Stay at the Isla Experience in the Philippines for a true taste of heaven

The Philippines are dreamy enough as they are: white sandy beaches, turquoise water dripping off your skin, the freshest most delicious fruit, and awe-striking views.

But, when you travel to the Philippines with Contiki, you could also be travelling to do some good, to give back to local communities, and to learn something new. The Isla Experience, a gorgeous special stay in El Nido, is one of Contiki’s newest MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, and one that we’re almost positive you’ll fall completely head-over-coconuts in love with. Learn about marine conservation and connect with locals, all with the backdrop of lush tropical forests and stilted huts – amazing! 

We spoke to Denmark, manager of the Isla Experience, to get some more information on this unique stay and entice you into booking a spot on our already enticing Philippines trip! So, let’s dive into it.

Hi, Denmark! First things first, what can you tell us about the Isla Experience?

“We’re an organisation of around 20 people, and 90% of our staff comes from the village right here on the island. When tourists book and visit and stay, they get to engage with us and the other locals, and just deepen their knowledge of the Philippines a little.”

“The Isla Experience is also a sustainable tourism project, giving travellers a chance to do some good for the planet while they stay here!”

Could you explain in what way the Isla Experience is a sustainable tourism project?

“It has to do with the accommodation itself, as well as the services we offer. Our accommodation, the island huts, are all built using bamboo and the energy is run by a full solar panel system. The accommodation is inspired by Bahay Kubo, which is a traditional style of house here in the Philippines, but we’ve fitted them with some modern finishings – it’s sort of like glamping!”

“In terms of the food, all the produce is sourced locally, right here, and we get it from fishermen and the people of the island, as well as farmers from elsewhere in the Philippines. It’s all fresh, and delicious, and this is really something we prioritise.”

“These practices are pillars of our organisation – we prioritise the local community always.”

How did the Isla Experience project start?

“The Isla Experience started between 2013 and 2014 when our founder was backpacking through the Philippines and he just happened to find Darocotan Island and this piece of it that was for sale. All he had on him was his backpack and hammock and it was a complete chance-encounter, but he visited the island, fell in love with it and the local community, and he bought it.”

“Originally his plan was to build one house and use it as a holiday and retirement home, but once it was built he invited friends over to visit, and they convinced him to put it online to rent out, and the rest is history. Now there are 13 huts, and the Isla Experience is very popular!”

“But, it was at the start of this endeavour, when he was building his house and nowhere to stay, that the close working bond with the community was formed. The local villagers invited him into their home, cooked for him and offered him shelter, and ever since then they’ve worked very closely together to create sustainable tourism opportunities and benefit them all.”

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Could you expand a little on how you work with the local community?

“Our Isla Experience camp is considered part of the village of Barangay Teneguiban, and on this island there are like 30-40 families. One of our main priorities is to give them employment and support, and offer employment opportunities outside of the usual business endeavours of fishing and agriculture.”

“90% of our employees come from this village, and their jobs range from cleaners to front of house staff to cooks, and we also source our fresh food from the village.”

What does tourism mean to the local community here?

“Tourism has always existed in El Nido, especially recently with a surge in popularity, but because the Isla Experience and the surrounding village is 45 minutes out from the main town on a totally different island, the effects of tourism didn’t always quite reach this far. It wasn’t really until 2019 that we started to see numbers and people coming to visit and stay and bring up the economy in this area. Now it’s a lot more common and it’s part of daily life, which helps to support each family and their businesses, etc.”

This village and island is a little secluded from the mainland, so how do the local children receive an education?

“That’s a very good question because, yes, it’s not easy to get to the mainland from where we are, and it’s the only place you could go to get a proper education. I’ve lived here for a little over a year now and when I started here half of the staff couldn’t read or write their names, so one of the first things I did was teach them how.”

“We later started a project which would be used to send each of our staff’s children to school, and we are in the process of collaborating with the Department of Education to bring some teachers from the mainland here. Hopefully with all this, the local children can receive their elementary and high school diplomas – and it’s not just about the younger students either, we want older students to get these opportunities as well.”

What can travellers expect when they come to visit the Isla Experience?

“Our goal is to make a difference – we’re not just a glamping site in the Philippines. We want travellers to relax and enjoy the simplicity of life here, but we also want them to be able to integrate themselves with the local community and learn about the culture here.”

“A lot of tourists come to the Philippines and they visit the cities and the beaches, but our place is totally different. We’re secluded, and we’re trying to introduce our travellers to that, while also introducing the local villagers to larger communities.”

“We also let travellers experience the beautiful natural environment and view marine life in canoe rides. With the Isla Experience you’ll get a taste of proper Filipino food and culture, experience the laid back attitude and simple way of life, while giving back and having a meaningful journey.”

If you had to describe the Isla Experience in 3 words, what would they be?

“Sustainability, family, and culture.”