A world dominated by skyscrapers and the continuously evolving technology can sometimes become suffocating and this fast pace life can get to a point where it becomes a bit too much. The routine could get us burning out and the only way to go is to slow down. There’ll be moments in our lives that we need a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city and we all know that the best therapy our bodies and souls needed can only be provided by nature. But not all of us are up to the arduous task of hiking a mountain. Not to mention the heavy backpack and hours of hiking long distances. It’s a fact that not everyone can do without the comfort of this modern world and this is where “glamping” comes into play.
Glamping or glamorous camping is retreating to nature, may it be at the beach or in the middle of the wilderness, in style and without leaving the comfort of the city. This means you may sleep in a tent but not completely on your back with only a thin sheet separating you from the cold earth. It’s like a hotel room with all its amenities fit inside a tent spacious enough for you to move comfortably. To put it simply, it’s the best of both worlds and today, a lot of glamping resorts have popped up the radar allowing quick access to this different kind of experience.
I am more of a camping kind of gal -carrying my backpack filled with my tent, sleeping bag, stove and what little food I could fit into what tiny space left for it. I’m always up for nature tripping, rain or shine, so glamping was kind of new to me. To feed my curiosity, this year before summer even began, I together with some friends checked out the hyped glamping resort, Sand And Stars in Dinadiawan, Aurora and we surely did have a blast!
OUR GLAMPING STORY
We had the entire weekend to experience this so-called glamorous camping in Sand And Stars but we didn’t want to just do all that the whole time so we added a visit to Ditumabo Mother Falls to spice things up. We left Manila at 9PM Friday via a rented van since our itinerary was proven to be a bit complicated if we would take public transpo. It may seem that budget was not part of our consideration due to our choice of transportation but surprisingly, hiring a van to take care of our tour and the round trip transfer turned out to be not only hassle free but it actually saved us a little bit of money. I’ll show you the breakdown of cost later on.
We arrived in Ditumabo a little past the hour of 6AM. We took a quick stop at a gas station to stretch our aching limbs. When everyone was ready, off we went to Ditumabo Mother Falls. It took us another 15-20 minutes scenic drive to finally arrive at the parking area to the falls. After that, we trekked for half a kilometer passing by some eateries and local stores before finally reaching the registration office. There we paid the fees, hired a guide and in no time was allowed to start with the hike.
The hike to Ditumabo Mother Falls was easy although it was a long one. I will not go into the details of the hike since I will be writing a separate post about it but allow me to say that this exquisite waterfall is one place you don’t really wanna miss when you visit Baler. I was just surprise to see one too many people hike along with us since I was under the impression that the Mother Falls is kind of an offbeat destination and only a few know it exists. Turns out I was wrong but it’s still worth visiting.
After seeing Ditumabo Falls, off we drove to Sand And Stars Dinadiawan. The drive along the coastal area of Aurora was one of my favorites about this trip. Not only was I entertained by the panoramic view of the ocean and how it seemed to be so otherworldly but I wasn’t expecting Aurora to be a coconut tree heaven as well. I don’t know what it is about coconut trees but whenever I see one, it immediately gives me that laid back tropical vibe. Other than the ocean, it’s one thing that relaxes my ever chaotic mind. That’s the reason why Siargao is one of my all-time favorite islands and I thought it would be the undisputed coconut tree paradise but Aurora proved to be at the same level.
The drive to Sand And Stars lasted for over two hours along a winded road that were at times too steep. If it wasn’t for the scenery entertaining my eyes at every turn, the drive would have made me throw up. I normally find myself sleeping during long drives but I would suggest that you do otherwise and keep your eyes open as the views become more and more inviting especially during the last twenty minutes before reaching the resort. I promise you won’t regret it.
We reached the resort at 1PM, hungry and exhausted. We were all looking forward to a sumptuous lunch at the resort’s cafe but it was closed and they didn’t have our accommodation available yet so we were left to wait at a kiosk in the parking lot. If there is one thing I hate about the resort, it was this. Not knowing how long will it still take for the staff to get our accommodation ready, we decided to find us some place to eat first. I was really glad we had a van that could take us anywhere we want whenever we want to since otherwise it would have been a nightmare given how scorching the sun was.
We had our fill at the nearby public market. When everyone’s hunger was satiated, off we went to shop for food supplies. After getting everything we might need, back we went to the resort. Our accommodation still wasn’t ready and I was getting a little upset since I wanted real bad to rest my head. We waited for another thirty minutes before we were allowed to get inside our tent along with our stuff. As soon as our tent was ready, off I went to dreamland until a few minutes before 6PM.
I woke up to the sunset’s afterglow and decided I should be better off to take a shower. The night was young but it was raining the whole time. The downpour didn’t stop until it was 8PM revealing a starry sky. We took some time to appreciate the scenery before we spent the rest of the hours drinking and laughing to our hearts’ content. At midnight, everyone were off to bed looking forward to the next day.
The following morning, I woke up early to catch the sunrise and to snap me some photos less the photobombers. I enjoyed walking along the shore and hopping from one area to the other without any nuisance (Haha). I love how the place seemed to be so peaceful and quiet. It gave me that feeling of exclusivity which nowadays is hard to come by not unless you are willing to pay thousands for a luxury accommodation. The resort was an eye candy and snap-worthy at every turn. It has this bohemian and laid-back vibe to it which I think was a plus to its charm.
Breakfast came and the group enjoyed a variety of Pinoy staples such as beef tapa and pork tocino complemented with garlic rice, sunny eggs and our choice of coffee. It came free with our chosen accommodation. After our morning fill, off we went to enjoy the beach. The beach was of creamy white and sugary sand. The water was calm which I think was less inviting cause it lacked that wildness I was hoping to see that I first saw in the photos. Nevertheless, we had a great time at the beach and spent the rest of the hours there until it was our time to head out.
HOW TO GO TO SAND AND STARS
Option 1: In Cubao Terminal, ride a JoyBus straight to Baler (7Hrs). Fare is P750 for the deluxe (no-stopover) and P450 for the standard A/C bus. Once in Baler, ride a tric to the Central Terminal (P12). Then a bus (P85) or a van (P200) to Casiguran. Sand & Stars will only be along the national highway on the righ and is quite easy to spot.
Option 2: In Cubao Terminal, ride a bus to Cabanatuan (P185). From Cabanatuan ride another bus to Baler (P450). In Baler Central Terminal, ride a bus (P85) or a van (P200) to Casiguran and Sand & Stars will only be at the right.
TIPS & OTHER USEFUL INFO
- Advance reservation is highly encouraged. Booking for Sand & Stars is only handled at Ayoha Booking. Mode of payment accepted is via deposit or bank transfer to their BPI account.
- Walk-in is allowed but is not a guarantee since there is a limited number of tents, cabanas and cottages. The resort also limits the number of people so they don’t allow visitors other than what their accommodations could cater.
- Free breakfast is only available for those with tent accommodations. The cafe can provide your other needs at a very reasonable price.
- You can also buy food at the nearby public market and get it cooked by the staff for a fee of P100/head. The resort also has common kitchen which visitors can use to cook their meals.
- If you have taken public transpo, please know that going back to Baler is kind of time bounded. Based on my research the only bus for the day passes by at 6AM and vans at 9AM. Tricycles are your other option which will set you back P700.
BUDGET & OTHER ESSENTIALS
| SUMMARY OF EXPENSES | This was our total expenses during the trip via a rented van and with a sidetrip to Ditumabo Mother Falls. 📍Rented van @ P13k/10 - P1300 📍Tent @ P2000/4 - P500 📍Food - P200 📍Guide Fee (Mother Falls) @P300/10 - P30 📍Environmental Fee (Mother Falls) - P20 TOTAL - P2050/Person Here is a sample budget for a group of 4 taking public transpo. 📍Round Trip Bus (Standard A/C) @P450/way - P900 📍Roundtrip bus to Sand & Stars @ P85/way - P170 📍Tent @ P2000/4 - P500 📍Food - P200 TOTAL - P1770/Person Additional Expenses (Optional): Tricycle Rental (Mother Falls) @ P1200/4 - P300 Guide Fee @ P300/4 - P75 Environmental Fee - P30 TOTAL - P405/Person |
| WHAT ARE THE PRICES | MOTHER FALLS Guide Fee - P300/10Pax Environmental Fee - P30/Pax SAND & STARS Glamping Tents - P1600 + P200/head up to 2 persons only Matrimonial A/C Room - P2500 Matrimonial Fan Room - P2000 Double Deck A/C Room (Beach Front) - P2500 Double Deck Fan Room (Beach Front) - P2000 |
| SAMPLE ITINERARY | Itinerary varies depending on your chosen mode of transpo. With public transpo, you will definitely need to take their trip schedule into consideration. On the other hand, here's our itinerary using hired van. Day 0 2000 Assembly Crossing Edsa Central 2100 ETD Ditumabo Day 1 0530 ETA Ditumabo 0600 Ditumabo Mother Falls. Breakfast 0700 Start Trek 0800 Ditumabo Mother Falls. Photo Ops. Bathe 0900 Start Decent 1000 Reg Site. Wash Up. 1100 ETD Sand & Stars 1300 ETA Sand & Stars. Lunch 1400 Settle Stuff. Rest a bit 1600 Beach bumming. Photo Ops. 1700 Sunset Viewing 1800 Dinner 1900 Drinks 2200 Lights Out Day 2 0530 Wake Up To The Sunrise.Photo Ops 0700 Breakfast 0800 Swim. Photo. Explore the beach 1000 Pack Up 1100 Side Trip Baler 1200 Lunch 1300 ETD Manila 2100 ETA Manila |
| CONTACTS | Booking: Ayoha Booking Sand & Stars Resort: 0917 805 7082 Van: Ken Tobias - 09264098752 |
OUR GLAMPING EXPERIENCE IN PHOTOS
Glamping is definitely worth a try and one of the best resorts to get your taste of this experience is Sand & Stars.
So this is pretty much it for now lovelies. For comments, questions, suggestions and violent reactions, please leave them on the comments. If you like this post or found it helpful in anyway, show me some love on the comments as well. And most of all, sharing is caring. Be awesome and share this post to your friends.
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1 Comment
I love your article. It’s very informative and easy to read! It’s going to help us a lot for our DIY trip on June. I hope it’s not crowded that time. I noticed that you published this article on June 11 last year, and we plan to go there between the 9th to 12th.