The tour is given by guides in khaki bush clothes who expertly reduce the 320-hectare project into an interesting, compact 45-minute tour, which begins with trivia on the property’s history, environmental concerns, as well as future plans. The pleasant drive is done in climate-controlled comfort with each vehicle having a ready supply of cold beverages. It’s a tour that appeals to the curious and the interested  for couples and families on vacation, executives looking to invest, environmentalists on a nature trip. Ayala Land Premier has partnered with the Worldwide Fund for Nature to make this happen.
The leisurely tour begins at the View Pavilion, a hilltop platform that places visitors in the middle of what was once a part of the SBMA Nature Reserve. Here, the guides not only introduce Anvaya’s objectives, concepts and unique features, they also allow nature to deliver its own captivating visual feast. With 60 percent of the area left untouched, the property is lush with foliage; roads, which are built around trees rather than through them, follow the land’s natural, sloping terrain. The panoramic view includes the coastline, the Beach and Nature Club and the Silanguin mountain range of Zambales. Forming a dramatic backdrop is Mt. Natib, a dormant volcano known for its gold deposits and magnetite, the kind of mineral the sea turtles or pawikans use to trace their routes back to their nesting sites on Anvaya’s beaches.
Visitors are then brought to all three of Anvaya’s neighborhoods, all of which are named after the area’s most unique natural features.
The Wood Park, which is the third of Anvaya’s gated villages, contains the most forest cover. Launched in November 2006, the neighborhood has the most modest lot sizes, from 400 sq.m. to 600 sq.m., and is located nearest the golf course. It is a 30-minute walk to the main beach.
The Mango Grove, the neighborhood with the highest elevation and the best views, also has the most number of parks. Its main park, which is shaded by up to 40 half-century-old trees, is the favorite stop of children. There, they can climb the biggest mango tree, work up a thirst wall climbing, and play Tarzan by gliding down a zip line.
The Cliffside, the first residential area launched, is the fourth stop on the tour. Nearest to the beach, the neighborhood has the biggest cuts, ranging from 700 sq.m. to 1,200 sq.m. Here, guests see how the abundance of space is crucial in Anvaya’s development. All cables are kept underground; streetlights are waist-high; and residents are allowed to build on only 35 percent of their lots, ensuring ample margins along their perimeters.
The Marketing Pavilion, which stands on Lot 24, follows Anvaya’s strict Asian Tropical aesthetic: a breezy, refreshing structure with a minimalist interior. The pavilion also serves as the model for the 17 three-bedroom Seaside Villas near the Beach and Nature Club.
The pavilion is where drinks are served, the information video is screened, and the sales representatives take over. By this time, guests already have an idea of the Anvaya culture: an all-encompassing concept of family, an unwavering respect for the environment, and a lifestyle that celebrates both. Anvaya, after all, is the Sanskrit word for family.
The last stop, the open-air Pawikan Beach Bar and Grille, stands beside the Anvaya Beach and Nature Club and is adjacent to the main beach. Here, guests can spend 80 percent of their time barefoot, explore the shoreline, and dream of a future at Anvaya. The tour offers a hint of that life, its potential, and all the wonderful possibilities. And, as you catch a glimpse of a pony named Anvaya, which was born on the property last year, roaming freely around the shore, you finish the tour wanting to stay longer, and leave Anvaya Cove yearning to come back.