The Best Wellness Retreats In The Philippines

Looking to hit the restart button? Consider the Philippines. Filipino hospitality is (justifiably) lauded, and the accommodation is on the same level, offering spa- and health-centred escapes that promote proximity to nature, a healthy diet and spiritual activities in unique and beautiful locations. And, best of all, many of these accommodations take a uniquely Filipino twist, whether through local-style hilot massages or Filipino-influenced menus and design touches. Check out our selection of the best wellness retreats in the Philippines, and book your stay with Culture Trip.

1. Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites

Resort

Netting covers an inviting strip pool, bubbling hot tub and a childrens splash pool at Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites

Located just east of Manila, Luljetta’s Place offers a holistic, reinvigorating escape from the big city. The expansive grounds are said to be home to the only hanging gardens in the country, and there’s a spa with an extensive menu of services. Coming with a group? The Spa Party Package includes the use of the Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, massages for up to 10 people, food and access to the lap, hydro and ionized pools in the garden. Plus, there are more than enough photogenic corners to fill up your social feed.

2. Mithi Resort & Spa

Resort

The Mithi Resort & Spa spans 14 seaside hectares (35 acres) on Bohol, in the central Philippines. Accommodation-wise, this means rooms and three types of villas with handsome local design touches. Setting-wise, there are a long strip of private beach, a private islet and an underwater cave. Activities-wise, there are a lauded spa, an expansive gym, tennis courts and watersports options ranging from kayaking to paddleboarding.

3. North Zen Villas

Villa, Luxury

Two spa beds under a thatch-roof hut at North Zen Villas

Eschewing the beachside setting of most of its Bohol counterparts, North Zen Villas unfolds across a scenic, green, watery mangrove forest. The 21 rooms and villas blend contemporary and Filipino design elements and grant access to an onsite spa, plus activities such as a mangrove walk and snorkelling trips (and, yes, white-sand beaches are only a 30-minute drive away).

5. Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay

Resort, Luxury

A family-style room at Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay has two comfy-looking double beds, a tv on the wall and lovely coastal views

Perched on a hillside fronting a white-sand-rimmed bay on Boracay is the Crimson Resort & Spa. Accommodation ranges from rooms to private villas equipped with plunge pools, all with sea views. There’s a spa offering traditional Filipino treatments and a bliss-inducing selection of ocean-view pools. And, the Crimson is particularly well equipped for families, with a kids’ club that has a pirate ship playhouse and pools just for the little ‘uns.

6. Qi Palawan

Resort, Hotel

A birds-eye view of Qi Palawan shows the gabled roofs of the hotel, a rectangular swimming pool and tropical coastline

A 1-hour drive from El Nido on Palawan Island is Qi Palawan, an escape-from-it-all resort with just eight rooms. Days begin with free early-morning yoga classes at the open-air rooftop studio, accompanied by ocean breaths and treetop views. For complete relaxation, head to the spa for Swedish and traditional Filipino massages, and herbal baths. And, at mealtimes, enjoy Spanish-Filipino cuisine and fresh salads from the organic garden at the resort.

7. The Farm at San Benito

Hotel

A mirror-like pond reflects palm trees at The Farm at San Benito

In the tropical jungles of Batangas, 90 minutes from Manila, the Farm at San Benito offers wellness for the mind, body and spirit. There’s a long list of programmes available, ranging from pain prevention to detoxes and anti-ageing. Making this possible is a dedicated team, which includes medical doctors, a nutritionist, a fitness coach and a yoga instructor. The lush grounds also house several deluxe villas, a massive spa, a vegan restaurant, organic gardens, a gym and swimming pools.

8. Bahay Kalipay

Hotel

A secluded jungle spa room at Bahay Kalipay with wicker sun loungers outside

For a back-to-basics wellness retreat, Bahay Kalipay (Happy House) is an oasis in the otherwise busy capital of Palawan. The team here promotes a raw-food lifestyle and the calm, introspective practice of inner dance. The hotel offers different retreats, such as wellness yoga holidays and detox-style cleanses, some lasting for a weekend and others for as long as 12 days. The absence of material luxuries allows you to reconnect with yourself and mingle with the community.

9. Atmosphere Resorts & Spa

Resort

On the Visayas, within an old coconut plantation in the province of Negros Oriental, you’ll find Atmosphere Resorts and Spa. With swimming pools, a treehouse for daily yoga sessions and a spa, where a long list of treatments includes massages, facials, detoxes and body wraps, the resort focuses on wellness and relaxation. There’s also an emphasis on responsible travel, with products sourced locally, consumption minimised and waste regulated. There is even a soup kitchen for children in need, open five days a week.

10. Lotus Shores

Hotel

A traditional spa centre at Lotus Shores with a thatched roof and tropical plants surrounding it

On the southeastern coast of Siargao, Lotus Shores is a yoga-forward retreat with resident teachers running up to four lessons per day. It sits in a vibrant garden, and there’s an onsite vegan cafe (ingredients sourced from local, organic farms and the resident vegetable patch). Stay in traditional-yet-stylish villas, private rooms or shared dorms, all of which come with a complimentary breakfast.

11. Nurture Wellness Village

Hotel

A freeform pool sits in the middle of a lush garden at Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay

Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay sits on picturesque grounds, offering holistic health services such as healthy-food preparation demonstrations, wellness talks and breathing exercises. There is also a range of Filipino spa treatments, including several massages and scrubs, many of which are done in traditional nipa huts alongside nature. Stay in the garden- or forest-view rooms, or embrace the outdoors with a stay in one of the glamping tents.

12. Mandala Spa & Resort Villas

Resort, Spa Hotel, Villa

A romantic-looking guest room at Mandala Spa & Resort Villas has dark-wood floors and canopy double bed

Mandala Spa & Resort Villas was tastefully designed to blend in with its lush natural environment. Start the day with a soothing yoga session, before heading to the spa for massages, body wraps and scrubs. For a more luxurious healing treatment, the hotel offers water therapy in the form of watsu (water shiatsu). The resort houses 15 luxurious villas, which, despite the world-renowned beach waiting right outside, are so comfortable they’re difficult to leave.

The Culture Trip Travel Team contributed additional reporting to this article.

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