Anilao Getaway

For the Halloween long weekend, we decided to go to a beach town that I haven't visited in years, probably because I'm not a diver. Our trip to Anilao was one of the long drives that put a smile on my face. From Alabang, it only took us a total of 1.5 hours, all because of the Sto. Tomas expressway being connected to the Star Tollway. The next thing you'll know, you're in Batangas City, and just 30 minutes away from Mabini, where Anilao is.

We passed through winding roads, and pink and magenta houses along the coastal road. The scenery was pleasant, and as you head up towards the resorts like Solana and Vivire Azure, it gets more peaceful. I actually didn't feel I was in Batangas. I think the modernization of San Juan's beaches have made it somewhat like Nasugbu already. Anilao still has that laid back charm.

We stayed in a house owned by the friend of our companions. At first, we were worried about the look of the house, since we had to park near the road and traverse downwards towards a small fishing village. Good thing this view greeted us when we set foot in the house.

The mood was perfect. Anilao coastline is rocky, thus, you only get patches of sand. In our case, our part of the coast was pure rocks. But the view from here was amazing. And we weren't even perched high on a cliff. It was an oasis in the middle of a quaint fishing village, and this made it more charming indeed.

The beach house was small, but well kept and just appropriate for all 8 of us. It had that beach vibe going on, with sliding doors opening the house to the outdoors. There was a small dipping pool in front and a patio where the everyone got together.

The second floor was where the beds were located. There was no separate bedrooms, just one huge space for all beds. There were two beds up in the attic as well. But the best part was the balcony, where one can just watch the sunset on a swinging pod. I really loved how the place can be so relaxing and inviting given the small space.

It was already getting dark when we arrived, so we hadn't had the chance to visit Sombrero Island (the small island to the right of the picture below) where there was a nice white sand beach. We decided to hire a boat instead the next day to explore more of the islands we saw from a distance.

Anilao did surprise me. The last time I was here I think was in College, at Eagle Point. The same resorts were still alive, like old timer Vistamar, the diver's spot Outrigger, the popular Solana and the newest luxury resort to open, Vivire Azure (owned also by Vivire Suites in Alabang).

That night, we cooked our dinner and played card games the whole night. The sea wind was cool and the company as great. We even waded into the sea at night. It was a satisfying finish to a long day.

The house featured here is privately owned, but it can be rented out through this blog. Please contact me via email or post a comment if you wish to do so.