IMAGINE a resort within a 760-hectare banana plantation replete with a 60-hectare forest, amenities comparable to resorts in Bali and a service de luxe that is truly Filipino. That is the experience at the newest resort in the Davao Gulf, which is now being developed by the Tuason family in the vast Hijo Estate in Madaum, Tagum City.
Aptly called the Banana Beach, this latest attraction in the middle of a banana plantation in the province of Davao del Norte, the number one producer of bananas in the country, has more to offer than any other resort in the region, if not the country.
For only P500 day package, visitors can partake of the restaurant's ala carte or set menus and a variety of thirst quenchers and signature desserts. The same goes for Tagum residents and senior citizens who are given a 20 percent discount.
While the day package can be used solely for food and beverages, it is but wise for guests and patrons not to bring in food and drinks.
Aside from its beautiful beach with volcanic sand comparable to Boracay in terms of fineness, only differing in color, Banana Beach also has a forest where wild boars, snakes, monitor lizards and monkeys abound. The developers are also planning to erect canopy bridges that would connect the huge trees to each other so that visitors could safely watch from atop as the wild animals go about unhampered below.
Another way of enjoying the forest is through its Twilight Safari which starts at 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Guests stay at the edge of the forest and wait for the animals to come out and forage. Children can ride on the back of the pickup truck for a better view of the animals when they appear.
It was learned that kuya Kim Atienza and the Matanglawin staff recently visited Banana Beach and went looking for king cobras or commonly called as "banakon" in the forest. They failed to find one, but nevertheless Atienza's team had a great time at the resort and featured the resort's forest in one of their episodes.
John Irene P. del Campo, executive assistant to Twin Rivers Leisure Group Inc. chairman and president, said that for the adventurous ones they offer a safari inside the forest by way of a touring cab.
Aside from the forest, visitors can also go on an educational tour of the banana plantation and get acquainted with the entire process from harvesting to packing.
Banana Beach has several "casitas" for those who want to stay overnight. It resembles a bahay kubo but is very open like a cabana. One or two mattresses are provided along with a mosquito net for protection.
If you want privacy, there are wooden blinds that can be unrolled. Also, there is a common bathroom and comfort room for men and women. They also have cheaper cottages for those who are on a tight budget.
For those who want a taste of luxury and utmost privacy, the Tuason's resort house called Lanikai is also available. Lanikai is a Hawaiian word which means "heaven by the sea." It is a two-storey house with plantation-style elegance. The owners have renovated it into a guest house with eight air-conditioned rooms.
Daily room rate is P6,000 (for two persons with an additional P700 for every extra bed) with free breakfast. A minimum of three rooms is required for one booking so as to afford guests with exclusivity.
Banana Beach also offers but what else, a banana boat ride. A speedboat is also available for those who want to go waterskiing or island hopping. The resort is also good for skim boarding as it boasts a 4.5 kilometer shoreline.
They also have a water trampoline placed several meters from the shoreline -- a short kayak ride away. It works much like a backyard trampoline except when you fall, you fall into the wonderful waters of the Davao Gulf.
The resort also has "The Spot." "The Spot" has a pavilion that overlooks ponds and mangroves, and the Madaum River, perfect for weddings, debuts and private parties. Fishing rods are available in the huts along the ponds where you can fish and catch your meal.
Banana beach provides various delicacies that are unique. For drinks they have the Banana Daiquiri, a rhum-based banana drink. For desserts they have the Monkey Tail, frozen banana dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with sweet candies and five flavors of banana ice cream.
And lastly, the resort has also its own Banana Dance that would surely make visitors feel more fun and at ease.
Management has ambitious plans for this newly-opened resort and all are geared to the satisfaction of their customers. They will soon be putting up a swimming pool for those who prefer a fresh water plunge.
Rosanna Tuason-Fores said their property has been for years, Davao's best kept secret. Soon enough it will no longer be a secret but a destination