OPEN SECRET

Hidden in a sprawling forest, LIHIM RESORT offers a luxuriously private accommodations and fantastic views of El Nido

- DONG RONQUILLO

“We wanted to break away from the run-off the-mill resort and provide and experience that is both memorable and uplifting”

Tourism is beginning to pick up again, with restrictions easing and travel guidelines firmly in place. I am confident that our powdery white beaches and crystal clear waters will soon draw millions of visitors.

One such majestic spot is El Nido, a destination that is internationally lauded for its stunning shores, limestone formations, and well-preserved coral reefs. Its province, Palawan, regularly appears on “World’s Best Islands” lists, a recent example being this year’s Condé Nast Traveler awards.

QUICK AND CONVENIENT

I found on a recent trip that Lio Airport, which is owned operated by Air Swift, has made traveling to El Nido easier. Since it’s located around 25 minutes from El Nido town proper, the airport eliminates the need for an hours-long van ride, which you have to take coming in from Puerto Princesa or Busuanga.

Since the airport is privately owned, the amount of people going in and out is more controlled. The carrier, which is owned and operated by the Ayala group, operates several flights a day in Metro Manila out of NAIA Terminal 3.

When I landed, a butler from Lihim, the resort I was staying at, was waiting for me outside. Lihim, which is hidden away in a sprawling forest in El Nido, opens its doors to tourists this month in time for the holidays.