Lagen Island Resort is an eco-sanctuary surrounded by thick jungles in the Bacuit Bay archipelago. This luxurious 4-star property is the most solid all-around private island resort and is great for couples and honeymooners who want to experience luxury at its best without spending too much.
Situated between a 4-hectare forest and a blue lagoon, Lagen Island has a total of 51 rooms and cottages built with antique timber recycled from old Filipino homes. These antique furnishings add class and a charming ambiance to an already luxurious setting. Designed to completely commune with nature, all rooms and cottages feature full-height sliding glass doors that open to a private balcony with views of the incredibly beautiful surroundings.
Lagen Island is a modern upgrade from Miniloc’s rustic charm but it is still a notch lower than Pangulasian in terms of luxury and exclusivity. Nevertheless, Lagen holds its ground and is in no way inferior to Pangulasian. In fact, Lagen provides the best option for VIP travelers to experience both the rustic charm of Miniloc and luxury of Pangulasian both in one place.
One thing that really sets apart all the El Nido Resorts is their quality of service. It is therefore not surprising that the staff employed at Lagen Island are all very professional, cordial and have a good command of the English language. From the moment you land at the airport to the time you leave the place; you will be treated like a royalty.
As an eco-resort, Lagen tries to minimize the use of plastic to conserve nature. This is why they use dispenser bottles for toiletries and water bottles can be refilled in many refilling stations provided in the resort. The beach area and other public areas are maintained and cleaned on a daily basis and housekeeping is available daily as well.
The rooms in Lagen Island are all spacious and beautifully designed. The amenities are more than sufficient and the beds are very comfortable. There are daybeds provided in all the rooms and each has its own verandah. The smallest of the rooms are at 53 sqm and can easily accommodate a third person although ideally, the rooms are built for couples.
There is no good beach for swimming because the water is too shallow during low tide. However, past the docking area, the waters go very deep which is always good for snorkeling. There is also a private cove with a very nice stretch of beach easily accessed through hiking or kayaking. The infinity pool of Lagen is the best in all of El Nido Resorts.
Lagen is easily accessible from the airport. It is a bit further from major tourist spots like the Big and Small Lagoon compared to Miniloc but it is close enough for a quick boat ride. Other Islands that are close to Lagen are Entalula, Pinagbuyatan and Pangulasian.
Lagen is expensive but you get more for your money here in terms of the amenities they offer. This resort can be all-inclusive but you also have the option to opt out of the full package. Moreover, Lagen offers luxury for a much lower price than Pangulasian.
What really draw people to Lagen are its luxurious amenities. Here, you will find the comforts that Miniloc and Apulit don’t have like a fitness center with sufficient amount of equipment; a sizable library and business center for business-minded individuals; bigger playrooms for kids; game rooms with billiard, darts, ping-pong and board games; restaurant that can either be al fresco or air-conditioned and the massive and very well-designed infinity pool. The rooms that you pay for are much bigger with more luxurious amenities like in-room safe, cable TV with DVD player, ample storage areas, and in some cases a luxurious bath tub. The water cottages are especially designed for couples and provide more privacy and seclusion.
There are a number of activities that you can do in Lagen but not as much as what is offered in Apulit. Some of the activities that you can do are: Island hopping, snorkeling (either in Lagen or Miniloc), diving (Entalula Island), kayaking (mangroves and coves), paddle boarding, swimming, bird watching and hiking through the forest.
Lastly, guests can choose whether they want to pay for the full package inclusive of full-board meals, standard excursions and activities with island hopping, and complimentary usage of all non-motorized water equipment and facilities. Diving, spa and drinks are not included in this package though. You can also choose to have only breakfast and pay ala-carte for lunch and dinner but be prepared to pay more. You can get more for your money with the resort’s buffet which offers more food variety.
Lagen Island enjoys high ratings online just like Miniloc and Apulit in all travel platforms. It is very popular and even some of the famous Hollywood celebrities have nothing but compliments for this property. In Tripadvisor, the resort’s rating is at 4.5 with 773 reviews. 75% of the reviewers said they had an excellent stay and only 1% rated terrible. Similarly, Booking.com has a high score of 9 out of 10 with 203 reviews. With Agoda, the score is slightly lower at 8.8 with 206 reviews but 98% said they will happily recommend it to their family and friends.
Guests complimented the staff all the time. The service is just impeccable and the staff go the extra mile to make sure that their guests always have a lovely time. They are happy to arrange private lunch and dinners for the guests celebrating special occasions even if that means carrying everything into an isolated island and serving the food there.
Guests also complimented the pool which is chlorine-free, the beautiful surroundings and the forest with monkeys, birds and lizards. Positive comments also go to the buffet meals especially the grilling station where a large variety of grilled seafood is available. The rooms are definitely among the positive points of Lagen Island. Nothing negative about it and the water cottages are specifically mentioned most of the time. Lastly, the Island hopping adventures are also on top of the positive list.
Negative remarks are very few. Some guests commented that the beach is not swimmable especially on low tides. A la Carte menus are limited and very expensive and most of the complaints about food are from people who opted out of the full-board meals. There are also some comments about how corals in Lagen are not as healthy as the ones in Miniloc and that the pool area has no sufficient staff to cater to guests.
One thing that personally bothered is the fact guests to Lagen have to make a detour through Miniloc first when taking the boat ride to the island. It makes for a detour of around 10-15 minutes but still it seemed quite strange to us.
Here are the best things about Lagen Island resort:
Some things you should consider before booking are:
Most importantly, Lagen Island Resort is unique in itself. It offers the best of both worlds which means guests can enjoy the best things Miniloc has to offer with the luxury that Pangulasian is known for. This creates a guilt-free luxury which is a highlight of any memorable vacation.
Our most recommend Palawan package for couples, is a mixed stay at both Apulit and Lagen. This allows you to experience everything El Nido’s private islands has to offer and enjoy a luxury vacation at a very reasonable price.
Forest rooms offer the closest proximity to the swimming pool. These rooms are located on a complex with 2 floors. The room size is 53 sqm and can accommodate 2 persons with additional of 1 if necessary. The bed is either 2 single beds or a double bed.
This cottage is located closest to the beach and has the best views of the sunset. It can accommodate 2 with a provision for 1 more. The room size is 53 sqm and is equipped with either a double bed or 2 single beds.
These cottages are ideal for couples and honeymooners. They are built on stilts over the water with views of the bay. It can accommodate 2 persons with addition of 1 if necessary. The room size is 53 sqm and is equipped with either 2 singled beds or a double bed.
This is the most luxurious of all the rooms offered in Lagen. The size of the room is 70 sqm with its own living area and very large balcony. It is also the only room with a bathtub and it leads directly towards the forest. It can accommodate up to 3 people but ideally designed to house only 2. The bed is a queen sized bed.
