Punta Bulata Resort and Spa: The Hidden Gem of Negros

Punta Bulata Resort and Spa is a hidden paradise in the southern part of Negros. Back in the day, whenever Negrenses think about Sipalay, there are only two things that come to our minds, MMC Mines and Punta Bulata. Although Gold Mining no longer exists, it did leave a great legacy and the beauty of Punta Bulata remain untouched. The resort is geographically located in Cauayan, however since it is pretty much at the boundary of Cauayan-Sipalay, we get used to call it in Sipalay. The resort is classic, has been there before I was born and absolutely Negros best kept secret.

There is nothing more amazing than starting off my year on the beach with my family. We’re always somewhere far away from home each Christmas and New Year. My mom suggested that we should stay in Negros this time for a change because our home is always empty during Christmas Holidays and hitting the beach on the start of the year will be a perfect idea. We drove to Sipalay in a heartbeat and stayed in Punta Bulata. 

Getting There

It is true that the road to Punta Bulata is rough, well kind of, but that’s just nothing compare to the bumpy roads I’ve been through. I don’t know about you, but 3KMS of not-so-bumpy road is utterly not a big deal for me. The truth of the matter is that the whole road trip was exhausting. It would take 4-5-hour drive from Bacolod City depending on how fast you drive, but since we stopped over for lunch in Kabankalan City, it took us 5.5 hours, I guess.  

**Getting there by Bus: Go to Ceres South Terminal and catch a Ceres Bus bound to either Sipalay or Hinobaan and advise the driver/Conductor to drop you off at (Punta Bulata Resort & Spa) Bangga Salamat Po. From there you can take trike and it is about 3KMS to reach the resort. You may contact the resort in advance, so they can arrange a pedicab driver to pick you at the Bus stop***  

The Beach Cabana

My sister and brother-in-law booked the Premier Sea View overlooking the infinity pool and I stayed at a Beach Cabana with my mom and Tita Lida. The Cabana is perfectly located with few steps away from the white beach and La Veranda Restaurant. The room is spacious with a generous king-sized bed, indoor and outdoor showers, Flat Screen TV, complete toiletries, mini fridge, and right outside the cabana are beach chairs great for relaxing while admiring the beautiful sunset. Speaking of sunset, I didn’t expect that the island has one of the most romantic sunsets I ever seen.  We had few glasses of wine while watching the sunsets. It was extremely intense that I never seen anything like it. Punta Bulata’s stunner sunset holds number one spot in my heart taking over Boracay’s place. The colour was mind-blowing!

La Veranda Restaurant

Punta Bulata’s restaurant called La Veranda offers a variety of local Filipino Cuisine and the food was presented well. The restaurant is made of huge Nipa hut with a front beach view. Dinner appetizer started with a good amount of Buffalo Chicken Wings (PHP120), followed by Grilled Seafood Sampler for main course (PHP 450), and Black Sambo for dessert (PHP 65), and a fresh whole coconut drink (PHP 50).  The staffs were attentive and provided an alternative option since the stuffed squid was not available at that time. The next day, we opted to have our breakfast in one of the Nipa Cottages by the beach. We had our classic Filipino breakfast meals to kick start our day. It was good enough to fuel us for a great walk on the beach and enjoy a good swim at the infinity pool.

The Beach

The beach is shallow with extensive white sandy shore designed for long walks and talks. I fell in love with the palm trees especially that iconic coconut tree that lean towards the ocean. It’s arguably Punta Bulata’s most photographic spot. The swing is a perfect accessory that makes it look more postcardesque. The beach is peaceful and calm with a good moment to appreciate one’s solitude. I was quite impressed and surprised that I stumbled upon this resort that made me feel at peace. It is rare to find an isolated beach, as most of the beaches in the Philippines are already crowded nowadays. 

Infinity Pool overlooking Sulu Sea

Punta Bulata’s infinity pool looks picturesque. While mom and Tita Lida preferred to stroll along the white sandy beach, my sister and I opted for a swim at the infinity pool and enjoyed the Sauna. Punta Bulata’s Sea view Room where the balcony doors open to the infinity pool with supreme view of the Sulu Sea. It’s like having a private pool ready to jump in for a morning dip or breakfast by the pool depending on your mood. I had Fish curry as their signature dish for lunch, the curry is so flavoursome and rich and is a bit mild from the regular curries I had in KL. I also had a refreshing coconut drink. Chock-full of tasty, sweet tropical fruits made my day.  

The Staffs

My favorite people are of course, my fellow Ilonggos! We’re Sweet, affectionate, genuine and our smiles are so infectious and can make everyone feel right at home. The staff is very attentive, polite and they make us feel we are one big family.

WIFI Connection

Because the resort is at the end (Punta) part of Brgy Bulata, there is no mobile data coverage and no Internet Service Providers can guarantee a fast and stable Internet connection in the area. In the beginning it was getting at my nerves because I’m a kind of person who’s on line most of the time and during dinner my sister was on sweet Ilonggo rant and said “Te, Kanami lang na naka storyahanay ta sang madalom nga wala ta ga ungot sa mga telepono ta!” (See, it’s so awesome that we’re able to have deep and meaningful conversations without staying glued to our smartphones).  I realized that I’m on a vacation with my family and the reason why I come home is to reunite with them.  Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Work Group chat can wait. I flooded my Instagram with Punta Bulata photos during my layover in Manila. Thanks to the lack of Internet connection, I was able to build profound connection with my loved ones and I guess that’s all that matters.

Punta Bulata holds our best early summer family recollections. I am back in Malaysia and the memories are still fresh. Perhaps, I’m still on Punta Bulata mode.

The best part of having beach holidays is the memories we make. It’s the quality time spent together that counts. I’ve been exploring so much outside Negros without realizing I could only find paradise back home.