Southern Luzon - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 201

statuettes, wooden ladders and buoys, and wind chimes
singing in the breeze. There are hammocks and swinging
chairs, as well as a little hut w ith cush ioned seating, perfect
for kicking back with a book. P1200
Luxor Resort Brgy Pangi, 1.5km north of Gasan T 042
332 0063. This new resort has gone for a Thai Buddha
theme, with all seven cottages on the grassy grounds
featuring Buddha pictures. All rooms have a/c, flatscreen
TV and private bath with rain showers, and there's a
pleasant garden with a welcoming shaded a rea by the
sea that is a perfect spot to enjoy a sundowner. P1500
Villa sa Aplaya'a Beach Resort Brgy Ihatub T 042
332 1882, W villasaaplaya.com. The buildings may be
drab and grey, but the great-value rooms are a pleasant
surprise; most have a/c, fridge and veranda with loungers.
The pebbly garden is dotted with tables and a few concrete
deck chairs, and th ere's a surprisingly large indoor
badminton court, too. P1200

value, while the cheaper a/c doubles and twins (P1600) are
not as appealing. You can also cam p for P300 (plus entrance
fee to the springs of P70). P1300

POCTOY
★

Beach Club Cagpo Brgy Cagpo T 0921 993 2537,
W beachclubcagpo.com. Located on a lovely stretch of
sand, the blue and white rooms take their inspiration
from Greece, with rough whitewashed walls and paintings
of Greek islands. There's a welcoming a/c cottage (P1350),
as well as one standard fan room and a deluxe fan room
(P1250). The restaurant serves international dishes
prepared with fresh herbs from the garden, including great
home-made burgers (P165), vegetable curry (P140) and
wood-fired pizzas (P330) . There' s also a n eight-bed dorm
with lockers. Dorm P350 ; double P1100

SANTA CRUZ
Dewey Hotel Brgy Maharlika T 042 660 7904. This
new hotel composed of two green and yellow buildings
offers clean rooms with mustard-yellow tiles; there are
also spacious family rooms (P2200) with two double beds,
and a little rooftop pool with a coupl e of sun loungers. Food
can be cooked upon request. P1400

BUENAVISTA AND AROUND
Bellarocca Island Resort Elefante Island T 02 310
9931, W bellaroccaresorts.com. Located just off the coast
of southern Marinduque on the small Elefante Island,
this upmarket resort attracts well-heeled Filipinos and
Korean honeymooners, and features whitewashed houses
sprinkled along the island's hillside. It's more for couples
than families, with just a small beach but a variety of
waters ports in cluding jetskiing, kayaking and scuba
diving. US$500
Curba Farm Resort Brgy Uno T 0948 714 3488,
E [e-mail]. There's a cowboy theme
going on here, with framed guns and Wild West memorabilia
decorating the premises. The four rooms are on a grassy slope
looking over an inviting pool with an artificial waterfall;
there's also a billiards table, and an attached resto-bar with
outdoor seating serving local and international dishes,
including mixed seafoo d (P185 ) and T-bone steaks (P349).
Rates include breakfast. P1200
Marinduque Hot Springs Sitio Mainit, Malbog, Km3
T 0917 382 9416. Set on lovely verdant grounds, this
resort offers a series of rooms connected by a pebbly
pathway dotted with wooden statuettes; the spacious
family rooms (P2600) with two double beds are great

4

SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Lucita's Cottages Maniwaya Island T 0949 854 1229,
E [e-mail]. This family-run place offers
three simple, cosy cottages just a stone's throw from the
beach - a great spot if you're on a budget and just want
to laze. One of the cottag es is la rger, with its own well-
equipped kitchen (P1500). P1000
Residencia De Palo Maria Maniwaya Island T 0919
237 5633, E [e-mail]. The
best accommodation option on the island offers comfort-
able a/c rooms with cable TV (P2000), as well as cheaper
native cottages that are equally as welcoming, and even
feature their own little outdoor patio with flatscreen TV.
There's a breezy restaurant by the swimming pool serving
local dishes (P165), and the resort offers all manner of
water activities, including banana boating, scuba diving,
water skiing and kayaking. P1500

EATING AND DRINKING
BOAC
BFC Restaurant Brgy Malusak T 0921 298 4688. This
cosy little restaurant features dark brick walls and wooden
tables, and gets particularly busy at lunchtime. The menu
includes the usual Filipino staples, including beef steak
(P120), chicken dishes (P60) and chop suey (P75). Daily
7am-7pm.
★

colonial building with polished hardwood floors. The
owner, a keen musician, has a fascinating collection of
old musical instruments, including an antique double
bass, trombone, trumpet and sax - all displayed along the
restaurant's walls. The restaurant specializes in coconut
dishes - try the native chicken cooked in coconut milk
(P225). Daily 10am-9pm.
La Concha Brgy Malusak T 042 332 2854. This no frills
self-service joint with menus plastered over the walls offers

Casa de Don Emilio Mercader St T 042 332 1699.
The best restaurant in town is in a beautiful Spanish