Sanctuaria Treehouses Busuanga

This was the last stop of our trip before we headed back to London. We were picked up promptly by Richard at the ferry terminal which we arranged ahead of time. It is a fairly long drive from the port to the treehouses and therefore quite an expensive transfer. But the jeep was very comfortable. We arrived after the sun had set. The treehouses and paths were lit up with colourful lights which gave it a magical feel. We were shown our treehouse which we found very small. It literally only had room for a bed, a small side table would’ve been nice. We asked to be moved the following day, and as the Hobbit room was available they moved us without issue. The accommodation, indeed the entire resort, embraces a minimalist and back-to-basics ethos. Whilst this simplicity harmonises seamlessly with the natural surroundings and offers stunning views; there's room for improvement in terms of maintenance, there were odd bits of broken furniture and some areas seemed a little neglected/not used. We would’ve loved comfy lounging seats near the front of the pool which is a perfect place to watch the sunset or the stars - the furniture just doesn’t allow you to comfortably do that for longer than 10-minutes. A slight downside which we were aware of, are the shared bathrooms. Totally understandable why there are shared bathrooms for some of the treehouses. They are working to install private bathrooms for all treehouses in the future. Not the end of the world and the bathrooms were clean. Take advantage of a good shower etc before you arrive. Given the location, climate, lack of rainfall, the water supply and pressure here is awful. We were told that there hadn’t been any rainfall in months so the water was an issue - understandable but something to be aware of. This meant 3 nights of not really washing; it is very much a camping experience - I would recommend bringing body wipes. Some mornings the water that came out of the taps was a dark brown/orange colour. They do have drinking water available in the kitchen which you can access at any time. This can’t be helped I suppose - we can’t change the weather.. All of the food is delicious, the drinks menu is pretty good and the girls that work there are good at looking after guests and running the place. We booked a boat tour to Black Island and Snake Island which we did with Brian, the girls and his pal Jake who was in town. This was a fun day. The girls who work there are fond of Brian and look after him very well. Overall, it's truly a slice of nature's paradise. While luxury and hot showers aren't on the menu, you can count on meeting wonderful people, tasty food, and good vibes. There's definite potential for enhancement; with improvements to furniture and overall maintenance, perhaps even hosting game nights or quizzes in the communal areas, the experience could be elevated. Brian and his team have laid the foundation for a tranquil retreat.

Really nice, quirky accommodation in a stunning location. Individual accommodations with shared bathroom. Brian and his team are very welcoming and friendly. He has imaginatively designed the space there and as a result there are a few different accommodation options depending on your budget. Restaurant also on site (until 7pm) is good and tasty and not ridiculously expensive. Although it’s a shared dining space (if you want shelter from the sun) but also some nice spots to eat by the pool if it’s not too hot. It would have been nice if we’d had deck chairs on our balcony but we dragged the sofa beds out and used them instead. It was lovely watching the sunset from our balcony. No air con obviously but decent fans in the room. Oh and it’s also shared bathroom accommodation, it’s as well to be prepared to queue for the loo or shower! Thanks Brian and team for looking after us.

This is a wonderful, quirky place to stay. The 3 tree houses are different but all are rustic and comfortable. They all have fantastic views over the bay and the wonderful sunsets. The friendly local ladies keep the place running smoothly, turning out delicious meals which are served in the communal dining area. The pool is very welcome, as are the hammocks doted around the place. It’s a little off the beaten track so you need to consider transport options during your stay - having a moped is a definite advantage.

A little bit of a drive from Coron town but in our opinion definitely worth it to find this escape in the middle of nature. The accomodation and treehouses have been designed beautifully, shared bathrooms are clean, room very comfortable. We ended up spending most our time relaxing here, the pool makes an excellent spot for a lazy day, reading and taking in the view with a beautiful sunset and a rum pineaple to end the day. Food was always delicious, staff friendly and helpful, we thought the communal dining made a great way to get to know other guests. We took Kayaks out for a trip to a nearby beach and a highlight seeing monkeys through the mangroves on the way back. The nearby waterfall is also lovely for a visit. Overall excellent value for money, a unique, relaxing stay and perfect end to our time in the Phillipines. If I ever had the chance to come back, this is also a great base for boat trips to Black Island and diving.