Overwater Bungalow Escape in the Philippines: Pearl Farm Beach Resort

If you’ve dreamed of an unforgettable experience, the Pearl Farm Beach Resort overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines delivers!

Early morning serenity at Pearl Farm

Rare is the traveler whose bucket list doesn’t contain a tropical vacation in an overwater bungalow. We have long been lured by mesmerizing images of a private vacation villa floating on stilts above impossibly turquoise water. If you’ve been thinking Bali or Bora Bora, let us introduce you to all that a Pearl Farm Beach Resort overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines offers!

Overwater villas at Pearl Farm Beach Resort

The Experience: The Pearl Farm Beach Resort delivers a premier overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines. Located on Samal Island, a short boat ride from Davao, the resort seems worlds away from the main commercial and industrial hub on Mindanao Island.

Sun and shade by the lagoon at Pearl Farm Beach Resort

Legendary Filipino hospitality was constantly and consistently on display during our all too short time at Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Situated against a lush mountain along a sugar sand strip of immaculate beach, the former pearl farm has been reborn into just the sort of hideaway in our dreams.

Secluded beach of sugar sand

Guests are more than pampered at Pearl Farm Beach Resort. While it’s tempting to spend your entire overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines in your bungalow, there’s so much more relaxation to be had here.

Stylized lighting is reminiscent of sea creatures in Pearl Farm’s dining room

Spa services include soothing massage and other esthetic care. We enjoyed our couple’s massage, which was delivered expertly and thoroughly.

The lovely ladies at the Pearl Farm Spa. . .and Pete

Water sports available include snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, water polo and jet skiing. Pearl Farm boasts a game room with pool bar, several different sport courts, and two pools. Five separate beaches are part of the resort’s terrain.

Overwater dive and snorkel station

For VIP guests, separate Malipano Island includes an open-air pavilion, private chapel, helipad, and Filipino salakot-inspired 3 and 4 bedroom villas. A standby speedboat is on call for on demand transport to the hotel restaurant and other resort facilities. Food service is delivered here by your very own butler who brings it across the water.

Guests are transported to Pearl Farm via private launch from Davao

We certainly didn’t go hungry during our overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines whether it was an informal lunch under the palapa on Pearl Farm’s lagoon, the full scale breakfast buffet in the main open-air dining room, or the sumptuous cocktail banquet with entertainment on the sand which began at sundown.

Favorite Details: Our most favorite detail – surprise, surprise! – was our private Samal House over the water. When the tide came in, the gentle lapping of the waves lulled us into a dream state. Pearl Farm’s Samal Houses are reminiscent of the stilt shelters built by the Samal seafarer tribes in the Sulu archipelago. We had a gorgeous sunset-facing view of famous Mt. App in the distance.

Our bungalow’s lanai

We loved the staff at Pearl Farm Beach Resort. Everyone was delighted to make sure we wanted for nothing. Staff members are proudly devoted to pampering guests and anticipating their needs.

Clowning with the awesome Pearl Farm Staff

Wifi is available in the main building and the restaurant, which made for a most pleasant hour or two of work prior to our departure. It was nice to disconnect, even if just overnight.

The definition of Paradise!

Pearl Farm’s amazing location contributed sweeping ocean views, languid ocean breezes, and lush tropical landscaping.

Elegant land and waterscape views

Unsurprisingly, Pearl Farm has been granted Class A accreditation from the national Department of Tourism, and has won Resort of the Year from the DOT’s marketing arm two times in recent years. Other commendations include those from the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, TripAdvisor, the ASEAN Green Hotel Standards committee and a travel publication award from the DOT.

Stress? What’s that?

Hotel Particulars: Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Bo. Decor, Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal 8119, Philippines. Tel. +63 236 1234 to 36. The Pearl Farm Departure Marina in Davao is located in Lizada Village, Lanag, Davao City 8000, Philippines. Tel. +63 82 234 6987. Email: pearlfarmresortreservationsATanflocorDOTcom

Pricing: Accommodations start with Hilltop Rooms (beginning at around $150/night) overlooking the resort. Samal Houses on stilts like ours begin at about $200/night. Larger overwater Samal Suites (approximately $375/night), Mandaya Houses (beginning at $185/night) and the separate Malipano Villas (price upon request) accommodate groups of all sizes. All prices current as of the time of this writing and in USD.

Frequent discount offers and packaged escapes including breakfast and discounts on massage or aqua sports are available. All rooms have air con, TV, some sort of balcony/lanai/terrace, coffee and tea, hair dryer, robes and slippers, and bottled water.

Pagoda welcome pavilion at Pearl Farm

Our Rating: ***** Five star, all the way. Understandably a little more rustic than ultra-glamorous, city-style resorts, Pearl Farm Beach Resort delivers the quintessential, secluded overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines, a destination which should be on your radar.

“I’m away from my desk right now. . .”

Disclosure: Our overwater bungalow escape in the Philippines was compliments of Pearl Farm Beach Resort in conjunction with a fam trip organized by the Philippines Department of Tourism in conjunction with TBEX Asia.

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Tips for Trip Success

Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.

Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.

You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.

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