Club Noah Isabelle in Palawan : Gateway to heaven

Eco-tourism has a become a byword in the global travel industry but many resorts, which focus only on their cash registers, do nothing but pay lip to the earth – friendly trend in the industry.

Club Noah Isabelle

Not Club Noah Isabelle, located in the Northernmost tip of Palawan. It is one resort that truly communes with nature. Visitors will appreciate that its environmental philosophy is infused in every aspect of the resort’s operation.

Bougainvillea and hibiscus bloom all over the resort that is home to diverse collection of tropical flora and fauna. Islets around the resort are left untouched. You even have the chance to encounter a dragon or two.

Tourism Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano has been pushing for Palawan to become the model of eco-tourism in the country.

Club Noah Isabelle took its name from an old Spanish fort that sits near the harbor of Taytay, Puerto de Sta. Isabelle, named in honor of Spain’s Queen Isabelle II. It was built to protect the local townspeople from the 18th century pirates.

Nestled on Apulit Island, just off the municipality of Taytay in northeastern of Palawan, Club Noah Isabelle opened in 1995.

The roots of the resort date back to two decades ago, when a young Japanese adventurer teamed up with a Spanish-Filipino group to explore the water of Palawan, Cebu, Bohol and other coasts of the Philippine archipelago. The team established the first Japan-Philippine Dive Jamboree in the country.

In 1976, the team pioneered cruises in Apo Reef, Tubattaha, Cavite, Arena, Boracay, Balicasag, Panglao and the rest of Mindanao with the use of luxury yacht the M/V Sea Quest. The team later bought M/V Via Mare, 75-foot diving boat bringing the group to more places in the Philippines.

In 1979, the team ventured toward the westernmost islands of Palawan, now known as Kalayaan Islands. While crossing Calavite Point in Mindoro, the boats propeller got tangled in fishnets. They took shelter on nearby island, popularly known as El Nido.

Abandoning the dive boat business after the last of their boats went under, the divers and the boat’s crew built El Nido Resort on Miniloc Island in 1982.

Intended as 15-cottage dive camp for Japanese adventurers, the beauty and splendors of El Nido spread like wild fire.

El Nido Resort found itself coping with an avalanche of clients, both domestic and foreign, despite the prohibited cost of going there. The visitors did not mind staying in the crowded 30 cottages and sharing bathroom.

In 1993, an evolution of sorts took place. The same people formed a company they first called Club Noah, later renamed Club Noah Isabelle.

In 1995, the first GSM “Tawag Center” or Public Calling Office (PCO) was set up by Smart Communications in Club Noah to link up the business with the outside world.

The resort has 50 cottages called cabanas, thatched with cogon, giving a touch of Tahitian beach house built over the water with the balcony. Sixteen of these cabanas are located on the east side, 14 on the west side, encircling the cove.

At least 20 of these are two-story family cottages with two rooms fronting the west side. The family cottages and the cabanas are air-conditioned, with hot water and intercom.

The large cross on top of the rock hill is the symbol of the resort. The cross, faces the route to El Nido.

The clubhouse where the main dining room is housed, has a triangular roof. A mini-swimming pool with Jacuzzi is right in front. There are also several dining areas and bars scattered throughout the resort.

Smorgasbord or a full-course of seafood or continental cuisine is served at the clubhouse and floating restaurant. A variety of rice gruel, sushi, sashimi, as well as barbeque and fondue are available.

Rates are packaged. They include buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are usually served at the main dining room, unless the resort is hosting a picnic, lunch or sunset dinner on another island.

The resort also has a supervised children’s play area, a 300-meter beach cove, a 350-meter west beach, fresh water supply, medical clinic and babysitting, laundry, mail and fax services.

The unique Rock Bar, which can be reached by climbing 109 steps, also boast of a spectacular view of the bay. El Capitan has a pool table and is great for unwinding. The newly built Nirvana Water Pavilion offers a great view of the West Beach area.

The club provides guests with an exciting variety of recreational and sports activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing, kayaking, island hopping, Taytay town tour, fishing, camping, trekking, bicycling, basketball, table tennis, billiards, darts and river cruise.

Other activities include a tour to Lake Danao, barbeque party and disco at the Noa-Noa island. Isla Blanca delights you with picnicking and snorkeling, while the Pabellon caves include a natural swimming pool.

Isabella’s seven charms include Silanga Island (Noa-Noa) where you can drink and dance at the bar; Pabellon Island which made up with of marble; Guimbaludan, nicknamed Isla Blanca because of its white-sand beach; Dinot Rocks, designed as the sanctuary of the marine life; Tamisan River, otherwise called Rio Verde, good for kayaking, fishing beneath thick mangroves; Taytay town, formerly called Estrella del Norte, noted for squid fishing and cashew nuts; and Lake Danao, which is a nice spot for bird-watching.