The private island on the coast of Palawan is widely considered to be one of the only remaining places to have preserved nature. A utopia that captures a lost world of sealife, reefs and natural beauty. Being a part of the island includes a glimpse into the marine protected area it rests upon. What better way to experience true luxury, than on an island that encapsulates the melody of sun, sea, and sanctuary.
At around $100,000 a night for the entire party, the island is one of the most exclusive in the world. Found within a cluster of islands, Banwa can accommodate up to 48 guests at a time. But why is the resort so expensive in comparison with other private islands? The reason seems to be the way that Banwa infuses luxury and authenticity. While many other islands have the tranquillity and high-end amenities, they don’t have the signature ingredient that has been driving keen travellers here since it opened in 2019: an unwavering focus on the landscape and culture.
What is also worth noting if you are planning on visiting the exotic dream-scape, is that the exclusivity is well and truly the focal point of the trip’s model. The 47 other guests joining you on Banwa will need to be members of your travel party. And alas, the price tag attached to this exclusive setting begins to add up: it becomes much less of a luxury island-break, and more of a luxury island-rent.
Reaching this forested paradise is an adventure in itself, with a 2 hour seaplane available from Manila, the journey to the magnificent island will take you on a crusade around the Sulu, and allow you to see a glimpse of the surrounding islands and sea life.
The interior design of the rooms and dining spaces is of the highest quality. Everything seems to find the exact balance of minimalist elegance and modernity. Villas that resonate the naturalism of the holiday style, with outdoor seating areas outside your bedroom, each with a different angle to take in the island air and scenery.
Dining options on the island are driven towards freshness, organic ingredients, and versatile menus to cater for every single guest. With an organic farm on the island, a chef on hand, and numerous dining settings all around the island: it is up to guests to tailor their own experiences right down to the ingredients in their lunch order. There seems to be a limitless scale when it comes to measuring the island’s structure, almost as if it provides a sensory simulation for travellers to customise their own holiday. If you are in the middle of a game of tennis and want your breakfast brought to the court, that won’t be a problem.
Chef Nadedja Bouacha and her culinary team draw inspiration from the landscape to craft a stunning organic menu. With ingredients locally sourced, and a dedication to wellness philosophies embedded into each dish, the care and attention into providing diners with a unique experience is a high priority at Banwa. Nadedja is a globally recognised chef, known by world class chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, and having cooked for A-list celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Moss – she is far from a novice in the culinary field.
There are many amenities on offer for guests staying at Banwa, encompassing a mixture of relaxation, sport (land and water), and discovery based cultural options to choose from. The resort comes with tennis courts, short golf greens, volleyball nets set up on the beach, to a spa equipped with a fitness and wellness centre, infinity pools and seaside terraces – and that’s just the surface of what is available at Banwa. For water sport enthusiasts there is equipment available for scuba-diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and jet skis on hand for guests.
Unlike other island breaks, however, Banwa goes that extra mile to showcase the culture of the island. With recommended trips to the local organic farm on the island, to private helicopter rides to take willing parties to do a Tubbataha Reef dive, where you can swim alongside different species of sharks, turtles and rays. Fulfilling guests, not only with life-changing experiences, but an educational insight into the conservation of ecosystems and sea life. The helicopters available for trips around majestic hubs around the Philippines also gives guests the options of taking a trip to the limestone cliffs and ethereal rivers of El Nido, the underground river near Puerto Princesa (one of UNESCO’s 7 Natural Wonders of the World), as well as the undiscovered reefs of Araceli – where many rare species continue to live.
The private island of Banwa is definitely one of the most luxurious breaks on the market just now. If you have a large party waiting and generous savings in the bank to make this trip a reality then there is no better time to book yourself into one of the most surreal holidays on offer. Banwa is most definitely an experience that is out of this world.