If you're looking for a beach destination near Manila where you can tag your fur kids along, Stilts Calatagan Resort is definitely a good spot.
On average, Manila to Calatagan (Batangas) should only take around 3 hours, but we got caught in the weekend traffic causing us to have a total travel time of almost 5 hours.
By 2pm, we were already at the gates of Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort. An officer carrying a guest manifesto welcomed us and double-checked the number of expected guests.
Complimentary drinks were served right after checking-in, a courteous staff escorted us to our assigned cottage.
Here's a quick tour of our cottage at Stilts,
The Simplicity Bungalow. (view the updated rates
here)
Cooking inside the cottage is strictly prohibited. However, guests can bring their own food and beverages subject to corresponding corkage fees.
There are no nearby food establishments aside from their in-house restaurant. To avoid the inconvenience, we decided to have our lunch at Stilts. We ended up ordering grilled meat and seafood platter and bulalo soup (enough for 4 hungry elephants).
After savoring our first decent meal for the day, we opted to explore the 2 beach areas: Serenity and Harmony Beach.
The Maldive-like villas, as well as the other beachfront villas and picnic tables (for daytime visitors), can be viewed from the Harmony Beach. Recreational activities are also available in the said area to cater the needs of adrenaline junkies.
For sunset and solitude, head over to Serenity Beach.
The following day, we had our free breakfast at the resort restaurant,
The Sweet Spot. Food selection and flavor was average. (Apologies, I wasn't able to capture the breakfast selection.)
Since we still had ample time after breakfast, we strolled along harmony beach to maximize our last few hours at the resort.
Our weekend escapade at Stilts Calatagan Resort was definitely unforgettable. Hats off to all resort personnel of Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort for ensuring the satisfaction and safety of their resort guests (and furbabies). 😃
Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort
Barangay Sta. Ana, Calatagan, Batangas
https://www.stiltscalataganbeachresort.net
Since my grandmother is Taiwanese, I've been back and forth to Taipei but never had the chance to explore the outskirts.
This is why I'm a bit excited about this trip. Something different than the usual.
Since we had a chartered car, after our visit at Yehliu Geopark, We headed straight to Shifen and Jiufen.
Shifen at PingXi District
I've heard and read stuff about this place, It's the popular place where you release sky lanterns on the side of the railroad.
There are a few stalls in the area but there's nothing spectacular or anything else you can do besides the releasing of sky lanterns.
Another main attraction is the Shifen Waterfalls which is a 10 - 15min walk from the Shifen Old Street. My mom isn't really good at walking unless it involves food or mall. So we decided to skip the waterfall attraction.
Jiufen at RuiFang District
It is said that Jiufen Old Street was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film, Spirited Away. Sorry fans, but he already denied this.
The place does feel like a real-life Spirited Away. Probably because Taiwan was Japan's first colony and its architecture in a lot of ways is reflected in the old town.
Aside from the pack of people, there is also a sloped night market where snacks and souvenirs are available.
Just a tad of advise, visit on a weekday. Walking path is a bit uneven and some paths are uphill/downhill. It may be a hassle bringing strollers or tagging people with difficulty in walking. On the plus side, definitely a good source of cardio.
Yehliu Geopark is a renowned tourist destination located on the north coast of Taiwan at Wanli District that houses sedimentary rocks that were formed due to erosion.
ENTRANCE FEES
Upon arriving, tourists are greeted with a huge signage and a ticket booth. Tourists must purchase their tickets before entering the park.
Here are the corresponding park fees:
- 80NTD for adults
- 40NTD for Taiwan students (with ID) and children between 6 - 12y/o.
- 20% discount for group tours (30 pax and up)
- Free entrance for the disabled and children below 6 y/o.
After the booth lies the Visitor Center, where you can find information and souvenirs. Outside the center is the Park Map.
YEHLIU GEOPARK
Replicas are seen in different areas of the park. Its purpose is to preserve the original formations, some are damaged due to natural disasters or by unruly tourists.
 |
| Leopard Rock replica, the original formation was collapsed by a typhoon in 2010. |
The rock formation names were inspired by their corresponding shapes. Aside from the famous Queen's Head, other famous formations include the Princess Head, Fairy Shoe, Elephant Rock, Ice Cream Rock, Kissing Rock, Beehive, Ginger Rocks, Sea Candles, and the Mushroom Rock.
Just a tip, avoid the overwhelming crowd by scheduling your visit on a weekday. We paid a visit on a Saturday afternoon, the crowd was really thick which discouraged us to explore the park further.
Food and item souvenirs are also available at the nearby market stalls, making it the perfect destination right after exploring the park.
For more information about Yehliu Geopark, you may visit their multilingual website
