The last time I went to Cintai (Corito’s Garden) was 5 years ago because one of my friends celebrated her debut there. It wasn’t fully done. As I recall, there was only a swimming pool and a clubhouse. So fast forward to this year, she and her boyfriend decided to throw their birthday party there on Labor day weekend.

Labor Day is the only holiday in the month of May and because it’s part of summer, many people plan out of town trips. Many Filipinos opt to travel to Boracay because of the wild parties, famous DJ’s, and of course the fine sand and crystal water. It can get very crazy because of the number of people on a tiny island. Going to Laboracay once was enough for me because I’m claustrophobic (TOO MANY PEOPLE! CAN’T BREATHE!). I’d rather go somewhere more private and serene. So I am glad that my friend decided to celebrate her Birthday in Cintai which is 2-3 hours away from Manila.

We passed Slex and took the Malvar exit which was the longer route. Apparently they recently opened the Balete exit therefore the travel time is shorter. THE PLACE IS HUGE AND SO BEAUTIFUL. I love the architecture because it reminded me of Bali. Just like any other resort, there are swimming pools, a playground, function halls, a restaurant, and etc. In addition, there are villas that can fit up to 9 people!

This is the only resort I’ve been to with animals freely roaming around the place. It’s actually very cool! What makes this place special is that it’s so peaceful and private. This is definitely perfect for weddings, birthdays, retreats, and the like.

Regarding the food, it was delicious. The adobo, fried suman with melted chocolate, and native lechon were the most memorable for me.  I highly recommend this place if you want to have a taste of Bali, relax, and unwind.  The only downside is that there are a lot of steps to climb therefore you might get tired easily from going around. But that’s just me. Haha But my experience was awesome! This place is a gem. If this is the first time you’re hearing about this then you should definitely go. BOOK NOW! IT’S REALLY WORTH IT.

You can check their website out: http://coritosgarden.com/

You don’t really have to stay overnight and rent a villa. A day trip would suffice. 🙂