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Lakawon Island is a beautiful beach resort in Negros Occidental with clear waters and pristine white sand.
Though you may see several bad reviews online the past few years, I can say that significant improvements had been made and it's way, way better than it used to be 3-4 years ago.
The water is very clear. We saw small fishes without the need for goggles. The sand is fine and the beach is clean where I enjoyed walking barefoot (a.k.a natural exfoliating)
In fact, we had a really nice time when we went there a week ago. We initially just planned to stay for 2 nights in the island but we extended for 2 nights more because we really don't want to leave.
Anyway, let me share with you 8 things that you need to know before going to Lakawon Island.
1. PARKING - Overnight parking is available for Php 150 per night. They have an assigned caretaker (not really sure if he is connected with the resort) but they manage a gated area near the port where you can park. It is on the other side of the usual common parking area for day tour guests.
2. BOAT TRANSFERS - It takes a 20-minute boat road from Cadiz Viejo going to island. They usually have three (3) schedules per day at 7am, 8am or 11am. Kindly confirm with reservations in case there are any changes.
Sadly, we arrived a 10 minutes late and the boat had already left. We had to pay extra Php 1,000 for the special boat trip which the Lakawon ticketing office arranged. While waiting for the boat, more latecomers arrived and we just opted to share the extra fee since if they plan to go to the island, they would need to arrange a special trip too.
By the way, it's a long walk going to boat from the ticketing office and most of the time, it is really hot. So, I suggest you to put on your sunblock* as soon as you arrive in the parking lot. If you don't feel like walking, you can take the tricycle at around Php 50 per person.
*For the sunblock, we used the DERMPLUS Moisturizing Sublock SPF 80 and had zero sunburns for our 5-day beach trip. You can order here.
3. INTERNET CONNECTION - Mobile signal is not that stable but there is free wifi all over the island available for guests. It doesn't require a password so, you just immediately connect once you arrive.
Their internet service provider is Starlink, which is a satellite-based internet service and based on the speed test we conducted it runs around with a download speed of 9-10 mbps.
They also have routers installed in each room so, you can expect to have strong wifi connection. This is very helpful for freelancers like me. Yes, we can have a workation.
4. TOWEL, TOILETRIES AND BIDET - I know some friends whose non-negotiable in a hotel or resort is the availability of a bidet and I am happy to share that the rooms in Lakawon have one. We stayed in a Junior Suite so, I expect the other bigger rooms which are more expensive to have one too.
They also provide basic toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, lotion and dental kits. Fresh towels are also replaced everyday.
By the way, the water in the shower is a bit salty so, I am guessing maybe it is filtered seawater (?) I am not really sure and I forgot to ask.
5. WATER - Speaking of water, we had no problem with the drinking water from the restaurant and the bar. In fact, we never bought bottled water throughout the whole duration of our stay. So, I suggest that you bring your water bottles and just ask for a refill. Saves you money plus it's more eco-friendly.
6. ELECTRICITY - The resort runs on generator 24/7 so, we never experienced a power outage. They are just times that the electricity goes off for a few seconds but I guess it has something to do with the generator changing or something. Not really a concern if you ask me.
7. FOOD - The restaurant and bar is NOT open 24/7. Their restaurant is open from 7am until 8pm and the bar is open until 9pm.
We had free breakfast as part of our accommodation and to be honest, I find the 7am opening a bit late. I guess Val and I just woke up so early around 5:30am to go swimming so, we're pretty much hungry by 7am. In this case, I suggest that you bring bread or snacks if you are used to having breakfast early. After all, there is an electric water kettle, cups and complimentary coffee, cream and sugar in your room.
Food is great but a bit expensive. We had seafood for dinner every night and it did not disappoint at all. We recommend their butter garlic crabs, kinilaw/ sinuglaw, calamares and grilled pork liempo. I think we had calamares and grilled pork 3 nights straight. LOL
Budget roughly is around Php 2k-2.5k per meal for 2-4 pax. You can check their menu below.
That's it for now. We hope that this article will help you plan your trip to Lakawon Island.
It sounds like an incredible spot for our next family getaway. The clear water and fine sand already have me sold, and knowing they've made major improvements makes it even more appealing
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