Manami rising
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Part of your world Turtle island is one the highlights of the island tour.
Under the sea Endless snorkeling awaits at the marine sanctuary in Campomanes Bay.
Cave spelunking adventure takes you to a whole new world.
Tinagong Dagat is Sipalay’s best-kept secret.
Life’s a beach The perfect sunset view is at the main pool deck.
Premium organic pampering is bliss at Linong Spa.
Linong Spa is the resort’s design masterpiece.
Deckout in style in their latest double villa offering, nestled atop one of the hills.
Horizon’s end The perfect sunset view is at the main pool deck.
Sweet dreams are made of these Their luxurious villas have a spectacular view of the ocean and property.
Lingaw restaurant. Home to the resorts special Negrense - Spanish cuisine.
Feast for the Gods. A variety of seafood and meat grilled to perfection for every boat ride.
The local signature Kansi is worth the calories.
Celebrating our Spanish heritage through cuisine, this dish comes in a handful variety.
Cochinillo. The mouthwatering specialty hits the spot bullseye.
As temperatures rise, so does the idea of strolling by the shore with sand and saltwater on your feet. Watching the perfect sunset, having a couple of hours of pampering or sipping cocktails throughout the day while achieving a golden tan. The beach is calling.
This summer, travel and adventure brings us to Sugarlandia — the province of Negros. The pride of Ilonggos is this paradise tucked in a five-hectare property that’s a treasure of luxury for the ultimate summer vacation — Manami. To get there is a four-hour drive from Bacolod where you can enjoy panoramic views of the countryside, breathtaking coastlines and lush virgin forests. At the end of a long cinematic drive, you reach Sipalay — a quaint town known to locals as the Boracay of Negros -- and welcomed to the property with the sweetest greetings and warmest smiles that make the drive all worth it.
We arrived in late afternoon and were graciously received by the staff in their breathtaking, well-designed lobby reception (note on the hanging handwoven lamps) and just in time to catch the beautiful golden sunset. After a round or two of mouthwatering cocktails and popular tubo (sugarcane) juice, we were brought to our villas to freshen up. The room was beautifully spacious, the bed huge with crispy white sheets, fluffy pillows and, most importantly, the bathroom was divine — paradise within paradise.
The vibe and energy of the place was very comforting, light and relaxed. The bed was tempting for a quick nap but soon it was time for dinner. We all gathered at Lingaw restaurant, the main dining area that offers a range of savory and delicious Negrense-Spanish cuisine. Forget your diet for a few days and enjoy the gastronomic indulgence — this was no place skip their signature paella, cochinillo and catch-to-table specialties. It was a wonderful dinner under the moonlight mixed with a lot of laughter, exchange of pleasantries and catching up among colleagues. I ended the night with an hour-long hot shower that felt like a great massage that cradled me to bed.
I caught the beautiful sunrise from my veranda and soaked in the hillside view where I saw the other villas, the nearby island at the horizon and the endless ocean.
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Day two was all about adventure. After a quick breakfast, Mother Nature was calling us to check out the cave (which was right beside the main driveway). One can do a 20-minute spelunking adventure that takes you directly to the beach — don’t worry, there are guides to assist you. Some of us who were less adventurous excitedly got on the boat to get some sun, waited for the rest to come and headed out to sea.
Manami had the best adventure plan in mind with its menu of activities to choose from. It was an unforgettable day of boating where we went island hopping at Tinagong Dagat, snorkeling at Eva’s Point (marine sanctuary) and a feast of Filipino ihaw-ihaw (grilled food) with nice cold bottles of beer while listening to music of our youth in the heart of Campomanes Bay. A couple of hours of disconnection from everything was food for the soul. We went back to the resort and ended our day like the night before, with a refreshing toast to their list of signature cocktails like Tubo Rhum Tiki and, for dinner, nothing short of a delightful feast for the senses.
Manami is in the heart of nature. Waking up the morning of day three to the sound of chirping birds, waves and rustling leaves was music to my ears. A quick breakfast, and I headed to the beach for a dip — soaking in saltwater, which helps and is believed to activate our bodies’ natural healing mechanisms.
Almost two hours of being embraced by ocean water in solitude and silence made me feel cleansed. It was an easy, slow day, with time for some pampering in the afternoon. I went up the hill to check out Linong Spa.
Nestled in the higher parts of the forest that enfolds the entire resort, the wellness center is a design masterpiece that will take your breath away. Linong Spa creates an extraordinary wellness experience with native cocoons atop the hill. Single and couple wellness huts offer the best view of the resort.
They offered a variety of natural signature oils to choose from that truly gave me an unforgettable sensory and meditative experience.
My last day made realize that to experience the property in full you need at least five nights minimum for a well-spaced schedule. And it would be great to be a big group (six to eight) of friends or family specially with the newly opened two-bedroom villas, which can be booked by one group. This is located at the top of the hill close to the spa and helipad. With expansion plans in the works, it would definitely be worth the trip back with more activities in the resort.
How can one not fall in love with Manami -- the cuisine alone has so many culinary delights to tell and you don’t even know where to start. No wonder it’s part of the renowned and prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio. In addition, it has been recognized by the global hospitality industry at the 2024 World Luxury Awards.
Daydreaming of sipping my tubo juice while hanging by the beach and looking at the endless horizon. Until we meet again, from my heart to yours: “Madamo guid nga salamat.”
Nestled in the higher parts of the forest that enfolds the entire resort, the wellness center is a design masterpiece that will take your breath away. Linong Spa creates an extraordinary wellness experience with native cocoons atop the hill. Single and couple wellness huts offer the best view of the resort.
They offered a variety of natural signature oils to choose from that truly gave me an unforgettable sensory and meditative experience.
My last day made realize that to experience the property in full you need at least five nights minimum for a well-spaced schedule. And it would be great to be a big group (six to eight) of friends or family specially with the newly opened two-bedroom villas, which can be booked by one group. This is located at the top of the hill close to the spa and helipad. With expansion plans in the works, it would definitely be worth the trip back with more activities in the resort.
How can one not fall in love with Manami — the cuisine alone has so many culinary delights to tell and you don’t even know where to start. No wonder it’s part of the renowned and prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio. In addition, it has been recognized by the global hospitality industry at the 2024 World Luxury Awards.
Daydreaming of sipping my tubo juice while hanging by the beach and looking at the endless horizon. Until we meet again, from my heart to yours: “Madamo guid nga salamat.”
