Paras Beach: Camiguin’s rendezvous of adventures

THERE are over 15 cozy resorts in Camiguin, that Island Born of Fire north of Cagayan de Oro, but only one can stake a claim of being the fulcrum of what we—travelers, vacationers, sports buffs, shutterbugs, and fun-loving denizens of the Society of Leisure Enthusiasts—seek when gallivanting the pear-shaped province: Adventure.

And because Camiguin has lots of it, you don’t want to be stuck in some remote corner in the island—a no-no in a place with so much to offer to the eyes, to the spirit and to the senses. You can’t be having “staycation” in Paradise, can you? You want ease of access to different points of interest. You want freedom.
That’s the bottom line of R and R, and that’s where Arturo Benjamin Legarda, the twenty-something manager of Paras Beach Resort, come in.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Arturo doesn’t have to make a compelling sales’ pitch for Paras Beach Resort; all he has do to is to reprise me and Sun.Star photojournalist Joey Nacalaban the good things about the place since it was built as a private beach house in 1995:

“It’s just a short ride from Mambajao (Camiguin’s capital town) and only minutes from the different places of interest in the province. It’s just like we’re in the middle of everything,” he beams from the resort’s comfy restaurant.
Paras Beach Resort also boasts of accessibility to the famous white sand bar, which is just a three minute boat ride from its beachfront.

The resort itself is fully equipped with amenities that one doesn’t have to look beyond its white beach and crystal blue waters. It has equipment and dedicated staff for parasailing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, snorkeling and scuba diving. Missed the funky banana boat ride in Subic or Boracay? Don’t fret—the resort has one.

After a day’s recreational activities, guests can look forward to a superb accommodation at the resort’s native-inspired rooms. But don’t be misled: Behind the native motif lie some of the basic modern urban comforts: hot shower, cable TV, international direct-dialing and yes, Wi-Fi. Guests can choose from standard, superior, deluxe, family and suite rooms. Standard and deluxe cottages are also available if you have a large crowd with you.

The comforts don’t stop there: The resort is complemented by a fast ferry service from Cagayan de Oro (no more bus trip to Balingoan pier!), via Paras Sea Cat. The trip is a breeze 2-hour ride from Macabalan port to Benoni port in Camiguin. That’s a plus when one values mobility, especially for businesspeople who have the penchant for whirlwind R and R but would want to catch the first plane the next day.

For reservations and other information, visit the Paras Beach Resort website: www.parasbeachresort.com. For Paras Sea Cat promos and bookings, please call 857-2727 or 856-8562-63.