Canoe Beach Resort: A Review

There are a number of resorts in Barangay Pundaquit San Antonio, Zambles where you can stay overnight or so in case you plan to visit Anawangin Cove and nearby islands and wouldn't want to do camping or sleep in a tent there.

Our choices were Capones Vista and Canoe Beach Resort.  There were very few reviews on these resorts that's why we had a hard time choosing where to stay.  Both have swimming pool, which is one of our requirements in case the waves in Pundaquit becomes strong and we wouldn't able to enjoy the beach.  Capones Vista is more expensive than Canoe Beach Resort but it seems more pleasant and luxurious.  Canoe Beach Resort on the other hand is just plain resort but somehow seems safe, clean and pleasant.  And so we settled for Canoe Beach Resort as it is inexpensive.

In front of the rooms with cottages

 We are a family of 14 including 2 kids.  So we got 3 rooms in Canoe Beach Resort, 2 in the pool area and 1 in beach front area as what they call it.  Funny since its not really beach front.  It just has sands in front of the room.  It's better to stay at a room in the pool area.  Anyway, cost of the room in the pool area is Php 2,500 per night, good for 4 pax while in the beach front area, its Php 1,800 good for 2 pax.  Excess per head cost Php 350.  The rooms are quite spacious that's why all 14 of us fits the 3 rooms.

This is the beach in front of Canoe Beach Resort

Check in time is at 1pm but we arrived hours earlier.  Good thing, they allowed early check in since there's no occupants in the room we reserved.  But we cannot use their aircon.  For some reason, we really can't open it.  Maybe the switches are centralized.  But at least, fans are available.


Rooms in pool area have 2 double size bed, small side table with lamp, vanity mirror and comfort room.  For the room in the beachfront area, 1 double size bed, small side table with lamp, vanity mirror and comfort room.  All rooms does not have ref, television and hot and cold shower.  All room occupants can use their amenities like swimming pool, cooking/grilling area, and volleyball area.  The use of beachfront nipa hut is also included. There's no toiletries (except for 2 small soaps and a roll of left over toilet paper) and towels provided. But I read in some blogs that towels can be provided if you asked for it. Since I stayed mostly at the pool area room, below are my comments on it.

Farthest left is where the room termed "beach front rooms" are located

The room was clean and pleasant. Linens are all new and clean as well. However there's no blanket should one gets cold at night. Your only covering would be the bed linens which were 2, one for bed covering and the other one serves as your blanket. There's no small cabinet where you can put your clothes. There isn't any drawers as well even if there's a vanity mirror and side table. In some rooms (like ours) have a few hinges on the wall where you can hang some clothes. The airconditioning was good and it can be really cold at night.

The shower area was somehow clean. There's a wall separating the shower area and the toilet. I just noticed that there's no "sink" on the toilet side so never splash water on it or else the floor would get a little flooded. My brother splashes water in the toilet area to wipe out the sands. But unfortunately, the floor becomes a little flooded the whole time we stayed there. At the back of the toilet door, there are hinges where you can hang your clothes.

Pool side rooms

There is a small lounging area outside the room but no tables and chairs. It's like a small veranda. Since there's no tv, you can hang out there with some snacks and drinks.

Cafe Pundakit

Restaurant is available in the resort named Cafe Pundakit. Prices are reasonable and serving size can be good for 2 in some of their viands. Bringing of food and drinks is allowed in the resort without corkage fee except for sodas and beer.

The resort also offers island hopping to Anawaning, Camara and Capones. The rates are (taken from their email sent to us):

Other Charges:                          4pax Capacity          5-20pax capacity

Boat Ride: Camara Island         P 800.00                   P 150/pax

                  Capones Island       P 1,000.00                P 200pax

                  Annawangin Cove   P 1,000.00                P200/pax

                  (Annawangin only Entrance Fee- P50/pax)

Camara, Capones                       P 1,200.00              P250/pax

Camara, Capones, Annawangin P 1,500.00              P300/pax

Tour Guide to Pundakit Falls   P 50.00/pax

But since the resort's location is where most of the boats dock, we just decided to ask the boatman there and haggle price for island hopping. For 13 adults, our island hopping cost 350 each for adults.

I wasn't able to dip in the pool so I don't know its temperature.  The pool picture from their website looks big but in actual it is not.  The kids, though, enjoyed swimming in the pool.

The pool

We are allowed late check out without additional charge since no other guests will occupy our room on the same day.  However, airconditioning unit was again turned off at their usual check out time of 11am.

Overall, our stay at Canoe Beach Resort is hassle free and enjoyable.  I would recommend this place for people who wish to visit Anawangin and nearby islands but do not want to sleep in a tent.  If no television is not a factor for you then you might try to stay here.