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Club Paradise Resort and Hotel, Philippines
Club Paradise might sound a little like the name of a 1970s discotheque but this small resort ticks so many plus boxes in the 2000s. You know you are in for adventure when you land at Busuanga airfield, a dirt strip in the midst of farmland; this is the Philippines at its most rural.
Nestling on the 19-hectare Dimakya Island, a 20 minute-boat ride off the northern shore of Busuanga, the limestone island has a natural forested peak and a gorgeous 700-meter long teardrop beach, plus more than a few animal friends to keep you company.
Guests have the whole island to themselves but resort facilities rest on the southern tip, while the rest has been left as a natural park for the benefit of endemic flora and fauna. The waters around Dimakya attract dugongs during part of the year and have been declared a sanctuary for these gentle marine creatures. The wildlife of Dimakya Island is varied, with monitor lizards and Calamien deer, plus a huge cloud of fruit bats that roost noisily in the canopy behind the reception area throughout the day.
The 52 rooms break down into three types. Sunrise and sunset beachfront cottages have wide wooden decks overlooking the golden sand, while larger apartment-style rooms have an island view. Each location has rooms that vary in size for couples up to families of five. Interior décor is clean and contemporary with touches like Filipino island art and accessories.
You can do as little or as much as you want at Club Paradise Resort. Read a book in the hammock on your deck with just the sound of the lapping waves nearby, have a massage at the spa, laze by the pool, head up the nature trail to spot the island’s wildlife, go diving with the qualified dive team or take a tour of neighboring Busuanga and Coron islands, or the Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary. The Calamian Islands, of which these are all part, are highly concentrated but are sparsely populated, with a mainly arable lifestyle.
(L. Bennett, Island Guide: Philippines, 2008)