After our whole trip around the Philippines was over, Wade & I asked each other what our favourite part of the entire trip was. With a pause to think about all of the amazing places that we had visited, we both agreed that it was our time at Club Paradise Palawan, the best beach Resort in Coron, Palawan.

Voted as the Best Island in the World in 2014 by Condé Nast Traveller, Palawan is a UNESCO protected marine ecosystem, and should be at the top of everyone’s travel list. While we did visit other spots in Palawan and Coron, Club Paradise was easily the best.

It’s hard to even round up my favourite parts of Club Paradise, but here are a few highlights..

 

Sunset Villas

There’s no argument–you HAVE to stay in the sunset villas when you stay at Club Paradise.

The villas are perfect little slices of tropical beach paradise, and make the ultimate home away from home. They are individual beachfront thatched cottages with private balconies.

Each villa is its own separate functioning ‘hotel room’, complete with a queen sized bed, air-conditioning, closet, mini fridge, kettle, and spacious bathroom with walk-in shower, hair dryer, towels, and all of the amenities you could need. It definitely provides a cozy little nook along with your own stretch of white sand beach.

My favourite part of the villa was the beautifully made little leaf shaped hammock hanging on the front porch. I spent hours simply laying in it and swinging away the morning or afternoon.

 

The Restaurant

Firefish Restaurant impressed us with each meal, whether it be a quick bite for breakfast or an evening with the dinner buffet. Admittedly, I loved the breakfast the most, and made sure to rush down before they closed, even if I wasn’t hungry. There was such a wide selection of both Filipino and international breakfast items, and I had to try each and every one.

Dinner time brings a whole new vibe, where chilled music plays in the background and candle lights flicker from table to table. The best part is the open door concept, where you can choose to dine inside or on the wrap around veranda.

It’s a place where you can savour the succulent flavours of local harvest and the surrounding ocean’s bounty, with the farm-to-table goodness of fruits and vegetables coupled with organically-grown herbs and spices from the resort’s own garden.

We were lucky enough to enjoy a moon-lit meal on the beach, beneath a blanket of twinkling stars. Courses from the restaurant were brought out to us one by one, as we sat with our feet in the sand, to the sounds of the waves. I highly recommend that option as it’s the perfect destination for couples.

 

Pool & Bar

The pool is one of the nicest I’ve seen, paired with the beach and neighbouring Island backdrop. Dark shapes on the bottom appear as swimming turtles, and fountains sprout water off in different directions. The pool is also lined with lounge chair and umbrellas, for those who want to relax and enjoy the warm Philippines sun.

Next to the pool is the reception area, complete with the sizeable dugong bar and seating section. We spent quite a bit of time on the bar stools, sampling the delicious drink specials, and even a coconut or two (I recommend you ask for them to add rum). There is also a big window at the back of the bar for guests to order from outside, drive-thru style.

Indoor games including billiards, table tennis, darts and foosball located in the reception area are also available and free of charge.

 

The Spa

The Glow Spa is one of the Resort’s must visit spots, with a divine menu of heavenly treatments, all at the right price.

We both had a bamboo massage–where our muscles were worked with two long bamboo sticks–which turned out to be one of my favourite massages ever. I could had fallen asleep in that room, to the soft music and rich aromas.

Whether you visit the Spa or not, you’ll get a little taste of luxury when you check into your room, as you are treated to a welcome foot clean and massage. It’s the perfect way to start off a relaxing trip.

 

The Island

Dimakya Island is the epitome of an Island paradise, so it’s not hard to figure out how they got their name. The island is part of the Calamian Group of Islands situated at the Northern tip of Palawan.

There are so many places to explore throughout the Island, whether you want to walk from sunset beach to sunrise beach, visit the small pond in the centre, hike up to the lookout point.

My favourite thing to do was walk on the beach.

Diving seems to be the most popular activity on the Island, with on site dive shops, but we opted for strictly snorkelling. The best part is that you don’t even have to leave the Island on a boat, you can simply walk straight off the beach into the water and be met with incredible underwater gardens of corals and critters. The island resort is surrounded by a marine sanctuary that houses different variety of fish and other sea animals.

 

The Beach

The Island is home to a stunning 700 metre pristine white sand beach, where turquoise waters lap the soft shore that is dotted in palm trees.

Don’t forget to relax in one of the many sun beds scattered all over the beach, whether you drag it under a tree for shade, or sit out in the open sun for a bit of a tan.

The Resort has a wide selection of activities such as kayaking, paraw sailing, diving, hiking and Coron island hopping for a pulsating island getaway. I only wish I had a chance to try their cool see-through clear kayak out over the house reef.

 

The Wildlife

Club Paradise is a nature-oriented Resort that is committed to preserving the natural habitat of endemic species, which includes critters such as monitor lizards and the famous local fruit bat colony.

The fruit bats are hard to ignore, but easily loved by the end of the trip. Several trees near the pool and throughout the Island house hundreds of bats that make up this incredible colony. We found ourselves simply standing at staring at the bats in the trees and in the air, in awe, as they just went about their normal business. There’s no missing them, as they collectively perform a pig-like symphony of chatter in the skies above you. Each night the colony comes alive as they all depart Dimayka Island to head over to the main Island for feeding on–you guessed it–fruit.

The wildlife doesn’t end at the shores, the waters are teeming with life just waiting to greet you.

Directly off the main beach, there seems to hover a permanent school of Jackfish that twists and spins in a mesmerizing tornado of fish that you can swim right through as you please. Turn your head to the left, and two or three sea turtles will swim by, almost waving at you with their fins. The house reef is home to around 550 underwater species.

On our first morning we saw three black tip reef sharks swimming right outside of our villa, herding up smaller schools of fish. What a way to start your day.

 

The Journey

Depending on how you arrive on the main Island of Coron, whether it be by plane or by boat, the staff of Club Paradise will pick you up to begin the journey to the Island. The complimentary shuttle drive from Busuanga Airport ranges between 20 to 40, where you will whisked through a maze of jungle, dirt roads, small villages, local schools, bamboo huts, and eventually be taken to a small boat dock.

Depending on the tide, the boat either takes you down a small mangrove river, or straight out to sea, and lasts between 20 to 40 minutes. The boat ride is your first taste of paradise as you pass by lush coast and small sandy islands.

You will be able to spot Club Paradise approaching in the distance, but won’t get the full effect of just how dramatically beautiful it really is until you’re pulling up to debark the boat. It’s hard to take your eyes of the bleach white sand as it fades out of the crystal blue water.

You’ve made it to Club Paradise.

 

The Feeling

Any one that has spent time at Club Paradise will agree with me–that there is just a certain feeling you get on the Island.

The feeling is a combination of being fully relaxed, like it’s the only Island in the entire sea, and like you’re stuck in a perfect little paradise bubble.

3 days and 2 nights was simply just not enough, and as soon as you leave, you’ll dream of getting that feeling back (like literally–weeks later I had a dream about that picture perfect little beach).

I mean, when a resort personally prints out a photo of you, frames it, and leaves it on your nightstand to welcome you–it’s a pretty great feeling.

One thing I am sure of–I will definitely be going back to Club Paradise Palawan–the best beach Resort in Coron, Palawan–in the future, no matter what.

 

Video

Don’t forget to watch my Philippines video that features several scenes from Club Paradise, including the beach villas, sharks, snorkelling through the tunnel, the sea turtle, most drone shots, the sand island, and the ending hammock scene.

I could have easily made a 10 minute video from Club Paradise alone, so I might just have to make another one later on.

 

Photos

The small sand island next to Club Paradise

Club Paradise from afar, at sunset

The first sight you’ll see as your boat pulls up to the beach of Club Paradise

Breakfast at it’s best

One last goodbye as we leave our Villa, bags packed

Coffee and treats on our porch

Group dinner on the beach

Swimming right off the beach

Club Paradise, as seen from the plane on the way into Coron

View from Sunrise Beach

The Island’s pond

Exploring the area around the pond

Dinner on the beach

Dessert on the beach

Welcome drink

Path to our villa

We arrived to a framed photo of us on the night table

Our neighbours

A complimentary bag, beside our nightly towel animal

Buffet dinner plate

The sign with our names on it to welcome us to Club Paradise

Thanks to Club Paradise Palawan for hosting us.
All thoughts & opinions are my own.