That Bellarocca Summer
Bellarocca happened in the summer of 2015. The place was straight out of my dreams. You might be thinking it’s probably because I’ve not been in too many resorts in my life, but it’s not that. Whatever seeming barrenness the renovation at that time brought about was filled out by my imagination.
We went with friends. It was an 8-hour drive (one way) with a ride on a RORO ship. We all rode the resorts’ service going there so we can all rest along the way.
I usually don’t commit to such trips unless we have our own car to use because I’m partly-claustrophobic and need frequent stops and a lot of leg room, but I’ve heard so much about how beautiful the place is.
Besides, we’re talking about the beach here and my kids looooooove the beach. It would be their second beach trip that summer and their entire lives. I wasn’t going to let them miss this opportunity to have a three-day vacation in the company of good friends.
We left at 2 AM (if I remember correctly) so we didn’t really get caught in any terrifying traffic on the way. Having to sit for that long was a bit of a torture for me, but looking out the window and seeing the rural surroundings along the way reminded me so much of my vacation trips with my parents and siblings. When you’re 40, you get sentimental like that, haha!
Island in the stream
Okay, so Bellarocca is not located in a stream, but it is an island in Marinduque that you can find in the middle of the sea. From afar, the place already looks spectacular.
Bellarocca was built like a small village with cubist villas that were named after Greek gods and goddesses.
I totally forgot the name of the villa we stayed at, but it looked like something straight out of a Leonardo DiCaprio movie.
It had one Master’s bedroom and another bedroom with two single beds upstairs and both had their own huge toilet and baths; and it had a full dining, kitchen and sala that had an open concept (an interior design term I picked up from HGTV, ha!)
The house had big glass windows that allow us to open the drapes and look out from the dining room. But my favorite part of the house was the small, 4-feet swimming pool at the back where I spent a lot of time with my kids while my husband joined the team building activities with his colleagues.
What it was, really, was that we tagged along my husband’s team building wherein they all brought their families along (for corresponding charges for the trip, of course) so we can also have the opportunity to spend time with each other. It’s a pretty small team so we were able to dine long together for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Forced to unplug
Here’s the thing. I was originally informed that WiFi was available so I didn’t file a leave from my full time online job that time. I had pending tasks and I thought I could do work in the morning and late nights, but I wasn’t able to. There was no WiFi (Remember, the resort was under renovation? It was closed to the public when we were there) and our friend’s hotspot just wasn’t strong enough to support my data needs.
Not that I welcomed the unexpected, but I was burnt out already from work, and since there was nothing I could do and I was miles away from the city, I set aside my laptop and joined my kids in the pool.
I ended up making up for all those work hours afterwards, but I had such a donya time lounging by the pool and watching the kids bob up and down the water in their floaters.
It also gave me an opportunity to teach my eldest son how to freestyle and my middle child to stay above the water. It was also great for our youngest because he was given enough time to develop his confidence in the water and take his hands off our necks to paddle around on his own. We were there for three days and two nights and we were in the pool for hours in the afternoons.
I have to say that it was my favorite time in the vacation. My children’s squeals and laughter were music to my ears. It also gave me my much-needed time to stare at the skies for hours, doing nothing but making sure that my children were safe and happy.
The house was just lovely. I could live there forever if they made me.
Snorkelers’ paradise
We joined the others at the beach on our third day in the island. It was a rocky beach but such a snorkeler’s paradise it is!
We didn’t get to snorkel because we had two little kids that still need heavy supervision, but I regret not letting my husband take our then 9-year son snorkeling. It would have been a good experience for him. I made a mental note to encourage my kids to be more adventurous and to seize every opportunity there is.
All in all of Bellarocca
It was a very nice experience. I didn’t expect getting unplugged, but what I wouldn’t give to be unplugged when I want to.
I don’t know when we’ll go back. I’m not sure if it’s already open to the public by now. When we were there in May, they were scheduled to open in two to three months, so I’m not really sure if that pushed through already.
All I know is that my side of the family’s been talking about going to Bellarocca for a vacation next year to celebrate my brother and his wife’s 25th wedding anniversary which is how I remembered that I haven’t blogged about Bellarocca since last summer. Considering that I took a lot of great pictures of that vacation!
Here’s another thing I can tell you. They’ve got a great, attentive staff that greets you when you get there with leis and a song and dance. There’s a hall for dining and you get from place to place in the island by golf carts.
Aside from the private pools, there are a couple more huge ones by the beach for common use. They have a game rooms with a ping pong table, billiards table, and foosball. And they have a completely furnished gym.
The beach isn’t only for snorkeling. They also offer a variety of water sports.
If you want to know more about Bellarocca, here are the details:
Bellarocca Island Resort & Spa
http://bellaroccaresorts.com/
For reservations: +63 2 403 2418
General: [email protected]
Reservations: [email protected]
42 Comments
Eli Caballero
The place looks really nice. Didn’t know there’s this haven an island away from us.
Kim @ Mom On Duty
I forgot all about this place! I’ve been here when I was much younger. Beautiful place.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
yes, very. 🙂
berlin
So beautiful but too far for a five-month old baby to travel. Maybe when he gets a little older. Will definitely bookmark this. Thanks!
Michi
I really wonder why they close the resort, I hope when they reopen this medyo budget friendly na. hehehe! The only problem in this resort is the transportation, I’m not sure kung may flight pa and RORO naman ang tagal ng biyahe.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
They closed to renovate as per law on maintenance of public resorts. 🙂 Yes I heard about the flight, they do have their vans for services that you can rent at a cost. I think they intended the place to cater to the elite talaga.:)
Pankaj
Blessing in disguise,absence of wifi. Sometimes god knows how much we need a workless vacation.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
OMG Yes! It turned out to be a great time to unwind and clear my head.
Louisa
I saw this on another blog but really appreciate your feature because it shows alot more of what it has to offer. Would love to stay here with my family and unplug as well!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
I was really taken by it. I have so many photos in my laptop and I had to control myself from overposting them haha.
Neri Ann
I wish we could have a trip like this without the internet and all para mailayo-layo ko naman ang partner ko sa COC! Hehehe
Madz
Love the name, the beach and the beautiful staircase! Glad you had time to bond with your family too — unplugged! 🙂
Mommy Levy
This looks like a nice place, the room was big too. I’m curious about their price, I’ll check their site soon.
Bhushavali
This place is an absolute heaven. Its so beautiful, pristine, secluded and silent.
Its indeed necessary to be unplugged at times! I’d love to do that too.
APRIL Speaks
Are the sea urchins there not dangerous? That’s quite scary, I think. I’ve been to couple of beaches here in Philippines and I think there are a lot of more beatiful beaches here. But this place, I think, if you wanna find some silence and peace is a perfect place to go to! Do you have any idea how much will it cost us to go there if we’re from Manila? How do we go there by the way? I’m sorry, got a lot of question. You just excite me to see this place!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Hi April! Here’s a PDF of their published rates in 2013: http://bellaroccaresorts.com/images/flyer-bellarocca_ADJUSTEDpublishedrates2013.pdf. You’ll have to inquire re their local rates. I’m sure they have updated that by now since they’ve renovated the place and had some reorganization. 🙂
Jen Villanueva
This is one of my dream destinations. So you can just inagine how inggit I am now seeing your photos! Waaaah! I have a huge fascination about santorini in greece, and bellarocka has been sort of patterned to it daw… Hopefully I can bring my fam there too one day! Great photos!
Elizabeth O.
That view is so lovely and the hotel itself, wow! The villa that you stayed in really feels like you’re in Santorini. So awesome!
Janice
I want to take my family here! The house looks great. I would wanna live there forever too. Haha! I’m going to check out their website now. 🙂
Franc Ramon
I’ve been in Bellarocca about five years ago and the place is just mystical. You get pampered really with the service, the views and the food.
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy
So timely that it’s nearing summer! I hope to visit this place someday! Love the stairs in the villa!
Maan
Oh my goodness what a beautiful place! I wanna to here, only I get the feeling that it’s going to be an exclusive resort? Still looking it up though!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
It was, according to my friend. But i’m not sure if they’re changing that.
Nadia
Ang ganda! One of my plans this year is to spend family time in an island ( or any beach/resort) , far from the noise and daily city life routine. Bellaroca may be too expensive for us. So thanks sis for sharing your wonderful experience. It was enough to remind and inspire me to plan ( budget, where to go, etc) and make sure a family summer getaway pushes through this year.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Try Camaya Resort, sis. Mas mura, maganda rin. 🙂 I wrote a blog about it http://www.fullyhousewifed.com/2015/05/06/camaya-sands-the-beach-and-the-beautiful/
Rowena Wendy Lei
The pool looks super nice!
Fred
I have been here and it is truly a beautiful place. I did not like the beach though. I liked staying in the cottage area or hiking around to be truthful.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
yes, i understand about the beach. it really is more for water sports enthusiasts and snorkelers. 🙂 i also preferred to stay in the private pool in the villa. 🙂
phyliciamarie
Bellarocca looks soo lovely. I love the Santorini/Greek themed villas. Too bad you guys went when they were renovating. Boo.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oh no no…I’m glad we went during renovation. We were the only people in the island. We had that haven all to ourselves. 🙂
Erica
Wow this looks beautiful! I’d love to read up more on this place and perhaps spend a weekend getaway there.
Tiffany Yong
That’s like the perfect reason for being uncontactable! And it’s a valid reason too! Sometimes, having no wifi means digital detox!
rochkirstin
My boyfriend has been here two years ago. Based on the pictures, the place has not changed a lot. It still looks like ang quiet paradise for a great retreat with family and friends. I prefer the private pook over the beach.
Bhuboy
Yeah that place is beautiful , i remember going at that area on before when i visit my girlfriend before who lives in marinduque
Mhaan Arambulo - Delos Santos
THe stairs is to die for! 🙂
Sunshine Kelly
Ooo I love sun, sea and fun during summer holiday. The japanese style bed at Bellarocca Island Resort & Spa was a good idea. Love the place too.
Marie
Ang ganda naman dyan! Grabe, I loved the whole place. Super ganda pa ng photos mo. I didn’t know na clasutrophobic ka too, I kinda have difficulty din when travelling huhu.
Ayi
I’ve always wanted to go to Bellarocca. And I hope I get to travel soon with my kids when they are a bit bigger. I miss the beach.
Celerhina Aubrey ★
Inggit ako dito sis. I wanna go to Bellarocca too.
Gigi
i went there when i found out that i was pregnant just to relax and it really helped me de-stress. I hope they will reopen anytime soon 🙂
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Misty
Hi! Is Bellaroca now open again?