Amanpulo

The turquoise waters of the Sulu Sea, home to vibrant coral reefs, are the focus of exploration and enjoyment at Amanpulo, a private island hideaway. Each of the expansive Villas and the 42 beachfront, treetop and hillside Casitas, reflect their island home both inside and out. Each twin-roofed Casita offers a seamless transition between indoors and out embellished with the country's rich natural resources: coconut-shell tables, pebble-washed walls, Cebu marble bathtubs, and beds with rattan headboards. Warm banana leaves and cold-pressed coconut oil offer a rejuvenating contrast in one of the many treatments at Amanpulo’s spa. With views to Manamoc Island, the restaurants serve simply prepared cuisine made from ingredients grown in the resort’s gardens. Consummate privacy and a paradisiacal setting ensure a memorable occasion, be it a destination wedding or private retreat.

Whether it is sailing or scuba diving, windsurfing, or simply frolicking in the water, Amanpulo offers an abundance of aquatic activities, all available to novices and experts alike. On land, tennis courts and bicycles are complemented by nature walks, which take in the lush indigenous plants as well as the dozens of bird species that make seasonal homes on the island and the nesting sites of green and hawksbill sea turtles. At night, an astronomical refracting telescope helps get up close to the stars. Amanpulo’s powdery white-sand beach stretches the full 6.5-kilometre perimeter of the island, enclosing an unspoilt tropical wilderness. A coral reef awaits exploration just offshore in the pristine waters of the Sulu Sea. The calm, clear seas in front of the Beach Club are ideal for novice divers; a gentle drop-off suits those who are more advanced. Boats are available and windsurfing is world-class. It is equally wonderful to do nothing at all.