Last June, I joined fellow bloggers for a three day stay at Amorita, a cliffside resort near the stretch of the famed Alona beach of Panglao island. This relaxing trip was exactly what I needed to cap off a physically grueling month - juggling Saturday games playing in the Corporate Football League and swim training for the Caramoan Openwater challenge.
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| marine sanctuary at the back of Amorita resort |
From Manila, we flew via Air Asia to Tagbilaran, the provincial capital of Bohol. Domestic flights of Air Asia depart from NAIA Terminal 4 and much to the delight of my frequently hungry stomach - has now more options for food and brewed coffee at the departure area (There's Papa John's, Cinnabon, Krispy Kreme, Seattle's Best and more).
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| Boarding Air Asia's air bus to Tagbilaran city, Bohol |
From Tagbilaran airport, we were picked up by the resort shuttle and we traveled another 30-40 minutes to Panglao island.
"Honeymoon" suite for one
Our first day was all about getting oriented with the resort. I stayed in a spacious, 80 sqm one bedroom suite. Its earthy colors - a mix of brown, black white and grey is relaxing to the eyes while the dim, yellow lighting exuded a romantic and sexy vibe.
To me, it feels like a room fitting for sultry interactions. It was mocking me, a budding spinster. I managed to stand my ground and I truly enjoyed my room. The welcome treats - a basket of fruits and a jar of chocolate cookies (which were heavenly by the way!) helped.
It was so quiet inside my room, I could hear my thoughts - which go around in my head like fruits being processed in a blender, it's noisy. :P I decided to put on some music from my phone so I can regain my focus. Thankfully, there's a loudbasstard amplifier in my room. My phone fit perfectly in the slot and music sounded crisp. (My playlist for the entire trip was "Beach Vibes" by Spotify. If you want to listen to it, just search for it on Spotify :)).
During our stay, I managed to try the comfortable king-size bed inside my room and the two day beds outside. What can I say, I love sleep. :)
You really don't need to go out much when you're staying at Amorita. For food, there's Saffron restaurant which serves Boholano and Western dishes and Tomar, a tapas bar. (Tip from one foodie to another : The chocolate milk served at the breakfast buffet is really good, it's like a melted chocolate bar minus the sickeningly sweet taste. Had I discovered it before I consumed three heaping plates of food, I would have skipped the other dishes. :P)
The food at Tomar where we dined on the second night was delightfully memorable. Everything was a harmonious combination of herbs and spices. Unfortunately, I got overly enthusiastic at eating, I wasn't able to take as much photos as I wanted and I ended with this messy shot below. While I'm a little embarrassed about that photo, I have no regrets - especially when I think about all the time I spent on actually eating rather than trying to get a good shot. (That said, I have no beef with people who love taking food shots within a reasonable time and I admire those who can take beautiful food shots so effortlessly!)
Amorita offers packages inclusive for website and direct bookings: unlimited beverages including standard wines, local beers, and house cocktails from 12 noon to 8PM at Saffron Restaurant, Tomar Bar, and Azotea Lounge, per paid night stay. To book, click here.
If you're into sports and water activities, you can also try volleyball, kayaking, paddleboarding and SCUBA diving. Amorita has its own in-house dive center along Alona beach which is managed by PADI-certified Sea Explorers Philippines.
Amorita has its own access to a protected marine sanctuary that has lots of colorful fishes and corals. It has a narrow shore with a few lounge chairs for sunbathers. I rarely stay put whenever I see water so I decided for a solo swim at 3:00 PM. Seeing that I was swimming alone, one of the supervisors (?) was kind enough to ask the guard watch over me. I was advised to stay close to shore which I obediently followed. What I love about the water here is that you can see the bottom of the sea so it feels less intimidating while the area past the buoys which is off limits anyway, is where you can find the deeper, bluer section of the water. I swam for a good 40 minutes - shoving thoughts of violent sea creatures attacking me.
Me and my new found friend, Abi from Sting Like Abi tried tandem kayaking on our last day. The use of kayak is free when you're staying at Amorita and it's just a short, 15 minute paddle from Alona beach to the marine sanctuary at the back of the resort. After kayaking, we joined Edgar for some more snorkeling.
I also love that there's plenty of amenites at Amorita when you're not in the mood to do anything.There's plenty of lounge chairs around - near the rooms and beside the pool area, it's perfect for someone who prefers to do nothing - which I also enjoy once in a while. The massage at Sea Tree Spa is also a treat. While you can choose to have it in your room, I opted to enjoy it at the facility itself which is situated just beside the reception area. Its warm decors, friendly staff and most importantly, the massage itself was soothing. I was totally relieved of muscle sores.
Then there's the infinity pool. It looks small when you're staring at it from the pool side but when we did an evening swam, I realized it's not as short as I thought it was, it's probably at least 20 meters long and you should be able to enjoy a good pool work-out.
Other activities outside the resort include island hopping, snorkeling and dolphin watching. From Alona beach, we rode a boat that took us near Pamilacan island to watch dolphins in their usual playground. I put up a video of the dolphins on my Instagram account. Click here to watch the clip. :) Exuding a carefree character, dolphins feels so amazing to see in the wild. Their movement in the water is contagious, nearly everyone in the group exclaimed when they saw them come out.
Balicasag island which can be combined with a trip to Pamilacan is a popular site for diving and snorkeling. The water is azure and you can already find fishes and vibrant corals in the shallow area. Of course, it's also exciting to venture into the deeper section of the ocean which we discovered in the area where we snorkeled. It was a sheer drop, thankfully, the currents weren't strong. (More information on diving and snorkeling at Balicasag island at the Sea Explorers website)
Other places of interest near Amorita resort include Alona beach, a 1.5 KM stretch of beach and can be considered as the center of tourist activity in Panglao island. Also a good visit is Bohol Bee Farm. Located just 8.8 KM away from Amorita, it serves delicious, organic dishes. They also have a store which has souvenirs and farm products (I love their squash muffins and their ice cream!) For more information on where to go in Bohol, visit their provincial tourism website, here. (Oh BTW, when you pass by Tagbilaran city, please try the food at Garden Cafe, a restaurant that gives employment opportunities to the deaf.:))
Amorita is a Spanish word which means "My Little Darling". During our stay, the resort, with its amiable staff, classy rooms, great food and amenities has won me over. What an honor it was to finally meet Bohol's Little Darling!
(Related Post : In 2010, I went on a kayak trip in Panglao with Buzzy Budlong. In 2009, he and Singaporean adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow established the first kayak trail in the Philippines starting from Sarangani to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Post here)
Room Rates :
PHP 11,607 - one bedroom suite"Honeymoon" suite for one
Our first day was all about getting oriented with the resort. I stayed in a spacious, 80 sqm one bedroom suite. Its earthy colors - a mix of brown, black white and grey is relaxing to the eyes while the dim, yellow lighting exuded a romantic and sexy vibe.
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| This photo shows the kitchen, living room and balcony area of my one bedroom suite at Amorita. |
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| Here's a collage of the bedroom and the spacious bathroom |
During our stay, I managed to try the comfortable king-size bed inside my room and the two day beds outside. What can I say, I love sleep. :)
You really don't need to go out much when you're staying at Amorita. For food, there's Saffron restaurant which serves Boholano and Western dishes and Tomar, a tapas bar. (Tip from one foodie to another : The chocolate milk served at the breakfast buffet is really good, it's like a melted chocolate bar minus the sickeningly sweet taste. Had I discovered it before I consumed three heaping plates of food, I would have skipped the other dishes. :P)
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| Saffron Restaurant. |
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| One of the many plates of tapas I enjoyed that evening. I am just shameless. |
If you're into sports and water activities, you can also try volleyball, kayaking, paddleboarding and SCUBA diving. Amorita has its own in-house dive center along Alona beach which is managed by PADI-certified Sea Explorers Philippines.
Amorita has its own access to a protected marine sanctuary that has lots of colorful fishes and corals. It has a narrow shore with a few lounge chairs for sunbathers. I rarely stay put whenever I see water so I decided for a solo swim at 3:00 PM. Seeing that I was swimming alone, one of the supervisors (?) was kind enough to ask the guard watch over me. I was advised to stay close to shore which I obediently followed. What I love about the water here is that you can see the bottom of the sea so it feels less intimidating while the area past the buoys which is off limits anyway, is where you can find the deeper, bluer section of the water. I swam for a good 40 minutes - shoving thoughts of violent sea creatures attacking me.
 |
| The marine sanctuary at the back of Amorita Resort |
I also love that there's plenty of amenites at Amorita when you're not in the mood to do anything.There's plenty of lounge chairs around - near the rooms and beside the pool area, it's perfect for someone who prefers to do nothing - which I also enjoy once in a while. The massage at Sea Tree Spa is also a treat. While you can choose to have it in your room, I opted to enjoy it at the facility itself which is situated just beside the reception area. Its warm decors, friendly staff and most importantly, the massage itself was soothing. I was totally relieved of muscle sores.
 |
| Infinity pool beside Saffron Restaurant, offering a view of the Bohol Sea |
Other activities outside the resort include island hopping, snorkeling and dolphin watching. From Alona beach, we rode a boat that took us near Pamilacan island to watch dolphins in their usual playground. I put up a video of the dolphins on my Instagram account. Click here to watch the clip. :) Exuding a carefree character, dolphins feels so amazing to see in the wild. Their movement in the water is contagious, nearly everyone in the group exclaimed when they saw them come out.
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| Our boat docking at Balicasag island. |
Other places of interest near Amorita resort include Alona beach, a 1.5 KM stretch of beach and can be considered as the center of tourist activity in Panglao island. Also a good visit is Bohol Bee Farm. Located just 8.8 KM away from Amorita, it serves delicious, organic dishes. They also have a store which has souvenirs and farm products (I love their squash muffins and their ice cream!) For more information on where to go in Bohol, visit their provincial tourism website, here. (Oh BTW, when you pass by Tagbilaran city, please try the food at Garden Cafe, a restaurant that gives employment opportunities to the deaf.:))
Amorita is a Spanish word which means "My Little Darling". During our stay, the resort, with its amiable staff, classy rooms, great food and amenities has won me over. What an honor it was to finally meet Bohol's Little Darling!
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| Group photo before flying back to Manila with Ms. Kata Agmata of Amorita Resort and fellow bloggers, (L-R) Edgar of EAZYTraveler, Melo fr Out of Town Blog, Mervin fr Pinoy Adventurista, Me, Nina Fuentes of Just Wandering and Abi fr Sting Like Abi |
- Includes daily breakfast, round trip airport or seaport transfers, government tax. Only 50% deposit is taken upon booking. Refundable subject to applicable cancellation policy.
Other room types are available. Visit the Amorita Resort website for more information.
How to get to Amorita Resort?
From Manila, take a flight to Tagbilaran city. From Tagbilaran, travel by van/tricycle/jeep to Panglao island. Ask driver to drop you off at Amorita Resort.
Amorita guests can be picked up by the resort shuttle from the airport or seaport.
*Air Asia has daily flights to Tagbilaran. For fares and schedules, visit airasia.com.
Amorita Resort
1 Ester A. Lim Drive,Barangay Tawala, Alona Beach
Panglao Island, Bohol
Facebook Page : Amorita Resort
Instagram : @AmoritaResortBohol
Bookings can be done directly through their website, www.amoritaresort.com. You can also get special rates through Agoda. Click here to book.
Vacation Packages check here.
Trip Advisor reviews here
Mobile Number:+63 0917 861 9441
Resort's contact numbers :
Landline: +63 38 502 9002
Mobile: 0917 726 4526
Amorita Resort is not just for vacationers, it is also open to those who need a venue for a corporate function or a celebration in the family. To inquire, get in touch with the resort directly.
For discounted rates, check out Agoda.
Amorita Resort is under the One-of Collection, the same company that owns The Funny Lion resort (Coron), Sta. Monica Beach Club (Dumaguete) and Momo Beach Club (Momo beach, also in Bohol)