Bucana beachfront guesthouse

I chose this place because it’s so remote, but I think I was the wrong person for it. There’s literally nothing to do. The staff are friendly and accommodate a lot, but the rooms felt stuffy even with a fan, and the lighting was like hospital lights, which made the room feel depressing. There were ants and lizards during my stay. I know that isn’t the resort’s fault, but it still felt gross. I think the place could have been a lot better.

The views were wonderful, and we thought Bucana was the best beach around, with mostly locals and very few tourists. Albert, Ron and Joel made our stay memorable, helping all along the way with massages, great meals, and keeping the room clean. We knew the guesthouse and rooms were simple. It’s highly recommended if you’re comfortable with a very basic setup, a cold shower (which is actually nice in this climate), and plenty of human interaction.

We booked four nights and left after the first one. The location is far from El Nido and difficult to reach, and the food was nothing special. The beach is quiet and empty, with no tourists, but it wasn’t enough to make the stay worthwhile. Our room was tiny and not very clean, the bathroom had no mirror, and the shower was just a pipe without a proper showerhead. I understand it’s remote, but I’ve had much better conditions on remote islands in the Philippines. The owner was unfriendly from the start, handed us the keys without showing us around, then was rude when we explained honestly why we were leaving early. She accused us of writing a negative review, which wasn’t true. Another couple also left after one night, so I wonder why. At first she promised a refund. We had trouble cancelling through the booking platform, so we contacted customer support. It took a day or two to hear back, and then the owner went back on her word, refused the refund, and was rude in messages. I don’t recommend it. There are much better places in El Nido.

The location was unbeatable, and the food was very good. The coconuts were fresh and delicious too. The laundry service, unfortunately, was expensive.