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thehungrykat1 · 7 years

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Paradise Within Our Reach at Lio, El Nido

We have all seen and heard about the magical paradise called El Nido in Palawan, whether it be through glossy magazines or television shows featuring this island getaway. I’m sure El Nido is included in almost everyone’s travel bucket list, but most of the time, it remains uncrossed because of the huge budget that is needed just to visit these private resorts. I always thought that it costs so much to spend a night in these exclusive hideouts and go swimming in their crystal blue waters. But with the opening of Lio Tourism Estate by Ayala Land, paradise is now within our reach.

My first trip to El Nido, Palawan turned out to be one of my most memorable travel experiences. The flight from Manila to Lio Airport in El Nido was fast and smooth courtesy of Airswift. I thought that we would be riding a small rickety propeller plane but the 50-seater ATR 42-500 plane we rode looked brand new. It did not feel any different from riding the bigger planes. Airswift (air-swift.com) is the only airline that has direct flights to El Nido and it only takes one hour and fifteen minutes to arrive in paradise.

The check-in for my El Nido flight was at the Naia Terminal 4, otherwise known as the Domestic Terminal. It was also my first time to enter this terminal and I was surprised that it looked newly renovated, far from the images I had in mind of the old domestic terminal. Each passenger is allowed one piece of luggage with a 10-kilogram allowance plus one hand carry bag. While waiting for my flight at the boarding gate, Airswift passengers are given this snack bag which I could eat before and during my flight. Another way to reach El Nido is via Puerto Princesa which is serviced by the other bigger local airlines. The flights may be cheaper, but you will have to make a 5-hour land transfer to reach El Nido.

Lio Tourism Estate is Ayala Land’s first tourism estate located in El Nido, Palawan. This integrated resort community is just 15 minutes away from El Nido Town. Ayala Land also owns and operates the more private and exclusive El Nido Resorts which are located in enclaves just off the main island in Bacuit Bay, but rates can be pretty expensive, so Lio Tourism Estate is their answer for the mid-level travellers. Lio is bounded by the beach on one side and the mountains on the other, a prime location in El Nido which is renowned for its breathtaking vistas and cliffs, pristine beaches, plus hundreds of species of fish, corals and other birds endemic to Palawan. El Nido or “The Nest” actually got its name from the edible nests of the swiftlets that take refuge in the depths of its limestone cliffs.

We landed smoothly at the Lio Airport and everyone was excited to start their El Nido adventure. Lio has a total land area of 325 hectares with 45% of the property to be retained as non-developable nature reserve sites and open space, part of Ayala Land’s vision of sustainable development for its projects.

It was quite a different arrival experience as we were ushered on to a big jeepney which served as our shuttle transfer to the terminal. Guests were serenaded with local songs and performances as they stepped into the arrival area. A welcome spread of local delicacies and snacks were also waiting on the buffet table for everyone to partake. Now that is what we call Filipino hospitality.

A new terminal for Lio Airport has actually just opened late last month which has a more modern luxe resort feel with shops, amenities, VIP lounges and bigger departure and arrival areas. Road networks are being developed for a secure and convenient access within the development, but Lio has been planned to be pedestrian friendly providing guests the freedom to explore by foot or by bicycle with dedicated pathwalks and bike trails. An air-conditioned van was waiting for us as we headed to our hotel located just a few minutes away from the airport.

Masterplanned as an ecologically-sustainable tourism destination, Lio shall be home to hotels, resorts, commercial establishments and residential communities with world-class amenities that blend in with the natural landscape. The first resort to open at Lio Tourism Estate is Casa Kalaw with a total of 42 rooms and rates of around $140 per night. The hotel opened late last year with several other hotels set to open in the coming months.

Casa Kalaw is primarily targeting families and balikbayans as its guests but since this was the only hotel open, we mostly saw a mix of foreign tourists and groups enjoying the facilities. The swimming pool was so inviting, especially with the hot summer weather. I wanted to jump in right away but I had to unpack my bags first.

The Deluxe Balcony room has a great view of the swimming pool and the estate. This 31 square meter room is simple but spacious, with all the necessary items you need to have a great and enjoyable stay. Lio’s character and design are guided by principles of sustainability – developing the land with the least impact to the environment.

Casa Kalaw offers their shower and bath gels inside reusable pots instead of disposable plastic containers. The water thermos has clean potable water for guests to drink, and you won’t even find toothbrush sets on the toilet. You can request for these at the front desk if you wish, but it is suggested to bring your own toiletry sets to minimize the impact on the environment. Hotel Covo is another option at Lio, expected to open in June with rates of around $100 per night for European backpackers and young millennials. Another hotel, Balai Adlao opens in July and charges $120 per night with a more romantic ambiance for couples and honeymooners. A residential project under Ayala Land Premier will also be launched later this year.

Just a few steps away from Casa Kalaw is the Lio Beach. The beach is open to the public, so anyone can enjoy the sparkling waters of El Nido, whether they are staying at the resort of just visiting. Weekly and monthly events are slated for the year with a focus on the environment, arts, music, sports. The Lio Beach Festival is happening on June 9-11, 2017 with a lineup of live performers and DJs similar to the popular Malasimbo Festival in Puerto Galera.

There are many activities you can do while at Lio Beach including Biking, Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddle, Volleyball, Frisbee, or Football. Some of these have a fee, but there is also Free Wifi at the entire beach courtesy of Globe, so you can upload those Instagram-worthy photos while sitting on the sand and relaxing with this view. They also have free scheduled shuttle services to El Nido Town for those who want to explore this place further.

Shops@Lio is located right along Lio Beach which aims to provide guests with a unique shopping and dining experience. I was able to try out several of the restaurants along the beach during my trip, which you can check out here (7 Restaurants to Visit at Lio Tourism Estate). Most of the retail shops were still under construction so I will have to come back next time to see how this community evolves.

Buffet breakfast is provided at Kalaw Cafe just beside the lobby. The selection of breads, salads, and hot dishes are enough to satisfy even the hungriest of travellers. Aside from local specialties, one of my favorites was their hot and crunchy Waffles doused with maple syrup.

We also took the time to explore other parts of the estate including having a short farm tour. The farm at Lio uses compost produced from their own Materials Recovery Facility to harvest lettuce, herbs and other local vegetables. This is part of Ayala Land’s overall sustainability targets where they aim to make their resorts self-sufficient.

I even saw all these cute piggies at the farm! El Nido Resorts also makes the conscious decision of creating sustainable menus for all of their resorts, using more organically grown ingredients and greater contributions to the local community. This piggery also provides all the requirements for all of Ayala Land’s resorts in El Nido, so they might end up on our plates. Can I be a vegetarian? Maybe only for today.

Another exciting activity at Lio Tourism Estate is kayaking on their lagoon. For a small fee, guests can ride their own kayaks or bamboo rafts around the lush forested lagoon. Here’s Gerry aka Dude For Food having a blast.

Being a Lupus survivor means that I can’t be directly under the sun for too long because sunlight is bad for us. So instead of riding the kayak, I just decided to have a little photo shoot inside the forest, courtesy of Edgar Co Studios from Pinas Muna. It’s nice to connect with nature once in a while and you can really appreciate how Ayala Land strives to preserve the environment.

But the highlight of any El Nido trip is always the island hopping adventure where you can visit the various islands around bay. Our group headed to the beach where a speedboat was waiting for us care of Skipper Charters.

Skipper Charters is a premium Island Adventure provider that operates in El Nido, Palawan using fast and efficient power boats. Instead of the usual slow outriggers and boats, the speedboat we rode was really fast, taking us around faster in comfort and in style. Guests can have a half day or whole day tour with buffet lunch and beverages plus snorkelling gears and towels. All you need to bring is your swimwear and cameras because they will take care of everything else.

The view around Bacuit Bay is breathtaking. These are sceneries and backdrops that I only saw previously in magazines and travel guides, but I couldn’t believe that I was actually here in person. Each island that we saw and passed had its own unique charm, from small solitary enclaves to tall mountainous limestone cliffs.

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Here’s a short video of our speedboat ride courtesy of Skipper Charters. The wind just feels amazing! And I can hide from the sun under the covered portion of the speedboat, so that’s a big plus!

Having the luxury of a speedboat makes the trip easier because you have more time to take photos. The Skipper Charters crew took us around the bay for our half-day afternoon island hopping adventure. First stop was at Sabang Beach where the girls all had their glamorous moments in front of the camera. Skipper Charters limits their passengers to only 6-8 guests so there is plenty of room inside the boat for everyone and their personal belongings. The boat also has a covered central area so I can hide from the sun during the ride and just come out when its time for photos. Look out for sea turtles which you can spot under the waters.

Our next destination was at Helicopter Island where we took to the waters for snorkeling. The vibrant underwater world of El Nido can only be seen once you go beneath the waters and it was magical as Bacuit Bay’s reefs are home to more than 800 species of fish and corals. I actually don’t know how to swim, but the crew from Skipper Charters made sure to guide me through the snorkelling activity so I was able to see all the colorful creatures underneath the waves.

Make sure to bring a Go Pro or underwater camera to get these beautiful shots. Good thing Mr, Jeng from Food in the Bag brought one for us.

Then as the sun was beginning to set, we headed to one of the most marvelous places on Earth. The Big Lagoon is where most tourists and travellers go to complete their El Nido adventure. After passing through this narrow channel, you will see paradise and untouched nature in all its glory.

Kayaks and rafts are also available for rent at the Big and Small Lagoons if you want to get closer to the action or take those unbelievable drone shots.

Our guides also showed us the Secret Lagoon which can only be accessed by riding a kayak or swimming underneath that small entrance. If you want to see what it looks inside, then you should plan your trip to El Nido and see for yourself.

It was a short but very meaningful and memorable journey we had at El Nido and Lio Tourism Estate. There’s no need to spend a fortune just to see the waters of El Nido, because Ayala Land has made it possible to explore the bay and enjoy luxury facilities at very friendly rates. The opening of the new airport terminal and the increasing number of foreign tourists coming to the Philippines is sure to keep Lio Tourism Estate busy in the coming months and years. The establishments at Lio may not all be complete yet, but I’m excited to come back and see how it all develops into a fully functional township that will make El Nido accessible to everyone. My journey doesn’t end here, because in a few days, I’ll be jetting off again to El Nido Resorts, this time at the exclusive island paradise of Apulit. But for now, this has been your captain, The Hungry Kat, signing off into the El Nido sunset.

Lio Tourism Estate

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

www.lio.ph

#LioTourismEstate #LoveLio #AyalaLand #ElNido #Palawan #AirSwift #SkipperCharters #IslandHopping #Beach #Philippines #Travel #FlyWithFriends

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