This Unicorn Island is a vacation destination full of magic

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Unicorn Island is real, and you can visit it. Unicorn Island is in the Philippines and is part of the massive floating playground known as the Inflatable Island; it is located on Subic Bay in the Zambales province. And now that I know it exists, I’ve never wanted to visit anywhere else so badly in my life.

The Inflatable Island is a relatively new attraction, having opened in early April 2017 (just over a year ago) and billing itself as “Asia’s largest floating playground.” It was 3,400 square meters (36,597 square feet) at the time, or roughly the size of eight basketball courts placed next to each other. The main map included 15 inflatable, floating obstacles ranging from a wobbly bridge to a “human launcher” (yes, really), all connected by pathways made of more inflatables.

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However, thanks to the Unicorn Island expansion, Inflatable Island now covers over 4,100 square meters, or approximately 44,132 square feet. In addition to the obstacles already present on the main Inflatable Island, Unicorn Island, which opened recently, adds six new ones: Baba’s Super Slide, Slippery Slopes, the Rainbow Walk, Mini Jump and Fly, Climby the Seaunicorn (which resembles a giant inflatable narwhal), and the Wavy Dinosaur. It’s in the playground’s northeast quadrant, separate from the main Inflatable Island but easily swimmable from it. Unicorn Island is also a little closer to the shore, as seen in this Instagram photo by Daryll Sallan.

Here’s an aerial view of all the inflatables for the curious:

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The “Floating Cinema” is the large blue structure to the left of the Rainbow Walk. I’m not sure what’s on the screen, but to be honest, it’s kind of secondary. I’m still too preoccupied with the fact that there is a floating cinema off the coast of Unicorn Island.

Lest you think the obstacles on Inflatable Island aren’t difficult enough to make it worthwhile… well, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Indeed, when blogger and vlogger Aileen Adalid visited the location with her friends soon after it opened, she discovered that the original map was too difficult for her to complete. She said she had a great time, though, and I imagine Unicorn Island’s smaller size makes it more accessible to those who aren’t as athletic.

By the way, the Bali Lounge is no longer the rainbow-hued hangout it was when Inflatable Island first opened; it’s now the Pink Bali Lounge. The concept remains the same — it’s a place to relax on the beach and get some food and drinks (no outside food or beverages are permitted, so this is where you go if you get hungry while exploring Inflatable Island) — but the lounge chairs and umbrellas are all decorated in pink, purple, and fuchsia instead of all the colors of the rainbow. With the décor in the lounge and the overall unicorn theme, Inflatable Island is currently catering to the millennial demographic:

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It’s relatively inexpensive once you arrive in the Philippines. You can get discounts for full-day, half-day, and two-hour passes if you book online in advance. Furthermore, beach-only passes are available for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and/or 30% of your party (so, if you’re a group of three and none of you have disabilities or qualify as a senior citizen, one of you can get a beach-only pass if that’s your jam) — though, according to the Inflatable Island FAQ, beach passes aren’t a guarantee; they “can get sold out at anytime.”

Because Inflatable Island is located right off the beach, the water is not very deep; however, it ranges from four to fifteen feet, so life vests are required, and it is recommended that anyone who wishes to visit knows how to swim. Lifeguards are on duty at all times, and life jackets are provided for the island, paddle boarding, and other water activities (although not for the swimming beach).

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According to the Inflatable Island FAQ, there are a few usage restrictions: To explore the Inflatable Island, you must be at least three feet tall; children between three and four feet tall require a 1:1 kid-to-adult ratio; and you cannot wear jewelry, clothing with zippers or buttons, or other sharp items while bouncing. (Nothing kills an inflatable island like an errant earring puncture.) Aside from that, you can wear almost anything; swimsuits are the obvious choice, but Inflatable Island recommends rash guards and swim leggings as well. You can wear whatever you want when you’re at the beach.

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Aileen Adalid has plenty of information for visitors to the Inflatable Island on how to get there, where to stay, and other useful travel tips; additionally, the Inflatable Island’s own website has almost everything you need to know on it (including the fact that you can have a birthday party there if you want to).

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