An intimate nature escape at Acuaverde Beach Resort

Sunny days and warm weather signal the start of summer. Picture yourself laying back on a comfortable sunlounger, blue sea waters ahead and a cool shade protecting you from the heat. This season it’s all about you taking a break from the busy city life in favor of sand beneath your feet and a cool drink at your fingertips. It is the quintessential vacation experience, the kind of rest and relaxation you can get at Acuaverde Beach Resort.

Located very near Manila — a two-hour trip in good traffic — in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas, Acuaverde is slowly gaining prominence as one of the best nature resort destinations in the country. The province is known for having some of the greatest beach and snorkeling sites for vacationers who don’t want to spend several hours on the road just to have some fun in the sun. The resort’s proximity to Manila lets you choose between just having a day tour to enjoy the beach and the facilities or having a couple of nights’ stay in any of Acuaverde’s 26 well-appointed rooms.

Compared to neighboring sister resort Acuatico which is just a few steps away from Acuaverde, the energy here is more lax. The hotel resort created in 2008 is, in itself, an excellently built modern structure with tropical amenities such as an infinity pool and cottages. It can be said that Acuaverde, which opened later in 2011, is of equal quality, possessing a different energy.

“Our mission is to provide a ‘homey’ atmosphere and genuine Filipino hospitality in an environment close to nature,” says resident manager Noel Brania. “We want to be different by being laidback and relaxing.”

Occupying nearly a hectare of land, Acuaverde is a true nature resort, built around the huge trees which have thrived and existed long before its opening three years ago. Rooms and villas are spread across Acuaverde’s sprawling property overlooking the beach’s coarse sand and blue waters.

The resort faces east, letting guests greet every morning with a cheerful sunrise. Every structure at Acuaverde is highlighted by natural elements such as bamboo and cogon wood, inspired by nipa huts which are small yet comfortable.

Landscaped to embrace its wide open space, the resort only has 26 rooms of three different types, offering an intimate alternative to other resorts which are packed to the brim with guests. Even on its full days, Acuaverde has a quiet atmosphere that lets you pick your spot at the beachfront — one of the widest in the area — to relax in.

“In the whole stretch of Laiya, if you compare us to other parts of Batangas, we have the cleanest beachfront and waters. We are also the nearest, most accessible from Manila,” Brania says.

At Acuaverde, our furry friends can finally enjoy the vacation with us. Brania adds that for a fee, guests can bring their pets with them. “Since we have big grounds and a larger stretch of beachfront compared to other resorts, we took advantage of that by being a pet-friendly resort,” he says. A maximum of two pets per room is allowed.

Overnight stays include a full board meal package that covers buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Acuaverde’s Cocina restaurant. Built centrally around a large trunk of a tamarind tree, Cocina features an aviary containing many exotic tropical birds that have roosted on the trees’ many branches. The restaurant serves Filipino and continental dishes which are usually at the buffet. However, a few dishes can be ordered a la carte.

Day tours are available to guests who want a quick trip to Laiya with access to all of Acuaverde’s facilities and leisure amenities. These include watersports such as kayaking, jetski, and snorkeling. Day tour cabanas are available for small groups of 20 to big gatherings of 200 people. The resort has the Al Fresco Bar near the beachfront serving drinks with a great vantage point of the sea. People thinking of holding a seminar, workshop or even a wedding reception can take full advantage of the resort’s beautifully open surroundings. If guests want assistance in visiting the province of Batangas, Acuaverde can arrange tourist activities and destinations for you.

Many have come to find Acuaverde’s offer of a great vacation experience in a serene tropical paradise setting an absolute must for the summer season. Celebrating its third year this month with a current approval rating at Tripadvisor.com at 80 percent and ranked number one out of six in the area, Acuaverde has a bright and sunny future ahead of it.

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Acuaverde Beach Resort is located in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. For more information, call its Manila sales and reservations office at (632)381-7757 or 304-9901. Visit its website at http://www.acuaverderesort.com.ph/ (Photos by Fernan Nebres)