El Rio y Mar

Best for private beachfront cottages in Coron, Palawan

What’s it like?

EL RIO Y Mar translates to “river and the sea” in Spanish, the perfect description for this tropical resort situated where the Panggawaran River meets the South China Sea.

The resort, 15 kilometers from Francisco Reyes Airport or about a 30-minute transfer by car and boat, is located on a peninsula in Barangay San Jose. As you arrive at El Rio y Mar by boat, you’re greeted by this long expanse of white-sand beach and row of tropical cottages and behind it, lush mountains. All rooms are beach front, so expect to wake up in paradise every morning.

Rooms

There is a variety of rooms to choose from, all beachfront accommodation and with direct access to the sea. Book the Deluxe Casa with one king-sized bed and two extra beds, perfect for families or big groups. It is spacious at 45 sqms. and built with concrete walls, wooden flooring, and large glass doors and windows.

There’s also the Standard Native Casa that’s inspired by the nipa hut, a traditional Filipino home, with a romantic, homey touch. This room features a rustic king or queen-sized bed with a pullout base bed. Both room types come with your own veranda, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view of the ocean.

Other room types include the Premier Cabana, Superior Cabana, and Superior Casa.

Clockwise from top: Enchanting view of the resort, dining space, and elegant room with a view

Amenities

You will never run out of fun activities to do while here. Once you tire of swimming at the beach, there are two infinity pools for you to choose from. There’s also a karaoke room, a sports room, a lounge and a gym. The resort’s Al Fresco Restaurant serves Filipino and international cuisine. Crabs, seafood, and crispy karekare are bestsellers.

El Rio y Mar also has the only floating spa and bar on the water in this area. And don’t leave the island without trying its world-class diving. Drop by Dugong Dive Center for a unique encounter with the endangered sea cow.

Good to know

The resort not only provides its guests with the best stay, but also promotes environmental advocacy by educating not only its guests but also the community about the importance of mangroves to the ecosystem, caring for endemic animals like the Philippine macaque, monitor lizards and other fauna found in the property.

How much?

El Rio y Mar offers reasonable prices for its rooms and services, no matter the season. Make sure to book directly on the resort website to get the best rates.

El Rio Y Mar Resort, Barangay San Jose, Coron, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines. Email reservations@ elrioymar.info, visit www.elrioymar.com or @elrioymar on Facebook experience and even give you the opportunity to explore dive sites untouched by other dive operators.

Its regular dive sites on the menu include a nearby plane wreck from World War II and the Kyokuzan Maru shipwreck, an impressive Japanese freighter with a maximum depth of 42 meters. This wreck provides shelter to batfishes and substrate, and occasionally you can spot fusiliers, trevallies, barracudas and rays.

Book day trips or even an overnight safari dive trip to Apo Reef in Mindoro, a declared protected area that’s a wonderful site for snorkelling and scuba diving. It is home to 385 species of colorful marine fishes and hosts 47 species of migratory and resident birds. This is one experience you will want to book ASAP.

There is also the nearby El Rio y Mar House Reef that is teeming with a wide variety of marine life.

Dugong Watching

The centre’s main offering and eco-tourism program “Dugong Watching,” is a full-day trip along the coast of Busuanga to the feeding grounds of about 30 resident dugongs