RELIGIOUS leaders, philosophers, literary giants, musicians and even romantics have for ages immortalized the perpetual quest for the proverbial paradise on Earth and beyond. Countless pieces of literature and music have paid tribute to this mystical place of eternal bliss.
Down on Dimakya Island in Coron, Palawan, the perpetual search for heaven on Earth may have ended at an upscale resort hotel which embodies your vision of a tropical paradise.
Located within a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in northern Palawan, Club Paradise is a triple-A hideaway worthy of its name with its world-class facilities, luscious cuisine and exhilarating experience.
Bask in pristine white-sand beaches and crystalline water, diverse flora and fauna and a myriad of outdoor activities away from the madding crowd of the more popular beach getaways.
Yet, this dream destination is closer than you think, despite being in the middle of nowhere. This virtual paradise on a 19-hectare island is a scenic 60-minute land and sea trip from Busuanga airport which you will hardly notice because of the soothing sky of blue and sea of green along the way.
The resort does not only claim to being the Valhalla on this part of the country, it also claims to be your proverbial home away from home. You will be surprised at the effort they would exert to make every visit a homecoming.
Here are some of the sure-fire ways of spending just another day in paradise, with apologies to Phil Collins.
Explore the underwater world
The resort traces its genesis to being primarily a dive resort targeting the European market. And while it is undergoing a rebranding since being acquired by the Discovery World Resort group, it cannot simply say good-bye to its first love.
And how can you, when you are listed as among the world’s top best scuba-diving sites by Forbes Traveler Magazine no less. Club Paradise Divers, operated by its sister firm Discovery Fleet Corp., can satisfy your craving for the Neptune’s playground.
The island’s House Reef, which is touted for its abundant marine life and has been protected for the last 15 years, and boasts of a healthy profusion of marine life, as well as “critters” dear to macrophotographers. It has various reef systems filled with soft and hard corals, where cephalopods come to mate and lay eggs during the colder months. The reef also boasts of an array of reef fishes, such as damsel, parrot, flying gurnards, frogfishes and species of nudibranchs.
On a typical day the sighting of its school of jacks is a certainty and the probability of spotting and interacting with a seaturtles or dugong (seacow) is high. If you do not dive, worry not, as you can snorkel and view the thousands of jacks circling around a few meters away.
Half an hour away is the Kyokuzan Maru, one of 12 diveable Japanese World War II wrecks around Busuanga. If you like to take it to the next level, you can do a day trip to the Apo Reef Natural Park, the world’s second-biggest contiguous coral reef and a diving mecca in the Philippines.
Prestigious international travel magazine Condé Naste has named Palawan the world’s best island (or make that islands) for the past two years. Hence, every bit of land formation in the province is a world-class retreat and island-hopping an obligatory recreation.
Start off with the islets surrounding Club Paradise, that are mostly uninhabited. Isla Walang Lang-aw, literally island without trees, whose glistening powdery sand and crushed corals can be seen in the horizon, is the first stop. In between Dimakya, where the resort stands and mainland Busuanga, is a chain of islets, each with an interesting story to tell and activity to do. Dimalanta Island is top for snorkeling for its lush coral gardens and aquatic creatures just a few feet deep.
After leapfrogging around the mini-archipelago, you can foray into Coron town and swing by the usual tourist circuit—Hidden Lagoon, Siete Pecados, Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, CYC Island, Barracuda Lake, Mount Tapyas, and often ends with a dip at the Maquinit Hot Spring.
On the other side of Busuanga is the Calauit Wildlife Safari, a sprawling wildlife preserve for spotting exotic African animals, such as giraffe, zebra and deer, as well as the endemic pilandok or mouse deer, the smallest of its kind in the world.
Indulge in aquasports
Surrounded by water, engaging in aquasports is a must. Paddle around the resort or the neighboring Isla Walang Lang-Aw aboard a see-through kayak and see the amazing marine life beneath.
Go back-to-the-basics and cruise aboard the native paraw sailboat and be soothed by the seawind caressing your skin. For an adrenaline-pumping adventure, ride the waves on a banana boat with your family and friends.
And after all the physical activity, you can pamper yourself at Glow Spa with a rejuvenating therapeutic massage in an aromatic room.
Feast on a gastronomic treat
Despite the logistical challenges in the transport of food supply and ingredients, the resort’s Ocean Restaurant can remarkable whip up delectable dishes which are at par with its counterparts in the metropolis.
A typical day begins with a hearty breakfast spread of international and local delights to start on a bright note. At lunch, you can pore at the wide selection of à la carte tropical gourmet delights. Chefs have built dinner buffets around a theme cuisine for the day, such as Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Italian, Mediterranean and so forth, to make it more varied and exciting.
And if you want an out-of-the-box chowtime in a tropical setting, Club Paradise can go the extra mile to make lunch or dinner more creative by setting up a picnic by the beach, al fresco casual dinner or boodle fight at a nearby island. There is also the option of a sunset cruise with cocktails as the resort’s resident string cumbancheros serenade you.
In between meals are, likewise, special with their wide array of pizzas, pastas and sandwiches. In a recent taping for her Kris TV show, Kris Aquino sank her teeth on the Quattro Formaggi (four cheese) pizza cooked in the traditional brick oven, which became her staple for a couple of meals.
For a nightcap, the club has a bar where you can sip your favorite spirit and concoction.
Hike to Eagle’s Point
A terrestrial activity often recommended to guests is the trek to the island’s highest peak aptly called Eagle’s Point, which gives you a commanding view of Dimakya, the neighboring islets and the vast expanse of the sea within the 360° view. With the moderate ascend through the forestal area, the hike is a refreshing exercise with the whiff of crisp mountain air at the zenith.
While the natural setting is already paradise in itself, the resort has made its rooms worthy of being in the mythical place. The Garden View Cottages, Garden Suites, Sea View Cottages and Beachfront Cottages have designs and amenities which thoughtfully designed for utmost privacy and tranquility. The well-appointed rooms, which are undergoing a makeover, masterfully blend modern comfort, tropical allure and the warmth of a home, so it will be just another day for you and me in paradise.