, but bringing with us some of their joyful, simple spirit.
Motag Living Museum deserves to be visited and talked about, by Filipinos and foreign visitors alike -- whether you just want to take photos (like me and my dad, who couldn't get enough of the views), or like hands-on activity (like my mom and my spouse, who waded into the mud). It's a little pricey, as Philippine museums go -- I think it was Php500 (just above US$10) per head -- but it's totally worth it. On the phone, they'll tell you that the tour takes 1.5 hours; but we had so much fun, and we were so interested by everything going on and everyone who was there, that we stayed for almost 3 hours.
The museum allows visitors to experience rustic Philippine village life (to be precise, 1930s Philippine village life, if I remember right: no electricity, no nails in construction, and no farming technology). Think of places like Casa Manila, or the Chinese shophouse-turned-museums in Hoi An and Penang, whose draw is that they are "dressed up to emulate another era"... except here at Motag, absolutely nothing is cordoned off. You're encouraged to touch, try, taste everything.
The museum experience is completely guided (there are two tours a day, every day except Monday, and you have to call the day before). It starts in a pretty garden, where you can draw water from a well and learn about old-fashioned showering and toilet use practices. Then you're led through a hut (bahay kubo) built entirely of bamboo and coconut products -- again, with no nails -- where you can learn to roll tobacco or stuff pillows from village ladies, and learn about ingenious old-fashioned kitchen technologies. Next is the main draw of the place, the rice-planting experience, where you can actually wade into muddy fields and bend over to stick grains into the ground, and see a carabao (water buffalo) up close -- even ride it. The last portion (my personal favorite) was a busy field with lots of work and play going on: old-fashioned rice threshing (not unlike stomping grapes); weaving huge coconut leaves into panels for roofs and walls; twisting palm fronds into charming little toys like balls and birds; trying out stilts made from bamboo; and having your fill of native snacks and ginger and lemongrass tea. At the end of the visit, the staff comes together to sing a gentle farewell song in native Aklanon.
I loved the tastefulness, authenticity and warmth of it all. It's very pretty and photogenic -- nothing tacky or over-the-top (which, sad to say, a lot of touristy things in the Philippines tend to be). Moreover, everyone in the staff seemed so happy to have us there and to share their knowledge and experiences with us -- they even gave us all the toys they had been crafting from coconut fronds, wheras at other places, they would have tried to sell those to us -- so much so that we ended up not only learning about their lifestyles, but bringing with us some of their joyful, simple spirit.
Motag Living Museum deserves to be visited and talked about, by Filipinos and foreign visitors alike -- whether you just want to take photos (like me and my dad, who couldn't get enough of the views), or like hands-on activity (like my mom and my spouse, who waded into the mud). It's a little pricey, as Philippine museums go -- I think it was Php500 (just above US$10) per head -- but it's totally worth it. On the phone, they'll tell you that the tour takes 1.5 hours; but we had so much fun, and we were so interested by everything going on and everyone who was there, that we stayed for almost 3 hours.
Written August 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fantastic to hear you took it all in and what great in-depth review. hope everyone who intends to come to the museum reads it, it gives us a great overview. yes we are a little more expensive than other museums, we have to pay our staff and as you saw every station is covered by a member of staff who encourage you to get involved with everything we do, with very few static displays. all live action for our guests. many of our guests stay like you did for longer than the allocated one and a half hours and we just love it when that happens.
please come and see us again hopefully we will have more to show you by the time you come back. :)
Written August 10, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dream-travel
Bern, Switzerland266 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
I was always fascinated with the pictures on the net. Looks very interesting to know that somebody had the initiative to put up such museum.So when we go home for holiday in boracay, it was on our itinerary! As we visited our friend Cris near Nabauy river, we decided to drop to Motag. We are just lucky because they have guest arriving that day, or else we could not experience the Motag Living Museum. It is very important to book the trip. Mostly hotels have Brocchure on it. For me, it was a nostalgic trip as i grown up from the province. It feels good to experience again. My husband and a friend of us who are from Switzerland was very amazed and happy. The experience was really undescribable.
Written June 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Myra, Thank you so much for your lovely review. I am so glad we took you back to your roots.
I am also pleased that you managed to bring foreign guests and that they enjoyed the experience.
please come back and see us again.
thank you so much for your recommendation.
Louise
Written June 4, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Catherine
18 contributions
Oct 2019
We really enjoyed this “museum” tour. It is not a museum in the traditional sense but it is very educational and fun! The purpose of the tour is to teach guests about the traditional lifestyle of the Philippines (before electricity and running water). You are outside the entire time so wear outdoor that you don’t mind getting dirty. The tour is very hands on with lots of doing and tasting and includes a ride on the water buffalo. We planted rice in the paddy and harvested rice, went through a traditional bamboo home, and learned about their faith and traditions. The elders sang us a beautiful song as farewell at the end. This is a family friendly, fun, entertaining and educational experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Motag Living Museum.
Written October 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Explorer283426
6 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
This place should not be called “museum” at all since the place is by no means any traditional museum experience. It’s more like cultural learning center. The host went through great length to prepare the place to demonstrate the old phillippines cultural values. By having people dressed up in traditional clothes, they show you what th old phillipines culture looks like. They show you what people back then do to go to the toilet, how you can use their archaic bamboos equipment to get water feim the well for taking a bath, how to make fire from dry leaves, how to roll your own cigarette. They also show you how farm: plant the rice stalk, ride the buffalo, cut and filter the rice, etc...The cool thing is you can participate in this interactive learning experience. We learned a great deal and the kids will enjoy it as well. This is really exceeding our expectations for “museum”
Written February 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anav e
Vancouver, Canada76 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Highly recommend this place if you are looking to learn more about the Philippine culture. You get to learn about how rice is planted, what the traditional homes were made up of, traditional cooking wares, basket weaving and other interesting activities. The people are genuine and great at explaining everything. Well organized and a unique activity different from your usual beach time and well worth it. Do book ahead of time as the museum is only open when there are bookings and internet is not always reliable so it may take a few days for them to receive your booking if internet is down. The cost of the tour of the museum is 700 pesos per person. Transfer from your hotel is separate, I recommend doing it on your own (the transportation part)way cheaper and not difficult, whatever you do, do not book through random tours on the beach (especially through a long haired guy named John who claims he is a licensed tour guide-he has a board with different tours on it at the beach by the big chicken restaurant-avoid him as he will rip you off as he did with us).So either book the transfer through the museum or do it on your own. If on your own: take tricycle to Cagban Jetty Port (main boat area), then a boat to Malay and then another tricycle ride (the drivers know where it is)to Motag museum, the whole ride from Boracay to the museum is about 1-1.5 hours max (traffic dependent).
We thoroughly enjoyed it despite a bad experience with John the tour guide (not part of motag living museum).
We thoroughly enjoyed it despite a bad experience with John the tour guide (not part of motag living museum).
Written January 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Anav,
We, the Motag Living Museum family are glad that you enjoyed the tour and experience the life in the Philippines and Boracay during the 30's or way before Boracay tourism.
We hope the little that we shared with you is something that will be part of your good memories of your Boracay visit and not John. I will look for him today, whoever he is.
How did he rip you off? Did you give him money?
Thank you very much again for visiting us in Motag.
Nenette
Written January 5, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
brj0001
Tokyo, Japan43 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
I was a little unsure about this living museum. It seemed difficult to reach and a bit difficult to arrange, but I am very glad that we went. I was a highlight of our trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We went with 4 adults and 3 teenagers, and we were very happy to learn about the local culture and customs. We spent 5 more days in the Philippines, but never saw so much great information and experience. We decided to do this on our way from Kalibo to Boracay and it was a simple trip (by trike) from Caticlan. I would highly recommend this for anyone that wants to have a cultural or interesting experience in the Philippines.
Written April 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear brjooo1,
We are happy that you still made it to our Motag Living Museum despite the difficult and many transfers you have to do to get there. Rest assured we will one day be able to offer a direct way and not go through Catiklan anymore. Thank you very much for your appreciation to our local heritage as culture back in the past. We hope to have more like you in the future so that we can sustain our museum and make it grow with other actiivities to offer our guests.
Motag Living Museum team
Written April 8, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lois N
Buffalo, MN6 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Because my wife and I did not want exposure in the sun while on a daytime cruise excursion to the lovely beaches of Boracay, we chose instead the fantastic cultural experience of the Motag Living Museum. Beautiful, friendly Philippino natives provided an unforgettable tour of the rice plantation as it was operated in the 1930's. We immersed ourselves in "their life" by participating in every activity demonstrated, including a ride on the water buffalo! Rice planting, picking, stomping to remove pods, shelling, grinding, and then eating delightful morsels and drinking raw coconut water and fruit were all highlights of the adventure at Motag. To top it off, the elders all sang a beautiful song of farewell and blessing, bringing tears to our eyes. Nothing commercial, nothing fake. This was real, because the people at Motag are truly "real".
Written March 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikella G
Larnaca, Cyprus8 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Totally totally worth visiting! and experiencing the philippino life before technology. Absolutely stunning and it was one of the most enjoyable visits I personally made whilst in the Philippines. A shame not to do while there!
Written March 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mam Mekella G,
The Motag Living Museum team is sending you their warm greetings and thanking you for the very nice recommendation and review. We hope to ssee you again or your friends and family in the future.
Sincerely
Motag Living Museum team
Written March 15, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
How can we get to the Montag Museum from the Windstar ship, without taking their tour for $169 per person? We are scheduled to dock in Boracay at 1pm on January 21st.
Written October 29, 2018
Hi,
I want to book a tour at the museum on Wednesday, 21st of march for 2 adult, how should we make a booking? And do you provide pick up and drop off from the hotel in boracay? Thank you.
Written March 19, 2018
We booked via their FB page, just sent a message. They did come pick us up at our hotel and drop us off after. One of the best experiences we had in Boracay! Loved it and highly recommend it!
Written March 21, 2018
Hi, We will be arriving by cruise ship on 19 Feb 2018 and will tender to the Catalan Jetty Port. What is the best way to get to the Museum from the Jetty Port? Is there a public bus? Can we walk? Or would we be best to get a taxi? What are your opening hours for the Museum?
Looking forward to exploring this Museum - it sounds wonderful.
Written September 20, 2017
Sms or email them (as we did) to arrange your pickup. Otherwise they could be closed
Written September 23, 2017
Hi there, we (travelling as a couple) will be arriving in Caticlan on Tuesday, May 2 and were thinking of heading to Motag Living Museum first before heading to our hotel in Boracay. I have a few questions:
1. Is this advisable?
2. Do you have a safe place we can store our belongings whilst we explore the museum? (We will be travelling light)
3. Can we use a tricycle to get from Caticlan to your museum?
4. Is it easy to coordinate transportation from your museum to our hotel in Boracay? (and approximately how much would this cost?)
5. How long would it take to explore the museum?
6. Can we get some lunch nearby?
Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon :)
Written April 15, 2017
007englishhomestay
Malay, Philippines
Hi Gianna,
Thank you for inquiring Motag Living Museum (MLM).
The cost of entrance fee is P700 per head. We arrange hotel pick up also.
Regards,
MLM team
Sheila
Written February 17, 2017
Dear Motag Museum,
I was wondering what we can do there at the museum
Thank You.
Written January 26, 2017
Amy P
Malay, Philippines
Dear Gianna,
Thank you for the inquiry to motag living museum. So many things that you can do and learn here at motag just like planting rice, harvest, pounding and rice threshing,and many things. You can also ride in the carabao and learn how to make toys made of coconut leaves. Thank you.
Written January 27, 2017
Riza B
Makati, Philippines
If we are staying in Monaco Suites, how do we get to the Museum?
Written January 24, 2017
Hi Rizza! the Museum is at Caticlan. When in Caticlan island you can take a tuktuk going to the museum they perfectly now the place.
Written March 14, 2017
where can i book for helmet diving n how much for one pax only.be going there on March 2017. Thnx
Written December 9, 2016
Dear Ms Ellen,
We are the Motag Living MUseum and thank you for your inquiry abut helmet diving activity in Boracay,
There is no need of booking for hellmet diving, just visit the station 1 and 3 to the watersport activities reception for what ever you need.
Thank you and see you soon
Written December 13, 2016
Hi Motag Museum!
Is it possible for only two people to book with you? Or should I have to go through an agent? And how much would that cost us?
Thanks so much. I'm really looking forward to seeing your place.
Written November 14, 2016
Amy P
Malay, Philippines
Hi,
Thank you for the inquiry about motag museum. Yes, you can directly book with us. The cost is 1400 for two people. Please let us know the date of your visit. We can also arrange pick up from your hotel and send back after the tour for an extra charge of 400 pesos per head. You can also contact to our mobile number 09215563111 for more info. Thank you.
Best regards,
Amy
Museum Manager
Written November 15, 2016
We are a group of four adults arriving on a Celebrity Cruise ship on March 14, 2017. The ship arrives at Boracay at 8am and leaves at 6 pm. We are planning to visit your museum. Please provide details on how best to get to the Motag Living Museum and the approximate cost of transportation. We are interested in the morning tour.
Thank you, Lois Nevinski
Written September 30, 2016
Dear Sir Lois,
We can pick up your group at the Cagban Port where you will all get off from the ship. It's only php400 per person for transfer fee. Round trip. Would you prefer the 10am tour so you still enjoy Boracay afternoon?
Our staff in uniform will be there to wait for you and will be in farmers outfit will the signature SADOK or native farmers head cover.
If there are 4 of you the , rate in total is Php 4,400 including round trip transfers.
Please feel free to message for other concerns.
That you.
Regards,
Amy
Tour manager
Written October 1, 2016
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