Yup, you read that right. I bet you didn’t know you could rent an entire island in the Philippines through Airbnb without breaking the bank.
And yes we’ve all had that dream of living on a private island away from everyone else. So why rent a fancy room on a 5-star island resort if you and your friends can own an entire island for the same price.
Luckily you can do just that with Floral Island, a Tropical paradise in Palawan surrounded by crystal clear waters and a coral reef unlike any other.
FLORAL ISLAND RESORT
Floral Island Resort, Talacanen Island, Taytay, Philippines
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5153819
Website: http://floralisland-resort.ph/
Email: floralisland.resort@gmail.com
Instagram: @floralisland.resort
Facebook: @floralisland.resort
Contact: +63 9171625550
Floral Island is a secluded private resort nestled in the middle of Talacanen island just off the coast of Taytay bay in the north-eastern side of Palawan.
This beautiful limestone island was named after “Flora,” the lovely wife of Martin, a Swiss who has been living in the Philippines since 1983.
Originally, Martin has been backpacking all over the world until he fell in love with the island. Back then the resort only served as a guesthouse for the small family until they opened it to the public.
For now, guests can only book the island through Airbnb, an online booking platform that connects people who are looking to rent out their home or in this case an island.
To get to the island you first have to fly to either El Nido or Puerto Princesa, and from there they can take a van to Taytay port.
Boat transfers are inclusive, and it will take roughly an hour to get to the island.
Arriving guests enter and exit through this long wooden pier that also serves as a jump-off site for those who wish to snorkel along the reef.
The pier is easily my favorite place in the whole island thanks to this conveniently placed diving board.
From the pier, you can already see the clear line that separates the beautiful corals and the deep blue sea.
The pier itself is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking blue waters and stunning coral reef, perfect for those endless hours of swimming and snorkeling.
With a total of 6 villas, the resort can host up to 16 guests in one booking.
But regardless of the number of persons in one reservation, you will always be the only guests on the island.
And since you’re the only guest on the island you are free to sleep on any of the six villas.
Our favorite room is the honeymoon villa which is located on top of a limestone cliff and offers you the best view of the island.
All of the rooms are spacious and cozy with a very Filipino design. The Interior and exterior are mostly covered in bamboo and rocks giving it that natural look.
Every room even has its own balcony or porch with an excellent view. Perfect if you want to relax after a long day.
The whole island is entirely solar powered, so there is no air-conditioning. Luckily there are barely any mosquitos on the Island.
I also like the big and open roof design of the bathrooms. Just be mindful of the use of water because every drop of water is brought to the Island from the Mainland.
Aside from the villas, there is also a bar/restaurant that was designed by one of the original architects of the Tao expedition basecamps.
Needless to say, the island itself is fully equipped with all the modern amenities that you’ll ever need and yes there’s Wi-Fi but only at the main restaurant.
There is also a resident pug named “Moe” who is more than happy to entertain and keep you away from all your gadgets.
Oh, and did I mention that full board course meals are also provided?
Sadly, the in-house chef wasn’t around when we there but Philipe, son of the owner took care of us and prepared a terrific home cooked dish that made us feel really at home.
Pretty much everything on the island is already part of the package and all you have to do is sit back and relax.
The island is surrounded by a long stretch of protected coral reef. Hence there is no beach in the main resort.
Instead, you first have to kayak for 2-3mins to reach this cove with a charming beach.
Which is fine because the crystal clear waters, limestone cliff and insane coral more than makes up for it.
Not to mention Floral Island is part of the coral triangle initiative, an international project that aims at promoting and planting artificial coral reefs.
Guest are encouraged to participate in this one of a kind experience of being a coral hero and planting yourself some corals.
And then you can return to the island after a couple of years to see how much the coral you’ve planted have grown.
Kids and kids at heart are also in for a treat with all the different kinds of colorful fishes who don’t seem to mind human interaction.
Snorkels and kayaks are provided and scuba diving can be arranged.
After a long day of swimming, there isn’t really much do in the island aside from relaxing and enjoying the beautiful and peaceful scenery.
There are no island hopping tours, no commercial or motorized activities. The island is clearly meant for relaxation and escaping the hordes of tourist.
Come nighttime the resort turns into a very romantic island getaway with barely any light and sound pollution.
Perfect for those long and intimate night strolls with your special someone.
Nothing feels better than ending a long day with a private dinner by the beach with a matching bonfire by your side.
Dining by the beach with only the stars above our head truly makes it an experience that we will never forget.
Now the only thing left to do is to enjoy each others company and drink the night away.
And to top it all off, the Swiss-Filipino owners who hosted us for the duration of our stay were simply amazing and are extremely friendly.
Special thanks to Philipe for serving us 5-star grade dishes that was cooked from the heart and to Martin who was never shy about sharing all his stories with us.
Overall, the stunning island, friendly staff, and the amazing scenery were beyond our expectations. Even to call it beautiful is an understatement, there is simply no words to describe how beautiful this island is.
It’s a complete package! Something that you see only in your dreams. Floral Island is easily our favorite island in Palawan; I just wish that we could’ve stayed longer so we could hike up the limestone cliff and visit the nearby small fishing village. I’d say you should at least spend 3-4 nights on this island to fully explore it.
But at the end of the day, the island is meant only for those who are looking to get away from it all. For now, you can only rent the island through Airbnb for a mere ₱26,000 a night good for two, additional person from ₱3,200 to ₱3,600.
Sounds expensive? Actually, it only cost’s as much as premium room for two on a fancy resort, and if you factor in the full board meals and split it amongst your friends, then it will be even cheaper.
So the next time you’re planning a trip with friends, family or even that special someone, skip all the fancy resorts and crowded tourist destinations. Instead, bring them to this private island in Palawan for an experience that they will never forget.
FLORAL ISLAND RESORT
Floral Island Resort, Talacanen Island, Taytay, Philippines
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5153819
Website: http://floralisland-resort.ph/
Email: floralisland.resort@gmail.com
Instagram: @floralisland.resort
Facebook: @floralisland.resort
Contact: +63 9171625550
Live an Awesome Life,
NICO of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our stay in Floral Island was courtesy of Philippe and Martin. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. For OAP readers, here’s an additional 10% code on AirBnB
