#picodeloro

I prefer the more traditional Filipino breakfast with garlic rice and beef tapa as my main dish. They also had pork and beans, fish fillet, chicken afritada, and more together with coffee or hot chocolate.

There's also a dedicated Egg Station outside at the garden area with pancakes and waffles as well.

Guests can choose to sit indoors or at the al fresco garden area facing the lagoon. This is arguably the better choice especially if you want to be closer to nature as you enjoy your breakfast.

Since the Pico de Loro Country Club was just right next door, we couldn't resist playing another round of bowling. It would be more fun if we had our friends or barkada with us on this trip, so maybe we'll bring them along next time.

We had lunch at the Sun Coral Café at the exclusive Pico de Loro Beach Club which is only for members and their accompanied guests. The restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine and homegrown Filipino favorites coupled with relaxed family-style service.

We started with a sample of their Tapas Frias including canapes of Jamon Serrano and Manchego plus Smoked Salmon and Kesong Puti. It also included a pair of Croquetas de Espinacas Con Queso and Calamares a la Romana.

I really liked the Sopa de Ajo bread soup with garlic, chorizo and egg. This soup dish is made with just simple ingredients but it all works well together.

Look at all of the dishes they brought out just for the two of us! The Paella Negra con Camarones comes with shimp and squid ink and is good for sharing. Also on the table was the Lengua con Champignon which has beef tongue stewed in mushroom sauce and the Callos a la Madrileña with its beef tripe and chorizo. We also had the Beef Salpicao and the Pollo de Moruno chicken kebabs with yogurt drizzle.

For dessert, our plate came with the Casidielles (P320), a walnut filled puff pastry which was served with Gelato de Crema Catalana (P250) using their homemade custard gelato.

After our lunch, we went on a short ride to visit Pico de Loro's Eco Mangrove Forest where you can discovery nature's sanctuary with their guided mangrove tour. The Hamilo Coast is home to a 10-hectare mangrove forest, considered the largest in Nasugbu, Batangas. It has over 10,000 mangrove trees and vibrant biodiversity.

With our expert guide educating us along the way, we explored different mangrove trees and mud crabs holes on the ground. We were supposed to go on a Mangrove Boat Tour along the river to witness the serene beauty of the forest and learn about mangroves, their importance to the eco system, and the wildlife that takes residence within it. However, the weather spoiled our plans yet again so we had to end our tour here.

We had time to explore more of Pico de Loro so we went to the Boardwalk which serves as the best photo spot along the resort. We also visited the St. Therese Chapel of the Child Jesus just nearby with its breathtaking view of the coast.

When we got back to the hotel, we were surprised to see this elegant and romantic setup that Pico Restaurant had prepared for us. Pico Sands Hotel offers Unique Private Dining experiences for its guests where you can have a private dinner setup at the gardens or a romantic starlit dinner by the beach.

We were really impressed with our table setup so we were also excited to see the special dinner menu.

For appetizers, we had the Alforno Melanzane with Toasted Focaccia (P320). This roasted eggplant and cheese dip was a tasty starter to whet our appetites.

Next was the Italian Minestrone Soup topped with croutons and parmesan. I loved how rich and thick the soup was with its tomato base balanced by the cheese and bread.

Our main entree uses Sustainable Gastronomy with its Sousvide Batangas Beef with herbs and Pan Seared Pompano fish in lemon caper sauce. These are sourced locally from neighboring farmers which bring livelihood opportunities to the community. It also comes with mashed sweet potato and roasted vegetables.

Lastly, for dessert, we had the Chocnut Tiramisu (P320) which has coffee-soaked lady fingers in layers of cream. This was another delightful way to end our dinner.

But our day was not yet done because we had our appointment for a couple's massage at Rain, The Spa located on the hotel's lobby floor.

Pamper yourself at Rain, The Spa as their gentle touch of massage, the power of herbal remedies, and the magic of energy balancing restore your mind, body, and spirit. We were so tired from the day's activities so we were really looking forward to our relaxing massage.

We had one of their Signature Spa Experiences, the 60-minute Awaken the Senses Massage. This is an aromatic massage where gentle hands work to ease tired muscles with a combination of deep comforting and relaxing strokes using specially blended oils. This led to a long and relaxing slumber for us that evening.

Before we checked out on our last day, we had one more lunch at Pico Restaurant to power us through our journey back home. Chef Charles once again spoiled us with their exquisite menu.

The Azurea Garden comes with balsamic coconut vinaigrette, alugbati, lettuce, turnips, mint leaves, radish, cashew, and kesong puti.

It seemed like they saved the best for last because the Bulalosso is definitely a memorable main dish. This is the popular Batangas beef bone marrow or bulalo cooked ossobuco style. It is a sharing plate good for 4 persons but we managed to finish it by ourselves! That's how good it really is.

We still had space for dessert so we ordered the Milo Dinosaur Gelato (P180) and the Strawberry Gelato (P180) to finish our lunch. We would like to thank Celine Arenillo, Cluster Communications Manager for Pico de Loro, Joseph, and SM Hotels for hosting our wonderful stay at Pico Sands Hotel. We have so many fond memories of our time here and we truly can't wait to go back.

Pico Sands Hotel

Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast, Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas

8464-7888 /  (0917) 845-5847 / (0917) 834-3302

www.facebook.com/picosandshotel

We arrived early in the morning to check in at the lobby of Pico Sands Hotel. The scenic drive through the mountains of Nasugbu, Batangas was actually quite refreshing. Free wifi is available throughout the hotel and the resort so you won't have any problems posting photos.

Our lovely Corner Deluxe Lagoon View Room on the fifth floor comes with 39 square meters of rejuvenating space. It has a king-sized bed and a veranda overlooking the picturesque lagoon which provides a serene backdrop.

A fresh fruit platter served as a welcome amenity for our stay. Coffee and tea making facilities are also provided as well as a minibar with some free snacks. The spacious bathroom comes with a rainshower and is complete with toiletry sets.

What I really love about the Corner Deluxe room is that they have a longer balcony that stretches all the way to the other side of the room so you have more space to enjoy the scenery below. We could hear the birds chirping and playing around our balcony.

Since we arrived early, we were able to freshen up before heading for our first lunch at Pico Restaurant which is located at the ground floor. Pico Restaurant is a scenic dining spot that offers Filipino and continental dishes.

Our special menu consisted of sustainable and gastronomic dishes prepared by Pico de Loro Executive Chef Charles Marindoque, Jr. Chef Charles believes in sustainably sourcing ingredients from nearby local farmers and from Pico de Loro's own gardens.

We began with the tasty Pinoy Trio Starters. These enticing appetizers had crispy shell topped with Kilawin Tanigue, Crispy Chicken Sisig, and Ensalada with Salted Egg.

Next was the Sinigang na Bangus sa Miso which had milkfish in tamarind broth with yellow miso and local vegetables.

Our main course was this beautiful plate of Crispy Pork Kare Kare with vegetables, Chicken Inasal Roll in soy calamansi sauce, and a cup of Puso Rice. The pork and chicken was sourced from local Batangas farmers which helps the community. I loved the deconstructed kare kare as well as the soy calamansi sauce used for dipping the chicken inasal.

We then had this Special Halo Halo in Buko Shell to cap off our lunch at Pico Restaurant. The halo halo ingredients and the crushed ice were served inside the buco shell which is a unique way of presenting this classic Filipino dessert.

Those looking for more drinks can head to The Pico Bar located just across Pico Restaurant which serves a wide range of beverages including power juices, cocktails, liquors, and signature fruit and mojito blends.

After that heavy lunch, we decided to walk around the resort to burn some calories away. Right at the center of this residential enclave is a four-hectare man-made saltwater lagoon, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning landscapes. There's a big fountain here too as well as koi fish swimming in some areas of the lagoon.

Just a few steps away from the Pico Sands Hotel is the Pico de Loro Country Club, an exclusive leisure club found within Pico de Loro Cove. Hotel guests get access to Pico de Loro Country Club for two adults and two kids per room. Each guest will be given a colored wrist band which means they can enter and use the facilities at the Country Club.

The giant infinity pools offer a great venue for families with its outstretched views of the lagoon. There's also a gym and fitness center for health buffs who wish to work out during their vacation.

There are many other energizing activities at the country club with its wide selection of sports facilities and indoor recreational amenities. You can have fun playing table tennis, basketball, volleyball, squash, tennis, and other sports. These come with respective fees and rental rates.

Guests with children should definitely Club Pico with its children's play area and many fun activities for the kiddos.

As for us, we decided to spend our afternoon at the Bowling and Billiards Center. They have a six-lane bowling alley where you can have fun at very affordable rates compared to those found in the malls. Billiards is another option for families and barkadas. They also offer darts and a snack bar here.

We were actually supposed to go an a Sunset Cruise that afternoon but because of the uncooperative waves, we had to postpone it for another day. The wines and charcuterie board that were supposed to accompany us during the cruise ended up at the bowling alley instead, but we surely didn't mind sipping on our wine glasses while bowling.

For those looking for the beach itself, Pico Beach is a leisurely 10-minute walk away located at the end of the resort village. A complimentary shuttle service is also available to transport guests to the beach and around Pico de Loro Cove.

Pico Beach boasts of a 1.5-kilometer stretch of white sand beach with Mt. Pico de Loro at the background. The panoramic views offer a refreshing escape from the busy city life.

You can find the Pico de Loro Beach Club right along the beach. While hotel guests have access to the Country Club, the Beach Club facilities are only available exclusively to Pico De Loro members and their accompanied guests. This beachfront recreational club houses other specialty restaurants like the Reef Bar, Pool bar, Sun Coral Café, the Arribada Lounge, the alfresco Brisa bar, and a view deck to fit important functions and fun get-togethers.

Aside from its three swimming pools, the Pico de Loro Beach Club also offers water activities such as jet skis, banana boats, kayaks, paddleboards and more.

Due to the weather, our planned dinner by the beach at the Reef Bar had to be moved inside to the Sun Coral Cafe. We still enjoyed the Reef Bar's menu of casual meals and grilled dishes. The Burritos come with your choice of filling from Beef Tapa, Pork Sisig, or Chicken Inasal. They also arrive Naked or Rolled depending on your preference.

They also serve tacos on a soft tortilla or a hard taco shell. The Al Pastor comes with pineapple-achiote flavored pork, while the Barbacoa Beef has braised spicy beef. They also brought out the Quesadilla de Carmen and the Country-Style Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla. For dessert, the Banana Empanada is served with Vanilla ice cream and was a delightful end to our first day at Pico de Loro. There's a lot more in store for us on our second day and you can read all about it on the next article.

Pico Sands Hotel

Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast, Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas

8464-7888 /  (0917) 845-5847 / (0917) 834-3302

www.facebook.com/picosandshotel