When I hear the word “farm,” and especially “farm resort,” I think of lettuce beds, herbs, and tours where we get to harvest them. Then there’s a nipa hut cooled by the mountain air to spend the night in. This was in fact, how I spent one weekend in Costales Nature Farms. The experience is similar in my Nurture Wellness Village Tagaytay farm glamping weekend.

And so I was a bit surprised when I found a luxurious swimming pool with a view of Mt. Arayat, and hotel-like rooms with creature comforts – though with a rustic touch – at Nauvoo Farm Resort.

This is one of Nauvoo Farm Resort’s swimming pools.  For day trips only, you can pay P200 to swim at the resort’s pools. 

There’s the view of Mt. Arayat! 🙂

This is Nauvoo’s bigger pool at around 200 square meters, which is twice as big as the first pool. It just opened first weekend of March. (All photos with no watermark courtesy of Nauvoo unless otherwise specified)

One of the pools at night. Yes, it changes color!

A typical room good for 4 in Nauvoo. This is the Dama de Noche room. Photo courtesy of Nauvoo

This is the room (Rosal Room) our group stayed in, good for 12 people at P1,000 pesos per person a night. They accept smaller groups, though, at the same P1,000 per person rate.

There’s a place to sit and hang out in our room. Photo courtesy of Franco Ayson

Our room from outside. Nauvoo rooms have a rustic touch like this.

Nauvoo is actually a 4.5-hectare mango tree and coffee farm, and you can take in the the greenery from the open-air dining area beside the pool. This setup is perfect for me while eating – on one side I can enjoy the blueness of the pool and Mt. Arayat in the distance, and on the other side is the lush green of the trees.

Some of Nauvoo’s mango trees

View of the mango trees as seen from the dining area

“Nauvoo” is a Hebrew word meaning “beautiful,” and is used in the Bible, especially in the book of Isaiah (52:7): “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

The resort owners Lourdes and Irving Nogoy named the resort as such for fun, when they had an informal naming contest among family on what would be a unique name. The name is fitting, though, as the resort is indeed beautiful and, if the verse in Isaiah should be a reference, the resort has a mountain view!

Aerial view of the resort

Aerial view with mountain backdrop

More of Nauvoo’s grounds with Mt. Arayat on the background

Nauvoo’s accommodations lined with mango trees

The Nogoys were hardworking OFWs based in the United States who wanted to retire at a farm. So Nauvoo was first their own haven before they opened it to friends, and then later, to the public. They live in one of the rooms at the resort, the Gumamela Room. Do say hi if you see them when you visit!

Mrs. Lourdes Nogoy, one of the resort owners

Mr. Irving Nogoy, one of the owners, talking about the resort

Nauvoo is perfect just for chilling and relaxing both with nature and creature comforts. Take a dip on both of the pools while enjoying the view of Mt. Arayat and the mango trees, eat home-cooked Filipino meals, and have a good sleep at the native hut-inspired rooms. You can order a drink from the poolside bar and even sing songs at the videoke with family and friends. Below are more photos from our resort experience:

It’s just wonderful to relax at Nauvoo’s beautiful pools. This, for me, is the highlight of our trip. Out ahead is the poolside bar where you can order alcoholic drinks.

I love the lit-up pool at night!

The colors change at night, sometimes into red like this.

Our home-cooked dinner, our first meal at Nauvoo. Rates for lunch and dinner start at P200

Videoke night! Videoke rental is at P700

Resort grounds at night

Hammocks!

Our room named Rosal

There’s a place to sit and relax outside our room

Our room’s toilet and shower. This is also what the resort’s toilet and shower typically look like.

Our breakfast. Breakfast rates are at P175.

Before checking out, we also had a snack of pan de sal and delicious Pancit Malabon, which Mrs. Nogoy said is quite well-known in their area.

Dining by the pool and by the mango trees

Taking a few last photos before leaving

Resort rates:

• Day rate (use of pools only) is P200, and P250 when availed of at night
• Smallest room good for 4 like the Dama de Noche room is P4,000
• Bigger rooms with bunk beds good for 12 people at P12,000 (P1,000 per person). But they accept smaller groups. You can just pay P1,000 per person if ever.
• Breakfast is at P175, lunch and dinner at P200 (add P50 for lunch and dinner for an additional dish)
• They also have a function hall for rent at P8,000 for 8 am to 4 pm and P10,000 from 5 pm to 10 pm. P15,000 is the rate from 8 am through 11 pm.

Resort contact details:

• Address: Orchard Village, Brgy Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines
• Website and Facebook page (click on the links)
• Mobile: (Globe) 0917-467-4620; (Smart) 0928-672-0863
• Email: info@nauvoo.com.ph

How to get there:

• Ride a Dagupan-bound Five Star Bus in Cubao, Quezon City (EDSA) for Php120+. Get off at Marquee Mall which is roughly an hour’s ride.
• Ride a Magalang-bound jeepney for Php20 and get off at the corner across Jollibee at the town proper.
• Ride a tricycle to the resort. Fare is usually P100.