Quick Trip: Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort

I rarely go further south of Cavite and so it was a treat when we were invited for a day tour to a former boss's resort at Calatagan, a three-hour car drive from Manila via Cavitex and the Centennial Highway. We left Manila before 8 am, passed by Tagaytay, and arrived before lunch at Calatagan, known for its cream-colored sand beaches.

From the resort's website: "Set amidst 24 hectares of rolling hills and white sand beaches, Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort is a place to enjoy life's simple pleasures--beautiful beaches, comfortable cottages, flower-filled-gardens, golden sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, happy moments and special celebrations."

This post is pic-heavy. Hope you like it.

After alighting from our car, we passed through a walk-way covered with flowering vines and flanked by manicured gardens. 

Quotes painted against wooden boards are placed strategically all over the resort.

The turquoise waters of the pool near the reception hut beckoned.

The dining area was sandwiched between the reception and the floating cottages.

Cabanas on stilts! Staying for a week in this type of cottage is up there in my wish list.

We stayed at this floating cottage, dressed in the colors of summer.

The all-white bedroom is so inviting. Imagine the sound of the sea breeze and the roll of the waves lulling you to sleep.

Note the clear waters

View from the cottage:

I could hide from the sun in the cottage and stroll along the beach when gentle times roll in.

It's refreshing to be at a beach teeming with life. Many of them blend in well with their surroundings. Can you spot some of the critters pictured below?

 We left Stilts a few hours before sunset, hoping to return.

Dakak Park and Beach Resort

Nope, I have not traveled to Mainland China.

This is the Taipei House, one of the function rooms of the Dakak Park and Beach Resort.

This is just one of the draws of the resort. I have to admit, although I was excited, I tempered my expectations when I heard that the venue of my next work. But when I got there, I was blown away. The place looks better than some of the foreign places I visited. I wish more of us realize this, because I get disheartened when some of us turn up their noses on local tourism. Hey, give the country a chance. 

But I choose to be optimistic. Through my travels both here and abroad, I re-affirm my belief that the Philippines is indeed a beautiful country, and that it can compete with the rest. Yes, a lot has to be done. There's the infrastructure--overhauling the airport, improving the road networks--and the mindset--instilling not only pride but a sense of history and respect for heritage. But enough ranting. You're here for my photo essay, so here it is. 

From the Dipolog City Airport, it took us an hour by bus to reach the resort. The resort offers regular airport transfers, which passes through historic Dapitan City (yes, this is where the national hero spent time in exile). The ride was quite pleasant--paved roads, scenes of rural life, splashes of green. 

Upon reaching the resort, we were greeted by live music by the entrance of the main hall. 

There was slight mix-up in the registration, so I had to wait for an hour to get my room. The wait was worth it, because the inside of my cottage reminded me of visits to a countryside neighborhood. The room was  what a dolled-up nipa hut would look like--wicker and rattan furniture, Yakan prints, Narda's weaves. Truth to tell it was bordering on gauche, but I love it. It felt like coming home.  

My cottage was perched on a hill, quite a walk from our function hall at Taipei House. But with a view like this,  I really can't complain. 

My friends took a dip in the swimming pool. I'm not a fan of the latter, but I love to be near water.

This is the Italian restaurant where I reconsidered my aversion to spaghetti meatballs. For more highlights of what I ate in the resort, read here. 

What I liked best was the beach. It wasn't crawling with people, and was kept pristine. I could spend hours along this stretch. 

hidden behind the trees is where we had breakfast, with the beach as our view

Other considerations before booking a stay: there is free wifi at the main hall, but none at the the rooms. Limited cable channels. No complimentary bottled water. Vans are available to transport you from the cottage to the function rooms, restaurants, and swimming areas. Since the resort is quite secluded  this is for guests expecting to get away. If quiet time scares you, there's a bar, a souvenir shop, and one can rock-climb, ride the zip-line, jet-ski or play beach volleyball. A theme park is also 30 minutes away.