Tepanee Beach Resort

This became our favourite spot on the island. We came every day for sunset drinks, the view and atmosphere were brilliant, and the staff were lovely. The food and drinks were delicious, too. You can snorkel here and see baby blacktip reef sharks. Big thanks to the boss, such a nice guy, for a lovely stay :)

The snorkeling was a real plus, with pretty corals, lots of fish, and baby reef sharks. Some coral is damaged, though the area is being protected and they’re encouraging it to grow back. There are plenty of sun loungers, but you can’t swim or lie on the beach in the protected area, which is for snorkeling only. The island’s beaches are pretty, but there’s a lot of rubbish around. It seems like waste disposal is a challenge in a remote place like this, though seeing rubbish in the small town was a shame. We had a nice stay and the room had beautiful views. The boat ride took about 50 minutes and was bouncy both ways. Our luxury room was fairly clean, but the furniture and decor were basic. The beds were very hard and hurt my back, so I didn’t sleep well. We had to ask for extra pillows because there was only one. The balcony chairs weren’t comfortable either, and better seats would make it easier to enjoy the sunsets. Breakfast was average, and we were disappointed by the small amount of fruit. The breakfast waitresses were friendly, but didn’t always notice when things had run out, so we had to ask several times. We ate at the restaurant on a few evenings; the food was okay and the view and romantic atmosphere were lovely. Still, we preferred the restaurant next door, where the wood-fired pizza and pasta were excellent. Tepanee’s beach restaurant was good for lunch, too. The waitress there was lovely, though I’ve forgotten her name. The man was a bit grumpy.

The protected beach is right outside the private deluxe cottage, and the underwater sanctuary is great for snorkeling. The cottage has what you need, including free Wi-Fi, and the Pacific Ocean views are stunning. The Italian couple who own the place live on-site and speak French and English. Everything was immaculate, with a warm personal touch. What a nice surprise to find authentic Italian pasta and pizza as well as local food. For diving, there are several good local shops, with friendly, helpful divemasters. The area is known for thresher sharks. I highly recommend this hidden gem in the Philippines.

Everyone was so friendly, and the area felt really safe. I loved the eco-friendly focus and how spotless the beach was. There’s a shark sanctuary, which makes the place feel even more special. The food was authentic Italian and delicious 😋, and the stay was absolutely worth the price.