Let’s go somewhere new!
Introducing a brand new destination outside of Central America!
April 14-21 and 22-29 2013 we’ll be escorting a group of 8-10 ladies each week to a secret hideaway in the Philippines. We’ll be staying at a collection of beachfront bungalows with a boat right out front that will zip us out to the spots.
$1,700 includes everything except your plane flight to Siargao and alcohol.
Important Travel Info!
COMING TO SIARGAO:
Flying from the US to the Philippines using Los Angeles as the example city:
Asiana, Korean and Cathay Pacific seem to have the best prices right now (Sept. 20 Expedia searches showed between $1100-1300 From LA to Cebu). Cathay was $1300 and had the best schedule and this is what I suggest:
Using Cathay Pacific, departing LA at 1:30AM and arriving Cebu at 11:30AM+1 day. So you should depart LA on Friday, April 12 (and remember, since that’s 1:30AM you would check in at the LA airport the night of Thursday April 11).
The little flight from Cebu to the Island of Siargao (see below) isn’t until the following morning but arriving at 11:30am will allow you the whole afternoon to relax, stretch, start dealing with jetlag and recuperate from the long journey so that when you show up to your final destination (the retreat!) you’ll be fired up and ready for adventure!!!
The other airlines might be fine too and a bit cheaper- they just get into Cebu close to midnight (not much recovery time) and flying back to the US they leave close to midnight so you’ll have to spend all day in Cebu when you connect from Siargao coming back. Philippine Airlines also flies this route but flights were $1660 when I checked, maybe that will change?? Maybe other airlines too, you may want to check yourself.
As far as we know, you will need to stay overnight in Cebu no matter which airline you fly on the way there as the only connecting flights to Siargao are in the morning (schedule below). Rest and recover for the day or explore Cebu. Here are a few hotel recommendations we have from friends in the area:
Hotel Options in Cebu
Alta Cebu- on the same island as the airport. A resort setting with a nice pool, rooms a bit dated but still nice, the owner is American. Nothing else close by to do near this hotel but plenty to see/do on its grounds (relax!).
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g2273715-d634366-Reviews-ALTA_Cebu_Resort-Cordova_Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas.html
Summit Circle Hotel- further from airport, small and dark but nice, it is above a shopping center (bonus aircon and good food choices) and recently renovated, in the heart of the city, review link:
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g298460-d455425-Reviews-Summit_Circle_Hotel-Cebu_City_Cebu_Visayas.html
Others, close to airport for late arrivals:
Park Hill Hotel
1,000php for 2 people.
2 minutes from the airport. 50php in a taxi, but at night give them a bit extra for the hassle of loosing que to a 2 min trip. 100php. Just tell them it’s the first left after the Day’s Inn hotel on airport road.
http://www.hotelparkhill.com/
Phone: 63 32 494-0749 Address: Park Hill Hotel Cebu, Matumbo Road, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu city , Cebu,
Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino
PHP 5,000 if you book on www.wotif.com
Address:
http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/waterfront/waterfront-airport-hotel-casino/
Phone: 63 32 340-4888
Address: 1 Airport Road Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu, Philippines
Great buffet breakfast.
Flying to Siargao
The next morning you must fly on a Cebu Pacfic domestic flight to Siagao (about $100 round trip)- you can book on their website:
http://www.cebupacificair.com/Pages/FlightSchedule.aspx
Cebu Pacific schedule:
M, W, F, SU 10:20AM departure, 11:10AM arrival
M, F 9:15-10:05
For the April 14 retreat, please schedule the Sunday April 14th flight.
RETURN FLIGHTS:
For April 14 retreat, return on Sunday, April 21
Cebu Pacific Siagao-Cebu schedule:
M, W, F, SU 11:30AM-12:20PM
M, F 10:25-11:15
Make sure you book your US return for after 3pm or later to be safe!
The Philippines are well-known for a world-class surf spot called Cloud 9. It’s a reef break with hollow rights that attracts surfers from all over the world. We’ll be staying very close to Cloud 9 but will be focusing on other more user-friendly waves in the area.
There are cute lefts and rights for Amigas of all levels but most waves will be breaking over reef, so this isn’t a retreat for first-time surfers. To attend this retreat you must have come already to Nicaragua or El Salvador, or be able to prove to me that you are capable of paddling out and catching a wave on your own. You don’t have to be a complete ripper, we’ll help you improve, but you must already know how to catch your own wave.
We’ll be staying at a place called GreenHouse with awesome bungalows right on the beach and delicious food. Cyd Connor from Sukhaline.com will be joining us as yoga teacher. Cyd is a friend of ours who taught yoga during the 2011/2012 season and she is awesome!
Other activities will include snorkeling, diving, hiking, waterfalls, caving, experiencing local culture, and eating awesome food!
Philippines lifestyle and surfstyle:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeVWv_aT0GA&feature=plcp]
Check out some footage (below) from a Roxy contest at Siargao the first week of May 2011. You get an idea of the beauty of the ocean there and a little taste of what Cloud 9 looks like. We most likely won’t spend much time there since there are other less-crowded waves around but if we get a few girls that want to try to get tubes, we can go check it out!
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/42174348]
