Tugawe Cove Resort: Is This the Best Resort in Caramoan?

Our little travel group has gone through different beaches in Manila, including a personal favorite of mine, Abra de Ilog, Mindoro. Well, this time, we decided to travel a bit further and take an overnight bus ride to our next destination — Tugawe Cove Resort in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

When people talk about traveling to Caramoan, mostly they refer to booking a budget resort that offers a one- or two-day island hopping trip. I’ve been there, done that. Tugawe Cove Resort is a bit different because while it also offers the same tour, the resort is really so nice that you’ll want to stay put and enjoy the beautiful beachfront and house reef.

Here’s our stay at Tugawe Cove Resort in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Tugawe Cove Resort

Tugawe Cove Resort is a 4-star beachfront and hillside resort located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula. From Naga CBD, it takes another 4 hours of land travel to get here, plus about 40 minutes of boat ride.

Our 3-Nights Stay at Tugawe Cove Resort

First of all, I want to tell you how we got a good package at Tugawe Cove Resort — I booked their promo at the recent travel fair! Just wanted to put it out there as a PSA because a lot of people actually are skeptical about whether they can get good deals at local travel fairs. Yes, you can. Go drop by the next one.

The package we got was a 4D/3N stay for four people, including full-board meals, round-trip transfer from Naga to Tugawe Cove Resort, and free activities. There is also a 20% discount for tours. The total cost is only P41,000, which, considering all the inclusions, is such a sweet deal.

So anyway, we traveled from Manila through an overnight bus and arrived there around lunch time the next day. Everyone at the resort was so polite! They greeted me by name and served us welcome snacks and drinks.

Our room was a lakeside cabin with two double beds. Pro Tip: Basically, there are two types of cabins you can book here — the lakeside cabins and the hillside cabins. The hillside cabins are a bit cheaper, and you can enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery, but you also need to climb down the 190+ step stairs to get to the beachfront, whereas the lakeside cabins are just a few steps away from the beach. So, to the lakeside cabin, you go.

I love our lakeside cabin. It’s airconditioned, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that let you peer at the lagoon, comfortable beds, a closet, and decent toilet and bath. A balcony lets you sit outside for air.

Note: Bathroom uses salty water. We also had a faulty bathroom door lock, but everything else was great.

As I said above, the beachfront here is so beautiful and clean — it is fine sand, mixed with pebbles, but you can totally do with strolling around barefoot. The resort offers free kayaks and snorkel equipment. Some kayaks have glass bottoms, so you can see the corals and fishes under the water. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, go to the nearby beach coves.

We loved swimming just as much as snorkeling in the house reef. Our routine would be to beach bum and swim at the day and then move to the infinity pool overlooking the beach. Oftentimes, the pool would be naturally warm and perfect for a night dip.

The resort actually has two infinity pools: the beachfront pool that I’d just mentioned and the hilltop pool. The hilltop pool overlooks Catanduanes Province, which you can see on a clear day. It is also gently sloping, a feature that we find nice. (Due to it being located at the hilltop, I only went to swim here once as I refuse to climb up those stairs.)

Not to be missed: a viewdeck where you can see the lagoon on one side, and the beach on the other.

Other Activities

Tugawe Cove Resort offers numerous tours to complement your stay, including the usual island hopping tours to Caramoan islands, beach hopping, snorkeling, plankton watching (only available during new moon), beach bonfire, and picnic at the lighthouse.

As I said above, we actually didn’t avail any of these tours, as we were perfectly happy to stay at our lakeside villa. We did, however, visit the lighthouse for the sunset. A vehicle dropped us off at the foot of the hills. From there, the scenery was wonderful — there was Mount Mayon from afar, more hills and beach coves, and a small town near the lighthouse. There were also cows grazing at the grassland. Honestly, if we will go back, I might book the picnic setup here.

The Food

Tugawe Cove Resort has two dining options: a hilltop restaurant and a beachfront cafe. When we visited, the restaurant was still under construction due to damage from a recent typhoon. So we had our breakfast and lunch at the cafe, where the view is to die for, and dinner at the poolside.

The resort offers mostly local dishes. They were good, and except for one meal, the portions were generous. The food was good, and most of the time, the portions were also generous. My personal favorites are: sinanglay na isda, stir-fried chicken with mango, gambas algillo, and pork belly binagoongan. Their ice creams are also delicious and taste artisanal.

The breakfast are mostly Filipino silog meals or pancake, with coffee and juice.

It is recommended to order in advance, and you will also be asked your preferred time to dine in. Overall, we were happy with the food, though I would still recommend for you to bring your own snacks. The cafe offers merienda like pasta and sandwiches, but not all of the were available during our stay.

Overall: What We Love

We had a fantastic time at Tugawe Cove Resort, from check-in to saying goodbye to the staff.

The lakeside accommodation was charming and unique, and the combination of a beachfront that’s not only gorgeous but teeming with life too is incomparable. The availability of plenty of activities and tours is also a plus.

Another reason we love the resort is that it feels so exclusive. We went there on weekdays, and there were only eight guests in total at the resort. So we were catered to and pampered, and the beach felt like it belonged to us.

Before going here, I read a lot of mixed reviews and I’m glad I didn’t listen to them. As a travel writer who’s been to different resorts in the country, Tugawe Cove Resort is up there on my personal favorites.

Here’s a summary of our review:

• Service: The staff was fantastic, and I appreciate the personalized service too.
• Facilities: Our lakeside cabin and beds were comfortable. I would say there are signs of wear and tear in some areas in the resort, but nothing drastic to affect our experience.
• Food: Delicious local dishes, mostly generous portion. You need to place orders in advance. Also, best to bring your own snacks.
• Value for money: Tugawe Cove Resort is the only 4-star resort in Caramoan and it is on the expensive side. If you can afford it, I’d say it’s good value for money, especially if you love exclusive, quiet beaches.

How to get to Tugawe Cove Resort

If you’re coming from Manila, get a plane to Naga or take an overnight bus from Alabang, PITX, or Cubao. Bus travel takes about 9-10 hours.

From Naga CBD, the resort offers a van transfer service at 6 to 6:30 AM, with a stopover at an eatery overlooking Mount Mayon, to Guijalo Port in Caramoan (about 3-4 hours). From the port, boat service departs at 11AM and takes 30-40 minutes to get to the resort. Return trip is at 10AM.

Good-to-Knows

• Weekend availability. Tugawe Cove Resort is usually open from Friday to Sunday only. Weekday bookings are accepted for a minimum of 15 adults / 3 rooms. During summer, the resort is open throughout the week.
• Check-in / check-out. Regular check-in is 12 noon, and check-out at 10 AM.
• Connectivity is limited. There is mobile data for Globe; WIFI is only accessible at the restaurant / cafe.
• Accessibility. The resort has many stairs, so it is not ideal for senior citizens or PWDs.
• Payment. The resort accepts cash and credit card.

Here are some personal travel tips:

• Stay longer! Book here a minimum of 2 nights, longer if your schedule allows.
• Bring snacks. While we love the food, there are limited options outside of meal times. However, take note that there is a corkage fee if you’re bringing cooked meals and drinks.

FAQ

How many days should I stay?

Two nights is a comfortable minimum. Three nights leaves room for island hopping and a night activity.

What’s the best time to visit?

Dry months with calm seas are best for boat transfers and island hopping. Summer offers good weather and clear skies, but it is also peak season, so it may be more crowded, especially if you plan to island hop. For plankton watching, plan for a new-moon night.

Is Tugawe Cove Resort good for kids?

Generally, yes. There are two pools, a kid-friendly beachfront, and even a game room. Just watch the little ones on the steep paths and stairs.

Is it pet-friendly?

The resort is not pet-friendly.

Book your stay at Tugawe Cove Resort

For discounted rates, you can book Tugawe Cove Resort rooms here.