Kiteboarding, Yoga and More
Yes, the laid-back ambiance of Qi Palawan really appeals to honeymooners a lot. It’s one of the most romantic escapes couples can escape to in El Nido. With cottages amply spaced apart for the utmost privacy, and a private balcony facing the sea where couples can have intimate time together. But it is not to say it doesn’t appeal to sports enthusiast as well. Owners Bettina and her husband’s first love is kiteboarding and the conditions of the wind and the beach here is ideal for the sport especially during Amihan (northeast winds) season from November to May. Qi Palawan has the necessary gear for the sport from different sizes of the kites and also trained staff to assist guest. Multi-day courses are available if one wants to learn kiteboarding.
The owner, Bettina is also a yoga practicioner, Qi Palawan has an open air studio for yoga and anyone can joir her morning sessions.
Island hopping at the east coast of El Nido has a different relaxed feel than the popular Bacuit Bay side. Yes it doesn’t have the dramatic limestones littering the west, but it offers unparalleled underwater marine life and islands with pristine white sand beaches South of Linapacan Islands. Best thing about it, is there’s not other tourist to fight a spot for, guest can play castaways and stay for hours at islands like Magransing and Mausonoan Islands and enjoy its clear waters.
Inland tours are also available to guest like a cultural tour to the nearby village of Sibaltan proper or the booking the Island Hopping on the west side of El Nido.
Summary
Isolation is not such a bad thing if one can stay in garden resort as beautiful as Qi Palawan. It is luxurious yes and one has to pay a bit premium for a stay but its understandable considering the maintenance and the supplies they need to bring in the resort to keep its operation going. Electricity is generator powered since Sibaltan doesn’t have electricity yet. What I do like is how the resort has helped the community especially in giving livelihood to the locals. Most of the staff are from the nearby villages and their coffee, which is quite good are actually sourced locally from a nearby coffee farm. Just a small trivia, locals know the resort as “Q-I” but its actually pronounced as “chi” which is a Chinese concept for life energy that circulates around us and Qi Palawan is the perfect place to stay to balance and properly align those life energy.
Qi Palawan
San Fernando, El Nido, Philippines 5314
web: www.qipalawan.com
fb: /qipalawan
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
