It was already past twelve noon when we got to Camp Netanya in Mabini, Batangas. A little bit late for a day tour for sure, but we were determined to explore the place as we’d like to make the most of our experience here. Luckily, the staff at the reception told us that we can stay until the sunset and then proudly talked about how stunning the view of the sunset is here. And boy did it live up to the expectation! It was magnificent to say the least, a perfect end note for an awesome day basking in the sun and the sea.
Camp Netanya Resort & Spa gained popularity because of its Santorini-inspired architecture. The resort even has the tagline “Santorini of Anilao Batangas”. Its whitewashed structure with vibrant blue domes and accent is a sight to behold. But aside from its Greek-inspired aesthetics, what else does Camp Netanya have that draws tourists in? In this post, we’ll tell you more about the resort and its amenities and the things you need to know to plan your trip here.
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
How to Get to Camp Netanya
Camp Netanya overlooks the picturesque view of Balayan Bay and is located close to many popular dive sites in Anilao. Although the resort is marketed as the “Santorini of Anilao, Batangas”, it is not exactly in Anilao. It is actually located in Barangay Ligaya, one of the neighboring barangays of Anilao.
Anilao is another barangay in the Municipality of Mabini that became a popular diving destination years ago and was dubbed as the birthplace of scuba diving in the Philippines. This prompted resorts located in neighboring barangays to market themselves as part of Anilao as well. However, when it comes to tourism, the whole Municipality of Mabini is commonly referred to as Anilao nowadays.
It’s pretty easy to get to Camp Netanya if you’re coming from Manila. Travel time is around two to three hours.
Public Transportation
Manila to Batangas City
- Ride a bus to Batangas City. On our recent trip to this resort, we boarded a JAM Liner bus to Batangas Grand Terminal at their Kamias terminal. The fare was P249. There are also other bus companies like DLTB that has routes from Manila to Batangas.
JAM Liner terminates in Kamias and Buendia, while DLTB has terminals in Cubao, Buendia, and PITX. These buses usually have a continuous trip and leaves every hour. For a more detailed bus guide from Manila to Batangas, you may check our Manila to Batangas Bus Schedules article. - Get off at the Batangas City Grand Terminal. The journey from Manila to the grand terminal in Batangas City takes around 2-3 hours. Travel time varies depending on your origin and the traffic conditions. It is best to leave early to avoid heavy traffic and get to Batangas faster.
Batangas City to Camp Netanya
- Ride a jeepney to Anilao Port. At the Batangas Grand Terminal, look for the jeepney terminal. It’s located on a separate spot away from the buses, but just ask someone and they’ll point you to the direction of the jeepneys. Just tell the drivers in the jeepney terminal that you’re going to Anilao Port and they’ll tell you which jeepney to board. Anilao Port is the final stop of the jeepney. Travel time is around 40 minutes. The fare is P70 per person.
Alternatively, you can ride a jeepney bound for Bauan and ask the driver to drop you off at Diversion or Bauan Public Market. From there, you can ride another jeepney going to Mabini and ask the driver to drop you off at the town proper or crossing. However, we’re not sure about the fares for these jeepney routes. - Get on a tricycle to Camp Netanya. Whichever jeepney route you ended taking, once you get off the jeepney at either Anilao Port or Mabini town proper or crossing, the next step is to ride a tricycle. Look for the tricycle terminal or hail one and tell the driver you’re going to Camp Netanya. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes to get there. The fare is P150 per ride.
Travel Time: Approximately 4 hours
Fares
- Bus (Manila to Grand Terminal): P240-250/person
- Jeepney (Grand Terminal to Mabini): Anilao Port, P70/person
- Special Tricycle Trip to Camp Netanya: P150/ride
Private Car
If you’re driving, you can simply use Waze or Google Maps for easier navigation. Whichever app you choose, you’ll most probably be directed to take STAR Tollway.
- Take the STAR Tollway to Batangas – Balete Road in Batangas.
- At the roundabout, take the second exit going to Batangas – Balete Road.
- Turn left to Palico – Balayan – Batangas Road.
- Turn right towards Bauan – Mabini Road.
- Drive straight along Mabini Circumferential Road.
Travel Time: 3-4 hours
Parking Fee: FREE
Day Tour vs Overnight Stay
If you’re wondering which is the better option, you have to consider different factors like time and budget. Camp Netanya isn’t huge so you can definitely explore and enjoy its amenities on a day tour.
However, if you’re traveling with at least one companion, have a little more budget, and your time isn’t limited to just a day, booking a room to stay overnight isn’t a bad idea. If you’ll book for two people at the price of the day tour package, you only need to add a little more to book a room.
If you only have a day like us, you can avail their Dip and Dine package and still have a great time! This already gives you access to the resorts amenities and activities. The package is also inclusive of a plated lunch and free flowing coffee.
Dip and Dine Package (Day Tour)
- Regular (12 y/o and above): P2,250/head
- Kid (6-11 y/o): P1,550/head
Schedule: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
INCLUSIONS:
- Plated lunch
- Free flowing coffee
- Use of infinity pool
- 1-hour use of kayak
- 1-hour of snorkeling
On our visit, there was also free hot chocolate and iced tea during sunset hour. We asked the staff if it’s a regular thing and we were told they have it on weekends.
How to Book:
- For our day tour, we made a reservation by calling the resort. We were only asked for a name for the reservation and was told to settle the payment upon arrival at the resort.
- Once we arrived at the resort, we were asked for our IDs and we settled the payment. Both cash and card payments are accepted here.
Overnight Rates
If you’re looking to stay overnight here, there are different types of rooms available. In total, the resort has 48 guest rooms and villas where guests can stay comfortably. Their standard deluxe room can accommodate two (2) people, but they have larger rooms for big groups as well. The Master Villa can accommodate 14 people.
Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM, while check-out time is until 12:00 PM.
Here are the rates as published on its official website. These are the peak rates, which are for Fridays and Saturdays. These are inclusive of snorkeling, kayaking, and the use of their amenities but exclusive of breakfast meal.
Guest Rooms
- Deluxe Room: P7,500
- Superior King: P8,500
- Superior Double Queen: P9,500
- Premier Suite: P10,000
Family Rooms
- Family Deluxe: P11,000
- Family Superior: P11,000
- Family Loft: P16,700
Villas
- Villas: P9,500
- Premier Villas: P11,500
- Premium Villas: P12,000
- Master Villa: P54,900
✅ CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE! Booking.com | Agoda
Things to Do
Swimming
Camp Netanya has an infinity pool that both day tour and overnight guests can enjoy. It measures 25 meters long with depths from 3ft to 12 ft. The pool overlooks the beautiful Balayan Bay so even if you’re not here to do laps on the pool, you can still chill and savor the view. It also makes for a perfect spot to watch the stunning sunset.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is one of the activities included in your booking whether you’re going for a day tour or overnight. Because the town is a popular diving destination, it makes for a good snorkeling site too. You don’t have to swim far to see the colorful fishes and corals hiding beneath the waves. We availed of this activity during our trip and we have a lot of fun exploring the underwater view from the surface.
When you go to Camp Netanya and you want to go snorkeling, just approach a resort staff and let them know. You will be asked to sign a waiver before handling you the snorkeling gear and a life jacket. The resort also has a dedicated staff who can be your snorkeling guide. We highly recommend having a guide with you, especially if you’re with kids or non-swimmers.
Scuba Diving
If you want to explore more and go deeper beyond just the surface, you can also go diving. Camp Netanya offers an intro dive course that is already inclusive of the gear. You also have to pay an additional fee of P1,000 for the dive master.
Fun dives are also available for experienced divers. And if you’re interested in going to other dive sites that are not within the vicinity of the resort, you can also rent a boat for an additional fee.
Rates
- Intro Dive: P2,700/person
- Fun Dive: P1,500 per dive/person
- Additional Fees: Divemaster – P1,000; boat fee for boat dive
Kayaking
Another inclusive activity for all resort guests is kayaking. Since Camp Netanya does not have a beachfront but an access to the open waters instead, kayaking is another way to explore the sea aside from snorkeling. A staff will accompany you down to the seafront to help you get into the kayak. You will also be given paddling instructions and reminders about how far you can go with the kayak.
We had fun kayaking, but it was honestly very tiring. So if you plan to do this, prepare for an arm workout! Haha!
Other Water Activities
Aside from kayaking, Camp Netanya also offers other water activities for a fee. A jetski can be used by one or two people at a time, while a glass-bottom boat can accommodate up to six (6) people. If you’re looking for some thrill, you can also ride a banana boat with your companions!
If you want to avail any of these water activities, just ask the staff when you check-in to know the availability. Sea activities can be done until 5:00 PM only.
Rates
- Jetski: P2,800 (good for 1-2 pax)
- Banana Boat: P4,500 (good for up to 6 pax)
- Glass Bottom Boat: P8,900 (good for up to 6 pax)
Photo Sessions
One of the reasons why this resort became popular is that it is very Instagram-worthy. Among the favorite photo spots for guests is their Santorini Alley which mimics the cobblestone streets of Greece. The staircase going down the pool area is also a spot where a lot of guests take a snap. But honestly, every corner of the resort has a good backdrop for your photos so if you’re one to enjoy a photo session, you’ll definitely enjoy taking lots of photos here.
Island Hopping
If you want more adventure or you’re looking for an actual beach where you can feel the sand on your toes, you can go island hopping. Camp Netanya offers an island hopping package to the nearby islands of Tingloy. Among the most popular island hopping destinations are Sombrero Island, which is a small island named for its hat-shaped form when you look at it from afar. Another favorite island hopping stop for tourists is Mang Oscar’s Beach which the locals also call Oscar Island.
Below are the island hopping rates of Camp Netanya. These packages are for a three-and-a-half-hour island hopping trip to one island and can accommodate up to six (6) people. If there are more than six people in your group, you can pay the extra fees per head. Making a stop at another island or if you want a longer island hopping experience also incurs an additional fee. These rates are exclusive of entrance fee to the island you’ll visit if there’s any.
Island Hopping Rates
- 1 Island
- 3 1/2 Hours
Boat Fee: P7,000 (good for up to 6 people)
- Additional Passengers: Over 12 y/o, P800/person; Under 12 y/o and PWD, P500/person
- Additional Stops: P800 per additional island stop
- Additional Hours: P800 per hour extension
Sunset Watching
As previously mentioned, Camp Netanya has a fantastic view of the sunset. We were already told about this by the staff, but we were still in awe when we saw it for ourselves. The yellow, orange, and red colors was so vivid that it really looked like somebody painted the sky.
The best areas to watch the sunset in Camp Netanya is the staircase going down the pool, the infinity pool, and the Santorini Gift shop area in their Santorini alley. There are also rooms with balconies and we can only assume it’s a great sunset viewing spot too since we didn’t get to stay there during our visit.
Mount Gulugod Baboy Hike
Not too far from Camp Netanya is Mt. Gulugod Baboy, a popular hiking destination in Mabini. This climb is beginner-friendly, so even if you’re new to trekking, climbing to its peak — or peaks because Mt. Gulugod Baboy actually has 3 peaks — is still possible!
At the top, you’ll get a magnificent view of Mabini and its surrounding waters and rolling hills. Camp Netanya offers a trek package, which is good for up to five (5) people. You will find the rates and the inclusions below.
Rate: P1,500 (up to 5 pax)
Environmental Fee: P50
Inclusions: resort guide, registration, snacks
Where to Eat
Camp Netanya has an in-house restaurant called Greeka. It serves a wide array of dishes including pizza, pasta, steak, salad, along with some Filipino favorites and some Greek cuisine.
If you’re looking for a more romantic feel, you can go to Fira, Camp Netanya’s wine bar. Here, you can have wine, liquor, and other spirits along with food. This is a great dinner option especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring outside food?
Bringing heavy meals is not allowed. However, guests can bring light snacks like chips, sandwiches, cake, and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks are subject to a corkage fee of P1,000 per bottle and P500 for canned beers.
Is there a shower area for day tour guests?
Of course! Day tour guests have access to facilities including a shower area. They also lend guests towel which you can use for the day.
Is there a mobile phone signal?
Yes. Mobile phone signal for both Globe and Smart networks are great in Camp Netanya so you don’t have to worry about being connected while you’re here.
Is there a changing/locker room for day tour guests?
The restroom and shower area also serve as the changing room. Locker rooms, on the other hand, are not available, but day tour guests can occupy tables and chairs in the pool area on a first-come, first-served basis.
Are pets allowed?
No. Unfortunately, Camp Netanya does not allow pets inside the resort.
Tips and Reminders
- Use coral-friendly sunscreen. Always remember to keep your skin protected from the harmful rays of the sun. However, it is also important to keep the environment in mind, so get products that don’t have chemicals like oxybenzone, benzophenone, and parabens that are harmful to corals so you can help protect the environment too.
- Bring sunglasses and a hat. With the extreme heat we’re experiencing recently, using a sunscreen is not enough. Bring sunglasses to protect your eyes and a hat for more shield against the sun.
- Bring a reusable water container. One of the ways to practice sustainable tourism is to avoid using single-use plastic. Bring your trusted water tumbler to avoid buying bottled water. This helps you save a bit of money too!
- Remember the “Leave No Trace” principle. Take nothing but photos, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints.
Camp Netanya Resort Contact Information
- Official Website: www.campnetanya.com.ph
- E-mail: info@campnetanya.com.ph
- Mobile: +63 927 895 4092 | +63 939 753 5074
- Facebook Page: Camp Netanya (@campnetanya)
Mabini (Anilao) Emergency Numbers
It’s a good practice to have the local emergency hotline numbers of the destination you’ll visit. Here are some of the hotlines of the Municipality of Mabini in Batangas:
- Municipal Police
Station
Address: Poblacion, Mabini, Batangas
Mobile: +63 916 270 0837
E-mail: mabinimps@yahoo.com - Bureau of Fire Protection
Address: Poblacion, Mabini, Batangas
Landline: +63 (43) 425 3890
Mobile: +63 926 621 1953
E-mail: 416mabinifirestation@gmail.com - MDRRMO Mabini Batangas
Address: Poblacion, Mabini, Batangas
Landline: +63 (43) 774 4659 | +63 (43) 487 0544
Mobile: +63 915 201 6244 - Mabini Community Hospital
Address: A. Magnaye Street, Barangay Pulong Niogan, Mabini, Batangas
Mobile: +63 963 245 5800 | +63 966 882 6573
E-mail: mabinicommunityhospital@gmail.com - Mabini ICM Tourism Office
Address: Anilao Port, Mabini, Batangas
Mobile: +63 969 643 3420
E-mail: ICMOmabini@gmail.com
Updates Log
2024.06.24 – First uploaded
Related Article: Top 10 Dive Resorts in Anilao
More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Comments