STILTS CALATAGAN BATANGAS: DIY TRAVEL GUIDE (Budget + Itinerary)

Stilts Calatagan is a rising resort in Batangas with overwater bungalows.  It’s known as a Maldives-inspired luxury resort in Batangas, but they actually have mid-range rooms and cottages, good for small to large groups.  If you are on a budget or you want to go beach camping, they  have designated camping sites.

If you’re not staying overnight, you can do a day tour at Stilts Calatagan Batangas.  And that’s exactly what my sister and I did.  For PHP 350/USD 7 (off-peak) or PHP 385/USD 7.38 (peak season), you can go around some areas of the sprawling resort, swim in their beaches or pool, try their water activities and order and dine in their restaurant.

The overwater bungalow at Stilts Calatagan is hefty, even more expensive than the one I tried at Lexis Hibiscus, a luxury resort in Port Dickson Malaysia.  The resort is pretty sprawling and their staff are really accommodating even to day trippers like us.  I don’t know about your experience, but one of the things I like about my trip to Calatagan, Batangas is that the locals I encountered there are generally helpful and friendly.

Upon arrival at Stilts Calatagan, we were given welcome drinks and a map so we can navigate around the resort.  The beach resort as I said is huge, occupying about 24 hectares of rolling hills and beaches.  Thus, it’s easy to get lost here, so refer to your map.  They have 3 beaches: Harmony Beach, Destiny Beach and Serenity Beach. I’vebeen to some luxury resorts in the Philippines and Asia and honestly for me, the atmosphere and the look of the Stilts Calatagan pale in comparison. But then again, Stilts Calatagan doesn’t pretend to be a fancy resort, it’s more of a rustic charm kind of accommodation that is suited for family trips and beach getaways with friends.  It’s pet-friendly too!  So yes, you can bring your dogs.  You won’t really run out of things to do here, you can go swimming, diving, kayaking, ride the ATV and go on a mangrove eco-tour.   So would I stay in Stilts Calatagan? I guess my first impression of the Stilts Calatagan staff is enough to convince me to stay here overnight with my family in the future.

HOW TO GET TO STILTS CALATAGAN RESORT IN BATANGAS

stilts calatagan 

Manila to Stilts Calatagan Resort Batangas

 

  1. In Pasay, Manila near MRT-EDSA Taft Station, ride a bus bound for Calatagan. Buses to Calatagan depart daily from 4:00 AM to 4:30 PM.  Alternatively, there are also passenger vans to Calatagan, Batangas at the back of Metro Point Mall beside Kabayan Hotel. Bus/van fare is approximately PHP 180/USD 4. Travel time is around 3 hours.

 

  1. In Calatagan Batangas town proper, take a tricycle to Stilts Calatagan Resort. Tricycle fare is PHP 50/USD 0.95 per person.  You may hire the tricycle for PHP 200/USD 0.95. Transit time is approximately 20 minutes.

 

Alabang to Stilts Calatagan Resort in Batangas

 Option 1

 

  1. There’s no direct bus to Calatagan from Alabang. Your option is to ride a passenger van en route to Calatagan at Starmall (Metropolis).  Fare is around PHP 180/USD 4 and transit time is about 3 hours.
  2. In Calatagan town proper, hire a tricycle to take you to Stilts Calatagan Resort. Fare is PHP 50/USD 0.95/EURO 0.77/SGD 5/MYR 14 per person or PHP 200/USD 0.95/EURO 0.77/SGD 5/MYR 14 if you hire the tricycle (good for 4 persons).

 

Option 2

  1. At Starmall (Metropolis) Alabang, take a van bound for Nasugbo. Fare is roughly PHP 180/USD 4 and transit time is about 3 hours.
  2. Alight at the intersection to Lian.

  3. Take a tricycle to Lian Jeep Terminal. Jeep fare is roughly PHP 25/USD 0.48 per person.

  4. Ride a jeep to Calatagan. Travel time is about 1 hour. Fare is PHP 25/USD 0.48.

  5. Once you are in Calatagan town proper, hire a tricycle to take you to Stilts Calatagan Resort. Fare is PHP 50/USD 0.95 per person or PHP 200/USD 0.95/EURO 0.77/SGD 5/MYR 14 if you hire the tricycle (good for 4 persons)

 

STILTS CALATAGAN ITINERARY

STILTS CALATAGAN BATANGAS RESORT

Here’s a sample Stilts Calatagan itinerary (day tour).  You can check the estimated budget below:

DAY 1ACTIVITIES
05:00 AM

Take a bus to Pasay/SM MOA.

06:00 AM

Get off at MRT EDSA-Taft Avenue. Walk to the van terminal to Calatagan at the back of Metro Point Mall, beside Kabayan Hotel.

06:30 AMETD to Calatagan. Van fare is about PHP 180/USD 4.
10:00 AM

Purchase food at Calatagan Public Market. There is a corkage fee of about PHP 200/USD 4 at Stilts Calatagan. Lunch set at Stilts Calatagan Resort is around PHP 450/USD 8 per meal. So you decide whether you want to eat there or bring your own food and just pay the corkage fee.

10:30 AMHire a tricycle to the Stilts Calatagan Resort.
11:00 AMETA Stilts Calatagan Resort. Pay the day tour fee + environmental fee.
11:30 AMLunch
12:30 AMExplore the resort + Swim + island hopping (optional)
03:00 PMETD Calatagan Town proper.
03:30 PMRide van/bus back to Manila.

 

  • I was told that the last trip of the van back to Manila is around 4:00 PM.
  • If you want to stay overnight but you are really on a tight budget, you may want to consider camping at Stilts Calatagan or at Manuel Uy Beach, a resort beside the Stilts Calatagan.  You can check out my blog about it. Link below this post.

 

 STILTS CALATAGAN DAY TOUR BUDGET

stilts calatagan 1

Here’s the budget breakdown for our Stilt Calatagan Batangas day tour:

EXPENSESACTIVITIES
PHP 180/USD 3.45Van from Alabang to Calatagan
PHP 180/USD 3.45Van from Calatagan to Alabang
PHP 200/USD 4Tricycle to Stilts Calatagan
PHP 200/USD 4Tricycle to Calatagan from Stilts Calatagan
PHP 350/USD 7Stilts Calatagan Day Tour Fee
PHP 30/USD 0.58Environmental Fee
PHP 1,140/USD 22TOTAL EXPENSES

*Food and drinks not included in the sample budget.  You can bring your own food and pay the corkage fee or dine at their restaurant. Set meal is around PHP 450/USD 8.

 

 STILTS CALATAGAN DAY TOUR RATES

STILITS CALATAGAN BATANGAS

And here’s a list of the Stilts Calatagan rates.  For more information, visit their website HERE

  • Peak season – March to June, December and holidays
  • Off-peak season – January to February, July to November
  • Children who are six (6) years old and below are free of charge.

  

 OFF-PEAK SEASONPEAK SEASON
DAY TOURPHP 350/USD 7PHP 385/USD 7.38
HARMONY BEACH  
Big Pavilion 1 /Big Pavilion 2

(50 persons)

PHP 2,000/USD 38PHP 2,400/USD 46
Small PavilionPHP 1,000/USD 19PHP 1,200/USD 23
Open Huts

(15 persons)

PHP 1,020/USD 20PHP 850/USD 16
Cozy Nooks (wood tables)PHP 500/USD 10PHP 600/USD 12
SERENITY BEACH  
Cabana 1/Cabana 2

(20 persons)

PHP 1,000/USD 19PHP 1,200/USD 23
Wood Tables

(10 persons)

PHP 500/USD 10PHP 600/USD 12
DESTINY BEACH  
Cabana 1/Cabana2/Cabana 3

(15 persons)

PHP 1,000/USD 19PHP 1,200/USD 23
Pavilion

(20 persons)

PHP 1,500/USD 29PHP 1,800/USD 35

 

 STILTS CALATAGAN CAMPING

 If you are on a tight budget or you just wanted to camp on the beach, Stilts Calatagan also allows overnight camping at their designated camping sites.  Camping fee is PHP 700/USD 13 per person during off-peak season and PHP 770/USD 15 per person during peak season. You can bring your own tent and pay the camping fee. Or rent a tent at Stilts Calatagan. Here’s a list of the tent rental fee in Stilts Calatagan:

TENT SIZETENTAL RENTAL
Small Tent (2-3 persons)PHP 1,500/USD 29 per tent
Medium Tent (4-6 persons)PHP 2,500/USD 48
Large Tent (7-8 persons)PHP 3,500/USD 67
Extra Large Tent (8-10 persons)PHP 4,500/USD 86

 

 STILTS CALATAGAN ROOM RATES

STILTS CALATAGAN RESORT

If you are planning to stay overnight at Stilts Calatagan, here are the room rates. Kindly contact the resort for more information and reservation. I am not affiliated with them. I just blogged this to give you the information I gathered during my visit, to help you plan your trip.

 

ROOM TYPEOFF-PEAK SEASON RATESPEAK SEASON RATES
Large Floating Cottages

(7-20 PERSONS)

PHP 17,080/USD 327 (for 7 persons)

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 18,800/USD 360 (for 7 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

Medium Floating Cottages

(5-15 persons)

PHP 12,200/USD 234 (for 5 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25  additional person up to maximum capacity

PHP 13,450/USD 258 (for 5 persons)

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

Small Floating Cottages

(3-10 persons)

PHP 8,540/USD 165 (for 3 persons)

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

PHP 9,400/USD (for 3 persons)

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

Beach Cottages (PLAY)

(3-6 persons)

 

PHP 7,320/USD 140 (good for 3 persons)

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

PHP 8,050/USD 154 ) (good for 3 persons)

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

Beach Cottages (FUN)

 

(3-6 persons)

PHP 8,050/USD 154 ) (good for 3 persons)

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

PHP 8,050/USD 154 ) (good for 3 persons)

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

Beach Cottages (DESIRE)

(2-3 persons)

PHP 6,050/USD 116 (for 2 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 6,050/USD 116 (for 2 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

Beach Cottages (Passion & Pleasure)

 

(2 persons)

PHP 6,050/USD 116 (for 2 persons)PHP 5,490/USD 105 (for 2 persons)

 

Beach Cottages (DESTINY)

 

(6-8 persons)

 

PHP 17,080/USD 327 (for 7 persons)

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

PHP 18,800/ (USD 360 ( for 6 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

Villa (Master Bedroom)

(3-5 persons)

 

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

Simplicity Villa (Guest Room)

(3-5 persons)

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

Simplicity Villa 2nd Floor

(24-40 persons)

PHP 2,000/USD 38 per person

 

PHP 2,000/USD 38 per person

 

Entire Villa

(30-50 persons)

PHP 2,000/USD 38 per personPHP 2,000/USD 38 per person

 

Simplicity Bungalow

(3-5 persons)

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

Tree House (SERINITREE)

(2 persons)

PHP 5,000/USD 96 (for 2 persons)PHP 5,000/USD 96 (for 2 persons)
Tree House (ETERNITREE)

(3-4 persons)

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,280/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

PHP 6,000/USD 115 (for 3 persons)

 

PHP 1,300/USD 25 additional person up to maximum capacity

 

STILTS CALATAGAN TRAVEL TIPS

stilts calatagan resort

  • Bring mosquito repellent, sunblock, snorkeling gears and dry bag (in case you want to go island hopping).
  • You can rent a boat and go island hopping in Calatagan for PHP 1,000- PHP 1,500 (good for 5 persons/ 2 hours).
  • Before going back to Calatagan town proper, you may want to drop by at Cape Santiago Lighthouse. No entrance fee but donations are accepted. Tricycle drivers can take you there, but they will charge extra for the reroute.
  • Manuel Uy Beach Resort, a rising beach camp site just beside Stilts Calatagan.  There is a stair leading down to the beach.  Entrance fee is PHP 100/USD 2 per person.

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24264_351910964162_336201504162_3580676_6142279_nAbout the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina travel blogger. Her work has appeared in local and international publications.

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