MANILA, Philippines – Holidays are best spent away from the crowded streets of the city, especially at Christmastime. For anyone who’s craving to get away, Palawan is always a good idea. After all, it is the 2015 best island in the world, according to a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine. Palawan’s best-kept secret, Arena Island, offers a tranquil and serene setting, perfect for a group, couple, or solo holiday getaway.
The 4-hectare private island, is set off the coast of the municipality of Narra, 3 hours away from the capital, Puerto Princesa City. Arena Island has a unique blend of privacy and comfort because guests can have the island all to themselves during their stay. The visitors are given value through exclusive and personalized services of a highly-trained crew, comprised of professional chefs and butlers.
The Casa and the native-themed Casita, best for a couple’s honeymoon, are the premier accommodations at Arena Island. Group travelers, meanwhile, can relish their break with the gentle breeze in the Pavilion, which accommodates up to 15 single mattresses.
The appeal of Arena Island goes into its culinary treats as well. Guests have the privilege to choose what will be served on their table. They can select from a wide range of home-cooked meals of fresh seafood caught around the island. Moreover, guests can choose among the Casita’s verandas, the beachfront, the treehouse, the sandbar, or the canopy of trees as the backdrop of their meals.
A visit on Arena Island will not be completely amazing without trying the water adventures such as snorkeling, diving and kayaking. The guests will have the chance to witness and get close to the 30-hectare aquatic paradise home to a marine life and resources.
Aside from providing exclusive services and fun activities, Arena Island has also been practicing eco-conservation and sustainability in its operations to promote ecotourism. It strengthened its efforts by taking part in the Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) project under the EU SWITCH-Asia program and initiated by GrAT-Center for Appropriate Technology and its partners – ASSIST, PCSD, PhilGBC and Plataforma Solar de Almería Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (PSA CIEMAT), the largest European center for research, development and testing of concentrating solar technologies.
The ZCR project aims to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Palawan and other parts of the Philippines to switch from using fossil fuels to utilizing renewable sources of energy.
With that, Arena Island encourages its guests to participate in the conservation practices by switching off the light during day time to save energy. The island has been using solar panel units for lighting purposes even before it opened its doors to guests.
Arena Island is also known to be a breeding ground for pawikans, the Philippines’ native sea turtles. Thus, Arena Island continues to espouse the protection and conservation of the precious creatures through its advocacy program, Pugad Pawikan Pilipinas, which seeks to preserve endangered species of sea turtles. At least 200 eggs come out with 45 to 50 days of incubation. Custodians of Arena Island take care of the hatchlings and release them back to sea after a month. Guests can partake in the releasing process and sponsor related costs to ensure the protection and health of the gentle creatures before they go back to the sea.
“We, at Arena Island, strongly believe that we have responsibility to the environment and we have to continue with our efforts to make the island more sustainable for the years to come,” said Roland Rodriquez, a native of Cuyo, Palawan and the island’s proprietor and protector.
With its right mix of privacy, personalized service, and commitment to the environment, the secluded Arena Island is perfectly made for travel enthusiasts. More information is available at www.arenaisland.com.
