Secret Paradise Resort & Turtle Sanctuary

The trip here is a long one: fly from Manila, spend four hours on a road that’s occasionally impassable, then take a motorboat for another hour. That’s the only reason I’m taking off a star. Once you arrive, it’s secluded, clean, and relaxed, with nature all around. Huge turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs. The rooms are great, the food is good, and the staff were the friendliest I’ve ever met.

We arrived on our sailboat, and the caretaker told us to leave before we’d even dropped anchor, while we were still nowhere near the resort. We went to the next bay and were told to leave there too. This place isn’t sailor friendly. Don’t come here.

This feels like an authentic part of the Philippines, and it’s a really relaxing spot. The two kubos away from the main beach cost a little extra, but I thought they were worth it. Take a boat day trip for snorkeling and the waterfalls. You might even see some turtles.

The booking was a mess, and the manager handled it poorly. We traveled from Manila to Samal Island, but they didn’t seem to know how to look after guests. Since it was our first time going, they should have told us how long the trip to the resort would take. The service was very poor.