New boutique hotel redefines the Palawan beach experience

EL NIDO now has a new boutique hotel — the 42-room Casa Kalaw, the first one in the 325-hectare Lio Tourism Estate of AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts Corp. (AHRC), within Sitio Lio in El Nido town.

Named after the endemic Kalaw bird of Palawan, the hotel is only two stories or no taller than 18 meters, approximating the height of the coconut trees that proliferate along the coastline. This height restriction will be adopted by all other Lio buildings closest to the beach in order “to preserve the horizon and the views of the sunset for those looking out to the sea,” said Javi Hernandez, chief operating officer of Lio Resort Ventures, Inc., developer of the Lio Tourism Estate.

The height restriction will also ensure that those approaching Lio from the sea will encounter an environment naturally dominated by coconut trees.

The family friendly boutique hotel is set back over 40 meters from the shoreline. All the development’s buildings will be similarly distant from the highest tide line to protect themselves and their occupants from storm surges. The setback also allows the natural movement of sand on the beach as dictated by the prevailing winds which blow one direction at a certain time of the year and another, at other times. By not hindering those cycles with manmade structures, the natural powdery beach will be preserved over the long run.

The open layout and architecture of Casa Kalaw is a direct consequence of its surroundings. A courtyard with a swimming pool, pocket gardens, and balconies allow generous cross ventilation and keep the place cool and naturally well-lit. The modern Filipino architectural scheme by LV Locsin and Partners also makes generous use of vertical sunshades, allowing the play of shadows in the lobby with a high ceiling.

The air-conditioned guest rooms are bright and sport clean contemporary lines, with a well-planned bathroom with ample counter space.

Main attractions within the Casa Kalaw complex are the swimming pool, kiddie pool, and garden deck. An al fresco area on the second floor facing the beach was also created as a gathering place for family and other groups vacationing together or on official business.

Soon there will be shops and restaurants a short stroll away and within the same beach complex. By March, these will include dining destinations offering Peruvian chicken, American dishes, steaks, French crepes and ice cream, grilled items and even cocktails and alcoholic beverages. More shops, retail and service outlets are scheduled to open later in the year. They will be complemented before end 2017 by two other two-storey boutique hotels conceptualized for other markets.

Within the 4.5 hectare beach area that includes Casa Kalaw are facilities for beach volleyball, foosball, and biking on two-wheelers made of bamboo. Guests wanting to explore via motorized banca the natural wonders of Bacuit Bay — like the world famous Big and Small Lagoons, secret beaches, and richly populated snorkeling sites — may use Lio’s private jetty as a convenient jump off point in the near future.

Lio’s mainland location also offers mountain biking, lagoon rafting as well as expeditions through a pandan beach forest. The Palawan mainland birds and species that populate Lio are distinct from those in the islands within the bay and likewise deserve attention, according to Mr. Hernandez. Before the year ends, an artisans’ village featuring creative wares, Palawan ceramics and handicrafts, creative workshops, restaurants and accommodations will also open.

Bookings for Casa Kalaw are accepted through Booking.com and TripAdvisor. For comparison, room rates per Booking.com for Casa Kalaw range from P6,000-P9,000/night for twin sharing plus breakfast; the rates at Miniloc at the El Nido Resorts are in the P17,000-P26,000 range for twin sharing but include full board. Casa Kalaw is a superior option to accommodations on the mainland. In contrast, Miniloc, Lagen, Apulit and Pangulasian offer an island resort experience — which by its very nature means exclusivity.

Currently, the quickest route to the Lio Tourism Estate from Manila and Cebu is through Air Swift’s daily flights. From Manila, the trip to Lio airport takes 55 minutes.