A Time at Amanpulo

CEBU, Philippines —  Visiting Amanpulo is certainly not in the bucket list of many people. Some consider the place mysterious, if they’ve heard of it at all. Others believe it must be very expensive.

To put it safely, Amanpulo is not for everyone. It offers a different experience. And that different experience is worth whatever the cost.

Amanpulo is an island resort on Pamalican Island, which is part of the Quiniluban group of Cuyo Islands, in Palawan. The name “Amanpulo” means “peaceful island.” It is located at some 360 kilometres southwest of Manila, and is accessible via a private chartered plane that is booked together with the room accommodation. Now, the getting there itself is already a kind of “for the chosen few only.”

The “chosen few” from Cebu would first have to fly to Manila, an added expense obviously. The private airport lounge of Amanpulo is near NAIA Terminal 1. All identification and documentation procedures are completed at the lounge before taking off on an hour’s flight that could actually feel like an eternity.

The plane ride aboard a Dornier 15-seater is not for the faint-hearted. It could be bumpy, considering that it’s a small plane. But once in flight, there’s no turning back; guests would have already paid much dear money by then, anyway.

As soon as the plane approaches the Sulu Sea, landing on Pamalican Island is right next. The resort general manager and senior staff would already be there, all lined up alongside golf buggies with specific room assignments. The buggies are to be the guests’ personal ride during the duration of their stay at Amanpulo.

It’s amazing that right upon deplaning, guests are addressed by their names and ushered us to their designated golf buggies. There’s no more identification required, as this protocol was already done back in the Manila airport lounge. But it’s just incredible that the staff could so efficiently match names and faces right off, just like that.

Well, such personalized approach with guests is one of the things that make Aman resorts service a class all its own. Taking newly arrived guests on a tour around the 89-hectare resort island is standard procedure. A designated guest assistant takes guests to the publicly accessed areas of the resort – the Clubhouse, Picnic Grove, Spa and Gym, and Beach Club.

Accommodation is at beach casitas on stilts. Much like the “bahay kubo,” the casitas’ design is by the late national artist Bobby Mañosa. It is modern Filipino, with high ceiling, using wood slats for flooring, and marble from Cebu.

The marine environment surrounding the island is a protected sanctuary. Guests may avail of complimentary tours, like a 1.5-hour fish feeding and snorkelling trips, where they may commonly see turtles swimming and feeding from sea grass. Or they may opt for a complimentary massage at the spa.

For eats, the resort’s Picnic Grove offers Italian cuisine. The restaurant is a 100-meter walk through lush mangrove on a sandy path. An encounter with a monitor lizard, a snake, and birds is likely along the way, so one shall watch out.

A three-night package at Amanpulo could bring total relaxation.  The best way, perhaps, to fully enjoy the time there is to lounge at a private chaise by the beach. While many activities are available, one may just opt to do nothing but bask in the sun, breathe in fresh air, and imagine when to go there again.