COSTA PACIFICA is a cool surfer’s beach resort managed by Raintree. It’s on the east coast, along Sabang Beach in Baler, Aurora — the birthplace of surfing in the Philippines.
I love the resort because of its chic-surfer vibe, the hip events, yummy Baler food, and beachfront location.
Check out the photo essay series of our 3-day/2-night experience at Costa Pacifica:
BALER COSTA PACIFICA Series (2013):
- BALER: Costa Pacifica Halloween Night @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Costa Pacifica Mornings in Full Color and Surfer Chic Vibe! @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Dicasalarin Cove Experience @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Charlie Does Surf Indeed 🙂 @CharlieDoesSurf
- BALER: Kusina Luntian by Kuya Biboy
COSTA PACIFICA
080 Buton St., Sitio Labasin, Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora, Philippines, 3200
Manila Office: +632 576 4555
Baler Office: +63917 853 6040
Email: inquiry@costapacificabaler.com
Website: http://www.costapacificabaler.com/
Instagram: @CostaPacificaBaler
Facebook: Costa Pacifica Raintree
Twitter: @CostaPacificaPH
Check out low rates and availability from Agoda: Costa Pacifica Resort (aff link)
EN ROUTE TO BALER
Baler only 6 hours away, making it a popular destination for leisurely road trips from Manila. During our last trip, we went to Baler from Baguio and it took us also about 6 hours to get there.
There are two routes going to Sabang Beach. I recommend taking the scenic route via Pantabangan. You can use Google Maps, which has a reliable navigation guide to Sabang Beach.
You can also travel comfortably in 5-6 hours with no stopovers via executive coach Joy Bus (by Genesis Transport Service). It has an onboard comfort room, free snacks served by a bus stewardess, free WiFi, blanket & pillow, and a good morning kit.
To book the 12MN or 4:30AM bus, call Genesis at (+632) 709-0545 / 709-0544 / 441-6834 or visit their website, Genesis Transport Inc.
Note: The Manila terminal is along the Northbound lane of EDSA, near Cubao. The terminal in Baler is in the town itself; you have to take a tricycle to go to Sabang Beach.
The road trip to Baler via Pantabangan is one of the most scenic experiences you can have.
When you reach this small road crossing Canili & Diayo Dams, you’re on the right track.
I’ve been to Baler twice now. The first in 2011, when it was still the best kept secret destination, then in 2013, with the town now more developed with beach resorts but also more crowded.
BALER, Aurora, Quezon Series (2011):
ARRIVING @ COSTA PACIFICA
We enjoyed the road trip so much that we took our time and arrived in Baler at night. It was awesome to be welcomed by cold towels and their signature drink.
The lobby makes you feel right at home. Love the serene, minimalist feel with organic accents.
The pool was a refreshing sight. I couldn’t wait to jump after that long drive.
The service was friendly and professional (but a bit slow at times).
They have a shop for Baler souvenirs and Beach Lifestyle products (just in case you left some at home).
A communal table tennis area for sports enthusiasts.
The boys loved the foosball table…
…and the videogame station.
BEACH HOUSE DINNER
Beach House is the resort’s in-house restaurant by Raintree. It’s like Chelsea on the beach with Baler flavors.
We loved the Halloween-themed presentations and gimmicks from Costa Pacifica. It’s fun to escape to Baler during the Sem-break/Halloween season.
BEACH HOUSE MENU: Get a Drink | Share Me & Take a Bite | Sandwiches, Wood Fired Pizza | The Main Event: Baler Specialties, Filipino Favorites, International Flavors | Sweet Endings
I love the Baler Specialties section of the menu! 🙂
Baler Sunrise (P150 +10% service charge). House-made citrus tequila, dalandan, grenadine.
The drink concoctions are amazing and take inspiration from the Baler vibe.
✮ Biniklad na Dilis (P195 +10% service charge), dried, butterflied, and crispy fried.
One of the best dilis I’ve tasted — crunchy and not too salty. Warning: very addicting!
✮ Cheesy Four Cheese (P395 +10% service charge).
The pizzas are very good. Really happy to have this kind of quality in a remote town.
✮ Pako Seafood Chowder Soup (P150 +10% service charge).
A unique creamy soup concoction of fresh fiddlehead fern (pako) and seafood from Baler. 🙂
✮ Ensaladang Pako (P195 +10% service charge).
One of the best pako salads we’ve had. 🙂
Camaron Rebusado (P395 +10% service charge) with Sweet & Sour Dip.
This was popular with the kids because it’s like sweet & sour tempura. 🙂
✮ Shrimp with Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabaza (P295 +10% service charge).
I love the provincial, home-cooked taste of this dish. 🙂
✮ Chicken Binakol (P320 +10% service charge). Chicken cooked in buko juice, simmered with buko meat, ginger, lemongrass, and sayote.
Craving for this chicken soup with buko juice served in a coconut shell. Sarap! 🙂
Baler’s Bounty (P350 +10% service charge).
You can’t go wrong with fresh seafood in Baler. 🙂
In the evenings, they have a bonfire and provide marshmallows for the kids to roast and eat.
The Beach House facade from the other side of the swimming pool.
For Halloween, Costa Pacifica organized a night beach party with DJ’s and special guests.
COSTA PACIFICA ROOM 121
Costa Pacifica’s ambiance is inspired by the surfer’s lifestyle.
You can book a room in the 3-storey building at the back with floor to ceiling glass windows…
…or in the 2-storey beachfront one with an awesome view of Baler Bay.
We stayed in beachfront room 121. The location was awesome because it had a view of the sea and was very near Beach House.
The room was spacious. We asked them for an extra mattress and to set up the sofa bed for the boys.
A welcome snack of suman with banana and peanut butter and coco jam.
Thank you to Costa Pacifica for the fresh fruits , dried fruits, nuts, olives, and the bottle of wine. 🙂
Had fun eating these cookies with the boys.
The bathroom is equally cool…
…with a spacious shower area and a clean functioning toilet (a luxury in this provincial town).
The toilet amenities were surprisingly good. They’re designed to give you comfort in beach conditions.
TWG Tea for your tea time. 🙂
You can also get jars of Nanay Pacing’s Peanut Butter and Coco Jam in your room.
Halloween-inspired stickers representing each of the Raintree restaurants. I wonder what their Halloween gimmick will be for 2014?
The boys used the stickers as playing cards. 🙂
To end the day, we had a very relaxing in-room massage. It’s one of our luho when we travel.
To be continued: BALER: Costa Pacifica Mornings in Full Color and Surfer Chic Vibe!
COSTA PACIFICA
080 Buton St., Sitio Labasin, Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora, Philippines, 3200
Manila Office: +632 576 4555
Baler Office: +63917 853 6040
Email: inquiry@costapacificabaler.com
Website: http://www.costapacificabaler.com/
Instagram: @CostaPacificaBaler
Facebook: Costa Pacifica Raintree
Twitter: @CostaPacificaPH
Check out low rates and availability from Agoda: Costa Pacifica Resort (aff link)
About Costa Pacifica
Apart from it’s 106 well-appointed suites, most with views of the beach, Costa Pacifica’s facilities include two Raintree Restaurants: The Beach House, and Cafe Rosa. There is also an events hall that can accommodate 200 people called The Pavilion.
Costa Pacifica will cater to different market segments like weekend surfers, couples’ getaway, meetings and convention groups, special interest groups, and tourists from the Asian region looking for new destinations.
Get swept away by the beauty of the landscape, the majesty of the ocean, the intensity of the feeling, and the repose you can find.
BALER COSTA PACIFICA Series (2013):
- BALER: Costa Pacifica Halloween Night @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Costa Pacifica Mornings in Full Color and Surfer Chic Vibe! @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Dicasalarin Cove Experience @CostaPacificaPH
- BALER: Charlie Does Surf Indeed 🙂 @CharlieDoesSurf
- BALER: Kusina Luntian by Kuya Biboy
BALER, Aurora, Quezon Series (2011):
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: Our Baler stay was courtesy of Costa Pacifica. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
This is an Agoda affiliate link: Costa Pacifica Resort (aff link). I may receive a (very) small commission if you click on the link and book via Agoda. Thank you for considering to book via that link if this post was helpful in planning your travel.
P.S. You can also stay in the old Bahia resort at the back of Costa Pacifica, which was already integrated into the Costa Pacifica brand.
Hi, Anton how are you? Thanks for your nice blog about Baler, Aurora. Aurora is also a nice province to visit and it is a hometown of late President Manuel Luis Quezon. The province was named after Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon who was killed by Hukbalahap together with her daughter, Maria Aurora. I’ve been in Dingalan, Aurora in 2009 with my relatives to visit my cousin’s resort there. I like the beaches in Aurora and we had a nice meal. Talagang sariwa iyong mga seafoods especially iyong tambakol (small tuna). I love the seaweeds, too. We spend our time in Dingalan, Aurora for almost three days. Hindi naman pala mahirap punta sa Aurora. We drove there from my mom’s hometown in Baliuag, Bulacan and we passed the towns of Nueva Ecija. Gabaldon and Laur are the last towns of Nueva Ecija going to Dingalan, Aurora.
I will visit definitely in Baler, Aurora later if I will visit in Philippines. Ang ganda ng resort in a native way and style. Magugustuhan ito ng mga balikbayan at foreigners. Have a nice day always.
Has anyone passed by the pura route to avoid passing by cabanatuan city traffic.? is it much faster?