Lalam Kalumpang: Amazing Beachfront Private Villa in Anilao, Batangas

It’s beach tiiime! I love having staycations, moreso if it’s on a beach area. I’ve found this private beach villa in Batangas in Airbnb. This is one of my favorite Airbnbs so far – the villa is nice and comfortable and there’s great snorkeling nearby.

I went here with Hali, my brother and sister-in-law in early 2021. I still had Airbnb credits that were due to expire and so I was looking for a nice place to book. It would be my first time out, so I didn’t want anything extreme – just somewhere I could relax and splash if I wanted too.

To be honest, I haven’t been to a beach in almost a year due to restrictions. I wasn’t sure if I still know how to float in the water or if my cameras were still working, and my backpack hadn’t been touched since my last trip to Camiguin. This stay eased me back to going out. We had a fantastic time and you can read about that here!

Our stay in the villa

This private beach villa is called Lalam Kalumpang and it’s located in Mabini, Batangas — just past Eagle Point Resort. Actually, the listing does not include a name, but I found another online feature saying it’s called Lalam Kalumpang.

From Alabang, we took a smooth drive to Mabini. The villa is located inside a gated property. We parked at a shed inside and then walked down a 200-step stairs towards the villa. I wasn’t surprised at this because the properties in this side of Batangas are on the upper slope of a mountain and you either drive down or take winding stairs to get to the beach area.

There are 3 bedrooms with traditional wooden design and open air. Hali and I chose the biggest one, with a spacious veranda facing the sea. There is no aircon here, only fans. At night, it’s cool because of the ocean breeze that you don’t really need a fan.

There is also an alfresco dining area and couches. There are hammocks and lounge chairs facing the beach. There is a kitchen and one of the staff is always there to help the guests prepare or cook the food.

We didn’t bring food except bread and spreads, so we asked the cook for meals — adobong pusit, inihaw na bangus, and sinigang with sampalok. By the way, the ingredients here is just as expensive in Manila. This took me by surprise because I thought a seaside community would offer cheap seafood — but as my friend explained to me, public transport is limited and therefore expensive and a lot of items are bought from the port. Anyway, we liked the food and we didn’t have to spend time in the kitchen so it was fine.

We all liked the place. It was relaxing so we could just spend all day doing nothing — taking a nap (something we adults really appreciate), chilling in a hammock, or walking along the beach.

We went for a casual swim at the beach. The water here was so clear that you could see the small boulders and corals underneath. There were only small spots of sandy area, but there’s a wide breakwater that serves as natural pool.

But I haven’t talked about the best thing about this beach villa yet — it’s in front of a snorkeling area. Of course, Mabini is part of the Verde Island Passage so there really are snorkel and dive sites along its coastline. That saying, I’d been in Mabini a handful of times including another Airbnb house, and for me this is the best one as of yet.

Kuya Nelson, one of the staff at the villa, accompanied us for snorkeling. Aside from the corals, we’d easily seen around 5-6 sea turtles. We even saw 2 of them together, playfully circling each other. It was amazing.

The beachfront in the next property is also a breeding ground for sharks. During amihan, the baby sharks can be seen there. We’d seen one while snorkeling. Hali was already at the shore at that time, so he simply walked to get there and also saw the baby sharks in the water. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any photos. Taking pictures of baby sharks can be tricky because they immediately run away from humans. (Jaws really did give a bad impression on sharks.)

Because I hadn’t gone swimming for months, I was immediately hungry and tired. I asked Hali if he still wanted to snorkel the next day, but both of us agreed that we’d take the day off to relax. I guess you could say that we were already satisfied with our snorkeling experience.

All in all, it was a refreshing opportunity to get my feet back on traveling. The place we booked was really worth it. It’s a good choice whether you’re simply looking for a relaxing beach house or a place that offers good snorkeling experience.

See you next time, Mabini.

How to get here

Lalam Kalumpang is a private beach villa located in Mabini, Batangas. It’s about 2-2.5 hours away from Manila.

Here’s how to get here:

• From Manila, ride a bus bound for Batangas City. Get off at the Grand Terminal.
• Ride a jeep to Mabini. Then take a tricycle to the villa.

We took a private car, which I think is the easiest way to get there.

Book your stay here

You can book here via Airbnb.

• The listing includes 3 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, outdoor dining area, and kitchen.
• Caretaking service is included.
• Lifevests, snorkel, fins, and kayaks can be borrowed for free. You can also ask to be accompanied on your snorkeling tour so you can see where the sea turtles are.

Reminders and Tips

• It’s best to bring your own food. Or you can shop at the market in the town proper. There are eateries outside but they are limited, and if you do not have your own car, chartering a tricycle can be expensive. You can also ask the caretaker to shop and cook for you for free.
• To get to the villa, you will need to take a 200-step stairs down to the beach area. The climb back up is particularly tiring. As such, this place might not be ideal for seniors or those with mobility issues.
• The best activities in Mabini are snorkeling and diving. Island hopping can also be availed for around P1500 per boat.

Did you like reading about our staycation at this private beach villa in Batangas? If you have other recommendations for us to visit, let us know in the comments section below!

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