Eye in the Sky: Maribago Bluewater Resort - Garden Wing and Swimming Pool Surroundings (Cebu City)

The first thing that comes to mind when you reach Maribago Bluewater Resort is the huge and elegantly designed "kubo" (gazebo) that functions as resort lobby and front desk. There's a floral center piece consisting mostly of orchids and birds-of-paradise right in the center. After paying your entrance fee, you walk through a garden surrounded by ponds as you head towards Allegro Restaurant. Beside it is the swimming pool. Then you're free to roam the place.

The resort is divided in 4 areas: the Garden Wing where the restaurant and the pool are; the Amuma Spa Wing which has its own pool (and which you might not see if you' re not into massages and spa treatments); the Beach Wing, and, finally, Alegrado Island, a sand bar/island situated opposite the beach, accessible by wading through the lagoon.

This lagoon is actually shared by other beachside properties and opens into the ocean, thus sea elements can find their way into this enclave.

Unfortunately, this includes sea urchins and jelly fish which are endemic all over the Cebu peninsula. While some resorts are successful in "weeding out" these pest off their beaches, some aren't. After all, it's hard to hinder nature and its creatures.

The water in these beaches is crystal clear (see photos in our next post about Maribago's beach) so you see what's at the bottom. But the sea bed is teeming with vegetation, thus you have to exercise caution when persisting to walk, like I did on my way to the island. While making my way back to the beach, a staff started frantically waving his hand, stopping me from cross the water on foot. I froze, of course. You see, I was just following a Caucasian girl who did the same.

Minutes later, a boat was sent to fetch me, taking me back to the beach - at no extra cost! I was of course grateful. Imagine such affliction if I got stung by urchins? I've had the misfortune with jelly fish in Palawan, and urchins seem a grave, excruciatingly painful experience.

The resort offers several activities, and your day visit's entrance includes buffet lunch at the Allegro, as well as the use of the swimming pool and the beach. Other than that, you're gonna have to pay for the extras. You can stay in the resort from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Maribago Bluwater Resort is located in Buyong, Maribago in Mactan Island, Cebu. It's 20 minutes from the airport and an hour or so from Cebu City (16 kilometers). They actually have airport representatives except Sundays 8 AM -5 PM. Taxis from the resort could be hailed by the guard at the entrance and would set you back by around PhP250. Some drivers would insist an additional PhP50 on top of what your meter registers. They also have a Resort Car Service - no haggling, but relatively more expensive.

RATES

The resort's day tour rate is PhP1,450 per person and includes lunch buffet from 8 AM to 5 PM. Night tours is PhP1,650 per person from 1 PM to 9 PM.. Weekend rates and holidays - PhP1,750 (day time) and PhP2,050 (night time). These meals include one round of iced tea. If you want to maximize your stay, get the day time rates because you get to stay an hour longer.

Visit their website for more information. http://www.bluewatermaribago.com.ph/ For reservations, call (63-32) 492-0100 or 232-5411. Email them - banquet.maribago@bluewater.com.ph. Please do not inquire for other details here! Check out their website or call their office.

This is the Eye in the Sky!