Shanti Wellness Sanctuary

The kawa bath, sound bath, and massage, all surrounded by nature, made the stay feel rejuvenating. We also loved the traditional food, especially the grilled tilapia wrapped in banana leaves. It was delicious and tasted authentic. We were looking for somewhere calm, peaceful, and tropical, and Shanti gave us exactly that. It was a lovely place to unwind and disconnect, and I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends.

The natural setting was beautiful, just as advertised, but the service was so slow that some things seemed to take ages. I don’t blame the staff. They appeared badly understaffed, with people covering several roles. There were also maintenance issues around the property, and I feel for both the staff and other guests. Some of the promises didn’t match what we received. Promotional videos showed guests being welcomed with fruit juice, but we didn’t get any. We asked and were told they no longer serve juice. Their usual tea wasn’t available either because it was summer. Meals were late even though we had to book them in advance, and we weren’t allowed to make changes. The food was basic, with no sauce, salt, or pepper to help bring out the flavor. We arrived expecting much more than the actual experience delivered. Given the room rates, I’d respectfully urge management to make a substantial upgrade and maintain guests’ trust and satisfaction.

Making a mandala floral arrangement added a meaningful, therapeutic touch to our stay. We also tried the sound bath, forest bath, and massage, and really enjoyed the food. The peaceful, nature-filled surroundings made it feel like a restorative escape. We drove about two hours from Pasay City during the Holy Week long weekend to get away from busy Manila, and the trip was well worth it. We were greeted with refreshing drinks on arrival, and we’ll definitely come back.

We started with 20 minutes of Himalayan salt halotherapy, our first time trying it, then spent another 20 minutes in the sauna. After that, we walked to the kawa bath, with a lovely view of the greenery, birdsong, and leaves moving in the breeze. The day ended with an hour-long Swedish massage. The masseuse kneaded and squeezed the stress away. A perfect finish to the day. My wife and I booked the spa package online the night before, and everything was easy to arrange. The 50-plus-kilometer drive up into the mountains was straightforward. On arrival we got welcome drinks and, as I typed it at the time, “andleif”; it felt fancy, like being on a faraway island vacation. Staff were all smiles, friendly, and answered our questions. A small Jeep buggy took us farther into the resort along a charming path lined with flowers and tall trees. The air was cool, around 23°C. Come here for a relaxing break from the city. Shanti Wellness Sanctuary left me wanting to return.