After Puerto Princesa (where my flight arrived), Sabang was the first stop of my motorbike tour of Palawan. Actually, the ride to Sabang is one of the most fascinating and scenic trips I’ve taken anywhere in the Philippines! The local villages, towering elegant trees and limestone cliffs along the way are truly unforgettable. To top things off, the best part of this journey was waiting for me at the end. Here’s my official Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort review…
By Nathan Allen
There is much to love about this property. Tucked away on the edge of Sabang Beach, it has a very rustic and “beachy” vibe. I love the dark hardwood flooring and accents, and the native-style nipa roofs. It was so nice to relax on my own private veranda overlooking the beach. I even had my own rocking chair!
My room was quite spacious, and the bed–well that was something to dream about! Super soft down pillows complimenting a luxurious memory foam mattress. Not sure if it was tempurpedic, but it certainly felt like it. This was just what I needed after a long day of travel.
An Award Winning Filipino-Owned “Eco Resort”
Daluyon has been consistently listed as one of the top “green” eco resorts in the Philippines. Their commitment to the environment is admirable, and was on full display throughout my stay. Another huge plus for me is the fact that the resort has always been Filipino owned. Foreigners have bought up much of the beach property in the Philippines, especially when it comes to luxury resorts. I’m so happy to see Daluyon, (along with Amorita in Bohol) leading the way in upscale Filipino-owned hospitality.
Check Daluyon Rates HERE
Food & Hospitality @ Pawikan Restaurant
Speaking of which, the staff and service at Daluyon features the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for. The front desk, dinner, and management staff all seem to be doing a great job there. Breakfast was pretty good, and I believe is included with the rooms. As for dinner, I have a confession to make. I’m generally not fond of the Filipino favorite called “Crispy Pata”. It consists of fried pork knuckles (fried meats are quite popular in the Philippines). Another dish that isn’t my favorite is “Kare-Kare”. It’s a sweet meat and vegetable dish in a peanut butter sauce.
Now, when I sat down for dinner, I asked for a recommendation, and they actually strongly recommended their own creation, Crispy Pata Kare-Kare…which is a mixture of both of the above dishes! Haha. So, even though I generally don’t like either one, I decided to be brave and take a chance on their recommendation. I’m glad I did! Either it was the masterful way in which the chef prepared it, or just the mixture of the two that made it so much better…but I simply loved it. I was shocked. Well done, Daluyon.
Also worth a good mention is the “Kinilaw Na Tangigue”, which is kind of a Filipino version of ceviche, or raw fish salad. I really love Kinilaw, and this was definitely up there on the list of my favorite versions. Don’t be afraid to try it, it’s quite good! The dinner staff and chef were also kind enough to prepare a special “Fear Factor” version of Kinilaw made with “tamilok”, or giant worms harvested from the mangrove trees.
These “worms” are actually a member of the oyster family, and eating them is said to be an aphrodisiac. It’s much easier to stomach once it’s mixed in with the flavors and ingredients of Kinilaw…you might even find that you like it! If you’ve always wanted to try it, this is definitely a “safe” way to do so. You just need to inform the staff 24 hours in advance, so they will have time to source and prepare the tamilok.
For dessert, I most definitely recommend (as they did) the chocolate lava cake. Just one bite and you’ll know why. FYI, if you’re a beer lover, the resort offers one of-a-kind brews from Palaweño Brewery. Enjoy an Ambog Ale in the tiki bar at the front of the property, or at the pool bar near the back. Very unique!
(Continued below)
Convenient Location for Underground River
Sabang is the jumping off point for the famous Underground River tour, so Daluyon was the perfect location for this. It was nice to not have to wake up super early in the morning and head to Sabang from Puerto Princessa. I had an excellent tour of the Underground River with 8 Dragons Travel and Tours, but I’m sure Daluyon also offers tours for your convenience. Be sure to check out the fascinating mangrove forest tour nearby…you can slip quietly through the mangroves with a guide in a paddle boat. If you’re lucky, you might see the beautiful (but highly venomous) mangrove snakes high in the trees. Don’t worry, they are nocturnal…they sleep during the day:)
Speaking of which, the wild, rugged terrain of Palawan is a big part of why I love it so much. Sabang is a perfect example of this. On top of a highly underrated beach (in my opinion), you can also find an abundance of wildlife if you want to…everything from exotic birds, to giant monitor lizards and curious monkeys.
The Scenic Beauty of Sabang Beach
Perhaps you don’t hear much about Sabang Beach because it’s not the best for swimming. I think it has a steep drop off with a strong current. However, scenically, it has everything I love –plenty of coconut trees for shade, and mountains lining the edges, similar to El Nido. For these reasons, along with the wildlife, it is picture-perfect, and one of my favorite parts of the Philippines.
Besides all that, you know how some places just give you a special feeling the minute you arrive? Sabang has always been that way for me. To me, it’s an enchanting jungle wonderland, and I just love it.
Contact Info, Reviews & Rates
I would like to thank Daluyon Resort for the opportunity to share this experience with you. It is an excellent location for a family or couples getaway. Come see for yourself, I think you’ll be happy you did!
Check Daluyon Rates HERE
– Nathan Allen
Social Media
Goodbye, Gopro…I Finally Review the TG-4 Underwater Camera in the Philippines
Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…
comments powered by Disqus