A Real Eco-Treat at Anilao’s Balunos Mountain Resort

Text and photos by Bombette G. Marin

If you are looking to recharge and rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul, the best way to do it is to unwind amid the natural greenery of Anilao, Iloilo.

Wake up to the natural sounds of chirping birds and dreamy daylight of Balunos Mountain Resort if you want an express weekend getaway. The resort offers a secluded escape with zero traffic, air, and noise pollution.

Balunos Mountain Resort is 13 kilometers or an almost 30-minute motorcycle ride from the town proper. The resort nestles in the lush mountain barangay of Balunos, Sitio Manyakiya was developed as a home away from home for urbanites.

The residence of Mr. Edwin Rendaje Dangautan was fully developed into a nature resort in 2018. The area is rich in the plant life of all kinds.

Apart from cozying up to the view of the Anilao’s hills, you can also go trekking to the nearby Mt. Manyakiya where one can get a full view of Anilao and its surrounding towns and Negros island.

Gather your closest friends and chill out in its adult pool at 5-7 feet deep, or just sit back and listen to the sounds of nature. If adventure and exploration are what you are after, the Balunos Mountain Resort offers modest accommodation, perfect for budget travelers.

Uproot yourself from the comfort of your homes and into a reclusive stay in this budget resort. You can find comfortable accommodation all at P250.00 per person overnight. There are two (2) rooms at six persons maximum each room at the second level of the resort; two (2) rooms at the rest-house area at three persons maximum for each room; at the third level is for 10 persons maximum.

With a built-in sound system in the pool area, you can even hold events here like small wedding, debut and baptismal. Although it may seem remote and far from your beloved city, it can exclusively hold up to a hundred persons maximum.

Living in the city and enduring the endless traffic and everyday routine can really take a toll on our mental stamina. Often, we find ourselves so mentally and physically drained that we crave for a quick getaway someplace where we can ease our mind and body and be disconnected from our reality, even if just for a little while.

In Balunos Mountain Resort visitors will find themselves embracing nature’s warmth – an uncommon feeling in the city. Your stay here is a unique and pleasant way to experience some of Anilao’s charm.

For more information, please contact 09182807809. Balunos Mountain Resort, a great place to embrace nature at its best.

The Fourth-Class municipality of Anilao is located in the northeastern portion of the province. It is 45.3 kilometers away from Iloilo City. It is bounded in the north by the town of San Enrique; the highest mountain of the town in the west; in the south by Barotac Nuevo; and the Guimaras Strait in the east. It has a total land area of 7, 538 hectares and is politically subdivided into 21 barangays.

Anilao is populated by 28, 684 (2015 Census on Population) Anilaonons. Market day is every Friday. It celebrates its annual religious fiesta every May 22 in honor of Sta. Rita de Casia.

To get to Anilao, one can take a van or bus at the new Ceres Terminal in Barangay Camalig, Jaro, Iloilo City.