Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English
Property amenities
Restaurant
Badminton
Hiking
Snorkeling
Darts
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Fishing
Room features
Private beach
Desk
Housekeeping
Seating area
Bath / shower
Room types
Ocean view
Location
Albaguen Island, Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan Island Philippines
This review comes with some weight. I have just spent 4 MONTHS based at Bluecove from Sept 2011 - Jan 2012. I am 44 years old, have travelled extensively and regularly in Asia for more than 20 years. I have family and friends with interests in a number of island resorts as well as interests of my own.
THE BASICS Bluecove is about 8ha of jungle with 250m of white sand beach, very good (but not spectacular) coral, 100,000+ tropical fish within 50m of the shoreline (which are mind blowing), ONLY 5 COTTAGES and a capacity of no more than 15 people. The resort has absolute world class food and is incredibly excellent value for money.
WHO SHOULD COME TO BLUECOVE ? People who long for the types of ideal paradise resorts that used to be abundant in Malaysia, Thailand and Bali 20+ years ago. People who appreciate the beauty of unspoilt nature....Bluecove has beauty to burn. People who wish to trade night life for peace and quiet. People who are happy to forget exactly what day it is and just relax. The resort is very private, intimate and romantic. It is especially suited to people who love each other such as couples, families and groups of close friends. If you come you will need to realise you are sharing a jungle too, as such you should expect some insects and to sleep under a mosquito net.
WHO SHOULD NOT COME TO BLUECOVE? Spoilt brat kids spending daddy's credit card and expecting air conditioning, 24hr electricity, CNN and Bloomberg, a currency exchange service and steaming hot showers should definitely NOT come (May I recommend Heron Island Resort on the barrier reef for these people ... daddy shouldn't mind $250pp a night). Likewise if your marriage is on the rocks and you are hoping a resort will fix it try somewhere else or expect this to be your last holiday together (there are just too many couples who are totally into each other here and you will probably feel even further apart than at home). If you can not stand a few insects then likewise book elsewhere.
THE ACCOMMODATION There a 5 very comfortable, beautiful but basic cottages all with views to die for nestled amongst the coconuts and manicured gardens. Only two cottages have hot water and then only when the generator is running however it is the tropics and the water is never cold. The roofs are very well thatched with grass and reeds in that gorgeous style that has given way to concrete and steel in the "ritzy" multi-storey joints you will find on Penang or Phucket these days. There are double hammocks, set up for snuggling, between coconuts on the beach, a tree house style deck and a dining area are also set over the beach.
THE FOOD In a word "Brilliant", The bluecove fillet (under $10) is the best fish meal I have ever eaten anywhere for any price and I still want more even after 40+ dishes. Coconut curry fish is wonderful as are any of the bluecove adobos and grills. There is also a delicious home made bacon and very good pancakes at breakfast. I ate around 250 dishes in my 4 months and was not once disappointed! ..... oh even the humble fish and chips are made from Red Emperor delivered daily from the fishing boats. Lobster, crab and the delicious "Slipper Lobster" are all available on request.
SERVICE AND MANAGEMENT If you expect the crisp, efficient, franchise type, system based "Holiday Inn" type of service then you are out of luck. You are unlikely to receive a standardised welcome pack with your room key at the service desk here. Actually there is no service desk here and I did find my key in my room (after about 3 months) and wondered why anyone would use one in this place. What you are more likely to get is a truly warm welcome on arrival from pretty much every member of staff including the owners of the resort who will meet you as you step off the "banca" boat onto the white sand. If you stay for 4 days or more everyone will know your name, who you are and what you like for sure. The service is personal and is done with genuine care and concern, it is friendly and relaxed rather than professional and timed to the minute. The management here consists of Michael and Melody. They are in my opinion two of the most genuine decent people you could wish to meet. They are completely honest and put people and the environment well before profits. I shows in their prices, their care and their advice. Also in the marine protectorate in the waters adjacent to the resort and the turtle sanctuary both of which they set up. They look after their staff, employ locals and actively support the local community on the island. In short they are exactly who you want running such a special place.
HOW TO GET THERE BOAT (banca) from Sabang or El Nido: In 4 months I did not meet anyone who said this option was the best thing they had done on their holiday. Most people arrived tired, sunburnt and got wet. It is also the most expensive option. If you do decide to take a long distance boat make damn sure they seas are calm first. JEEPNEY TO PORT BARTON: really only an option from Puerto Princesa (San Jose Terminal). Only one or two per day and a very rough road for the last 90 minutes. If you are over 5ft10 tall you will get a view of the jeeps roof all the way. If you are over 40 then expect a trip to the chiropractor as well. Total time from Puerto is about 4hrs 30 min to 5hrs depending on the road condition. It's an adventure for sure and fun to do once if you have lived in a city all your life and don't get out much ..... or if you absolutely must go to Port Barton on the way to Bluecove. SHUTTLE BUS TO SAN VICENTE: This is in my opinion BY FAR THE BEST WAY to get to Bluecove. Shuttle buses leave from Puerto Princesa (San Hose) ever hour from about 7am to 11am and visa versa from San Vicente (Sarn V Sen Tay). They are modern mini vans with comfortable forward facing seats, a view of the scenery ....some even have air con. They are about 50 peso more than the Port Barton Jeep. And take 4 hrs.
From El Nido take a bus or a shuttle to the San Vicente junction (about 40km past Taytay) then pickup the shuttle going from Puerto to San Vicente.
LOCAL BANCA - Bluecove will then arrange a local banca to pick you up from either San Vicente or Port Barton. The trip takes about 50 minutes from either town and the view is spectacular.
THINGS TO DO / HIGHLIGHTS OF MY TIME HERE 1. Walk to the viewing tower (30 min for Americans, 15 min for Swiss, 7 min for Locals): this is arguably the best view of Port Barton 310 degrees uninterupted from a robinson cruso. style wooden tower. 2. Snorkel: Especially early morning or late afternoon. During October and November there were turtles 100m off shore most days. There was also a school of yellow strip fish in excess of 100000 (no exaggeration) from Nov-Jan just 50m off shore that surround you and are so thick you might not be able to see through them. Visibility on a bad day is about 12m visibility on a good day is 35m. The water is clean and clear. The corals are very good and there are plenty of angel fish and nemos. At dusk and dawn large pelagic fish come in to feed....I never got sick of Mike and Melody's front yard! 3. Lie back in a hammock with a loved one, look at a thousand stars through the coconuts and listen to the waves lap onto the sand. 4. Order Bluecove Fillet for two for dinner, then sit across a flame lit table and watch her eyes as she takes the first bite. 5. Definitely do a boat trip and take lunch on a deserted beach ..... it is soooooo well done. I bet you don't forget this lunch in a hurry.... go the pork kebabs for this one unless you're jewish.
FINALLY Just come if you fit the bill. Low season might be best if you have a choice as the water is totally flat from about May until the end of November and during my time it never rained for more than a couple of hours even when there were cyclones / monsoons in Manila and luzon. ITS A WORLD CLASS PLACE IN A STYLE THAT OLDER TRAVELLERS REMEMBER WITH A SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR. SOME OF THE VERY BEST VALUE ON THE PLANET FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE. Grant S
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Date of stay: September 2011
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Check out their website. it is completely accurate.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After 2 nights, I regrettably left this place this morning (moving on to El Nido) but could've happily stayed there another week. The resort was run by Angel and David who were very friendly and welcoming; they also spoke English to a very good level which is a nice bonus.
Rooms: The rooms were very clean (not sure what the guy in the earlier review experienced but we had no problems at all). I stayed in CE and my parents were in CF (the above water one on the right). CF had an amazing view and the sound of the waves was so nice to wake up to, CE was also good but nothing special.
Food: Great selection and reasonable prices (P300). It was a very last minute decision and we hadn't really checked the prices prior to coming so being stuck on an island with their prices was a bit of a concern but fortunately it wasn't the case.
Internet: Slow as hell but it exists.
Electricity: It didn't really follow the schedule but was on more than enough during the day. It turns off at 10pm for fan rooms and 12am for air con rooms (CF isn't available for air con but gets a good sea breeze).
Activities: Snorkelling was average at best and most of the coral had been destroyed (presumably dynamite fishing), but there are some huge clams to see in the bay as well as turtles. There was a walk up the hill but we didn't get time to do it. We arranged a fishing and snorkelling trip followed by a San Vicente transfer with local boatmen (Wilson and Randy - 0927 898 4644) and would highly recommend it. If you get the chance, go to Twin Reef (might be Two Reef, can't remember) as there was fantastic coral.
Warnings: Now don't let this put you off your reservation but my sister stood on a stonefish in the shallows on the beach. This could've happened anywhere and definitely wasn't a big problem there, but just be careful when you're walking in the water. It went through her diving boots and into her foot, she was fine a few hours later though.
I would highly recommend this to anyone, it's about as peaceful as it gets.
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blue Cove Tropical Island Resort (www.bluecoveresort.com) is a unique and rustic getaway that provides an incredible experience for the right sort of person/couple. As many of the other reviews have indicated, this is not the place to come if you are looking for five star service. In fact, there is not much “service” at all – the staff are rarely seen or heard – which only adds to the secluded feeling of being on your own tropical island. This is also not the place to come if you are looking for any sort of nightlife or evening entertainment. Other than the five bungalows, the restaurant, and a few outbuildings, the resort property is blissfully free of development. This place does not feel like a resort, but rather, feels like playing Robinson Crusoe for the length of your stay.
The opportunity to experience nature in this environment is top notch! The sounds of the birds, insects, and other critters of the night make for a memorable morning wake up call. Just in front of the resort is some wonderful snorkeling with some equipment available for use by the guests. On a calm morning, this is a fantastic way to wake up and enjoy the diversity of the underwater world. There are small boats (bangkas) that can be used for free – the resort provides paddles and life jackets. If you have the time and can enjoy a day paddling around the island, the bird life is fantastic (I saw several kingfishers and other colorful birds).
There are a few important things to know about this resort. The breezy, atmospheric restaurant is the ONLY option for eating unless you bring your own food. Guests have a choice of dining in the covered beach-side restaurant or sitting at one of the two tables up in the charming "tree house." Breakfast is not included in the price of the room. Choices are extensive and include pancakes, eggs, rice and meat. If you plan to eat dinner, you need to place your order by 6pm. The dinner options are very tasty and there is a lot of fresh local seafood available, along with some chicken and pork, but options are very limited for vegetarians. Staff are very accommodating, however, and will prepare variations of menu items (i.e., vegetable curry or pasta with vegetables). It is worth mentioning that there are no snacks or salads available and the availability of fruit is limited (bananas were the only fruit available throughout my stay, and these ran out).
Drinking water is quite expensive for the amount you will need for such a warm, humid climate. The resort charges 90 pesos for a 1.5 liter bottle or you can purchase refills (with your own bottle) for 30 pesos. Ironically, buying a bottle of rum is nearly the same price.
Staff are only at the resort until shortly after 7pm when they go “home” to the other side of the island. After 7:30pm, there is a security guard on-site
One of the charms of this resort is its small size. Accommodation is limited to a maximum of 10 guests in 5 bungalows. Each bungalow has an en suite bathroom, fan, and mosquito net. The most expensive option is a spacious, stand-alone bungalow at the far end of the beach perched over the water. Occupants of this secluded bungalow will enjoy two verandas, one with shade and one open to the sun, as they experience the stunning views and sounds of the surf. The mid-range option is a “duplex” bungalow, where two bungalows share a common wall, located in the garden set back from the restaurant. These are the only two bungalows with hot/cold water available. There are also two stand-alone bungalows set back in the garden against the hillside forest with views of the ocean. These are the least expensive price option and are perfectly adequate, if not strangely close together.
Be advised that electricity is only available for a few hours in the evening (provided by a generator that can be heard at times). This means that the fan provided in the room will stop working when the generator is turned off at 9pm. Given the limited electricity, there are no cold drinks available.
Unless you arrive at Blue Cove by privately arranged charter boat, there are only two options to get to Albaguen Island which involve a combination of land and boat transport. The resort charges 800 - 1000 pesos per couple for a one-way boat pick up from San Vicente or Port Barton to Albaguen Island (you need to text or call ahead to ensure the boat is waiting when you arrive). By far, the best way to get to the resort is through San Vicente. There are both public jeepneys and also private air conditioned shuttle vans that operate in and out of San Vicente. The alternative, to travel through Port Barton, requires a 25km journey over a rough and sometimes flooded road that sees little public transportation. I was told that only a couple of jeepneys per day make the trip into Port Barton from Puerto Princesa - and there is no public transport that will take you all the way to Port Barton if you come from the north. So, unless you are coming from Puerto Princesa or can connect with the morning jeepneys, you will need your own private vehicle or you will have to find your own way to Port Barton from the highway junction. If you get to the highway junction to Port Barton and you have missed the jeepneys, hiring a tricycle is an option (there are plenty waiting at the junction) which allows for good views of the jungle as you bounce and bump your way up and over the mountains to the coast during the 1.5 hour ride. The cost of this option should be around 500 to 600 pesos.
All in all, Blue Cove provides a memorable experience for a certain sort of traveler. If you are lucky enough to visit Blue Cove outside of the high season, there may be a night or two when you are the only person/couple staying there. Not many places in the world offer this sort of island experience. In my opinion, it is an experience not to be missed.
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Date of stay: March 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First a disclaimer - I didn't do my due diligence on Blue Cove before I visited. It was booked by a friend as stop two on a four stop holiday on Palawan, the first if which was Daluyon Resort in Sebang. It was called Blue Cove Resort and I'd reserved a 'Family Suite' so I was sure all was ok. We arrived mid-afternoon by boat from Sebang - a 3 hour ride that was slightly longer than planned as the skipper didn't know the resort and needed to stop en route for directions. Check-in as it was was chaotic - none of the staff cared which room each of out five families had - which didn't seem a problem as they were all the same. I confess I haven't used backpacker style accommodation since I hiked around England - so I was surprised by what the family suite was - I've attached a couple of photos to show :-) I was a bit taken aback - as was my 8yo daughter who was with me! Suffice to say she didn't venture into the shower during the 3 nights we were here! The power runs about 6 hours a day - enough time to charge a phone and have a fan at nighttime. One night we had some local mammals join us in our roof - rats or squirrels I'm not sure. The shower was like the Mannequin Pis - well it was when the water wasn't coming out of a broken seal parallel to the ceiling. A strategically placed finger directed the trickle in a more vertical direction. On night one the lock on our door broke - which necessitated two guys coming to replace the entire door knob :-) the food in the little restaurant was pleasant - if at monopolistic prices. One day my order was forgotten twice as I did get it 2 1/2 hours after I ordered it. But the drinks were cool and the wi-fi signal strong so I wasn't too put out - just hungry when it came (and it was delicious so worth the wait!). However, I'm guessing most people don't come here for the rooms and food. You come for the water as snorkelling. One of our party described it as swimming in your own private aquarium - which was a fitting description. The staff are friendly if a little laid back. Our evening fishing trip we booked was cancelled because the boatman needed to go shopping (for the resort I think rather than because he personally wanted to pop to the shops). In sum - I really wanted to like Blue Cove because of the location and the snorkelling. But I couldn't stay in those rooms again or with that shower. If you're eking out your travel budget and your room is secondary to your location, and backpacker style accommodation is your staple, then Blue Cove would satisfy. As it would if all you want to do is swim. If you like a modicum of comforts (or a shower that works) then look elsewhere - sometimes location, location, location isn't quite enough.
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Date of stay: April 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were very pleased to spend a part of our vacations in a seaview bungalow (1500 pesos per day) in the Blue Cave Resort.
By arrival the nephew of the new owner informed us that the booked and already paid bungalow is still under construction and we must take very small bungalow (1200 pesos per day), the difference of the already paid-up sum could be credited with food and drinking. We were a little bit afraid about that, nobody informed us before arrival (we called them to arrange the transfer 1 day in advance). Furthermore nobody informed us about other building measures at the resort (sport bar, toilets, kitchen etc. which were very noisy). There was no possibility to enjoy the beach or the resort area. The building measure starts 8 a.m. and ends 5 p.m.
The management has changed and was not on site, the prices and the quality of the dishes are a cheek (1 liter of water 100 pesos, no food less than 300 pesos,....) the food was the worst one we have eaten during 6 weeks of Philippines.
Nevertheless, the absolute highlight was the presented bill on the departure day. The nephew of the owner charged for the very small bungalow 1400 pesos per day and not the advertised price by arrival of 1200. After my protest he offended me, I was not correct informed, the price of 1200 is the low season price and so on. When I informed him that I will write a bad review in case of many negative experiences and the construction noise, he begs my wife separately, we should refrain from a bad review. Unbounded cheek!
In our time in the Blue Cave there are a lot of other discontented clients. I cannot understand why this resort have so much high recommendations. This was the reason why we booked this resort. I travel a lot without high demands on standards but never have experienced such an unprofessional behavior, such a defective information policy as well as mismeasures of management.
We cannot recommend this resort. The management is only interested in your money. There are so much better resorts in the surroundings!
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Date of stay: February 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I normally don't bother writing reviews, but since I went to the Blue Cove after reading a lot of positive ones, I feel like I must do so to clarify some things. First of all, the island is beautiful (the resort is on an island 30 minutes from Port Barton). Having said that, I would not recommend anyone to go to the resort. I have never been to a place with such a lack of 'service' or general friendliness and the rooms are very very poor.
We made reservations by calling the owner. Since we went to the place to be able to do some diving I asked him if it was possible to arrange that with them and he said: yes, no problem you can arrange it at the resort. When we arrived in Port Barton there was no boat to pick us up (normally this is included in the price), the owner had sent a boat to the wrong place (he said when I called him about it) and we were not refunded for the (relatively expensive) boat trip we had to arrange ourselves.
Upon arrival the staff did not know about our reservation and even though there are 5 rooms and just one other couple staying there, we where not aloud to choose a room. There was no service whatsoever (the guys bringing us to the resort were offered drinks, we were not). They didn’t even give us a key. When I asked them about diving they had no idea about it, and didn't bother to help us out with arranging it (diving is NOT possible with the resort). One time I tried to ask the staff about it and walked up to them they greeted me with "what!?" We ended up calling different dive centers ourselves (with our non-local phones) trying to arrange it. There was not service at night; the staff just left a note saying we could take whatever we wanted as long as we wrote it down.
About the rooms: they are very poor (especially the bathrooms) and not clean. There is one nice looking cabin at the beach but the people staying there moved to another place after one night because of the huge spiders and insects crawling the floor at night.
The island is beautiful but I was shocked by the lack of service (and perhaps communication between the staff and owner) and rudeness of the staff. This is particularly problematic since you rely on them completely regarding transport, food, and just about anything on the island. I am having a hard time understanding how it is possible that a place with so much potential is such a mess. Don’t go there.
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Date of stay: January 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blue Cove is great if you're looking for certain things:
- Extreme privacy / isolation - Unplug from life/internet (I mean really unplug) - A real live on the beach experience (not many amenities)
However, all of that comes with drawbacks-- and to be clear, Blue Cove is NOT in Port Barton. It's actually 1 hour away by boat from Port Barton, and it costs 1000 pesos each way.
Also as other reviewers have mentioned, there is only electricity for limited hours, for a few hours in the morning, and then from 6/7pm-11/12pm. Electricity on this island is provided by a generator (so it must be quite expensive). In Port Barton, I was told it was also generator, and also limited hours (only at night).
Be prepared to bring cash to cover your stay, I'd estimate about 500 pesos / day / person would be a good budget. We ran out, though the owner was gracious enough to allow us to pay by paypal. But that was difficult given the internet situation.
Don't expect internet. There is not really any wifi, and any wifi is provided by a cellular modem. If you have your own data plan on your phone, the signal on the island is very poor, and fluctuates so you don't have a consistent connection.
The rooms are very basic, bungalow style. Mosquito nets are a must as there are lots on the island, and the bathroom is even more basic. Prepare yourself mentally as they don't look/feel particularly clean, but what else would you expect on a deserted island, basically? (even though apparently there are thousands of people living on the other side, which takes 1-2 hours to hike to)
All that being said, the island is very beautiful. While the beach immediately at Blue Cove is not that nice for swimming, they have a kayak you can take to neighboring beaches that are just 20-30 minutes away that are the definition of private, white sand beaches. Not a soul in sight. That might have had to do with us traveling during shoulder season, and being the only guests at Blue Cove, but it was nice.
There's also a nice hike up to a lookout point that is quite stunning. You can see for miles if the weather is good, and get a view of the surrounding islands.
I would definitely recommend booking an aircon room, as it made it possible for me to sleep at night (though by a few hours after the electricity shuts off, it gets muggy and warm again).
I don't know if it was because we were the only guests, but the staff were not very proactive and we often had to go find them. The staff are kind of stuck on the island too, but don't appear to have much to do without guests. They were very nice and friendly, but there's a limit to what can be done without internet, easy access to civilization, and with the property in it's current condition.
With some upgrades, this place could be a very fun, boutique resort experience. But it probably wouldn't be as affordable ($25-30 for no aircon, $50-60 for aircon). Port Barton doesn't appear to have much more to offer, so don't expect Western-style amenities. You're coming here for a sleepy fishing village and the beach.
Ultimately, I wasn't prepared for how remote Blue Cove was. But if that's what you're looking for, Blue Cove is a decent place to stay for a couple nights.
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Date of stay: November 2016
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:If you can't sleep in the heat, make sure to book an aircon room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just had a recent 4 day stay at the Blue Cove Island Resort, Albaguen Island, Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan. Our stay gave us a great time off from city life. We found the island’s clear waters teeming with marine life & very ideal for swimming & other water activities. Its cream beige powdery sand beach is perfect for sunbathing as well as for watching the sunrise or just to leisurely walk in the morning to soak up some sunshine. Its picturesque view of the surrounding islands was a delight. We enjoyed the island hopping experience. We consider Blue Cove a very good tropical alternative to more known & frequently visited but very crowded beaches of the country.
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi I first wrote a review on Bluecove on this site in Jan 12 titled “My Favourite Island Resort - Simple, Elegant and Beautiful” and feel I should update this. I have been back to Bluecove twice just for day trips since Jan 12 and stayed for 4 nights on one other occasion. During the 18 months there have been a few changes both good and bad. The Good. There is now extra accommodation (2/3 cabins) that are well placed and still maintain privacy. The generator is quieter than before and the plumbing is in better condition. They have a new bigger faster banca (boat). The road to San Vicente is almost finished with only about 15km of dirt remaining (Yes it is still the best way to get to bluecove and you still need a chiropractor if you must go via Port Barton. Any of the shuttle services to San Vic are fine... UV has the best vans while the guys working on Cathy's Vans are the best fun). The natural beauty of the place largely remains There are more accommodation and food options in San Vic if you arrive late and wish to spend a cheaper nights accommodation on the mainland before getting on the banca to Bluecove the following day. There are still no sandflies at all at Bluecove. There is NO pool....the four stars are for the ocean cove.
The Bad Mike and Melody are gone and a guy who lives in Manila has leased the resort. So the vibe of the place is less personal. Meals are still fine but are smaller than before and much slower to arrive. The turtle sanctuary has disappeared. The marine lease is not being protected as well as before and the fish numbers at the front of the resort have reduced dramatically (although it is still a great place for snorkelling and there are still plenty of fish) Service standards have declined Prices have increased (most rooms have gone up by about 300 peso - $US 7 a night).
Summary Bluecove is in a state of transition at the moment and it remains to be seen how it will all work out. It's still a lovely place but not as special as before. There is increasing optimism and tourist development in the San Vicente municipal area with new options for tourists being planned and built as we speak. It is likely that Bluecove will have much more competition over the next few years...so look out for other island alternatives in the area (especially on the blessed and stunning Boayan Island which you can see from Bluecove) and for the beach lovers....definitely check out Long Beach near San Vic if you are there between November and April, no coral but 14km of white sand and coconuts!
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Date of stay: July 2013
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip:All rooms are in good order but rooms furtherest away from the cooking area are quietest.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This resort in Albaguen Island was the best experience we could have had for starting our Philippines get-away. We spent 3 days here, which was perfect to reset our minds and experience total quietness and paradise-style tranquility.
Most of the time there was nothing to do which turned out to be everything to do: going with the people of the resort to pick-up coconut from the tree, hiking up there to the top of the mountain and check the view, practice some snorkel on the beach, relax on the beach collecting shells or play volley-ball with the people who works and live in the village nearby.
The staff and all the friends and familiars of them were so kind to us. We would never forget Djuna, Joy, Jojo, Princess, Princess Joy and everyone who made our experience so complete, like for example when they were offering us some filipino food during Christmas Day. The food was always amazingly cooked and fresh, and they were always so kind and humble, since the very first moment they came to Port Barton looking for us and took us to the island by boat.
I have to say I really cannot understand some of the bad reviews people leave about this place. For the quality-price relation this is a must visit, and I just cant think those people must be very posh or elitist. If you are looking for a paradisiac place that will take you out of your usual routine for some days, this place must be considered for sure.
Hopefully we will go back <3
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Date of stay: December 2017
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
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Thank you for your Inquiry. You can either go to Blue Cove by Boat or land.
You can hire a boat going straight to Blue Cove or ride a public transport going to Port Barton. Then hire a boat going to Blue cove (Around 1500 each way)
Van Rate is around 700 to 1000 pesos
We don't have an exact rate of boat ride since its gonna be a private boat expect it to be more expensive.
Regards
Blue cove
Boat ride ranges from 1000 to 1500 each way if you'll look for your own boat. if you booked with us boat ride rate is 1000 each way, travel time is less than an hour.
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