Tours
BURO BURO CAVE
This is a tricky tour but well worth the effort. One of the best kept secrets in the Philippines, the cave has to be accessed at low tide and this necessitates a kilometre walk along a pleasant Calicoan beach, followed by a granite floor, hewn by the Pacific breakers, the breakers come so close you’d swear they were going to sweep you away. Some fantastic views of giant Pacific waveforms are accessible. (October through to April is excellent for surfing). As you round the outermost point, the power of the Pacific takes your breath away and you are lulled into a cove which hides the Buro Buro. Hewn from Philippines granite by the Pacific Ocean, the cave is testament to the natural beauty of the Calicoan area. Bats hang from the cathedral like ceiling, small birds glide in and out of the cave and the darkness beckons you inside to an almost womblike comfort. The muffled Pacific Ocean whispers along the walls and deep into the earthly orifice. Bats chirrup as they seek a safer purchase, a light shines through a small, high opening, scything the black void, deep inside the earth. The distance is difficult to guage, is it one metre or a mile? Close your eyes, seal them with your hands and wait for as long as you can before opening them once more. The Cave swells open and the massive granite structure beckons you within EXPLORE.
Discovered in the Philippines only recently the Buro Buro has seen few tourists in an existence spanning millenniums, it has been hidden in this cove for millions of years and will still be here in the Philippines for millions of years to come.. When the cave has finished with you, walk farther up the Calicoan coastline (200 metres) to a small but perfectly formed, white sand, half moon beach. Shells are plentiful in this area. Over the beach there are granite formations with red and green algae and a landscape that looks like a planet from Star Trek. Then move forward to the giant’s flush where the power of the Pacific Ocean, rolling up from the challenger deep, forces thousands of gallons of sea water through a small opening and into a tight granite bowl. The giant snores at the northern most tip of the bowl and he whispers a warning in your ear, If anyone falls, they are mine to keep, hang on to your loved ones.
At the other side of the bowl the granite steps block the force of the ocean and giant fountains race skyward as the ocean smashes against the rocks, here’s where you run out of film or batteries, or both. Probably one of the most spectacular wave shows in the Philippines and you have a front row seat, with or without the spray, it is your choice. Further North, the granite bars your way but the picture opportunities by the sea are exceptional. Every crash of a wave is different and even more spectacular than the last, you’ll be glad you brought the extra film / batteries. This has to be one of the best tidal adventures in the Philippines.
Time passes and you must get back, in a few hours all this will be lost once more to the pull of the moon and no earthly being will survive to tell the tale. All this in one small visit is hard to absorb, you may even wish to return to Buro Buro but whatever happens and wherever you go in the Philippines Calicoan island, you will never forget the power exhibited by nature and your newfound spirit of life.
Approx 30 minutes easy drive from Villa Pacific, the Philippines vacation rental villa.
The distance being approximately 30 kilometres from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, holiday rental villa.
Note!
Reasonable footwear (old trainers not flip flops) should be worn.
Take more film / batteries than you need, you’ll need it.
Children should be strong enough to walk through moving water / light surf.
Health and Safety in the Philippines is your responsibility
SAMULAN BEACH
There comes a time on all vacations when you feel at one with the world. This is how we felt at Samulan beach. The Beach is 15 minutes lazy walk from Sulangan and could have been a thirty-hour flight the difference was so great. To access Samulan you have to cross a lush grass landscape probably the only one in the Philippines. The walk follows the creek, which separates Sulangan from the main Island of Calicoan. The beach is a creamy, powdery, white sand utopia. A line of the finest sea shells marks the high tide of the day. Cowries, Coral, Conches, Scallops, all manner of shells are plentiful and as we walked along the beach the most delicately painted seabird eggs lay in small scratched hollows, no one disturbed them for fear of breaking the dream. On the left, coconut palms swayed in the onshore breeze, to the right a clear turquoise ocean rippled almost silently against the shoreline. A slight rumbling thunder echoed in from the reef where the white tipped breakers crashed near the horizon. Leonardo De Caprio can keep THE BEACH, we wanted this one. It came as no surprise to learn that this was where the local villagers came to picnic, this was the best beach they knew and considering the number of beaches in the Philippines, this was an unquestionable recommendation. We walked for miles along Calicoans shoreline and never tired, saw countless sea bird nests with their jewel like contents, we stopped picking at the shells and left them on their painted canvas, if we could have erased our footprints, we would have done so but we knew the tide, or another more perfect being, would do that for us. There was something about this haunting place that nurtured the soul and we had no desire to disturb it, we left in silence, fulfilled and at peace.
Approx 15 minutes lazy walk from Villa Pacific, the Philippines vacation rental villa.
The distance being 2 easy kilometres from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, holiday rental villa.
PEARL ISLAND (MARINE RESERVATION)
At high tide a boat plucked us from the white sandy beach at the front of the Villa. We headed North along the coastline, wending our way through fishing boats, reefs and the occasional sandbar. Guiuan was soon in view and we could see Tanghay Lodge, the restaurant where we had enjoyed a sumptuous meal the night before. The canoe threaded between a gap in the islands and ahead in the distance a tiny but beautifully formed island appeared to rise out of the haze. The sea was crystal clear and sparkled in the sunlight as we pulled alongside a small jetty and disembarked. After a brief respite under the palms we donned our snorkels and took to the sea. The corals were amazing, interspersed with clams as big as a small family car. There were oyster beds and myriads of multi-coloured fish. A barracuda (4 or 5 feet long) came too close for comfort and I took off my watch and placed it in my pocket, perhaps the stainless steel sparkles were too much of an attraction. Non-swimmers took the glass-bottomed boat; we floated for hours observing a natural marine environment where the fish had no fear. A great way to snorkel in a flat calm bay. The corals were slightly damaged where they hit the shore but a little further out they were outstanding, almost like underwater fireworks, a great day out for swimmers and snorkelers alike.
Approx 1 hour 15 minutes by moto canoe from Villa Pacific, the Philippines vacation rental villa.
The distance being 15 easy kilometres from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, holiday rental villa.
GUIUAN AIRBASE
As you track the concrete path that snakes through the Philippines jungle, with high palms and thick bush on both sides, it comes as a surprise when the whole sky opens before you and a silent calm befalls the land. A thin black strip of tarmac opens out to reveal a previously hidden runway almost perfect in form and function. Freshly painted white lines slice the runway in half; white cranes stand calmly in the lush, green verge. The clouds look down on this tiny strip of black and someone, somewhere, in the vast human chain of life is sobbing at what this tiny strip of asphalt represents.
At approximately 2:00am on the morning of August 6th, the Enola Gay, an American B29 Super Fortress started on the long flight from Philippines, Guiuan Airport. Two observation planes carrying cameras and scientific instruments followed behind her.
After 6:00, Captain Tibbets announced to his crew that the plane was carrying the worlds first atomic bomb. At 8-16am, Hiroshima Japan was wiped off the world map.
On August 9th From the same Philipppines airbase, Fat Boy was dropped on Nagasaki and the war was effectively at an end
So when you stand on that tiny black scar of asphalt in the Philippines remember the enormous consequences of those days in 1945 and you will suddenly realise why, in the hustle and bustle of the Philippine archipelago the place you are visiting, is as silent as the grave.
Approx 30 minutes drive from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, vacation rental villa.
The distance being 30 kilometres from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, holiday rental villa.
SOHOTON CAVE
Located about 5 to 10 minutes from Basey town proper. The cave can be accessed by canoe which is a much more interesting photographic opportunity. A guide will be required to take you through the cave. A torch is recommended but not necessary as the guide will provide a petromax lamp that he will carry, the torch is for your benefit. The guide will be responsible for your safe entry and exit of the cave and he will not jeopardise this fact regardless of your requirements.
Sohoton is a large, convoluted cave with natural rock formations where old folks used to hide during the Pulahan days. The cave twists and turns along some very interesting galleries of rock and sand. There are stalactites and stalagmites everywhere you turn, including some very weird formations which could be considered quite rude. The cave tour last approximately one hour, has some great picture opportunities and will thrill young and old alike.
Although this is a deep cave, normal trainers are ok as the rock formations are solid, however due to the damp nature of the cave flip flops are not recommended and you should listen to the guide and his instructions carefully.
Approx 120 minutes drive from Villa Pacific, the Philippines vacation rental villa.
Distance being 120 kilometres from Villa Pacific, the Philippines, holiday rental villa.
HANGING ROCK HEALTH SPA
We called it the Hanging Rock Health Spa simply because of its potential benefits to your health. First of all, the overhanging rock means you can swim in the middle of the day, in the shade, without fear of sunburn, excellent. Secondly, the inlet is surrounded by Mangroves that remove any pollutants from the sea and produce crystal clear, clean salty water. Third, the hanging rock is volcanic and the whole swimming area sits on a volcanic bed which exudes volcanic minerals into the sea. Swimming under hanging rock with a snorkel means you can sea hundreds of multicoloured fish and crabs. The water flows in layers of hot and cold, salty, sea water which is strangely soothing and the kids seem to think the water has healing properties for their cuts, scrapes and bits of exposed skin which has acquired sunburn. Why do we call it hanging rock health spa, try it for yourself and see. Best times are weekdays when the place will be empty but at the weekends it becomes the favourite place for the locals to take a relaxing soak, a tonic to the aches and pains of a working week. At just 10 minutes walk from the villa it is a great place for swimming and snorkelling with healthy soothing results.
Just a short walk through the village from the Philippines holiday Villa
Can be accessed from the sea by canoe from the front of Philippines vacation villa.
HOMONHON Approx 120 minutes by boat, piloted by the pirates of the South Pacific, from Villa Pacific, Philippines, vacation rental.
We set out from the beach villa early one morning around 6-00am, Homonhon could be seen far across the bay a brooding shadow against the morning glow. The boat had a good canopy to shield it’s occupants from the sun but some preferred to sit on the bow of the boat and enjoy the sea and spray. Although quite long, 2 to 3 hours depending on currents, the journey time passed quickly as there were lots of fish and ocean travellers who made the most of our brief contact. Homonhon loomed larger as the hours passed and soon we were searching for that famous bay. The Magellan landing area was flat calm and we could sea every fish in the surrounding ocean, it was brilliant for viewing corals and the myriads of multicoloured fish. Those who had snorkels squealed with delight into the breather tube as the clearest of days revealed every single nook and cranny on the reef bed.
After a refreshing swim we made our way up to the high point and stood in awe at the monument to one of the worlds great ocean voyagers. Magellan himself had walked up the same piece of beach, across the same piece of land and proclaimed his find, despite being Portuguese, for the King of Spain.
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) was a Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition that sailed around the Earth (1519-1522). Early in his career, Magellan sailed to India and the Far East many times African Cape of Good Hope. He sailed for his native Portugal, but a dispute with the Portuguese King Manoel II turned him against the Portuguese. Thereafter, he sailed for Spain.
Magellan and his friend the astronomer Ruy de Falero proposed to King Charles V (of Spain) that a westward voyage around the tip of South America would take them to the Moluccas (spice-rich islands) and avoid the Portuguese (with whom they were competing fiercely). The voyage began September 8, 1519, and lasted until September 6, 1522 (almost 3 years). Magellan sailed from Seville, Spain, with five ships, the Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria, and Santiago. Three years later, only one ship (the Victoria) made it back to Seville, carrying only 18 of the original 270 crew members. Magellan was killed towards the end of the voyage, in the Philippines, during a battle with the natives. The Basque navigator Juan Sebastián de Elcano (del Cano) completed the trip.
Standing near that very spot where Magellan landed you can’t help feeling awed by the sheer enormity of what Magellan achieved in a ship made of wood that was powered by the wind, amazing.
The journey back to Sulangan was immensley pleasurable as the sun set behind us and turned the Philippines sea orange in our wake. In the distance they had switched on the external lights at Villa Pacific and the welcoming glow reached across the sea to meet us. Another day of memories that will last a lifetime.
THE YOGA CENTRE
Constructed against a volcanic cliff face, the Yoga centre is worth the visit for the spectacular timber frame and stair climb engineering. The Yoga centre is accessed through a jungle path and steep wooden staircase hanging against the volcanic outcrop. Mosquito spray is recommended but once you reach the observation deck you’ll be amazed at the Pacific views. Still unfinished the Yoga centre offers an insight into the lengths some of the new investors are delivering to the locality. Well worth the visit the Yoga Centre is only a few minutes drive from the Villa between Sulangan and the Surf Camp make sure you take a camera.
Just a few minutes drive from Villa Pacific your tropical vacation Villa
THINGS TO DO AT VILLA PACIFIC
Dear Enquirer,
I will try to answer your amenities (Things to do when we get to Villa Pacific) questions as best as I can as I know this is what most people want to know.
what about first checking out the amenities page on our website: www.villapacific.co.uk and if that isn’t enough how about:
We have Volleyball Court and Badminton court at the Villa, you can play football if you like and swing in the hammocks to your hearts content. The Villa sits on a private beach. Villa Pacific is surrounded by beautiful beaches, swimming areas and places to snorkel. Samulan Beach (Fantastic for Beach Combing and Shells) I guarantee you will find shells you have never seen before. The national surfing beach of the Philippines is 10 minutes away for some of the best surfing in the world. We have tours that are so fantastic (Buro Buro Cave) you’ll be knocked out. Take some snorkels to Pearl Island, it is better than swimming in a tropical fish tank (Check our website Reviews page). Do they like astronomy? At night the South Pacific Sky is full of stars and Galaxies, float on your back in the sea or lay on the beach and look to the heavens, there is always something moving up there and plenty to see, the shooting stars are unbelievable. Do they like fishing? Wait while they hook a 100kg tuna on a line and it drags their canoe around the South Pacific for a couple of hours (Check out the size of the Tuna in Records tumbling in Sulangan in Reviews) There are Karaoke huts where you can have a beer and sing the night away to the latest (Would you believe Arctic Monkeys) songs or any music of your choice. There are lots of other kids on the island who speak English and WILL make friends with your kids because they like to practise their English and above all make new friends. They are very good kids with good parents and will teach your kids all about the Philippines, the fishing village, Sulangan etc. it will be an education in disguise.
We have a motorbike and Boy the co-coordinator will take single passengers all over the island to airports, lobster farms, fish Farms, (Boys mum owns a fish farm where you can have a canoe and a look around for as long as you like). Or groups can go in one jeepney (Same sort of vehicle as Jurassic Park).
The Challenger Deep, the deepest Ocean in the world is just West of Calicoan Island and the beaches get covered in all sorts of shells, the sort of stuff that you never see back home unless your in a shop that makes Big lanterns out of them. Homonhon if the sea is OK we can take you to the place where Magellan landed, either by motor launch if available or big canoe, on the way there you can fish for big tuna and I mean BIG Tuna. There are wild monkeys, Butterflies as big as dinner plates and Boy can show you spiders as big as a baseball caps if you like. If you’re tough enough, we will spray you with insect repellent and take you deep into the jungle on a survival course where you have to survive on Coconuts, coconut milk, pineapples, Mangoes and fresh shrimps BBQd on open fires and no sandwiches from Subway. We will let you drive powered canoes, go fishing with the natives, and see things in the South Pacific that will make your friends and family back home gasp with amazement when you tell them your stories of adventure complete with photographs.
If you have 5 to 10 Year olds, you lucky lucky people, please cherish the days, walk to bottom of garden open the gate, sit in hammock and watch, apart from a check on sunscreen and feeding times, no further input required. Leyte bay is calm and soothing, beautiful for small children and shallow for 50 metres or more.
Weather - the rainy season is December / January so you may get some showers at this time but mostly sunshine and a typically tropical climate of about 30 degrees so even if it does rain you just carry on with what your doing and when it stops you dry out. (Just like Florida but better) We swim in the sea when it rains, it is so refreshing. When we were there in December it was hot most of the time and my head was burned even though I had sun cream but my hair is a bit sparse these days. Sulangan has its own microclimate as it is a tiny island and there is little landmass to start major storms so it is always reasonable weather down there.
The Villa has a state of the art Kitchen, food is easy to purchase and take to the Villa, there is a market in the town and some restaurants about 30 minutes away and you can rent a jeep for just a couple of pounds/dollars for just your family £5/8 dollars is about 500 pesos and will get you anywhere on the island.
There are no nightclubs and bars and therefore no drunks, but a crate of San Miguel beer costs about £5, Bottles of wine are quite cheap and you can organise your own bar in the Villa have a drink on your patio overlooking the sea and watch the sun go down, yes it drops into the sea in front of the Villa, a Magical experience every night.
For £5 a day you can hire a tour guide
For £5 a day you can have a cook, or laundry person or even a shopper who will do everything you like, your wife will be spoiled. You can have a BBQ outside every night if you like and eat fresh shrimps, prawns and seafood it is entirely up to you.
Best rates - flat family rate for a family of four is £60 per night for the whole villa which is brand new as of January 2006 There is a dual fuel cooker in a central island, a new microwave, hot showers and
cold water, 4 master bedrooms with en-suites all with air-conditioning and lots of wardrobe space. There is also an attic where we put bored teenagers and make them revise for exams.
See attached PDFs
Flights - As with the UK & Europe this is dependent on School times i.e. Kids at school prices are lower, kids off school prices go up. From the UK we normally pay around £450 - 500 quid for flights to Manila (Qatar or Emirates Airlines or even KLM do a good deal with around £50 for a flight to Tacloban click on links and try travel bag or E-Bookers for the latest prices.
Advice, Tips and recommendations - OK, please see (PDFs) which we will send and read them to your hearts content. Just remember, this is not your usual package holiday this is an adventure and if you are a bit nervous, so is everyone else when they are enquiring but when they get there, hey! I have had people call me from the Philippines (At 3-00am in the morning) to say how thrilled they are, some could not believe the size of the Villa (I designed the floor space) and it is big, it is spacious and you will not want to leave.
We are here for you with the personal touch and when you go to the Philippines we have people there who will guide you every step of the way or leave you in peace, it is entirely up to you. Just remember one thing I cannott control the weather or the tides but I can make sure you have the time of your life. If you want three square meals a day to a set programme, crowded hotels and beaches with towels on empty sun beds, with thousands of tourists, lager louts and yobbish teenagers, this is not for you, this is peace and tranquillity between amazing adventures.
Remember at Villa Pacific you are the rulers and will be treated accordingly.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
villa pacific - Philippines vacation Beach villa
Homepage: http://www.villapacific.co.uk
Self Catering beach villa in the philippines
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Description: Luxury Beach villa the Phillipines for holiday rental
Self Catering beach villa in the philippines
Summary: villa pacific - Philippines vacation beach villa
http://www.villapacific.co.uk
Self Catering beach villa in the philippines
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