Walking into Amorita Resort’s front desk, I saw the deep blues of the infinity pool ahead, fringed with the greens of frangipani and talisay trees. True to its name, the pool’s waters appeared to merge with the sea’s horizon. Upon closer look, the sea was the waters of Panglao’s Alona Beach below. Amorita, after all, is a resort built on top of a limestone cliff, and is a perfect vantage point for Panglao’s seas.
Past Amorita’s reception area is its infinity pool, which beckons invitingly.
Below Amorita’s infinity pool is Alona Beach’s white shores.
Staff greeted my partner and I warmly with a smile and a bow, one palm pressed near their heart, before presenting us with a refreshing drink of lemongrass juice. During our stay at Amorita, every time staff saw us and other guests I noticed they bow like this. I would later learn that this bow is their universal – and effective – greeting across all guests’ nationalities despite possible language barriers. This was just one among the many things that made me fall in love with the resort, whose name incidentally means “little love” or “little darling” in Spanish, and “dearly loved” in Latin.
One of the staff, Reynold, bowing in greeting. He is the one who welcomed us during our check in
Welcome drink of lemongrass juice
Nature retreat
As we arrived on an early flight, I walked around the grounds while waiting for our room to be prepared. My bare feet reveled in the grassy expanse occasionally shaded by more talisay trees, some already lining the edge of the cliff. The greenery all around is already perfect for a relaxing respite with nature, even without the sea as a backdrop.
Vivid greens amid the blues
Grassy expanse shaded by trees
Love nature walks like this!
Walking farther, I noticed a second, bigger infinity pool. This one looked shallower and more kid-friendly.
The second infinity pool is more popular with families and kids
Kids obviously love it!
At the poolside, staff offer popsicles for free to all guests by the pool. I love this unexpected gesture.
There is also a semi-reclining poolside chair to relax and enjoy the sea view.
The second infinity pool from afar. It is located in front of the resort’s main restaurant.
Walking farther, I saw hammocks hanging from talisay trees. It was tempting to just lie down, with the rich green above me and the sea near my side, but I know our room will be ready soon.
The hammocks look inviting
Walking more, I saw the cabana for sea view massages.
The resort’s spa offers outdoor massage with this view.
I explored further, though, and saw a wooden stairway that would lead down to the resort’s private beach cove. I would later visit it on the last day of our stay.
Wooden stairway leading down to the resort’s private beach
Cozy and romantic
If the resort’s beautiful natural surroundings and the infinity pools are any indication of what the rooms could possibly look like, then I was excited to see mine. I was in for a happy surprise – the room opened out to a veranda with a small pool and garden. And, on the pool were floating coconuts – another welcome drink!
This villa I stayed at has its own pool!
The veranda. The pool looks inviting!
The bed looks welcoming, too – literally and figuratively.
The minibar comes with free champagne, fruits, and cookies…
…and a coffee machine!
The minibar has a warm welcome note, too!
Robes and more. The bag woven from native materials was made through a women’s livelihood project. The bag can be taken home.
Out on the pool floats another welcome drink – coconuts!
Taking a dip in the pool while sipping coconut water is a whole different kind of relaxation.
Coconut or none, taking a dip in your room’s own pool is a pleasure like no other.
I thoroughly enjoyed the water and the garden view, taking a dip every day during my stay.
I later discovered that Amorita is popular among couples, especially for those on a honeymoon. Having experienced their pool villa, I could see why. Amorita also has pool villas with sea views.
They have rooms for families, too, though, which are good for guests with kids, as well as rooms good for two with no pool.
Nighttime beauty
Amorita is already beautiful at daytime, but nighttime has a special kind of beauty, and I found myself charmed during my evening walk.
Blue hour at the outdoor cabana for massage
Infinity pools glow at night
The same pool with a view of Panglao’s Alona Beach
It is perfect to relax here, even just to lie down and gaze at the changing sky.
The villa looks beautiful at night, too!
Enjoying the nighttime view through the garden’s palms
Outside, under the trees, is also great for drinks and conversation
Scrumptious meals
I found many of my favorite things at Amorita’s breakfast buffet, and I suspect many might feel the same too. The different kinds of cheeses, crisp greens, fresh ginger tea and hot chocolate, are just among the selections I loved.
Yes, cheeses!
Delicious morning drinks
While these are not the only choices, it is possible to put together a healthy meal from Amorita’s buffet.
For a light lunch some hours later after the buffet, we had their best-selling salmon dish…
…and the fresh Amorita garden salad
Fun, free activities
Walking around in nature and immersing in the pool were already time well-spent for me, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out there are more water activities to do at no charge: snorkeling, standup paddleboarding, and kayaking – all with a guide upon request.
There was also biking, yoga class, art and play classes (for kids) and more.
Suddenly, my two-night stay in Amorita did not seem enough. And here I was even thinking of going island hopping in Panglao on top of my stay at the resort! It looks like the resort designed a staycation experience where you would not want to venture far.
Snorkeling in the morning around the waters off Amorita
Some of the marine life
Kayaking around Alona Beach
Standup paddleboarding
For exploration via land, there are bikes for free use, too!
Kids can have fun everyday! When I saw this, I realized that Amorita is not only great for couples but also for families with kids.
Weekly free yoga classes. I was not able to join one during my stay, though.
Another way to relax is enjoy the sunset while sipping a cocktail, which is also free twice a week. Even though it rained the Friday I checked in, it was relaxing having a drink by the pool.
Indeed, my two-night stay at Amorita was just good enough to enjoy the place with no outside itinerary of my own.
Care for the environment and the community
I was already growing fond of the resort, but what really made me fall in love was when I found about its regard for the environment and the community.
First, in my room I noticed that majority of the toiletries were made with care for the environment.
The comb and other toiletries are made from eco-friendly materials.
Even this reminder for reuse of towels is made from upcycled materials.
I also noticed that they don’t serve drinks with straws – even shakes! – at their restaurants. Straws are upon request.
I also learned that the pavements at the resort were shiny because they are mixed with crushed glass from champagne bottles like the one in our room.
The resort also takes part in regular beach cleanups.
When I found out that the resort has been given the ASEAN Green Hotel award many times, I was not surprised.
The hotel also works with the local community, particularly with schools. Amorita helps prepare senior high students for jobs in the tourism industry through training and on-the-job experience at the resort.
Gratitude
Between the beautiful surroundings, the warm staff who were always smiling and bowing (a few whose stories I even listened to!), the resort’s care for the environment and the community, I indeed felt “dearly loved,” with Amorita staying true to its name.
After checking out, I went down Amorita’s private beach with my partner. Together, we made a mandala of gratitude from stones, shells, and fallen frangipanis, flowers so present in our Amorita experience, as I noticed female staff wearing it, and which also decorate the minibar in our room.
Our gratitude mandala for our relaxing stay at Amorita
After we finished our mandala, a rainbow appeared on the beach, as though acknowledging our gratitude. Truly, there is so much to be grateful for in our stay at Amorita.
The rainbow on Amorita’s private beach
Room information:
Room rates start at P8,000+ inclusive of buffet breakfast and roundtrip airport transfer. Guests can use the resort’s pools and facilities like bikes for free. They can also snorkel, kayak, and do standup paddleboarding with a guide for free. Guests can also avail of the week’s scheduled activities for free like art and play for kids (daily), yoga, and sunset cocktails (Check with the resort on the schedules of the other activities.).
Check out the rooms and see more details at Amorita Resort’s website.
How to get there:
Take a flight to Tagbilaran in Bohol if coming from Manila. We took AirAsia, which we would recommend for budget flights. Bohol is also accessible via ferry from Cebu.
Traveling Light 