A “Break Free” Escape to Remember at Pico Sands Hotel | Hamilo Coast, Batangas
As a travel writer, I was fortunate to be able to break free from the clamps of the pandemic earlier than most people. I do remember my first trip since the lockdown, after six months following the government’s “stay at home” order, when I almost leapt for joy at finally smelling the fresh scent of nature. Unfortunately, many of us are still reeling from the global pandemic and might have shelved their travel plans on the side for the longest time.
Well, time to dust off that backpack or luggage of yours and set out on even a brief discharge from the monotonous everyday hustle and bristle. Reward all your hard work with a vacation to remember courtesy of Pico Sands Hotel’s “Break Free” holiday package.
Unboxing the “Break Free” Experience
Together with three other travel writer friends Anne, Karla, and Tina, we experienced the 3 days and 2 nights "Break Free" itinerary curated by Pico Sands Hotel. Taking advantage of the magnificent set of nature that surrounds the Hamilo Coast area in Batangas, we beach-bummed, sunset cruised, and fancy dined our way for a much-needed nature break.
After dropping our things inside our respective Lagoon View Rooms — which come spaciously furnished with modern amenities — we kickstarted our "Break Free" escape with a seaside lunch followed by a soothing dip and swim at one of Pico Sand's swimming pools.
Sunset Cruising with Wine on a Yacht
During the afternoon, Pico Sands' experienced skipper Kuya Jojo helped us board a small yacht together with Celine Arenillo, the lovely Marketing Manager of Pico Sands, for a sunset cruise around Hamilo Coast.
For almost an hour and a half, we sailed past the other must-see nature gems in the vicinity such as the Bat Cave, Turtle Island, the three coves: Itayo, Elephant, and Subli, and the unique Broken Island.
Sharing laughter over conversations about various topics, we topped off the fun afternoon with a toast of fine wine and some delectable food items served on a premium charcuterie plate.
Wellness at Rain and a Charming Grub Under the Stars
A relaxing, tissue-penetrating hard massage at Pico Sands' **Rain Spa** is also included in the curated "Break Free" itinerary. I booked a 7:00 PM massage session, timing it just perfectly before dinner.
After shedding off excess fatigue at the steam room for 15 minutes, I lay down on the treatment table where one of Rain's experienced masseuses, Maricel, calmingly almost lulled me to sleep with her deep, precise pressure, performing an expert combination of Swedish and Shiatsu modalities.
Topping off our earlier seaside lunch was a dome set-up dinner under the stars. Located a stone’s throw away from the beach, the comforting sounds of the crashing waves made the ambiance lovelier. Illuminated brightly against the deep darkness of the night, our dome glistened charmingly against the starlit skies.
As romantic as the set-up was, the four-course dinner served to us elevated the atmosphere to a true, spectacular moment.
The Curated Four-Course Menu:
Grilled marinated shrimp in mango salsa; New England sweet corn chowder with fresh plump mussels; Baked Mahi-Mahi fillet under a toasted coconut crust paired with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms; finishing with a dense white chocolate cheesecake layered over a tangy pineapple compote.
Picnic at Santelmo Cove — A Pico Sands Exclusive
After starting our second day with a light outdoor breakfast, we headed straightaway to **Santelmo Cove** following a brief, scenic 20-minute outrigger boat ride.
A strictly protected marine sanctuary, Santelmo Cove is only accessible to guests of Pico Sands Hotel as it remains a private beach zone handled by the property.
The sands here are noticeably finer and lighter compared to the main cove beach in front of the hotel blocks. While waiting for our lunch hampers, we made a short trek up to the forest viewing deck that gifted us a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the waters enveloping the whole of Hamilo Coast.
Since the area is also a renowned diving spot, Karla, myself, and Tina went snorkeling while Anne free-dived down with our boatman, Kuya Jojo. In the crystalline depths, she spotted healthy schools of jackfish, mackerel, and even a brief glimpse of a baby blacktip reef shark.
This was easily my favorite component of the “Break Free” package because for half a day, I got to finally enjoy an entirely "internet signal-less" time with mother nature, simply digging my toes into the cool sands or hele-ing myself to sleep on one of the rope hammocks slung under a coconut tree.
More Fancy Dining and Enjoying Pico Sands’ Other Amenities
We spent the rest of our second day exploring the other integrated amenities of Pico Sands, which includes a host of indoor sports venues like a classic bowling alley, billiard pools, darts, and multiple cozy lounge nooks where one can easily settle down and summon a true Zen mode.
During the night, we gathered for dinner at another distinct venue. This time, on a beautifully set-up spot called the **“Spanish Steps”**, where we feasted over aromatic pans of loaded seafood paella and an assortment of other mouth-watering Spanish tapas plates.
A Scenic Nature Trail toward Marina Bay
Culminating our “Break Free” escape was a scheduled early morning track toward Marina Bay. However, since we all wanted to deeply savor the great outdoors for longer, we opted to modify the pace into a leisurely walk, enjoying the picturesque nature trail mapped out inside the Pico Sands and broader Hamilo Coast property.
We passed by the glass-fronted beach chapel where destination weddings are frequently held, an expansive field of blooming magenta bougainvillea flowers, a rustic viewing deck sculpted entirely from woven twigs, and a long, uninterrupted stretch of striking ocean scenery.
We returned from our morning trek to a hearty breakfast buffet setup directly by the salt lagoon edges. A grand smorgasbord of classic Filipino breakfast fares, traditional American hashes, and Asian noodle choices—all plated exquisitely—was served to refuel our bodies.
Nourished once again by exceptional gastronomy, it was a fitting bookend to a wonderful three days of milking the absolute most out of the stunning natural beauty that Hamilo Coast can offer.
Coupled with the top-notch hospitality service, modern amenities, and pristine environment of Pico Sands Hotel, it is a restorative holiday escape package I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat.
Pico Sands Hotel’s Break Free Package details
