One of our favorite family-friendly destinations is Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club in Nasugbu, Batangas. Recognized as a world-class private beach resort, it is the closest seaside escape from the National Capital Region. Nestled within Hamilo Coast, the premier seaside development of the SM Group, Pico de Loro offers the perfect blend of exclusivity, convenience, and leisure for families seeking a relaxing getaway.
About Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club
Located in the coastal town of Nasugbu, Batangas, Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club is a well-known leisure destination that combines beachside relaxation with modern resort living. Set within the scenic Hamilo Coast, the property is surrounded by mountains, greenery, and calm waters, creating a peaceful environment ideal for short vacations and overnight stays.
The resort features a wide range of amenities designed for both relaxation and recreation. Guests can enjoy access to the beach, swimming pools, dining establishments, sports facilities, and outdoor activities suitable for couples, families, and groups. Accommodations range from condominium units to hotel-style rooms, offering different options depending on travel needs and group size.
Beyond its amenities, Pico de Loro is appreciated for its well-maintained surroundings and laid-back atmosphere. Its location in Batangas also makes it a practical choice for travelers from Metro Manila who want to enjoy a coastal getaway without traveling too far.
Why do we keep coming back to Pico de Loro (our 2024 trip)?
We were back at Pico de Loro, and it was our third time being there. Technically, two times with kids since Mommy Khris and I were
newlyweds when we went there for the first time. Anyway, if you’ve seen some
of my recent social media posts about Pico de Loro, you’d know we went there
to celebrate my birthday. Just the same, you might be wondering why we chose
to go back to Pico de Loro when we could’ve visited a new resort.
Well, we have good reasons for coming back, and those are the following:
Pico de Loro is a kid-friendly resort
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| Kids at Pico de Loro |
It’s easy to move around when you have kids, the swimming pools are safe, and
lifeguards are stationed in the pool and beach areas.
It has a nice beach, and the waves are typically not too strong
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| Taken at the farthest end of Pico de Loro beach |
While it’s always a must to keep an eye on children when you are near a body
of water, I feel confident that they will not get hurt when swimming because
the beach is not rocky and the waves are not too strong.
Pico de Loro has nice swimming pools
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| Swimming pool |
The swimming pools in Pico de Loro are really wonderful. There are shallow
areas where children can freely enjoy the water and just have fun. But again,
a word of caution not to leave your little ones unattended when swimming.
Peaceful and close to nature
I like that the surroundings of Pico de Loro are quiet; the only sounds that
you will hear are the strong wind, the rustling leaves of trees, and the sound
of insects by early evening. The sound of vehicles passing is just occasional.
I also enjoy looking at the trees and mountains outside our room.
You can walk and jog around the property
I like that Pico de Loro has trails for those who love to explore the property
on foot, or for those who want to run while enjoying the cool breeze coming
from the mountains.
It’s easy to move around because of the free shuttle service
This is another plus for me because we have little children with us, so it’s
easy to move around via the free shuttle service.
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| Daddy Ivan & Mommy Khris |
In terms of the accommodation (condo rental), there are some plus points for
me:
- Affordable
- You can cook your own food in the kitchen (honestly, I’m not a fan of the food in the in-house restaurant). By the way, we discovered a mini grocery store in Myna if you want to buy chips, condiments, canned goods, etc.
- There is free Wi-Fi all over the property
I guess another common question these days is whether Pico de Loro is
pet-friendly
I’m actually not 100% sure, so it’s best to consult your host if you plan to
bring your fur baby with you. As for Pico Sands Hotel and the clubhouse, I
recall that they are not consistent with regard to their pet policy.
All in all, those are the reasons why we keep coming back to Pico de Loro.
Our 2015 Experience (first time in Pico de Loro)
The plan to go to Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club came about because we wanted to celebrate the promotion of some of Khris' teammates. We chose it for its seemingly tranquil beach, top-of-the-class amenities, and the privacy accorded by its strict admission of guests.
We booked three rooms in the private complex where there are units being rented out. If I remember it correctly, the prices of the rooms that we got were around P5,200 per night. We would have wanted to book a room at Pico Sands Hotel, but that would mean that we would go beyond our budget, so that will be for our future trip here.
On the appointed day of our trip, the sky was dark and cloudy. We still pushed through, though, because we do not have any available weekends, plus re-booking can be quite cumbersome.
In the end, we were happy with the decision to push through and spend a weekend at Pico de Loro. Never mind the incessant threat of heavy rain and the long drive, the trip to this beautiful oasis was well worth it.
We then entered Governor’s Drive until we reached Ternate. We stayed on the main road and then made a left turn going to the Kaybiang Tunnel.
How to go to Pico de Loro
We hit the road at 5:00 AM to avoid heavy traffic on EDSA. We plied the whole stretch of EDSA, made a turn to the Coastal Road when we reached SM Mall of Asia, then entered CAVITEX.
Traffic in CAVITEX was light. It was a good 40 to 45-minute ride before we entered Antero Soriano Highway. We drove all the way through the main road and passed by Kawit, Bacao Road, Tejero, Tanza, and Naic.
Traffic in CAVITEX was light. It was a good 40 to 45-minute ride before we entered Antero Soriano Highway. We drove all the way through the main road and passed by Kawit, Bacao Road, Tejero, Tanza, and Naic.
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| Patungan Cove |
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| Kaybiang Tunnel |
We then entered Governor’s Drive until we reached Ternate. We stayed on the main road and then made a left turn going to the Kaybiang Tunnel.
The scenic view was inviting. We gave in and opened our windows to feel the cool mountain air. Add to that the majestic view of the glistening seawater, and our trip had all the elements of the perfect weekend journey.
We drove straight ahead through meandering roads until we reached the Hamilo Coast main gate.
What we like in Pico de Loro
Pico de Loro is a beautiful beachside community. It provides the feeling of
being in a secluded location that is close to nature without being super far
from Metro Manila.
Yes, it’s a long drive from Metro Manila, but at least we didn’t have to take an airplane to get
there. Aside from that, here are the reasons why we chose to go to Pico de
Loro.
1. Family-friendly
We chose Pico de Loro because we know that it’s a child-friendly location.
Mommy Khris and I have been there way back in 2015, and we know that little kids
would really enjoy the activities that are in store for them at Pico de Loro.
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| Enjoying the swimming pool with our children |
The beach is suitable to toddlers while the swimming pools have shallow basins
for little ones to wade in. There is also a playroom inside the county club
for children’s enjoyment indoors.
One of our biggest concerns before going to Pico de Loro is the food because
Miguel only eats limited food types. We stayed at Pico Sands Hotel and we know
that hotel food is not always kid-friendly.
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| Pancakes for breakfast |
We were afraid of not being able to prepare anything for Miguel when he didn’t
like the food. Thankfully, Miguel loved the restaurant’s fried chicken so
much.
2. Exclusivity
Pico de Loro is the premier seaside development property of the SM Group.
Having said that, it affords exclusivity to guests, which we like because it's not crowded.
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| We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary in Pico de Loro |
If we have the option to avoid a crowded beach, we would gladly take it. After all, who wouldn’t prefer swimming in a peaceful, uncrowded shoreline where you can truly relax and enjoy the water?
3. Fast service and friendly staff
We also like that the service is very fast and efficient in Pico de Loro.
Since we are a big group, we were constantly asking for water, coffee, extra
glasses, and towels, but the staff was always quick to deliver our requests. I
think it helped that the resort is exclusive, so the number of guests is
manageable.
Our experience at Pico Sands Hotel
When Mommy Khris and I went to Pico de Loro in 2015, we stayed at Carola, one
of the residential condominiums in the property. This time, though, we booked a
room for three days and two nights at Pico Sands Hotel, which is also
something that we looked forward to trying.
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| The children are enjoying one of the beds in our room |
The Pico Sands Hotel is a modern development that offers further exclusivity
when in Pico de Loro. It offers several room types: Standard Mountain View,
Premier Mountain View, Deluxe Lagoon View, Premier Lagoon View, and Corner
Deluxe Room.
We stayed in a Deluxe Lagoon View room, and it had the standard amenities like two double beds, air-conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, telephone, flatscreen
TV, locker, iron and ironing board, hot and cold shower, and toiletries.
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| Batangas bulalo |
It’s also notable that the shower gel and shampoo are contained in dispensers
instead of in single-use plastic containers. It’s a good move to help reduce
plastic waste, which we all know is produced in huge quantities by hotels and
resorts.
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| Humba |
As for our room, we had a comfortable and restful stay. The kids were always
tired from the daily activities, so they always slept soundly. We also liked
the relaxing view of the lagoon, which looks stunning at dusk and during early
morning.
For the Deluxe Lagoon View room, the rate is about Php 9092.80 per night.
Dining in Pico de Loro
Guests can choose from several restaurants when dining in Pico de Loro. There
is the Lagoa Restaurant that serves an international cuisine, including Filipino
food and Miguel’s favorite fried chicken.
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| Danggit |
Our stay in Pico Sands Hotel also included buffet breakfast, which we enjoyed
at Pico Restaurant & Bar. The breakfast buffet offered mainly continental
and Filipino breakfast.
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| Taal longganisa, eggs, and danggit |
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| Bacon and eggs |
During the two instances that we ate here, we saw that the restaurant served
fried rice, scrambled eggs, danggit, daing, bacon, Taal longganisa, beef,
mixed vegetables, baked chicken, fried chicken, pancakes, milk and cereal, hot
milo, and coffee.
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| The crispy fried chicken that the kids loved |
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| Baked chicken |
The fried chicken during our first breakfast saved us the hassle of having to
find food for Miguel because he absolutely loved the crispy wings.
Top things to do in Pico de Loro
Pico de Loro is the perfect destination for those who are looking for a relaxing
getaway. The hours seem slow, and the surroundings and cool breeze seem to
always lull you into sleep. Still, it’s hard to resist the activities
offered by Pico de Loro. Here are some of the things that you can do:
1. Spend your day at Pico Beach
You can go to Pico de Loro Beach and just stay under one of the beach
umbrellas if that is what you want to do. Of course, you can also take a dip
and enjoy the water as well as the gentle waves.
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| Enjoying the beach with our kids |
It was Rafa’s first time to swim at the beach, so we definitely made sure that
he enjoyed the sand and the water.
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| Rafa |
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| Kuya Miguel |
As for Miguel, it was his third time to swim at the beach, but it had been almost
three years since his last beach getaway. The happiness of both of our
children was indescribable, and their laughter was music to our ears.
2. Enjoy the swimming pools
Aside from the beach, the swimming pools are also great for dipping. The
kiddie pools are great for kids, and there are lifeguards on duty for your
added peace of mind and enjoyment.
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| Mommy and Rafa |
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| Kuya Miguel |
3. Take a stroll around the lagoon
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| Enjoying the view of the lagoon |
This is honestly one of our favorite things to do in Pico de Loro. We
would take our kids walking around the lagoon in the morning and also in the
afternoon after our activities.
4. Enjoy the amenities at the club
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| The kids are having a great time in the playroom |
The club offers a number of activities for adults, like basketball, billiards,
badminton, and bowling. For kids, they would surely enjoy their time in the
playroom.
Going around Pico de Loro
You can use your car to drive around Pico de Loro if you choose to do so.
However, there are also passenger carts going around the property to take
guests to their destination for free.
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| The lagoon |
Pico de Loro is bike-friendly, so you can also bring your bike if you want to.
How to book at Pico de Loro
There are several ways to book at Pico de Loro. You may book directly at
Pico Sands Hotel
or use a booking site to book a room in any of the residential condominiums.
Some of the available booking sites are
Agoda
and
Airbnb.
Other information
Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club is located at Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo
Coast, Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas.
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| Pico de Loro beach |
Epilogue
One of the highlights of our year was our family trip to Pico de Loro. We had planned this getaway so our children could experience the beach, and they loved every moment—so much that getting them out of the water was a challenge. In the end, our family enjoyed a truly memorable stay at Pico de Loro, and we were already excitedly looking forward to our next visit.
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Afraid of going beyond your budget when you travel? Here's the budget tracker that we use to avoid spending beyond what we allotted: get it HERE.
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Ang saya nuhhh
After pandemic,nakalabas at nakapagbakasyon kayo with Fam at Pumunta Pa kayo sa Napakagandang Lugar na ito plus napakspecial din kasi dito niyo cinelebrate Yung Wedding Anniversary Niyo ,daddy Iv and wifey
Many many trips , adventures sa inyo together with your fam
Enjoy and stay safe always