Terra Nova El Nido - individual Luxury Villas - W/ISLANDS TOURS

Quiet private resort

The included boat expeditions are the best I have ever seen and my family and I had the experience of a lifetime. Nothing else really matters. The accommodation is good and clean but there is a deliberate gap between the roof and the walls which is covered by wire mesh so you can hear the sea and jungle noise at night. There was no WiFi or 3G when we went and they switch off the electricity for 2 hours a day which doesn’t make any difference because we were at sea every day. You can get 3G at sea if you really need it. We had some great massages as well and very reasonably priced. The staff are fantastic and welcoming and the food is good. A really great experience and I would recommend it to everyone. 5 to 6 days is enough to see everything I think.

Location was beautiful! Staff friendly and professional, very accommodating. Will definitely try to come back again!

This was the perfect place for our family take a breather from our more hectic traveling schedule and enjoy the beautiful and relaxing environment. Though there is no air-conditioning (installed but awaiting generator), the fans kept us comfortable in the dead of July summer. Guy was most accommodating, and the staff (Rose, Irene, Francis, Tessa - everyone) were friendly, personable, and sincerely engaged. The only major critique we have is that it isn't really all-inclusive. The three main meals are included, but you pay extra for snacks - and there really are no other alternatives unless you bring them with you. The only other advice I'd offer is to consider investing in some adjustable flippers for snorkeling. In sum, if we have find ourselves in this part of the world again, we will go out of our way to stay here.

We are a family of four - two teenagers and busy parents - from Southern California. My wife is Filipina-American and I love diving and snorkeling, so we thought Palawan would be a perfect vacation for us. We couldn’t find good hotel options and happened upon the Terra Nova listing on VRBO. That really was the luckiest thing that could have happened, because the description seemed to suit us perfectly. We like adventure on our vacations, and we definitely wanted a change of pace & scenery from the crowded California life in the fast lane. Looking at the pictures and learning more about the resort gave us something to look forward to. But let me tell you I’m not exaggerating when I say that the reality of Terra Nova is so much more than we could have imagined. This review would be a novel if I had to describe every last detail that made our stay wonderful. But I’ll give some of our most cherished highlights... I imagine when anyone takes their first glimpse of the small inlet that Terra Nova sits on, their jaw drops, eyes widen and all the steps of the journey to get there melt away. That was the case for us, even though we had been staring at those web pictures for months. Then you see everyone waving to welcome you. And you see their warm, smiling faces are truly happy to know you. That will be the sentiment for your whole stay. Every consideration, every need, every comfort has been pre-planned and the resort designed just so that you can focus on your enjoyment. Becka the masseuse is world-class. The food is so tasty and wholesome, reminding you of what food tastes like when you’re nestled in their natural origins. If you take photos of the sunrises and sunsets, no one will believe that you didn’t photoshop them. (Even without the vivid filters) The island hopping ventures are THE COOLEST. In one snorkeling spot, the coral reef was so glorious, I think I had a spiritual awakening. ;) One of the other guests liked to say the islands reminded him of Avatar. We were reminded more of Jurassic Park. My only advice is - take the flight to El Nido where you’ll take the boat to Terra Nova. If you fly in to Puerto Princesa, it’s a less comfortable 5 hour van ride. And of course, take bug spray/wipes and sunscreen. Pack light - especially from June on, you’ll barely wear more than a swimsuit!

Spent 6 nights at Terra Nova in The smaller Villa. It overlooked the beach and was very quiet, with open air style rooms. Our bedroom was large with a massage area that connected with the private outdoor shower area. It was kept cool with fans and the ocean breeze. The boat staff was amazing and took us on our tours to the small lagoon, the big lagoon and multiple island hopping/snorkeling adventures. They made/provided lunch on the boat everyday we were out, and the crew was so accommodating and kind. We really felt safe in the places we were going. Our guide, big boy, was wonderful and definitely put safety first. He is also a dive master and was able to point out marine wildlife and show us the many different points of interest When we were island hopping. The resort has its own boats and kayaks for most of the marine adventures that we went on, which was nice. The food was also amazing at the resort. The cook and wait staff made up delicious meals for breakfast and dinner, and our main host made the desserts. The food was a good mix of seafood, American and Filipino style dishes. So wonderful. We never went hungry. They were also able to accommodate multiple massages on a hut by the water that were just heavenly after a day of boating, swimming and walking. Great way to relax and end a day of sight seeing. We also had a great time just watching sunsets, sipping on drinks and petting the animals that lived there.. Belle and Gucci— the dogs who loved belly rubs and guarded us, and Clinton the cat made us feel right at home :) wonderful stay at Terra Nova! Hope to visit again one day soon! Thank you Guy!