Club Tara Resort

The manager was attentive and responsive, and clearly tried to make things right. The food was decent too, especially the turon and pancit canton. But her effort and those meals couldn't make up for the condition of Club Tara. I wouldn't recommend staying there unless the resort gets substantial renovations and proper maintenance. Our villa looked nothing like the booking photos. It seemed clean at first, but dust was everywhere, there were signs of mold, and the bathroom still had a used towel and trash left by previous guests. The toilet wouldn't flush, the faucets and sinks were broken, and the jacuzzi was slimy with yellow stains, so I wouldn't go near it. We stopped raising complaints after a while because it didn't seem likely to help, and just made do. The shared areas had problems too. Mold made the pool tiles slippery, and the water seemed poorly maintained. Slime from around the pool ended up in the water and made it murky. We thought the jumping board looked unsafe and didn't use it. The kayaks were dirty and worn out. Trash was floating by the swimming area, and staff didn't clear it on their own. Even getting help with the kayaks felt like a big ask, though most staff would act if told. We paid ₱5,000 a night through Agoda. At that price, especially after the effort and travel needed to reach this remote island, we expected a reasonably cared-for room and facilities. The condition fell far short. The booking also didn't clearly say that a private boat was required. It cost ₱2,000 one way from Socorro port to Club Tara, and the same flat rate applied to short trips around the island. We went to Sohoton shortly after arriving. The destinations were all within ten minutes or less, and the boat mostly waited while we changed to smaller boats, but we were still charged the full ₱2,000. It felt like we were being taken advantage of. The location itself is beautiful, and the lack of WiFi and weak network signal made sense for an island. What didn't make sense was the poor state of the villas and shared facilities. The place had been through difficulties, and we understand there are limits to what the manager can do, but good service shouldn't have to make up for maintenance and safety issues, especially at this price.

The staff did what they could to make our stay good. We had no electricity or running tap water, but they made a bonfire, shared tanduay, and gave us a great night. They're not to blame for the state of the place, they know its condition and it's their home. You're here for the extraordinary nature, nothing more. The resort desperately needs renovation, and the price is far too high for how it is now. Don't come expecting a convenient, luxurious holiday or a honeymoon. I hope the owner puts money into it so a stay feels worth what you pay.

Bungga, the 15-year-old dog grandma, won all of our hearts. She guided us around the island and the resort, and made a lovely stay even more memorable. Clarissa and her family, who run the resort, were very helpful with arranging a boat to explore Bucas Grande. The food was nice and plentiful too. The place is wonderfully quiet and natural, with a picturesque bay and corals right below the accommodation. You can snorkel straight from there, even from the balcony, and watch marine life at night. We saw a pair of octopuses mating. The jungle starts just behind the accommodation, and a ten-minute walk brings you to a beautiful beach. You can only reach the accommodation by boat, though it's just 20 minutes from Mindanao. Bucas Grande is fantastic to explore, with virgin forest, remote bays, and a bay famous for its non-toxic jellyfish.

The meals were so good, way beyond what I expected, and the hospitality and ambience made for a great time. The resort has had a rough run with typhoon Odet, the pandemic, and some corruption, and I'm sure the economy has affected it too. The new manager hopes to make a lot of needed changes, and I hope the place gets its makeover soon. Even as it is, the peaceful setting is worth the effort if you want a break from modern life. I'd come back, and I wish them all the best.