Tirta Shores summer. We love organizing summer getaways with family and friends—not just to unwind, but to strengthen relationships or get to know our son’s friends better, or create core memories we’ll cherish for years to come. It was our first time in Lian, Batangas, a destination best known for the beaches of Matabungkay. Beyond the familiar coastline, however, a new wave of beachfront private retreats has emerged, offering upscale accommodations, fully equipped kitchens, and more comfortable rooms and bathroom facilities.
For this trip, we stayed at Tirta Shores with our good friends, Chefs Jayjay and Rhea Sycip. What began as a simple beach escape turned into a truly memorable and magical experience—filled with endless chika, perfectly grilled steaks, karaoke sessions that went late into the night, and unforgettable moments by the sea.
TIRTA SHORES
Sitio Mt. Dew, Brgy. Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas
tirtashoresbatangas@gmail.com
fb: Tirta Shores
ig: @tirtashores
https://www.tirtaresorts.com/shores
Related blog post: TIRTA SHORES: Private Beachfront Airbnb Villa in Lian, Batangas!
summer of 2026
Ang init ng summer of 2026 sa Manila. Escaping to Lian, Batangas was just perfect—hanging out shirtless by the pool, buti na lang malamig ang tubig. Sunset, steamed peanuts, white wine, and endless chika make you want to relive this experience all over again.
The Tirta Shores setup was perfect—a long, cold pool creating an infinity vibe with the beach. Check-in is at 3pm, so you have enough time to settle in and just hang out for sunset by the pool and watch it go down slowly.
Kuya Dan helps us out whenever we go on trips, and we already have a ritual—steam the peanuts as a healthier option than junk food chicha, then start cooking the pares or grilling barbecue pork or chicken.
Since we were already in Lian, we got to meet Bryan Benitez McClelland (@bambryan), popularly known for Bambike. He paddled using his Bamboat prototype and went around Matabungkay Cove to get to Tirta Shores beach. He is also establishing the Bambike Ligtasin Cove Experience, which we visited after check-out.
The Tirta Shores beach is protected by a natural breakwater, making the cove safer, but it gets quite shallow during low tide, where we can forage for shells and other marine life.
The Lian sunset was the best backdrop for memorable portraits with the people who matter to you.
The magical hour was so beautiful—the entire sky was enveloped in a romantic orange, with soft clouds and a deep blue sky.
The bloody red silhouette makes you reflect on God’s blessings in your life—your family, your friends, and our country.
Night swimming is our favorite bonding time with the kids and our friends—it drowns out the city noise and social media chatter, so we can focus only on what matters most.
I guess boys will be boys—they’re always happy playing in the pool.
The best part of going on outings with the chefs is that they bring the best meats and cook the best steaks!
Chef Jayjay Sycip is a master of steaks and should open his own steakhouse one of these days.
I like how he cooks the meat over charcoal where the fire sears the edges, trapping all the juiciness while creating a crisp edges.
The resulting wagyu steak, cut into cubes, was perfectly juicy and medium inside, seared and grilled outside, and so tasty—no need for sauce. This was the best steak we’ve ever had, and the kids would keep talking about it over and over again.
The steak dinner was memorable over a communal long table, and
Our sons love to play pusoy dos now and this has been our bonding session over the dinner table.
We stayed up all night singing karaoke and chika pa more. Ang sarap kumanta pag kasama ang barkada.
Good morning! Yugi wants to swim the entire morning, and the cold pool helps balance the heat of the sun.
Breakfast was the best—tapa, tocino, egg, pandesal, halabos na shrimps, hotdog, and fried rice. Ang sarap!
Yugi, Ralph, and Chef Jayjay had breakfast bonding, and we kept talking about how good the food was during this trip.
Best of all, dessert is Chef Rhea’s MIEL: a signature 15-layer honey cake inspired by the iconic Russian Medovik, with caramelized honey layers, dulce de leche, and sour cream frosting, topped with fresh whipped cream and edible blooms.
about tirta shores villa
It is located in Lian, Batangas, is an upscale private beachfront escape for families and barkadas, about 2 hours away from Manila.
TIRTA SHORES
Sitio Mt. Dew, Brgy. Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas
tirtashoresbatangas@gmail.com
fb: Tirta Shores
ig: @tirtashores
https://www.tirtaresorts.com/shores
Related blog post: TIRTA SHORES: Private Beachfront Airbnb Villa in Lian, Batangas!
You’ll pass through a new massive resort development in Lian, so the roads can feel like part of the adventure.
The waze pin is not that accurate, so just follow it to the end. There is no sign that this gate leads to Tirta Shores for security reasons. There is spacious parking, and you will be welcomed by the caretaker.
We stayed at newly-built Pool Villa with 2 bedrooms overlooking the long infinity pool.
The Master Bedroom has two queen beds and a roll-away bed, accommodating 4–5 guests,
with an en-suite toilet and bath for added privacy.
2nd bedroom has 4 bunk beds and 3 pull-out beds, accommodating up to 11 guests, with a separate toilet in the common area.
The kitchen is functional and fully equipped for your cooking needs. The ref does not cool as much but has enough storage space.
There are enough plates and utensils for everyone, though they are not as high quality as those at Tirta Springs or Wayan House.
Best of all, there is a charcoal grill for steaks and a separate kitchen table for food preparation.
Note: there is a separate three-bedroom beachfront house beside the Pool Villa that you can also book for bigger groups. However, it may be booked by another group, so you will likely share the pool with them.
Related blog post: TIRTA SHORES: Private Beachfront Airbnb Villa in Lian, Batangas!
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. Thank you to Tirta Shores for hosting us.
p.s. there is a bunk bed space for your drivers to stay overnight.