A boutique resort in the more quiet side of what is popularly known as Anilao, Batangas. Portulano Dive Resort provides snorkeling and scuba diving services to Anilao/Mabini, Bauan, Tingloy popular dive sites. Wake up to the gentle sound of the waves with rooms directly fronting the sea with a bedside view of the ocean. It's a great place for both divers, non-divers having lots of private space to lounge and relax. Design and architecture is inspired by mediterranean colors accented by local materials and artistry.
Stayed for 7 days with Portulano and had a fantastic time. The resort is very smart and everything is kept very clean. Rooms were comfortable and a highlight was the amazing views of the sunset over the Philippines Sea. The food was consistently good and staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. The house reef offers excellent quality scuba diving (I recommend night diving here), with convenient boat trips to the best reef dives in Anilao and Batangas.
I teach scuba diving, so was very pleased with the diving set-up at Portulano. The diving staff are very knowledgeable and they use a superior compressor to fill scuba tanks.
Will definitely be visiting again soon!
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Date of stay: October 2011
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.
Response from diveaddiction, Owner at Portulano Dive Resort
Responded Nov 11, 2011
We're glad you enjoyed your stay, your underwater pictures are super AWESOME!
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Lovely resort with nice simple, big and clean rooms at affordable prices. The balconies looking out into the bay gives you a nice view of the sunset! The owners, Arnel and Carmela are helpful and friendly arranged for transfers to and from Manila Airport which is about 2.5 hours away. I was there with a group of friends on a diving trip and the housereef was great! Arnel and Carmela are divers as well, so their resort has that lazy diver setup with easy access to equipment set up and dives from the jetty. clearly thought through for divers in mind! Definitely be back soon!
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Date of stay: July 2011
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.
Went to Portulano with my officemates (department-mates) for our summer outing.
Location - 3 hours drive from Makati/Manila including Saturday morning traffic en route. We followed the guide in the resort's website on the best route to take. Nothing negative about the location as dive resorts do abound in Batangas. They have a private parking lot (or i think they borrow the space from a private individual) where you leave your car because you need to take a short boat ride to the resort itself and where your driver can stay for Php250/night including meals.
Facilities - the dive resorts i've been to are basically no-frills places, but this one was very nice. They have landscaping! and great places to lounge with no plastic chairs in sight! All rooms face the water. We got the seaview fan rooms which had wall-to-wall doors to the balcony which we left open during our entire stay -- even at night. Want hot water for your shower? They have that, too.
The house reef is great for snorkeling. The water is clear and there's lots of corals and fish to see.
Food - served buffet style. Taste-wise, it was okay. My friends and I were by the pool and the staff brought our afternoon snack to us. And they we asked them to cook some more for us, they did so immediately with no questions asked.
The owners Arnel and Carmen Sevilla are really nice hosts. They have everyone's comfort in mind. They set a very good example for their staff who are courteous and friendly.
Everything about the resort says "laid back" and "relaxed". All in all, it was a great weekend. I am glad I chose this place for our summer outing.
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Date of stay: May 2009
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 spent a weekend at Portulano to grab a few dives after being in Manila on business. Used the resort to arrange a driver and took about 2 hours to get there from Makati followed by a short 10 min boat ride (the resort is completely cut off from any roads which means no traffic noise and a very peaceful environment). Arrived in time for dinner and like all the other meals which are included in the room rate there is plenty to eat and a surprising variety for such a small place. Rooms are simple but clean and I regarded the absence of a TV or any phones as a plus rather than a disadvantage. There is a lounge area and a games room at the top with table tennis and a pool table. Dive shop is well run and Choi is an excellent dive guide with sharp eyes, probably the best diving I have done around Anilao. Only one small gripe which is that wifi is patchy and very slow but that is not the resort's fault and it just means you can spend time reading a book or talking to other guests instead. Would go back
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Date of stay: January 2015
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 came to the Philippines in 1989 and started diving around the same time. An avid scuba weekend warrior I soon discovered all the pretty dive spots in the country. Based in Manila I found my usual hunting grounds in Subic, Anilao and Puerto Galera. I have done trips to the south and covered areas ranging from Bohol, Cebu, Boracay, down to Palawan, Sulu Sea and even Mindanao.
Then, in early 2000s I met Carmela and Arnel who organized a liveaboard to Tubbataha. Up to today it was the best dive trip with the most memorable dives I have made. Fun and friendship included. Sheer bliss!
A couple of years later Carmela and Arnel invited me to their newly built dive resort in Anilao. Aptly named Portulano, it easily became my go-to dive resort anywhere in the country. It is perfect for diving, relaxation and having fun with friends and family.
The now world famous acronym ESD was inked in Portulano. Eat, Sleep & Dive. Eat Sleep & Dive. Ok, I might be reaching, but yes, Portulano is the right place for just that. Eat, Sleep & Dive. ;-)
I love the tranquility of the resort, rustic, yet comfy, inviting and fun. The food is great, the buffet offering something delicious for everybody. The people of Portulano are friendly, attentive and caring. Carmela and Arnel together with the resort's manager Daisy are doing a fantastic job in running this not-so-best-kept-secret dive resort.
The diving is exceptional. Perfect for macro and underwater photography. But also big fish, pelagic and similar can be seen here. The house reef stretches along the coast, offering playground for multiple dives without duplicating the previous one. Many more dive spots are within a few minutes boat ride. Or go for a day's trip with the big Portulano Basnig (large bangka) to some remote areas. Two or three dives, packed lunch and then, hang out on beautiful beaches for a siesta and a relaxing surface interval.
Lastly, if you are planning to get into scuba diving, intend to get certified or even just do an intro-dive, Carmela and Arnel will take great care of you. They are both fantastic dive instructors.
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Date of stay: September 2013
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 searching online for the best place to go snorkelling, I chanced upon reviews of Portulano resort. It is mainly a dive resort but they claim to have an excellent house reef so I booked a weekend with the hubby for our monthly beach trip, do not regret it one bit.
Reservation:
Did ours via email, Arnel (the owner) was quick to reply and answers all your queries. A 50% reservation was required which can be paid via Paypal, BPI or BDO. Got a confirmation of reservation from Arnel on the day I paid the fee.
Getting There:
The map they have on their website is precise with number of kilometers per landmark/s. Just use the odometer of your car. Commute instructions are also available. The drive would have taken us less than 2 hours had there been no traffic. Arnel also gave the instruction to send an SMS when you exit the tollway which we did so that they can send a boat at the dock where you can park your car. Our boat arrived just as we entered the parking area. Parking fee by the way is PHP100 overnight, you pay before you leave. The boat ride takes about 5 minutes.
Check In:
As they already know you'll be there, the room was ready. We just had to fill out a registration form and deposit slip (downpayment) and we were handed our keys.
Room:
The room we booked was a hillview seaside room. It is a fan room that has a double bed, veranda and a sufficient bathroom with a hot and cold shower. The first room they gave us (Hillside 2), the bathroom door locked on it's own and no one could get it open with keys or blunt force so they had to transfer us to the other room (Hillside 1). Some bad points, as they were cleaning the other room before we transferred, we noticed that they did not get new sheets for us to use. They made the bed and gave us new towels, I know because I was watching while they cleaned. This was proven further when that night as we first lay down, we could feel sand/tiny pebbles and were bitten by bed bugs. The bed could have been comfortable enough had there been no insects to bite us and wake us up, suffice it to say, we did not sleep well at all.
Food:
One of the good parts of this resort. The per person rate comes with full board meals: 3 buffet style meals. You get lunch when you check in, dinner and breakfast the next day. You can opt to have lunch there upon checkout but the price of PHP450 per person is not good value in my opinion, I can have a buffet meal in Manila for the same rate with a lot more options to choose from. The food is good though, they do not give the usual swimming in oil array of nasty food but always serve decent meals like pork kebabs, stuffed grilled fish, portuguese chicken and the like. May I just commend how well they cook their rice! There is soup, salad and desert for lunch and dinner.They served made to order pancakes and omelletes for breakfast. I only wish they brought out desert earlier as when we had our first lunch there, I didn't know they served mango tapioca which I love. At around 1:30PM my hubby went down to get coffee and saw that but there was almost none left, bummer! Desert is always good. Coffee is free flowing all day. Breakfast should be served earlier than 8AM, We woke up at 5AM (due to bed bugs), went to the dining area by 6AM and found it was not cleared at all. Dirty dishes on the table, no coffee available, we made the first pot just so we can have some.
House Reef:
Very good, lacks color (maybe because of the season?) but there were a lot of fishes, I even had an encounter with a sea snake, scared me half to death.
Internet:
Wifi is available wherever the pocket wifi is (usually the lounge), when it works it's fast.
Facilities:
Salt water pool, it was always dirty with dead bugs and leaves. I would not have minded the leaves but bugs are just icky, It is not tiled so the sides of the pool actually have snails living on them.
Billiards, board games and a tv and dvd combo in the upper deck area. We played billiards while watching some Friends episodes here. There is also a bathroom in this area. Outside are 3 cabanas with 2 hammocks each and big pillows for lounging. We loved this part of the place.
On the second floor, near the dining area is a sort of living room where there are books and magazines and a lot of lounge chairs we can chill on. The only issue I had in this area had nothing to do with a resort but a woman who had the nerve to ask us to turn down a very soft sound coming from my husband's phone, we were atleast 2 meters away from them and the sound system and rain (there was a storm) were both loud enough. We kind of felt that since we are not divers like them, she discriminated us. Anyway, it would have been a perfectly relaxing spot.
Check Out:
Before I had lunch, I went to the front desk, paid the remaining balance and told Daisy that we would leave right after we eat. Paying was quick and easy.
Over All:
This resort is perfect if you really want to get away from it all and if you are a diver, isolated and peaceful. We kept feeling like outsiders though as those checked in were mostly divers and hubby and I were just there to relax - period. I would maybe go back if I'm already a certified open diver.
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Date of stay: June 2013
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.
Response from diveaddiction, Owner at Portulano Dive Resort
Responded Jul 4, 2013
In response to this review: 1) BEDSHEETS ARE ALWAYS NEW AND CHANGED and also regularly replaced for long staying guests. It would be quite unfair to say it wasn't changed because it was not seen since the beddings are usually set up earlier during the day, before guest arrival. Additional cleaning and checking is done prior to room turnover so this is what was seen. The keys need to be addressed though, so that for sure will be fixed. 2) I DOUBT THERE WERE BED BUGS since beds are regularly sun dried and cleaned, there could have been insects that could have fallen on the bed since those rooms are quite close to the trees, it was a stormy, rainy weekend so yes, lots of insects flying around and probably some landing on the bed is possible. A little "pag pag" or dusting could have worked. You could have also had SAND IN YOUR CLOTHES or feet. Normally bed bugs bite, so bites are the proof of bedbugs, not sandy feeling beds. 3)"ICKY" BUGS AND SNAILS IN THE POOL are not at all bothersome, it's part of the natural environment, like I said, it was a rainy weekend, so pardon some insects that could have fallen from the trees into the pool, it's just that the area is so close to a very healthy natural environment which houses a lot of insects, including fireflies that could end up in your room at night. Strange, I always thought falling leaves and flowers on the pool or the ground look pretty. The pool is not dirty, the color is just different from chlorinated fresh water pools. It's saltwater so doesn't look as clear. It is also intentionally not tiled so that it has a more rustic, natural feel to it. And it is easier to manage being a scuba training pool. I'm now seriously considering a notice that says: WARNING! POOL IS NOT TILED! : ) 4) BUFFET MEALS AT THE RESORT should not be compared to Manila, first off Manila buffet prices should be obviously cheaper because it is not near the beach. Common sense dictates that supplies and workforce are more expensive if you have to transport everything by boat. Secondly we focus on QUALITY not QUANTITY, it is not a buffet for gorging but rather for enjoying a good quality selection of non-greasy, healthy and flavorful dishes. That is our definition of a good buffet. 5) OUR GUESTS, specially our regulars are wonderful people I must say, they are not discriminating at all, they treat our place as their second home. In fact we have a lot of regulars who are not divers but just enjoy the peace and quiet and snorkeling. Now that is an interesting idea, I did not think there exists a diver - non-diver discrimination. I can only imagine that if one is asked to turn down the volume, then it was probably too loud.
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Hospitality was lovely! Food was very, very, very good. Room's view was so scenic. Snorkeling was fantastic, but must recommend wearing full suit as jellies will get you. We really enjoyed our family time here...
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Date of stay: February 2013
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 stayed in Portulano for 3 days and overall had an okay experience. Plus: The staff is really friendly; especially Daisy was very helpful. Quality of the food is surprisingly good for such a small scale, remote resort. The diving opportunities are great and not too expensive. The place is quiet and relaxed also because of its isolation. Minus: Rooms are very basic and not clean (including the linen). Very basic and dark bathroom. WiFi connection is hopeless and only accessible in the lounge, but even then not very stable. Avoid this place if you do not like dogs: there are two big ones roaming around the property freely and although harmless they do seek your company even if you do not want them to. And they smell awful; you can smell them at the pool, during meals and if you are 'lucky' one of them will sleep outside your door and you can smell it in your room.
Overall we had an okay stay, but we would not go here again. If you are into diving and do not care too much about your accommodation: by all means go there. But if you expect some comfort (and the place is not cheap mind you, so you would expect some) you should consider other options.
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Date of stay: October 2012
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.
Response from diveaddiction, Owner at Portulano Dive Resort
Responded Jan 2, 2013
Dear reviewer, Thank you very much for your feedback which is much appreciated. To be honest, this seems to be the final straw since we have been having trouble with our dogs and have already decided to house them away from the resort grounds and guest areas. We are even seriously considering for them to be adopted. While it's sad for us and other guests, they have been becoming a nuisance because one of them is already quite old and is hard to maintain unlike before. I suppose it was also hard for us to determine this because they are very well liked by most of our guests and are often concerned when they are leashed or kept. We've recently added 4 new rooms with very high ratings and commendations from our guests, we have found them to be so much better than our older rooms since we have had a bit more budget in setting it up. The next step happening this January is upgrading the rest of the rooms to catch up with the new ones. This includes linens, towels etc. So it seems we are on the same page on this one. Overall, we have still received exceptional reviews from our guests staying this long holiday so we are hopeful that we can only get better as we move in to 2013.
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Everytime I go on a vacation I always wanted to make the most of it -- activities planned the whole day, no idle time, itinerary polished etc. However, when I feel like escaping and just sleeping for more than 8 hours (excluding siesta), I always make it a point to go with Ferdi to Portulano.
Portulano is a divers resort with a wonderful house reef. Although I am not a diver - still have to polish my breastroke before my intro dive - I very much enjoy my stay(s) at Portulano. I made a breakdown of this, see below:
Food Forget about diet for the weekend, or actually you still can. Food at Portulano is always a mix of all the food groups -- a salad is always available, good meat and fish dishes, and a good serving of carbs, not just rice, but pasta dishes. Throughout the day, they have a fresh pot of brewed coffee in the dining area. One must also make it a point to order the banana-peanut butter shake in their ala carte menu. Lastly, did I mention the breakfast, lunch, and dinner is buffet? If you're Filipino, that means one big Yay! And even if you're not a Filipino, it's always more fun when it's buffet.
Service The staff is really great! From the time you park into their parking area (not at the resort), to the boat and finally getting off, you're sure to be guaranteed not just top-notch but a very personal and friendly service. Also, in Portulano, you're never afraid of leaving your valuables. Most of the time, we don't even lock our room and we have never lost anything.
Amenities Portulano is one of the resorts in the Philippines with very good and well thought of furnishing which is simple, but at the same time blends seamlessly with the environment. The huge windows/veranda doors guarantees fresh air and natural lighting, a rarity for some resorts. We never had to turn on the airconditioner in the room during the day. Most, if not all, decors are made from local and sustainable materials.
For the diving, I couldn't really attest to that, but you might want to check out the videos of portulano at vimeo, just search for username fdeantoni. :)
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Date of stay: December 2011
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 looking for a resort near Manila where we can relax and do some snorkeling (we are non-divers). So based on what others had reviewed, we chose this place which fits our requirement best.
It's only 2 1/2 to 3 hours drive from Manila. The booking was easy and the direction to the resort was very clear. It's located in a coastal area which is attached to the mainland Batangas but reachable only by boat as there's no road going there. We had to park the car in a private lot own by a filipino lady who stays there (Manang Lerda) and charge P100 for an overnight parking. The She can also provide accommodation to the driver at P250 per night and P50 per meal (the driver eats whatever they cook for her family). The resort personnel will come and pick you up at the parking for a 5 minutes boat ride to the resort.
It's a no fuss/frills resort and the rooms are very basic... ie no fluffy blankets, goose feather pillows, disposable toothbrush, electric kettle or TV. Food are also simple with 3 or 4 choices. It's basically for people who loves outdoors and spends the whole day doing outdoors activities, coming back only to sleep and eat. However there are air-conditioned rooms. So if you are an indoor person who only wants to stay inside and enjoy the room, then this is not the place. That being said, I find the rates they charge are very affordable and reasonable, even for extra services like massage, boat hire and etc (and they help the local communities there by hiring them). They also allow you to bring your own drinks and snacks without corkage fee.
The owners and staffs are very warm and friendly. One memorable experience is that while we were just lounging inside the pool, a staff brought out a newly cooked banana cue snacks for us to eat by the pool side! How thoughtful!
The location is just fantastic. The water is clear and the house reef is just in front of the resort and you can just jump right in. Or else one can hire a boat ride to the nearby marine sanctuary (highly recommended) for diving or snorkeling as the area are preserved (ie fishing prohibited) for more than 10 years and are teeming with many colorful fishes! It's like swimming in a huge aquarium. Kids will definitely love it! Oh, remember to bring bag full of bread for fish feeding.
There's an infinity salt water pool (which is being changed every morning) where the owner sometimes conducts diving lessons. This is definitely a GREAT place for people who wants to dive, snorkel to see fishes and corals. Thus it's not the place for people who wants sands and long stretch of beaches as the shores are rocky. But then, sands/beach = no fish, as the corals reef are houses for the fishes.
Overall, it was a memorable stay and experience.
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Date of stay: June 2010
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.
Yes, we offer PADI Courses. Please check out the details in our website, you can also reach us through our website, you can google Portulano Dive Resort as website links and email addresses are not allowed to be posted here.
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