My work station, analog style.

I’ve come across a number of blogs writing nothing but praises for this little slice of heaven in Camarines Norte. It caught my interest, but that time, I was more interested in traveling overseas. So when I saw someone blog about wanting to go to Calaguas and travel with a stranger, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to go. A quick e-mail exchange and a flurry of ticket buying quickly followed and we were all set. Well, not really. There was still the issue of logistics: Calaguas isn’t the easiest places to go to. Our plane ride to Naga (or in the case of my traveling companions, Legaspi) is just the first part of the trip: we still have to make our way to the port to get a boat. With my work and travel schedule, I hardly had time to research about Calaguas. Good thing Chyng has research down pat: she was able to get in touch with people who has been to Calaguas before, and she was armed with printouts come March 7.

The unlikely beach resort From Naga, it was a two-hour van ride to Daet, then another 50-minute ride to Paracale. The driver dropped us off at the end of the street, facing an unpaved road leading out to the fishport. The fish port was basically just a beach near the mouth of the river where dozens of boats are docked. Luckily, the first person we asked about going to the island has a boat we can hire. Also, it’s lucky we had Leidy with us, because she was able to haggle the boat’s price down to Php 2,300 from Php 3,000. For that price, the boat will take us to Calaguas, stay with us overnight and take us back to Paracale, stopping by Maculabo on the way back. We left Nelson to get a crew together and get the boat ready. We had lunch at a nearby carinderia and bought extra for dinner that night and stocked up on water, snacks and breakfast for the following day. There is no facilities in Calaguas, so whatever you need you have to bring from the mainland. About an hour and a half later, we were back in the fish port, looking at this boat that is made for fishing, not for transporting tourists. Unlike the boats we got used to in Boracay and Palawan, this boat does not have any seats inside. There wasn’t even a roof, so we were sunburned even before we got to the island. White caps can be seen in the distance, and I was dreading that it was going to be a scary ride. But Nelson and his crew knew the sea: the sea is calm and safe for travel. As the island loom closer, cameras came out and several pictures was snapped in quick successions. The ride was longer than what I was used to. The plane ride, the subsequent van rides and now, the boat ride was taking its toll. It was getting late and I was getting antsy. Are we there yet?

No tourists on this side A long stretch of beach came into view, but our excitement died when the boat veered away from the island and started going around it instead of docking. Another line of white came into view, and this time the boat seemed like it was going straight for it. We were revived by this amazing sight: a line of pristine white beach with a gorgeous gradient of blue stretching from it. We docked in the area marked with several bamboo poles topped with colored flags. Mahabang Buhangin is actually inhabited by Bert Gonzales and his family. He’s been the caretaker of the island since 1987. He has a house on the beach, and he has built a gazebo and another small hut that he rents out to tourists. The hut go for Php 200 per night, while entrance fee is Php 100 per person (haggled down from Php 150). Apart from Bert, his family, the other family living in the other hut, and the boatmen, there were nobody else in the island. Bert told us that a group of tourists just left the island. Lucky we went on a Sunday! We had the beach to ourselves. It’s hard not to fall in love with a beach as beautiful as Mahabang Buhangin. Nevermind that there is no electricity, drinking water or a decent toilet — this is paradise. We had a swim after taking a gazillion pictures, and as it was getting dark, we went out of the water to have dinner. Bert has two toilets in his house, and he let us use them. It was very basic, but there is water. Just be sure to bring a flash light if you’re going to use it in the middle of the night.

None here either. Love. After dinner, we laid our sarongs out in the sand. Using a make-shift gas lamp that Bert’s wife lent us as a bonfire, we sat on the sand to talk about the day and look at each other’s pictures. One by one, we started laying down, in the guise of star gazing. Soon enough, our eyes started drooping. We all agreed that the sand would be much softer than the wooden floor of the nipa hut, so we decided to just sleep on the beach, under the stars. That was an experience. Sleeping in a deserted beach with only a thin sarong separating my body from the sand, the moon and stars shining down on us from above. Definitely worth the 12-hour trip. Want full feeds? Subscribe to Justwandering.org via your favorite RSS reader.

Pristine white beach in Camarines Norte, Philippines

Calaguas’ pristine white beach What finally got me to go there was when one of the bloggers I follow announced that Calaguas is one of her destinations this year. One comment and a seat sale later, I am booked for a flight to Naga. Naga is the closest airport served by most domestic airlines. The closest is Daet, which is served by Seair, though only seasonal. From Naga, you have to ride a van to Daet, then transfer to another van to Paracale. In Paracale, you have to find a willing boatman (and an available boat) to take you out to Calaguas, and buy supplies for your stay there, since there are no stores, no electricity and no water. Save for the boat rental, the airfare and the van rides, this is a fairly inexpensive trip. It can be made cheaper if you take the bus instead of the plane, and just stay overnight. I think the bus schedule works well for a quick weekend getaway to a gorgeous deserted beach.

Calaguas Island March 2010

March 7 – 9, 2010

Cost

(per person)

Air Transfers

Cebu Pacific PHP 1,139.52

Manila Domestic Terminal Fee PHP 200.00

Naga Domestic Terminal Fee PHP 20.00

Taxi to and from Manila Airport PHP 650.00

Taxi to and from Naga Airport PHP 362.50 1

Accommodations

Calaguas Island
PHP 50.00 2

Hotel Dolor, Daet PHP 428.00 3

Transport

Van to Daet PHP 145.00

Van to Paracale PHP 50.00

Calaguas boat rental PHP 625.00 4

Van to Daet (from Paracale) PHP 50.00

Apuau boat rental PHP 250.00 5

Van to Naga PHP 145.00

Tricycle PHP 63.00

Jeep PHP 20.00

Food Expenses

Meals, snacks and drinks PHP 912.00 6

Miscellaneous

Calaguas Island entrance fee PHP 100.00 7

Internet PHP 30.00 8

Total PHP 5,240.02

1 Taxi to and from the airport is expensive! From the airport, they charged me Php300 (I was alone since my travel buddies flew in to Legazpi). Going to the airport, the driver asked for Php 250. To be fair, it’s quite far, about 14 kilometers.

2 Php200 for a cottage we did not use. We were able to use their gazebo, so it’s all good. Plus, we also used the caretaker’s toilet and bathroom.

3 The room is big, has aircon and cable TV. There are two single beds in the room, so we paid extra for two additional beds and breakfast. Total cost for the four of us is Php1,710.

4 The original price the boatman gave us was Php 3,000, but Leidy was able to haggle it down to Php 2,300. Nelson and his crew were all so nice and helpful that we gave them Php 2,500 instead.

5 Php 1,000 for a 30-minute ride one-way to an island we only stayed at for about 30 minutes.

6 Meals include lunch at a carinderia (canteen) in Paracale, take out dinner for our night in Calaguas, instant noodles and other junkfood for breakfast the following day, breakfast at Jollibee, baby back ribs dinner at Graceland in Daet, and the juiciest fried chicken at Biggs in Naga.

7 The caretaker originally priced it at Php 150, but again, Leidy was able to bring the price down to Php 100. Our boatman tells us that the locals of Paracale only pay Php 30, or sometimes even free.

8 Php 15 per hour!

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A beautiful deserted beach in Camarines Norte

I am a worrywart. I worry about getting sick, I worry about running out of money and I worry about getting lost. I’ve gotten sick while traveling (at the height of the A(H1N1) scare too!), and I’m still alive. I know that if I run out of money, I can think of ways to get some (credit card cash advance and Western Union are my savior). I also know that the best discoveries are made when you get lost. I am not rich. I get a lot of questions about what I do for a living to be traveling so much. I actually do have a regular job. I work nights, that’s why I’m able to travel during the weekends. I am lucky to have a boss that lets me take an extended leave to travel (no pay, of course). And I do have this blog to help subsidize my travels. As they say, if there’s a will, there’s a way. If you really want to travel, find every means to help you get started. I am not physically fit. Understatement of the year. I’m not saying that you should stop trying to live a healthier lifestyle, but don’t use your unfit state as an excuse not to travel. Hey, if I can climb a mountain, so can you. I am introverted. I’m shy. No really, I am. I don’t go out of my way to make new friends. Most of the time, I keep to myself, only opening up when I’m with people I know. I’m not the type you’d see in the hostel common room chatting up everybody. It’s just not me. I don’t travel to meet new people. I travel to see new places and discover new culture. I am not adventurous. No really, I’m not. Does that make me less of a traveler? It doesn’t. Every traveler have their own traveling style, the same way we have our own unique personalities. What is exciting for one traveler may not be your cup of tea, so why force yourself to like it? That’s why I like to travel alone. I get to travel the way I like. I follow my own (very flexible) itinerary, and if I wasn’t able do everything, it’s okay because I’ve nobody to blame but myself. I like going around and exploring a new place in my own pace. I don’t have a list of must-see’s and must-do’s. I do what I can and see what I can. I am happy enough just being there. I wrote this post because I’ve met a number of people who said they’ve always wanted to try traveling alone, but haven’t had the chance or the guts to go. As you have already read, I’m not the most confident nor am I the bravest of all travelers. I’m not even in the best physical condition. But I still do it. I travel alone sometimes because of circumstances (travel buddy flaking out at the last minute), oftentimes because I enjoy it. Admittedly, it didn’t feel that way in the beginning. After a couple of trips, I started appreciating my alone time. It does get lonely, but it’s up to you if you want it to bog you down or find ways to ease the loneliness. If you’ve been wanting to try traveling solo, I encourage you to try it at least once. Start with a weekend trip to see how you’d fare on your own, then move on to longer trips later on. Remember, if this is something that you set your mind to achieve, you will find plenty of opportunities to help you achieve your goal. Originally published at Justwandering.org

To start off, we ordered the Grilled Focaccia with Spinach dip and Grilled Focaccia with salsa. Both plates of appetizers have slices of buttered and herbed focaccia lightly grilled. The salsa dip is your typical salsa, but the Spinach dip is truly something else. Creamy spinach topped with a creamy layer of melted cheese. Absolutely delicious!

For our next courses we decided to try 1 noodle dish and 2 ravioli dishes. I’ve been jonesing for a creamy tomato sauce dish so we ordered Italian Sausage Ravioli; we also ordered the Salmon Ravioli in Saffron Cream Sauce and Garlic Seafood spaghetti. I love the salmon ravioli’s sauce, and I found that the salmon filling has a nice smokey flavor to it.

The Garlic Seafood spaghetti is a mildly spicy pasta dish that definitely tastes garlicky and seafood-y. But the star among the 3 has to be the Italian Sausage Ravioli. This I highly recommend that you try. The Italian sausage goes so well with the rich and creamy tomato sauce.

Aside from fresh pasta, they also offer thin crust pizzas baked in a bricked oven, giving it a very subtle earthy flavor that only a brick oven can give. We ordered the Italian Sausage and Bacon Pizza. I recommend wiping the ravioli sauce off of your plate with the pizza. It’s an excellent flavor combination!

What meal would be complete without dessert? Bistro Ravioli only has 2 sweet confections in their menu, and we decided to try both. The Panna Cotta has a very smooth and velvety texture; is not too sweet and is the perfect backdrop for the sweet and tangy flavors of the fruit toppings. The Tiramisu is a lightly sweet and creamy dessert that has a faint taste of liquor which would go so well with a nice cup of coffee.

And dining here won’t break the bank as the food is quite affordable. An order of ravioli is Php 190.00 while a pizza is around Php 325.00. The Garlic Seafood Spaghetti comes in 2 sizes: Solo which is Php 165.00; and Family which is Php 320.00. Appetizers are Php 125.00 an order and is good for 2-3 people. As fresh pastas go, Bistro Ravioli is truly one of a kind. Good food, good ambiance, and good service. That’s the Bistro Ravioli experience. Bistro Ravioli 2nd Floor, South Wing Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay city Contact no: (02)8040577

I’ve also found a new favorite in Greenwich’s menu. They’ve recently introduced the The Greenwich American Lunch Specials- plated meals that are less then Php 200.00. There’s the Thick N’ Tender Chops for P179; and the Greenwich Quarter Slab Ribs for P199. Both are served with java rice, mixed veggies and regular drink.

I’ve only tried the ribs so far, but I’m sure the pork chops are just as good. The ribs are good! What I love about it is that there’s a lot of meat on the ribs. How many times have I had ribs that are actually just that–ribs with almost no meat on them? A lot. Aside from that, it’s tender and tastes good– a bit sweet and tangy, just the way I like my ribs. And for that price? Well worth it.

I know everyone is staying off, or trying to stay off meat because it’s lent, but after the season is over and you feel like indulging, why not try the Greenwich American Lunch Specials? It’s fast, inexpensive and delicious! And order an Ultimate Hawaiian Overload pizza while you’re at it. You are in Greenwich, after all.

Entrance to the Small Lagoon

Small Lagoon. The Small Lagoon is accessible through a small opening in the towering limestone of Miniloc Island. Access into the lagoon is depending on the tide, as the opening can be closed off if the tide goes up. When we went there, the tide was low, and we have to walk some ways to get to the opening. There are plenty of rocks and corals along the way, so you might want to wear aqua socks/shoes (or swim, ride permitting). The water gets deeper the closer you get to the opening. As you enter, there’s a ledge on the right side where you can rest (or camwhore). The water inside the lagoon has a depth of 15 meters at te deepest point, but there are a couple of shallow areas. There’s really not much to see inside the Small Lagoon, but there is a cave at the end of the lagoon that you might want to check out. Big Lagoon. Also in Miniloc Island, the entrance to the lagoon is likewise shallow, but it rapidly gets deeper as you go further in. Our guide says there are baby sharks and barracuda in the lagoon, but we didn’t go down to find out. The lagoon’s main attractions must be the treasures underwater, but on the surface, there’s really not much to see. Since Miniloc is a private island, boats aren’t allowed to dock. There is a floating platform inside, where El Nido Resort’s guests can lounge and relax in private (sort of, since a number of boats go in to make the rounds inside the lagoon).

Secret Lagoon Beach Secret Lagoon. The Secret Lagoon is accessible through the beach aptly called the Secret Lagoon Beach. From the beach, you can just walk to this opening in the limestone, and squeeze through a small hole to get to the beach inside. Inside is a really small lagoon with an equally small beach. It’s perfect for two people who want to hide from the rest of the world. Since the lagoon is an enclosed space and the water only comes in when the tide rises, the water inside can be… well, stagnant. So think twice before you pee. Secret Lagoon Beach. This is where we and a couple of other tour groups had our barbecue lunch. Like every other beachs in El Nido, the water is clear and the sand if fine. There’s a number of trees to give you plenty of shade under the hot sun. This is a great place to unwind and relax in between island hops. Shimizu. Shimizu has a fairly small beach (and I hear is home to a huge bayawak). Shimizu’s main attraction though, are the beautiful marine life just a couple of meters from the shore. Glams and colorful fishes are just some of what you can see in the waters off Shimizu. Watch out of the jellyfish though!

Seven Commando Beach Seven Commando. It’s a long stretch of beach, and I hear there’s also snorkeling just off the shore. However, we were more interested in the small sari-sari store on the island that sells snacks and fresh buko (coconut) juice for twice the price in the mainland. Still, this is a great place to chill and rest. There are a number of hammock and seats scattered around so you can take a quick nap. Secret Beach. Secret Beach is accessible only through an opening in the limestone. However, unlike the other lagoons, you would have to get off the boat in the middle of the sea, and is that water deep. If you have a kayak with you on the boat, you can ask your guide to bring you inside onboard the kayak. Otherwise, you’re stuck in the boat, turning green with envy as you watch your friends swim into that hole (and silently curse them for taking their sweet time inside just to annoy you).

View from Matinloc Shrine Matinloc Shrine. In the midst of deserted beaches, you turn a bend and see the glittering dome of the Matinloc Shrine. It’s mainly a pilgrimage site, but the view from the limestone tower is simply breathtaking. It’s an easy enough climb, but you have to be careful since one wrong move could send you (or your camera) tumbling down into the jagged points of limestone all around. Hidden Beach. Tucked inside two limestone face that acts like a gate, the Hidden Beach is not-so-hidden (as every tour group passes there). But if you’re lucky, the other groups would just take a quick look or snorkel before going away. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. While our guide and boatman prepare our lunch, we found Nemo just 30 meters from the shore, on 3-feet deep water. Amazing snorkeling in this place, and since there’s the limestone gate, the tide isn’t likely to push you back to the shore. Again, watch out for jellyfish.

Nemo and his sea anemone home at the Hidden Beach Helicopter Island. There is no other word to describe this place except gorgeous. There’s a long and wide stretch of fine white sand and a gorgeous gradient of greens and blues as the water go from shallow to deep. If you’re thinking of availing of the drop and pick up service, make Helicopter your choice. Ipil 2 Beach. This wasn’t included in the Tour C itinerary, but we settled on Ipil 2 since Snake Island is just too far and there was a wedding being held at Ipil beach. This is a great place to watch the sunset, and for this one couple, the perfect place to camp overnight.

Helicopter Island Beach Cellphone Signal is available in: Secret Lagoon Beach, Shimizu, Seven Commando, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and Ipil Beach. Best beach for just hanging out: Secret Lagoon Beach, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and Ipil 2 Beach

Seair’s Let-410 landing at El Nido airport

Most of you would probably balking at the thought of riding such a small plane. I’ve ridden on Seair’s Let-410 several times and hey, I’m still alive :P Riding on a small airplane isn’t so bad, really. During the first few times I’ve ridden the Let-410, I get terrible ear pressure problems. However, once I’ve gotten the hang of dealing with my ear pressure problems (decongest before your flight!), flying has been pain-free. The beauty of flying on a small aircraft is its ability to land on small airports not usually served by larger planes. El Nido is one of the destinations not commonly found in other airline’s route map. Flying into El Nido is the easiest and fastest way to get to the gorgeous beaches. Flying time from Manila is only 1 hour and 20 minutes.

DG0466 now boarding for Manila Currently Seair is offering twice a week flights to El Nido. Come April 14, flights will be every Wednesday, Sunday and Monday. This schedule will only be until June 30, 2010. To purchase tickets to El Nido visit http://www.FlySeair.com or call (+632) 8490100. For packages call SEAIR Leisure Escape Packages at (+632) 8437308. Seair is celebrating its 15th year of service with a Lean Season promo! Boracay one-way tickets can be purchased for as low as PhP 1,235 ++ per way and Batanes one-way tickets for as low as PhP 2835 ++ per way for travel from June 16- October 15, 2010. The selling period is up to May 15, 2010 but the promo is for limited seats, so interested holiday makers are advised to book early to get a better chance of availing the special rates. Originally published at Justwandering.org | Subscribe via your favorite RSS reader.

Just Wandering’s overly simplified and obviously not-to-scale map of El Nido Town (click to view or download larger version) During our off time (one day spent resting in between island hopping adventures), I decided to walk around town and check out some of the affordable places to stay in El Nido. This is a short list compared to several available online, but these are places that I have looked at and doesn’t look too dodgy. I wasn’t able to check the rooms on offer on most of them, but I have chatted with the owners or caretakers about their rooms and facilities. I they were kind enough to answer the questions of this pesky traveler who wasn’t even planning on staying at their place, they’re automatically included in the list.

Marina Garden Beach Resort M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Mobile: +639176247722 / +639088843711 Website: marinagardenelnido.multiply.com E-mail: marinagarden.elnido@gmail.com Rooms from Php 690 (good for 2, shared bathroom, has free Wi-fi) Read my Marina Garden Beach Resort review

The Light room of The Alternative The Alternative Serena Street, Bgy. Buena Suerte Mobile: +639178963408 E-mail: beckygordon8@yahoo.com Rooms from Php 500 (good for 2, shared bathroom, has free Wi-fi) They let me check out the Light Room, which is their most expensive room at Php 1,800 per night. The room has two double beds, and has space for an extra mattress. It has ensuite toilet and bath (no hot shower) and a veranda overlooking the beach. There is no direct beach access from the veranda. Fan rooms only. Shore Pass Lodge Serena Street, Bgy. Buena Suerte Mobile: +639072269213 Rooms from Php 1,300 (good for 2, ensuite toilet and bath) All rooms are priced at Php 1,300 each. I vaguely remember the caretaker telling me that there is only 1 queen sized bed in the room (or was it 2 single beds?), but I do remember her telling me about a group who stayed the week before who were able to fit about 8 people inside. They just paid for the extra mattresses (Php 100 per mattress). The lodge is fronting the beach, but there is no beach access from the veranda. Pura Vida Serena Street, Bgy. Buena Suerte Mobile: +639204800012 Website: http://www.puravida.ph Most expensive room at Php 1,900 per night (good for 2, beach front, ensuite toilet and bath with hot shower, with terrace) There is also a restaurant on the ground floor fronting the beach. There’s also a monkey in the premises. He is not caged, but on a leash. He’s right near the entrance, so watch out as he does lunge at people passing by.

Casa El Nido as seen from the beach Casa El Nido Mobile: +639298335630, +639198233711 Website: http://www.casaelnido.com E-mail: casaelnido@yahoo.com Rent at Php 3,500 per night This is great budget option for big groups. The house is right at the beach, has 2 aircon rooms, one large living room, has a large balcony overlooking the beach and a service staff. Og’s Pension M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Mobile: +639167070393 / +639204040223 Website: http://www.ogspension.co.cc E-mail: ogspensionne@yahoo.com.ph Rooms from Php 500 (good for 2, fan room, shared bathroom, includes breakfast) Og’s Pension is beachfront, but access to the building is through a small alley off M. Quezon. They have a restaurant right on the beach, which is probably why their guests wander over to Marina’s beach front to sunbathe.

Entrance to Rovic’s Pension House Rovic’s Pension House M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Phone: (02) 9398789 (Manila), (02) 4176079 (Manila) Mobile: +639285202655 (El Nido), +639205420695 (Manila), +639209232305 (Manila) Website: rovicspensionelnido.multiply.com E-mail: rovicspension@yahoo.com Rooms from Php 1,500 (good for 2, with A/C) Rovic’s is easy to spot along the El Nido town’s main road. Its color facade is eye-catching. However, though there’s an entrance along the main road, the reception is on the beach side. When I went there, nobody was manning the entrance to the building from the street, and I passed through all the rooms to get to the “lobby.” Cashew Mango M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Mobile: +639186632771 Rooms from Php 1,500 (good for 2, with A/C) Cashew Mango is undergoing major expansion, adding 9 rooms to the current 5. All rooms are air conditioned. They have 2 beach front rooms at Php 2,500 per night. Rico’s Beach Cottages M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Mobile: +639294671632 / +639272588456 E-mail: ricomfernandez@yahoo.com Rooms from Php 1,000 (good for two, ensuite toilet and bath) Most expensive cottage is at Php 1,800. Rooms can accommodate up to 3 person. Additional bed cost Php 150.

One of Dara’s Cottages Dara Cottages M. Quezon Street (formerly Calle Hama) Mobile: +639198993803 Rooms from Php 1,000 (good for two, ensuite toilet and bath) Beach front property with quaint nipa cottages. Most expensive cottage at Php 1,300, Php 300 for extra bed. El Nido Cliffside Cottage Rizal Street Mobile: +639197856625 Rooms from Php 500 (good for two) Not beach front, but the beach is just about 7 minutes away on foot. Most expensive room at Php 700, good for up to 3 person.

El Nido Cliffside Cottage as seen from the street Lualhati Cottage Rizal Street, Brg. Maligaya Mobile: +639193196683 E-mail: athan_lualhati@yahoo.com Rooms from Php 600 (good for 2, 1 double bed) Set outside the town proper, but still a comfortable 10-minute walk from the beach. Copyright 2006-2009 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org

View from Marina Garden Resort

Marina Garden offer rooms for every budget: deluxe rooms for those who can’t live without aircon or hot showers, connecting rooms for families and barkadas who can’t fit in one room, huts made of nipa for those who prefer the rustic setting and townside rooms for those who prefer a more contemporary accommodation without breaking the bank. On the beach, Marina has four (evil) lounge chairs for their guest’s use, and several more inside the fenced area (still fronting the beach). There are also hammocks if you want to really relax under the shade of the coconut trees.

Hammock and (evil) lounge chairs Marina has a quaint cafe in the beach that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals at their restaurant aren’t cheap, but they’re not too expensive either. Breakfast sets usually go for Php 120, while lunch and dinner meals start at Php 140. Do order the salt and pepper squid. It’s goooood.

Marina Garden’s restaurant Aside from the perfect beachfront, Marina is also strategically located in the center of town. El Nido town is small to begin with, but you don’t have to walk far from Marina for cheap meals, souvenir shops, sari-sari stores, pharmacy, tourism office, and a Catholic church. Gail, Marc and I booked Room number 1, their deluxe room. The room comes with hot and cold shower, cable tv, aircon, and a space in their veranda. The room comes with 2 single beds, and just have enough room for one extra matress (on the floor). The beds are comfortable and comes with one fluffy pillow each. There’s also a closet (with hangers and a couple of drawers) for your clothes, and a dresser for your toiletries.

Deluxe Country Villa Room 1 The ensuite toilet and bath is also rather small, but it’s a comfortable enough fit for one. At least my knees aren’t touching the wall when I sit in the toilet. Water pressure is pretty weak, but the toilet flushes without a hitch, so it’s all good. One tiny problem is that the bathroom window doesn’t open properly, so there’s no proper ventilation inside the toilet. Marina Garden Beach Resort is a Wi-fi zone. There’s wireless internet in almost all parts of the resort. We can surf the internet from the comfort of our beds, or out on the beach, facing the beautiful blue waters of El Nido bay. Okay, now I remember why I booked with Marina.

Room #1’s toilet and bath All in all, I am quite satisfied with my stay here. Php 3,426 for 4 nights, 4 breakfasts, countless hours spent relaxing on their (evil) lounge chairs, and one spectacular view. I’d say it’s a great value. If and when I go back to El Nido, I’m definitely staying at Marina Garden Beach Resort again. Marina Garden Beach Resort Quezon Road (Formerly Calle Hama), El Nido, Palawan marinagardenelnido.multiply.com marinagarden.elnido@gmail.com +639176247722 / +639088843711 Want full feeds? Subscribe to Justwandering.org via your favorite RSS reader.