A Piece of Paradise on Earth

Family and Friends, Travel 47 comments

Days before the country was placed on quarantine, my wife and I had this wonderful opportunity to travel to Busuanga Island on an invitation from my high school classmate, Boots Garalde, and her amiable husband, Tony. Indeed, we were lucky to have been afforded one last travel foray before the COVID crisis snatched away all our dreams for an adventure-filled summer.

Boots and Tony are proud owners of La Estancia, an endearing boutique resort far from the maddening crowd of the capital city of Manila, or bustling Boracay, or even equally tourist-teeming Coron, which is located on the southern tip of the island. Nestled along the tranquil shores of northern Busuanga, La Estancia is a quiet, unassuming paradise that gives us a world-class Mediterranean look while maintaining the world-renowned Filipino brand of hospitality. I kid you not, if you’ve watched the musical ‘Mamma Mia’, that’s the kind of setting I’m talking about here, except better. Much, much better. Which is precisely why so many foreigners have come to know and continue coming back to this heaven-of-a-haven. Thanks to the passion, patience and great determination of Boots and Tony, La Estancia was born. And continues to grow.

I can just imagine the difficulties they must have had in developing the area from an uninhabited, isolated place years ago. Minus the road network, the power and water supply, building it up from scratch must have been a big challenge. From the fruits of their toil, however, this masterpiece magically blossomed.

Wifey and I were truly lucky to be given this rare opportunity to spend an nth-decade honeymoon party here. Our gracious hosts, Boots and Tony, invited other classmates as well. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, only Jobart, with wife Tin, could come. But then, Tony also invited his raucous best buddies from school. These guys, Frankie with wife Lorna; and Mulong with wife Lulu, were truly such fun company to be with. We were a jolly big bunch making like young teenagers. Boots busied herself making sure our stomachs were filled with the most delectable cuisine, Tony treated us to the sights in the nearby islets. Food was tantalizingly good, the company even better!

La Estancia is a boutique hotel that exudes charm and relaxation. It has a sparkling swimming pool that invites guests for a quick dip after a day’s fascinating adventure in the neighboring islets. The rooms are spacious and clean, allowing guests to rest in complete comfort and style, with an indulgent view of the sunrise and the bay. As dawn breaks, the horizon paints a breathtaking canvas of colors, gifting guests with a mesmerizing sunrise view over the calm waters. And as the day ends, the sky casts a golden glow, then transforms into a violet hue, creating a unique and unforgettable sunset scenario.

Among the tourist attractions right near the resort are the Calauit National Park, a wildlife sanctuary featuring large African animals such as giraffes and zebras; the sunken Japanese supply fleet of the big war, destroyed in a surprise air strike by American planes during the Battle of Leyte Gulf; and Black Island with its gorgeous unsullied beach. A little farther south, you’ll find Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, the Siete Pecados and the frontier island of Culion. Sometimes, when one is lucky, the Dugong – a rare underwater creature also known as the ‘Mermaid of the Sea’ – will show itself. It has also been spotted at times foraging for seagrass and other stuff in the waters fronting La Estancia.

They say that pictures paint a thousand words. So I guess it’s time for me to stop right here and just let these pics do the talking. If you’re planning an adventure trip to explore pristine beaches, enchanting islands, or spooky sunken ships, go to Busuanga and stay in La Estancia. And be prepared to be charmed. Indeed, heaven has found its place on earth.

Here are some other wonderful pics of La Estancia as well as other surrounding wonder spots:

Cover photo courtesy of Agoda. Other pics courtesy of laestanciabusuanga.com, Travel Advisor, Palawan News, Best Diving in the Philippines, Xray Magazine, Island Hopping in the Philippines, Kevin’s Dim Summary, the Unofficial Guide to the Philippines, Dugong Dive Center FB and Club Paradise Palawan.

For more on the tour sites of Coron, here’s: Shipwreck Dive in Coron.

For more on neighboring Culion: please read: Curing Culion: The Island of the Living Dead.

47 comments

  6. HI Charly. I would love to see that place. Your description makes me want to visit it (sometime in the future). I always read your articles on places that you visit. I got to spend a short vacation in Tugawe (Caramoan) because I read your adventure there.
    Really hope my family & I could visit this lovely La Estancia place someday……

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    1. Thank you so much for that. I am truly honored, Mina. It inspires me to write even more about all the beautiful places our country has to offer. Our country is truly blessed to have so many wonderful places -and equally wonderful people – to visit. Visit La Estancia. You won’t regret it!

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    1. Ja, es ist wirklich ein wunderbarer Ort. Ich hoffe, Sie können hier besuchen, wenn diese Pandemie vorbei ist. Bitte erzähl mir mehr über das Bergische Land, Rosie. Es muss auch ein wunderschöner Ort sein.

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    1. Es mi placer y privilegio. Gracias también por visitarnos. Y feliz cumpleaños tardío también. Por cierto, estuve en Irlanda hace unos años, y también fue un lugar mágico para mí. ¡Vi la Calzada del Gigante y muchos otros sitios hermosos!

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  12. Pingback: A Piece of Paradise on Earth | James' World 2

    1. Yes, that’s Calaiut Island, where African animals were shipped in by our former president Marcos decades ago. He intended to make it a local tour spot so people didn’t have to go to Africa to experience a safari.

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  17. Reblogged this on Color My World and commented:

    With local and international travel starting to open up, I’d like to invite you all to come and see the magical island of Busuanga, with its neighboring Coron, Calawit and Culion islands. Here’s a beautiful paradise in the island right out of the Mama Mia movie. Owned by the amiable Boots and Tony Garalde, it is truly a ‘must-see’ place for us travel-hungry folks! C’mon, guys, what are you waiting for?

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