The Second Amorita Resort and Spa is Just as Unforgettable as the First

Amorita Resort and Spa has become such a familiar name in Panglao Island in Bohol that it was a huge deal for Philippine tourism when news broke that it was opening a second property in Palawan’s capital city, Puerto Princesa. The reason is that there are few homegrown hotel and hospitality brands that cater to upscale or luxury travelers, and even fewer still that count more than one location in another tourist hotspot. And so a second Amorita Resort is cause for celebration.

Just like its sister property, the new Amorita is located just minutes from the airport, and anyone exhausted from the flight won’t have to wait too long for their R&R to commence. There is a short driveway leading to a circular path with a tree planted in the middle. Resort officials say this is known as a fish poison tree, or what is locally known as putat, which indigenous peoples of Palawan used to catch fish.

Guests get off the van and are ushered to the right side of the driveway, opposite The Funny Lion Puerto Princesa, which is also owned by the same group (One-Of Collection). They are welcomed by a nondescript brass sign followed by attendants bearing cold towels and colder drinks at the open reception lobby.

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The architecture is modern and almost brutalist: concrete pillars and dark stone, initially intimate before opening up to tall and wide spaces. It calls to mind Frank Lloyd Wright’s principle of compression and release: guests start in an area with a low ceiling that forces them to move forward, then pass through a small doorless portal that open up to a wide, bright space. Save for the doors on one side to the function hall, the path is completely open, intensifying guests’ connection to the outdoors.

The rooms and villas are off to the other side, further away from the water. Opening the gate to the villa using an RFID scanner attached to a wristband, there is a small rock garden, a shower area to the right and a lap pool that runs the entire length of the villa. A sliding glass door leads guests to their own private sanctuary: receiving area with a TV, fridge, and minibar; corridor with his&hers wash areas, toilet and bath with rainwater showerhead; a sprawling bedroom with a chaise lounge, another TV, work desk, and king-sized bed; and finally, an outdoor area with a bathtub and sundeck. Those wondering about privacy will be glad to know that the entire villa is sandwiched by three-story high concrete walls.

Those who don’t need a villa will find that the non-villa rooms are just as well-appointed, with a Japanese-style bathtub (onsen) in the balcony a defining feature that guests will no doubt enjoy.

Food is, of course, a big part of the stay. Katala Restaurant serves inventive Filipino and Asian cuisine developed for the resort by Executive Chef Greg Villalon. Standouts include Crab and Prawn Noodles, Chicken Inasal ala Puebla, Pork Belly Randang, and Palawan Cashew Pie. Breakfast here is either a buffet spread with everything you’d expect in a luxury resort (and then some) or a generous plated affair.

There’s also Turchino, an Italian-style osteria that serves homestyle pizzas and pastas, and of course, glorious steaks. There’s a modern woodfire oven, but the space is enclosed and air conditioned, for those who insist on having their meals indoors.

In between meals, the days fill themselves. One afternoon, the resort arranged a quick trip to a nearby sandbar, about 20 minutes away by car and boat, where I spent most of the afternoon sitting in the water and letting the tide move around me. Afterwards, I took a leisurely bicycle ride out on the town. But it was the slow, quiet day that I relished the most: waking up late and asking for coffee and a nibble of pan de sal for breakfast, then hanging out and reading by the pool and occasionally dozing off, then waking up just in time to cool down again.

Beyond the main pool area, the resort also has a swim-up bar called the Pineapple Club, where guests can order a specialty cocktail while killing the hours half submerged in water.

Having spent time at Amorita in Bohol, I knew that top-tier service is something the resort is known for, and it’s very much present here, though it never feels forced. Staff are attentive, but in a way that doesn’t interrupt. They remember guests’ names, notice when your glass is empty, and offer to fetch you your favorite item from the buffet just the way you like them. Those seemingly small gestures spell the difference between a casual stay in a decent resort and one that truly elevates the experience to one that you’ll remember for years to come.

Amorita Resort & Spa in Palawan is located on F. Ponce de Leon Road in Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City. For inquiries, visit their website.