Pico de Loro is one of the favorite beach escapes during the pandemic. It is also one of two Nasugbu, Batangas properties that has a claim to the “Boracay of Batangas” title with the nearby pristine Santelmo Cove. (The other one is Bamboo Beach in Kawayan Cove.)
We first visited Pico last March 2014, and now, January of 2022, it’s more beautiful than ever—and even equipped with high speed internet for the work-from-home crowd. One of my regrets is not investing in a condo in Pico when we first saw this development marketed in 2009.
Here’s what we love about the Pico de Loro experience.
Pico Sands Hotel
Pico de Loro Cove is the first resort town development of the SM Group’s ambitious Hamilo Coast project with an expansive 5,900 hectares with 13 coves and a 31-kilometer coastline in Nasugbu Batangas. This was one of the closest beach escapes during the pandemic because it is only 70 kilometers from Manila, about a 90-minute drive from Mall of Asia via the Cavitex-Ternate-Nasugbu route.
Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo
Coast, Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, 4321
Batangas, Philippines
Mobile: +63 917 809 1289
Phone: +632-8464-7888
Email: reservations@picosandshotel.com
Facebook: Pico Sands Hotel
Instagram: @picosandshotel
Join their Viber community: https://bit.ly/36au1GB
Discover Pico de Loro Cove and book direct at Pico Sands Hotel via: https://www.picosandshotel.com/
Plan your beach getaways now!
Click this link to book a stay https://www.picosandshotel.com/offers/
Note: Hotel guests have access to Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club facilities and the Pico Beach. A complimentary shuttle service is available to transport guests around Pico de Loro Cove.
We stayed in the Corner Deluxe Lagoon View Room #627 with a spacious balcony overlooking the man-made lagoon and connected to a Premier Lagoon View where the kids can enjoy their own rooms.
The room has all the amenities of a hotel—airconditioning (controlled in the room), in-room cooler with non-alcoholic refreshments, telephone, hot and cold shower, premium toiletries, 32-inch or 42-inch flatscreen television, in-room locker, writing desk and iron and ironing board.
But the most important of all, it has high-speed Wi-Fi internet access so that we can escape during a weekday and the kids can still attend their online classes.
Generally, the food needs improvement in the resort, but I was happy to see Chef Dennis Peralta as the new executive chef this 2022. He is the current president of the Hotel & Restaurants Chef Association of the Philippines (HRCAP) and formerly the Director of Culinary at Resorts World Manila and Executive Chef of City Grand Hotels.
We loved the Paella/Spanish dinner by Chef Dennis during our last night at Pico Sands hotel. Hopefully we can go back this April to try out the new and improved Pico de Loro food.
The first and the best massage we had in 2 years was at the Rain Spa in Pico Sands Hotel. They have the best hilot masseuse, following all the safety protocols with complete PPE outfit.
Make sure to book it prior to your stay. Hopefully, they will offer an outdoor spa experience amidst nature and the lagoon.
Pico Sands Breakfast Menu | Kid’s Menu
Best meal of the day was always breakfast, either by the beach or by the lagoon with a dome dining setup. We loved the Filipino and American breakfasts with garlic rice for the kids.
Pristine Santelmo Cove
I loved that they kept Santelmo Cove as pristine as possible, with minimal development. This is like Entalula Island when you go to El Nido Isles.
You can hike for one hour from Pico de Loro Cove or book the Santelmo experience via speedboat and have the whole cove with the family for half a day.
We just loved hanging out on the white sand beach with the kids.
The beach has a nice gradual slope which is safe for the kids to swim in, and the water is not salty. It was pure fun swimming on the beach with loved ones.
The kids loved to play in the sand, swim and have fun with the stand up paddle.
(Note: Because of pandemic protocols, they don’t provide snorkeling gear so you have to bring your own.)
Go on a short steep hike to the view deck for a view of the cove, the rock formations and the sharks.
There is a rocky portion that adds to the overall ambiance of the cove.
We had a nice lunch picnic with individual bilao plates, fruit and ensalada platter. Best to eat with your hands or use the sanitized utensils.
There is a proper restroom with bidet for your exclusive use. Yeah!
We stayed from 9:00am to 1:00pm. I suggest you go as early as you can or go on for the afternoon time slot then a sunset cruise after.
Hamilo Coast Sunset Cruise
This is one of the best sunset cruises with the family. We left at 4:30pm, passing through these 5 coves before catching the sunset on the way back.
• Pico de loro cove,
• Santelmo cove (pristine white beach),
• Subli cove (for diving),
• Baybayin cove (no beach) and
• Etayo cove (where boats hangout / park).
As part of the experience, they provide an individualized grazing plate, wine and drinks to enjoy the sunset ride.
The kids loved the natural elephant rock formation, and I still hear them raving about it back home.
One of the highlights of the cruise is the bat cave where you can take your portrait shot as the sun sets.
Thank you to Jojo, Arthur and Angel for the awesome sunset cruise experience!
They are quite knowledgeable about the area, and they have a lot of stories to tell about the Hamilo Coast flora, fauna and terroir together with their pandemic experience.
Pico de Loro Cove
Pico de Loro Cove is divided into two parts—the members only beach club area and the public beach area for Airbnb guests.
This beach is notorious for having a strong undercurrent so it is not advisable to swim or go deep into the beach (especially for the kids).
My son Yugi enjoyed the pool more than the beach, and I savored every moment of him still loving to play with papa in the pool.
Outdoor Activities Menu
(All motorized activities are only for kids age 12 and above.)
So the teenagers got to enjoy their first jet ski ride. Their favorite was this ultra screamer 3-person towable ride where they just hold on as they were being dragged by the jet skis.
We’ve tried a lot of the food at Pico de Loro, and the Reef Bar got our vote for best food with their freshly made Mexican specialties.
We loved the quesadillas and sisig tacos!
Final Thoughts
Overall, one of the best beach experiences so close to Manila with an awesome Santelmo Cove beach experience, Hamilo Coast Sunset Cruise, and one of the best massage experiences.
As for the food, we loved the Reef Bar Mexican food, Spanish food and Paella, and the outdoor breakfast setup by the beach or by the lagoon. With Chef Dennis at the helm, expect the food to be improved in time for summer.
Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo
Coast, Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, 4321
Batangas, Philippines
Mobile: +63 917 809 1289
Phone: +632-8464-7888
Email: reservations@picosandshotel.com
Facebook: Pico Sands Hotel
Instagram: @picosandshotel
Join their Viber community: https://bit.ly/36au1GB
Discover Pico de Loro Cove and book direct at Pico Sands Hotel via: https://www.picosandshotel.com/
Plan your beach getaways now!
Click this link to book a stay https://www.picosandshotel.com/offers/
Note: Hotel guests have access to Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club facilities and the Pico Beach. A complimentary shuttle service is available to transport guests around Pico de Loro Cove.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikkei Team for the experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Disclosure: Thank you to our awesome friends from Pico de Loro for our awesome Break Free experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. We loved the hotel’s high level of safety protocols, including the touchless elevators.
