Amanpulo

Amanpulo literally translates to “peace island”. From the moment you step into the resort up to the time you go to your flight back home, Amanpulo certainly lives up to its name. The resort offers a serene retreat for travelers with its white sand, blue sky and turquoise sea; not to mention the world class facilities, amenities, cuisines and customer service that are waiting for you in this island paradise. The rates may be a little on the high end but you will certainly get your money’s worth once you experience what Amanpulo has to offer.

Amanresort (photo credit : victoriafairy)

Amanpulo is situated on Pamilacan, an island that is part of Quiniluban Group of Cuyo Islands in the province of Palawan. This private getaway can be found around 290 kilometers south of Manila, the country’s capital city. There is a direct flight from Manila to Amanpulo so getting there is no problem at all. One of the best qualities of the location of Amanpulo is that it is outside the typhoon belt. There is less rainfall here compared to the rest of the Philippines. The best time to go here is during the dry season and that is from November to May. January is the coolest month in the island while the hottest is May with an average temperature of 28°C (82°F).

For short stay, you have various casitas to choose from. The casitas are either located on hillside or at the beachfront. Each casita has decorative native interior details that is reminiscent of the Philippine ‘bahay kubo’ (native dwelling) with a twist of modern amenities. As for long staying guests, you can rent a villa with all the amenities of a private home. You can even own one because these villas are for sale. All villas come with a housekeeper and a cook.

Amanresort (photo credit : Andee_Grace)

Everything you will ever need in your vacation is here in Amanpulo, and then some. Aside from the stunning white sand beach, you have several restaurants in the resort, a bar, swimming pools, windsurf hut, picnic grove, boutiques, galleries, spa, tennis court, dive center and several clubhouses. As for activities, you can choose from various water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, fishing, cruising, snorkeling and scuba diving. There are also land activities including biking, bird watching, nature walk, turtle hatching and star gazing. If you want to mix relaxation with communing with nature, you can do so with the outdoor spa.

History

Amanresorts is the umbrella company of Amanpulo. It is founded by Adrian Zecha in 1988. The first of the many resorts under Amanresorts is Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand. Amanpulo, meanwhile, opened in 1993. This resort has been collecting award after award since then. The most recent is the No. 1 Best Leisure Resort Worldwide given by  Gallivanter’s Guide 2012 Award for Excellence.

Festivals

There are no yearly festivals in Amanpulo since this is a resort and not a town proper. However, celebrations abound in the island often for it is one of the best places for a wedding ceremony. Nothing is more romantic than having a wedding by the beach during sunset surrounded with your family and friends. Amanpulo even offers wedding packages complete with champagne, casitas, meals, cocktails, massages for the couple and even water and land activities to really enjoy their stay.

Tips

Pamilacan where Amanpulo is situated is a malaria-free island so no vaccination is needed for your travel. Electricity here is 22- volts/ 60 cycles. Casual clothing is recommended so better bring lightweight clothes that are made from natural fibers in order to be comfortable.