This summer has been quite cruel (thanks, Taylor Swift) because of the heat index, and we must take appropriate precautions to protect ourselves from heat stroke.
On the flip side, we still need Vitamin D from the sun, and our mental wellbeing also benefits from nature.
A growing body of research supports that exposure to nature improves an individual’s mental health. Studies have also associated the psychological well-being of populations to proximity of green space and blue space (aquatic environments).
(Source: ScienceAdvances/Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service
perspective)
In a nutshell, nature is good for you!
You can feel its effects almost immediately, such as when you’re outside with a view of trees, mountains, or the ocean.
This summer, have you taken your Vitamin Sea yet?
Coron, Palawan, boasts some of the best beaches in the Philippines.
We chose Club Paradise, and had a wonderful time because of all the effort they put into the experience.
It’s admittedly pricier than the average, at roughly $160 (Php8000) / night for a beachfront villa, but this blog will provide information on what’s available, and you can judge if it’s worth it or not.
Club Paradise will request you to provide your flight details a few days before your arrival, and a shuttle will fetch you from the Francisco Busuanga airport, to get to a small pier of boats that will take you to the resort.
Upon arrival, you will be assisted to an open lobby and served with refreshing welcome drinks as well as a cold towel to cool off after the longish travel. The bar is also situated in the lobby if you want a larger selection of drinks upon arrival.
There’s a yoga area in front of the lobby with a view of the ocean, as well as plenty of hammocks and beach chairs on the shore, if you’d like to relax and just enjoy the summer breeze.
We chose Sunset Villas for the beachfront experience.
The suite had a California King bed - much bigger than a kingsized bed. Extra beds can be set up for additional cost. There’s a large walk-in closet but admittedly the floors are made of wood and a little creaky from the water exposure.
Guests are provided with some very useful beach items: a large, sturdy, waterproof beach bag big enough for flippers, snorkeling gear, and towels; reef-friendly sunblock, mosquito repellent lotion, an eco bag, and a card of safety reminders.
They make an effort to be environmentally friendly, too, with reef-friendly
sunblock and biodegradable garbage bags.
Sandy feet? Not a problem! There’s a footbath outside the cottage with a basin so you can wash away the sand from your feet before you enter the cottage.
And yes that’s a monitor lizard beside the footbath. Your exposure to nature will be on
a whole different level because of the abundance of monitor lizards, birds, and bats, as
part of a healthy ecosystem.
In case somebody in your party is in need of accessibility, they have a car that shuttles
guests from the cottages to the restaurant / lobby (and vice versa) upon request.
Different cuisines are available in the Firefish restaurant. The buffet breakfast has a corner (pictured below) with Filipino desserts with hot chocolate and coffee, and the staff are kind enough to allow you to pack some food from the breakfast, especially when they know you’re going to a tour and will be needing extra fuel.
Snorkeling, paddle-boarding, and kayaking are free, just ask the staff onsite to lend equipment and gear. For snorkeling, there are guides who can lead you to where the sea turtles and the fish are. The guides will swim and pull you along towards those areas while you hold onto a lifebuoy, just leave a tip.
There are also different cruising and island-hopping tours to choose from, and for a minimal additional fee you can ask to make your tour exclusive for your group
For the days you aren’t in the mood for saltwater, no problem! There’s a pool between the lobby bar and the restaurant.
At night, they play animated films for children at the pool while they swim or float around on inflatable pool loungers.
All the staff are hospitable, professional and friendly. There are enough amenities to have a comfortable stay and enjoy nature at your own pace. Club Paradise strives for sustainability as well: their garbage bags are biodegradable; their free sunblock is reef-friendly; their shampoo, conditioner, body wash are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free; and their house reefs have been protected for several years.
If I was nitpicking, the only negatives were the creaky floors, and occasional water unavailability in the swimming pool shower room.
But all in all, if you’re willing to splurge, Club Paradise is highly recommended if you want a relaxing, convenient stay. On the other hand, there is no shortage of resorts in beautiful Coron, so you still have many other options.
Now excuse me while I play All Saints’ “Pure Shores” and relive my island
dreams….
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