A few years ago, when
typhoon Odette pummeled southern Philippines but luckily spared parts of Northern
Palawan, we found a pleasant refuge and downtime at Sunlight Ecotourism Island
Resort (SETIR) on Culion Island during the tail end of our Coron, Palawan trip.
We eventually made it to Culion after two days of island
hopping and getting holed up in another Sunlight
property in Coron town hotel while weathering the storm.
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| The new Salepan Villas of SETIR numbers around 30 |
It didn’t take long
upon docking at the property’s jetty for me to be awed by SETIR, which, as I
later learned, spans 18 hectares across Naglayan Island, a small island half an
hour from Culion
town. After staying in numerous excellent resorts in the Philippines and
Asia, the SETIR facility left a lasting impression on me. I remembered making a
vow to myself to return here again in the future.
Return to SETIR
As luck would have
it, an invitation to see SETIR's new villas came my way, and immediately, I
found myself strapped into a Sunlight Air flight to Busuanga, Palawan, and on a
speed boat to Naglayan Island in Culion for a return trip to Sunlight Ecotourism
Island Resort.
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| This property is so big (they employ more than 250 staff, with more than half hailing from Culion) |
This time around, I
have my own drone camera, making my stay much better, as I was able to see and
capture the whole property as seen from the sky. Compared to the overnight stay
my previous stay, I got to enjoy the property for a couple of nights, thus giving
me more chance to enjoy its many amenities, including a preview of what it was
like to stay inside the newly built Salepan Villas.
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| The Sikaran Honeymoon Villas. Sikaran comes from the Cuyunon word which means "Sunrise" |
Just like the first
time I visited SETIR, I hired a bicycle and circled the entire resort while
taking plunges in the swimming pool and the beach closest to my villa. On our
second day, we relaxed in one of the Salepan villas, enjoying the private
jacuzzi and a variety of delectable snacks for breakfast.
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| Wouldn't mind coming back to SETIR for the third time...but sana may ka-honeymoon na |
If you’re not familiar with Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort yet, let me explain that previously, they had two kinds of villas: the Overwater, which spreads a total of 99 villas of various categories like single, double, studio and duplex, and the Sikaran, otherwise known as the "honeymoon villas”, which Much like the Sikaran Villas, the new Salepan Villas are more spacious, measuring 244 sq m, and have two bedrooms, a private jacuzzi pool, a roof deck, and a large balcony that opens up the sweeping views of Busuanga Bay.
Introducing the
Salepan Villas
Already having
satisfied my exploring curiosity the day before, I decided to accompany my
colleagues travel writers to one of the Salepan Villas to discover for
ourselves how it feels to stay in the recently launched Salepan Villas.
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| The Salepan Villas dots the other end of the island's shoreline |
Guests staying at
the Salepan Villas will surely enjoy luxury at its finest. Each villa comes
with a personal butler ready to cater to a guest's needs the moment they step
foot on the island. For exploration needs, a dedicated buggy ensures effortless
movement around the property. Highlighting the gastronomic part is SETIR's
personalized culinary meals prepared by a private chef guaranteeing a diverse gourmet
experience.
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| Inside the two-bedroom Salepan Water Villas |
Every inch of the
244 sq. m. Salepan Water Villas was designed with thoughtful finishes inspired
by local crafts. The design elements allow guests to bask in total relaxation
in its complete amenities, which consist of two bedrooms each with ensuite bathrooms,
a jacuzzi pool, a kitchenette, an outside living room, a dining area, and a
roof deck boasting panoramic views of Culion Island and the azure colored
Busuanga Bay. During high tide, guests can take direct access to the water
below to immerse themselves in the rich marine biodiversity from the comforts
of their villa.
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| There are 11 dining spots in the property alone: Sun Cafe, Xiang Hotpot, Poolside Pation, Island Garden, Mangrove, Hikari, Rare Steakhouse, Cafe Adlaw, Luna, the Cellar and Turo-turo. However, you can choose to have your meals delivered to your Salepan Villa. |
Complementing
Salepan Villa's main amenities include the king-sized bed, double beds, LED
television sets, Bang and Olufsen speakers, a minibar with a Nespresso coffee
machine, and a smart toilet.
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| Chill wherever you want, by the jacuzi, or at the rooftop |
Named from the
local Cuyunon word "Salepan," which means "sunset," these villas provide the ideal vantage point
from which to watch the sun go down. Picture this: you're standing on the roof
of one of the villas, sipping a glass of wine while the cool wind of dusk
caresses your face.
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| Each villa is separated by a long boardwalk providing utmost privacy. The Mangrove Restaurant is the one on the upper part. |
“The Salepan villas
were built to accommodate larger parties looking for a more private and elegant
stay as the resort's guest count continued to rise” says SETIR’s Radine Brito. “Our
Sirakan villas are perfect for honeymooners and couples looking for a more
intimate setting, while our Salepan villas are perfect for families and groups
of friends looking for more room and the best amenities.”
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| Breakfast by the jacuzzi pool |
Indeed, as up to
six guests can occupy each Salepan Villa, these new offerings from SETIR
further amplifies its standing as one of the best luxury resort in the Philippines,
if not the world. As I take one last look at the sinking sun on the horizon as
the bright moon starts to rise on the other side of the sky, I thanked the
heavens for the good karma of bringing me once again to this wonderful
property.
You can read about the other amenities of Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort in my previous blog article here.
