Rated as excellent by travelers worldwide
ExcellentBased on 325 reviewsTauilei McPherson2024-03-13This must be the warmest, most gracious, happiest place on earth. The service is tremendous, the food is incredible, and the space is beautiful. The cabins invite you to relax and drift into the calmness of this perfect get-away. I loved my time here, and the best part was the lovely people of the Philippines.Jongseo Yim2024-03-11My recent stay at El Rio Y Mar Resort on Busuanga Island was an experience that far exceeded my expectations. Nestled in a secluded spot, accessible only by boat, this resort is a sanctuary for those seeking tranquility amidst nature's pristine beauty. From the onset, the resort impressed me with its commitment to convenience and comfort, offering reasonably priced round-trip transfers, which I found to be a thoughtful touch given its remote location. The journey to the resort was in itself a scenic adventure, setting a perfect tone for what was to come. The resort's landscape is breathtaking, with stunning views that encapsulate the essence of a tropical paradise. But what truly sets El Rio Y Mar apart is its vibrant marine ecosystem. As an avid snorkeler and scuba diver, I was captivated by the underwater world right at the resort's doorstep. The coral reefs are teeming with life, offering a spectacular display of biodiversity that is a testament to the area's conservation efforts. During my stay, I was treated to an enchanting evening that beautifully melded local culture with gastronomic delight. The resort hosted a buffet dinner complemented by a performance showcasing local dances and music. This cultural immersion was not only entertaining but also provided a meaningful connection to the region's heritage. In conclusion, El Rio Y Mar Resort is more than just a place to stay; it's an experience that enriches your soul and leaves you with memories to cherish. Whether you're drawn by the allure of underwater exploration or the call of serene landscapes, this resort promises a unique and rewarding getaway.Anandit Gambhir2024-03-09Exceptional hospitality ! The staff goes out of their way to be helpful. The Dugong dive center was a highlight, we spotted a Dugong and swam with it for 5 minutes, this trip is a must do for a nature lover. They are also very respectful of the islands and regulations to protect the reef. The bar had great service. Thanking Jemery for the amazing drinks (must try the Maldita with Calamansi liquer), Darrell made sure we enjoyed our half day island hopping tour - add this to your itinerary if you would like to experience different corals and landscapes. Christen was very helpful during the Dugong snorkel - making special videos with our go pro after free diving. And special thanks to cherry the intern - for handling our checkin checkout like a pro ! We were glad to be welcomed with a live song and be serenaded like all guests at dinner, what a dedicated caring team !! We did not feel like leaving at all. Tip : we were in native cabana 13, this is right by the beach and you can see crabs and fish by your cabana in the evenings, sound insulation with the neighbouring cabana was not top notch (probably because these were connected villas) - but it really wasnβt a big problem :) Choose el rio y mar without any doubt Tip 2: if you have any intolerances, the resort caters to your needs with utmost care. Dairy and fish allergies were taken care of even in our packed meals for snorkelling trips. Thank you all for a great stay.ingrid lacoste2024-03-02Magique ! L'arrivΓ©e Γ lβhΓ΄tel estβ¦ surprenante et splendide. La chambre dans les cabanes sur la plage sont gΓ©niales: spacieuse, propre, accΓ¨s direct sur la plage. Le personnel est excrΓ©ment agrΓ©able et chaleureux. LβhΓ΄tel est trΓ¨s intimiste, on se croirait seul au monde. LβhΓ΄tel propose du kayak, du paddle, masque et tuba en libre service. Les Island hoping proposΓ©s sont dβune grande qualitΓ©. Merci Γ lβensemble du personnel, nous avons passΓ© un magnifique sΓ©jour !raychin chi2024-03-01ζ΅·δΈspaε°ε±εΊδΈζ倧ιηΎ€οΌιεΈΈηΉε₯οΌsupθ·η¨ζ¨θε―ε θ²»η§εοΌε‘ε·₯εεοΌζ¨θ¦Mar D2024-02-29I was skeptical at first because I thought El Nido resort was the best. But when we arrived at El Rio Y Mar, we were in awe. The resortβs name was true to its meaning. The staff was excellent and made our stay so magical. We are just regular tourists but we felt we were VIPβs. Everyone was excellent - from the manager, Menchie, down to the crew. I cannot remember all the names but these people stood out the best, Andrew, Eric, Mikaela, the front desk staff , the restaurant, the welcome crew, and Rommel (the hired Banca helper). Kudos to the whole crew and good luck βpa moreβ to the resort!
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This place is wonderful! You feel so close to nature! We enjoy how the quietness is, you can really de-stress. The staff is amazing and always on top of everything,... read more even before you can ask. It was a relaxing stay just how we wanted it! We will definitely be back!
January 13, 2024A fortunate turn of events! - My friends and I were supposed to be on our liveaboard experience for 4 days and 3 nights. Unfortunately, one of the propeller of our boat fell off. FORTUNATELY 3... read more people who was also on the liveaboard with us recently stayed at El Rio Y Mar. So they quickly called the resort to see if there was available rooms for all 9 people! Luckily, they had room for all of us! We were welcomed by the staff with beautiful smiles, singing with their guitar and some refreshments and a breezy check in! Food were amazing, they have great scuba diving options to choose from and their scuba diving crew are the best! The whole resort felt so magical. not being able to do our liveaboard experience turned out great since we step foot on this island. on our first day of stay we did a dugong dive, 2nd day we went to Apo reef and dove the majestic wall. On our last day we enjoyed, kayaking and paddle boarding through the mangrove forest and ended the day with a volleyball tournament that we got invited "Guest VS Staff" even though we won, they definitely were challenging opponents! Will be back next year with more friends and family! Thank you so much El Rio Y Mar!
December 21, 2023An excellent place to relax in Coron, Palawan. - Excellent staff. Efficient airport transfers. Check-In and Out was quick. Clean rooms. We had the Casa Deluxe room. We would have preferred the Cabanas which are right on the water... read more but they were sold out on our stay. We availed of the private half day near island trip - an isolated island out in the open sea with a single tree, another private Island with good sandy, swimming beach and coconuts and another island with excellent snorkelling areas with huge corals. The resort also has a hiking trail to the Hunter's peak - which makes for a good exercise routine and also gives you a good view of the resort and the nearby islands. I enjoyed the breakfast fares, especially the local ones (fried fresh danggit was delicious). Overall, it met my expectations for a quiet and relaxing vacation.
December 13, 2023 -
Paradise found in Coron - This is a superb hotel within 1 hour of Busuanga Airport but a small piece of heaven on earth.
The location is stunning in a beautiful scenic bay. The hotel... read more experience is really nice and perfect for a long weekend or even a longer holiday. This is one of the nicest places I have visited in the Philippines.
November 3, 2023I love this place - I love the amenities for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Overall, it is highly recommended for those who are seeking a premium and unforgettable experience. If you want a best... read more place. Be here. β€β€β€β€β€β€β€
August 27, 2023El Rio y Mar, a real Paradise. - El Rio y Mar, a real Paradise. A Paradise we could stay at for 25 beautiful days.
After a beautiful boat trip through the Mangroves, We were welcomed very... read more heartful with the Welcome Song and Drinks at the Reef Bar. Throughout the hole stay the Staff was so cordial and friendly, we felt so happy, it was a perfect time. The food was great and delicious, my favorite was the Inihaw na Tanigue, Sonja loved Chicken Honey Lemon and after Diner we had good talks at the Reef Bar, where we met many people from around the world.
The resort is kept very clean, the scenery is amazing, the water clear and the snorkeling at the house reef a must see, especially the big school of Jackfish at the floating spa. But itβs also worth to get up early and hike up the hill to see the sunrise, with a nice view over the bay, shining in its blue colors.
Diving with the Dugong Dive Center was a highlight, during the whole time we had Ian as our Diveguide, he took care for us and showed us a lot of nice stuff. At all the different Divespots we saw almost everything: Seahorses, Frogfish, Sepia, Eagle Rayβs, turtles, Ghost Murray, and so on. The Dugong divesite we visited even three times, not only for the lovely Dugongs but also for the nice Divesites close to the Dugong Spot. At the Apo Reef we even saw a school of Humphead Parrotfish. Thanks a lot to the Divecenter and all of its stuff, you made our holiday special, we had so many beautiful moments and talks with all of you:-)
As we stayed for a long time, leaving this little paradise was hart. Unfortunately, we couldn't farewell everybody. So we would like to say goodbye again, goodbye to all of you who made our holiday so perfect, thank you Ian, Tom, Rochelle, Mark, Lando, Brian, Dirk and Nosy, and many more.
Weβre now back at work, but when we close our eyes, youβre still with us, we miss you El Rio y mar :-)
With love, Sonja & Roger
June 20, 2023 -
Such a nice stay. Staff were awesome. Friendly, helpful, accommodating, from the GM to the housekeeping. Great value for money. Would recommend to everyone. Especially suitable for guests arriving by... read more boat. Good safe mooring.
April 26, 2023Warm and welcoming, private and idyllic - We absolutely loved our 5-night stay here. The staff were all so warm and welcoming and made us feel right at home. The resort felt very private, quiet and idyllic... read more because it is accessible only by boat. Its size meant that it never felt crowded even when it was at full occupancy - for instance, there are two infinity pools. We enjoyed swimming in the clear water around the main jetty and snorkeling along the fairly healthy house reef, soaking in the infinity pools which were at the perfect temperature, and a short steep hike up a hill behind the resort rewarded us with stunning views of the bay and the surrounding landscape. We also had a wonderful massage in the floating spa with jackfish constantly swimming past in the water below us.
Our room, a ground-floor deluxe casa unit, was large and had everything we needed and more, including an abundance of wall sockets, and right in front of the room was the beach with hammocks and chairs set up to facilitate enjoyment of the lovely sunsets. Every dinner we were treated to the remarkable talents of resident musicians Efren and Zaldy, who go around the tables taking requests and somehow know all the songs asked for (even when a group from Hong Kong suggested a Cantonese one). The food was not award-winning but it was tasty and had a very pleasant home-cooked feel to it. Transport from and to Busuanga airport was quick and seamless.
Despite its seclusion, the resort offers ample opportunity to get out and explore the surrounding area. We had a great time on their full-day Coron Island tour that goes to all the main attractions including Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake. We also went on dives and full-day dugong-watching tours with Dugong Dive Center, which is located in the resort - we have reviewed them separately and would highly recommend them.
It was heartening to see that the resort has close ties with the nearby village of Maricaban. Bev from reception was very helpful over e-mail, and later in person, in letting us know what items or supplies the village elementary school needed so that we could bring some over in our luggage.
This may not be the cheapest place to stay in by Philippine standards, but we thought it was well worth the cost. It was with much sadness that we left the resort on our last day as the staff sang us a farewell song, and we definitely hope to return - perhaps with family or friends, for we would definitely want them to experience all this.
April 11, 2023Awesome and Relaxing Home away from Home - Excellent resort, pricey but worth every centavo of your hard-earned money! Not a single bad thing to say about the place and the folks running the place. The rooms... read more and amenities are great, with clean rooms and toilets. The surroundings are also well-taken care of. There is abundant fresh water for the hot shower and drinking as well. If you're looking for relaxing and fun activities (water-related or not), there are tons to do: kayaking, snorkelling, paddle-boarding, island-hopping, hiking, billiards, reading, ping pong.. the list goes on! So much to do but so little time. Best thing also about the place is that the beach is right in front of the cabanas! The waves lapping will lull you right to sleep. Food in the resto is also good, with a selection of different dishes/cuisines.
The service is also top-notch, with very helpful, attentive and courteous people who always find ways to cater to guests requests.
Everyone in the resort was great, with specific mention of Ms. Janet (one of the owners, we had a good discussion on politics and eco-tourism!), Ms. Clarine (the ebullient front desk gal who is always available with a smile), Mr. Benjie (the resto guy who's always there) and Mr. Darren (excellent guide who accompanied us on our short hike in the island and in the Coron island-hopping tour.) The dinner singers (sorry we forgot their names) were also great, serenading guests with their wide repertoire of songs. Another unique thing which we haven't experienced in any other place is the welcome and goodbye song and dance routine from the staff. The speedboat service from the drop-off to the resort was fun as well.
If you want a noisy/rowdy spot, look somewhere else. If you want a serene and relaxing beach resort, this is the place!
April 4, 2023 -
Memorable vacation - Our El Rio Y Mar stay was the highlight of our vacation in the Philippines. Fr our accommodation, food, activities , beach and most of all the services was top... read more notch. I requested for a companion to hike their trail to see the sunrise, Ray Mart was so knowledgeable and patient to guide me. Daryn was so patient making sure I enjoy the snorkeling experience ( Iβm not a swimmer). Marjo always making sure our stay and experience was superb. Thank you for opening the karaoke room even with a short notice. We shall be back. Mencie, you have the best crew.
March 24, 2023Fantastic place and people - Weβre on our 2nd and last night here at El Rio Y Mar. The whole experience had been magnificent: great communication, propmt pick up with a speed boat,awesome welcome snacks... read more and drinks with a group of staff singing a welcome song; a huge variety of food; lovely manager, amazing crew. The house reef is a must see ; the view is fantastic and I love the variety of complimentary activities on offer.
February 2, 2023Beautiful isolated resort - We spent 3 nights,4 days at El Rio y Mar resort. The resort is beautiful , very clean and with very good water pressure! The staff is also friendly and... read more they welcome you with a nice song. However keep in mind that you are isolated so you depend on the hotel for everything (trips, food and so on). That's why most of the prices are higher than in the town. Also in order to get there you need a boat transport from Maricaban ( they say you only need to pay for it one way) so make sure to contact the hotel on time. We made the reservation quite spontaneously so we had to call like 30 times until someone answered...
They offer free SUP and Kayak. Regarding the food we would recommend the filipino specialities, which were delicious ( the pizza was very bad). The breakfast was also nice.
January 11, 2023
Experience El Rio y Mar's
natural bloom
Dote on the glamorous recourse of some of the country's finest views and spots at El Rio y Mar Resort in Coron, Busuanga, Palawan