Built to resemble a classic Filipino coastal living, Miniloc Island Resort is perfect for families with kids and small groups of friends. It is situated in the best location where the most famous El Nido spots are readily accessible. The Big and Small Lagoons are practically just around the corner and can be visited with a kayak in less than 20 minutes. The resort will be undergoing renovation from July 2018 until December 2018. They plan a complete facelift, make the rooms larger and also install a swimming pool. We will visit the resort as soon as this is complete to provide and up to date impression. In the meantime, availability might be limited but the upside is promo rates might apply – please contact us directly for more information.
Miniloc is the most rustic and laidback out of all El Nido island resorts. There are currently 50 cottages available and each is decorated with classic Filipino style with walls made of woven bamboo slats. Miniloc is only slightly more expensive than its sister resort Apulit but in terms of luxurious designs, it is the most understated of the 4 fancy resorts. There is no swimming pool at the moment and the cottages are a bit smaller compared to the other resorts but the rustic vibe gives it that charming character that you cannot easily find in other places.
Miniloc’s location and close proximity to the most important tourist spots in El Nido gives it an edge over Apulit island resort. Lagen and Pangulasian islands are definitely more luxurious, but also much more expensive. Lastly, Miniloc is the only private island resort with rooms that are suitable for families and small groups – the other island resorts are designed primarily for couples.
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Miniloc Island Resort, just like all the other fancy resorts under El Nido Resorts chain, is an all-inclusive accommodation. Apart from the alcoholic drinks, diving and spa treatments everything is already included in the room price. All meals are served in the resort’s clubhouse restaurant by the beach but guests are welcome to have lunch in two other island beach clubs. For a more exclusive and intimate dining experience, you can arrange to have lunch or candle-lit dinner on a different island with nothing but nature and the soft sands between your toes.
There are numerous activities to be done on the island as well. The activity coordinator will orient you on the number of activities and you can choose how much or how little you would like to do. They will help you plan all your activities on a daily basis. Most of the excursions are free apart from diving. They also follow the strict policy of no C-card no diving policy.
Some of the activities that you can do are: snorkeling in the house reef a few meters from the beach and you can swim with the resident jacks and hundreds of sergeant majors; kayak or ride a boat to the nearby big and small lagoons; sunset cruises; spelunking at cathedral cave; unlimited island hopping to nearby islands like the Entalula, Lagen and Snake Island with prepared picnic lunch; hiking to the forest and watching some birds and monkeys; other water sports activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, water biking, and wind surfing.
The most special and popular activity is the Jack fish feeding. All guests try it out just because it’s something you’ll never have a chance to do anywhere else. This fish reach a size of 1.7m and weigh up to 80kg – and you get a chance to swim and snorkel around them as they are fed by the house staff. This activity is available every day.
There are also in-house activities found in the game room like billiard, darts, video games and table tennis. There are also beach volleyball, badminton and Frisbee. Lastly, kids will find entertainment in their Kids Activity Center.
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Miniloc Island is an ideal escape for families and small groups. It is also the most kid-friendly among the 4 El Nido resorts with the most activities which are suitable for all ages. This resort offers an array of activities that children will definitely enjoy. In addition, Miniloc Island resort is the only private island resort in El Nido which caters to families and small groups with rooms big enough for a maximum of 4 people.
But what really sets Miniloc Island apart from the others is the fact that its location allows you to easily hop from one place to another. Guests of Miniloc Island are always the first to arrive and the last to leave which means that you can easily visit these beautiful places before the tourists arrive and after the crowd has gone; something that Lagen, Pangulasian and certainly not Apulit resort can offer.
The Garden Cottage is surrounded by tropical plants, and is slightly farther from the beach. Room size is 27 sqm and is equipped with either 2 twin beds or 1 full bed. It can accommodate a maximum of 3 people.
Cliff cottages are built on the cliff side of the island a bit further from the beach but with amazing panoramic views of the whole island and the Bacuit Bay. The rooms are very spacious at 43sqm and can accommodate a maximum of 4 persons. There are 2 double beds in the room.
Built right in front of the island’s white sandy beach, this cottage can accommodate a maximum of 3 persons and is equipped with a double bed and a single bed. The room size is 30 square meters.
Built on stilts over the water beside the dramatic limestone cliffs of Miniloc Island, water cottages are currently at 25sqm and can accommodate 2 persons. Each water cottage has its own private walkway and veranda and is equipped with a King-sized bed. These are the rooms in the most dire need of a face lift, but their unique setup over the water makes up for that.
The Sea view room is similar to the water cottages but a lot bigger at 40m2. it can fit a maximum of 4 people. The room has 2 levels, a veranda and a spectacular view of the sea. It is also equipped with 2 double beds.
The seaview deluxe offer the same style but slightly bigger at 44 sqm and more modern. It can only accommodate 2 persons with a queen-sized bed. It has a veranda and the solar panels on the roofs provide energy for lighting and ceiling fans.
