Need a break from Siargao’s crazy nightlife? I found a glamping spot and private resort that’s just a five-minute motorbike ride from the General Luna party zone.

Malipaya Domes and Villa is a Filipino-run, family-owned vacation rental property on the beachfront of Siargao. They opened the domes just last year, while the sprawling villa was recently launched. They’re one of the few accommodations that offer glamping in Siargao.

The resort name is a spin on the Visayan word “malipayon,” which means happiness, and that’s exactly what you get when you book a stay here.

In search of Siargao’s perfect beachfront

In the surfing capital of Siargao, beachfront is such a loosely used term. There are a number of hotels and accommodations that match the description of the place, that the beach is right in front of the property. For others, the truth is stretched out because the said beach is a walk away. For some, the beach is more of crushed corals and stones than fine white sand. I’ve also seen Siargao beachfronts that are full of rocky formations and not the flat, sandy type that most tourists prefer.

 

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In Malipaya, the sprawling property is as breathtaking as the photos and reels—even better. The beachfront is just as they describe it. It goes from low tide to high tide throughout the day, with its peak during the romantic sunset. The domes and villa all have five-star amenities, tempting you to stay in all day.

Malipaya’s glamping domes

There are five glamping domes in Malipaya, but if you want to be closest to the beach, ask for dome #1, where I stayed for a night. I fell asleep and woke up to the sound of the ocean. Coming from my bustling, anxiety-ridden, social-media-driven lifestyle in Manila, I had the best eight-hour sleep of my life in Malipaya’s dome.

Each dome is 30 sqm and is fully air-conditioned. It has two queen beds, a big private bathroom with a wardrobe space, a flat screen TV, a safety deposit box, and an indoor kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee nook. The lanai has a dining area and dish washing area. There’s a picturesque pool area just for the dome dwellers.

The dome is best for couples, a small group of three to four, or even weary solo backpackers/ flashpackers like myself who like to save their final night—and last budget stretch—for a private accommodation.

Each dome is ₱5,950 per night for up to four guests.

View from inside the dome

Dome lanai and dining area

Villa vibes

For bigger groups of up to 20 guests, the private villa is on the further end of the property. It has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a fully functioning kitchen (for both cooking and baking!), dining area, smart coffee maker, big fridge, lanai, lounge, and a private pool overlooking the beach.

Each villa bedroom has its own safety deposit box, bathroom, safety deposit boxes, kitchenette, smart TV, and fridge.

The entire villa is over 500 sqm. The six-room villa must be booked as a whole, so it’s best for combined families, companies, and big groups. Rooms #1-2 have one queen bed each, while rooms #3-6 are loft-types with two beds and one sofa. I stayed in the villa with fellow creators for two nights. Each room has a bathroom, plus an extra shared bathroom in the dining area. There’s a beach shower near the shore.

The villa rate is ₱40,000 per night for up to 20 guests.

Extra perks

Guests of both the domes and villa have access to Malipaya’s recreational activities, such as board games and sports equipment for pedal boating, spikeball, badminton, and yoga.

While the resort has no official café or restaurant, you’re free buy your own groceries and whip something up in the kitchen. They’ve also partnered with food-delivery services around the island, such as Siargao Books Café, to deliver food and drinks to Malipaya’s guests. Just browse through the menus at the dining area and call the corresponding numbers.

There’s an assigned butler for every group that stays in the villa. You could task him to purchase drinks and groceries for you from the lobby and nearby stores. In our case, we had the courteous Kuya Ruben, who made sure everything in the villa was to our liking.

Motorbike rentals can get booked pretty fast in Siargao, especially during peak season, so you can ask for help from Malipaya’s front desk or lobby. They booked my bike days ahead of my arrival.

Sweet escape

This trip wasn’t my first time in Siargao, so I no longer felt the need to book a stay in the busy, party zone of General Luna. And with my own motorbike, I could get around faster.

Staying in Malipaya for the last leg of my Siargao trip was just what the doctor ordered. With a view this great and amenities so luxurious, I almost forgot about the rest of the island… almost! Of course I still explored the rest of Siargao, but it was nice to know that I could easily motorbike back to my own of piece of paradise tucked away from the crowd.

Malipaya Domes and Villa is located at Tourism Road, Bongayon, Purok Uno, General Luna, Surigao del Norte. Book via Agoda (Discount code: REPLIKATE), Booking, Klook Hotels (Discount code: REPLIKATEKLOOK), and Cloudbeds. For more info, visit Malipaya’s Facebook and Instagram pages.