Amanpulo

Amanpulo, an exquisite five-star resort on the secluded Pamalican Island in the Philippines' Cuyo Archipelago, unfolds as a private tropical sanctuary amid powdery white sands and thriving coral reefs, where serene elegance meets the Sulu Sea's turquoise embrace.

Beachfront casitas and forest-veiled villas, nestled under ancient trees, promise profound privacy with air-conditioned havens of luxurious furnishings and open-plan designs that flow onto private terraces gazing over crystalline waters. Each space harmonizes refined simplicity with the island's wild grace, inviting quiet mornings where waves whisper and birdsong stirs the soul.

Dining at Amanpulo captures the archipelago's bounty through venues blending Filipino warmth, Mediterranean lightness, and Japanese precision, where fresh seafood from local waters and island-grown herbs transform into shared plates savoured in sun-dappled coves or under starry canopies. An à la carte breakfast delights with ripe tropical fruits and handcrafted pastries, setting a gentle rhythm to days filled with kite surfing, scuba dives, snorkeling drifts, kayaking glides, tennis rallies, cycling paths, birdwatching trails, and a jungle obstacle course that quickens the pulse. Evenings unfold beneath an astronomical refracting telescope, tracing constellations in the velvet sky.

A swift one-hour private plane from Manila—now eased by Philippine Airlines' direct London-Manila flights five times weekly—lands at the resort's airstrip, 360 km from the capital, where this untouched haven, marking its enduring legacy since 1993, welcomes guests with the caution to book directly for authentic serenity.