San Jose: Ultimate Guide to Grace Island Resort

Grace Island Resort is an island resort located in Buri Island of Brgy. Ambulong in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. This unique resort has an array of floating cottages where one can feel the soothing breeze of the sea and a one of a kind experience of becoming one with nature. Going to one of the cottages by a narrow bamboo bridge that connects them is a thrilling experience, just be careful.

This island is yours during rainy season {Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

It was already featured in several travel shows, blog sites, and other news outlets. Before it rose to fame, it was already visited several times by the flock. Here’s a quick guide whenever you’re planning to visit the so-called “Maldives of the Philippines.”

The floating cottages of the island makes the resort unique (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

ABOUT THE RESORT

Grace Island Resort is one of Occidental Mindoro’s premier resorts. It is surrounded by a much larger island of Ambulong. From a simple retreat center, it was developed and evolved into a frequently-visited resort in San Jose.

The resort is very appropriate to adopt the name Grace Island because it is blessed with abundant marine life, pristine and clear waters, and unparalleled landscape and scenery.

It is represented by a unique and majestic rock with a lone tree on it. “The Lininob Rock” as what the San Joseños call it, symbolizes life and beauty of the island.

The resort takes pride in having floating cottages. It also has a wide array of activities perfect for individuals, families, and other group gatherings.

Guests can stroll or bike around the island to appreciate its beauty and splendor. For those having retreats, our chapel at the hilltop allows for meditation. And for the more adventurous ones, motorized and non-motorized water activities will surely keep the fun and adrenaline pumping.

HOW TO GET THERE

• BY AIR
  Take a 45-minute flight from Manila to San Jose. From San Jose Airport there is a 5-minute ride to Aroma Beach Booking Office where the boat awaits.

Going there is an adventure in itself… especially during Habagat season (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

• BY LAND AND SEA (Roro)
  From Cubao, take the bus bound for San Jose, Occidental Mindoro via Batangas Port either to Abra de Ilog or to Calapan City port. Both ports are linked by their respective provincial highway to San Jose. The bus ride takes 12 hours of travel.
  Note: The shallow waters of San Jose make its port unsuitable for docking of large ships. Instead, ships dock at the ports of Abra de Ilog and Calapan. From there is an additional 6 to 8 hours of land travel before reaching San Jose.
  Update: Partas Bus Line has just started operating in Mindoro Island with trips departing every four hours. Deluxe fare costs PhP1,100.

Caminawit Port (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

• FROM AROMA BEACH/CAMINAWIT PORT
  Guest can bound for Grace Island Resort via an approximate one-and-a-half hour boat ride from Aroma Beach or Caminawit Port. Along the way, guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of the sea and landscape.

BOOKING

• Address: Aroma Beach (near the San Jose Airport), San Roque 2, San Jose Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
• Contact Numbers: +63 908 8795783 (Smart) | +63 917 8939674 (Globe)
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GraceIslandResort/
• Website: https://grace-island-resort.com/

RATES

• DAY-TOUR GROUP PACKAGE
  • 10-15 pax – PhP7,000
  • 16-20 pax – PhP8,000
  • 21-25 pax – PhP9,000
  • 26-30 pax – PhP10,000
    Inclusions:
    -1 Floating Open Cottage
    – Roundtrip boat transfers
    – Entrance fee
    – Welcome drinks
    -Use of kayak, small boat
    (No corkage except for drinks & liquors)
  • Time Schedule
    • 8:30 am – assembly time at the booking office
    • 9:00 am – departure
    • 10:30 am – check-in at the resort
    • 4:00 pm – check-out

• 1 NIGHT For 2
• 2 pax – PhP6,000
• Inclusions:
  – Meals (3 meals)
  – Roundtrip boat transfer (Aroma Beach Booking Office-Grace Island-San Jose)
  – 1 room floating cottage (fan room, wt portable toilet only, wide-overlooking water veranda )
  – free use of kayak, small boat, and bikes
  *extra night is 1500/pax
• Time Schedule
  • 8:30 am – assembly time
  • 9:00 am – boat departure time at aroma beach( booking office)
  • 10:30 am – check-in
  • 7: 00 am – check out, the ff day after breakfast
  • boat travel time: 60 minutes

• 1 NIGHT For 4
• 4 pax – PhP10,000
• Inclusions:
  – Meals (3 full board meals, family style)
  – Roundtrip boat transfer (Aroma Beach Booking Office-Grace Island-San Jose)
  – 1 family cottage (2 bedrooms floating cottage-fan room, w/ portable toilet)
  – free use of kayak, small boat, and bikes
  *extra night is 1500/pax
• Time Schedule
  • 8:30 am – assembly time
  • 9:00 am – boat departure time at aroma beach( booking office)
  • 10:30 am – check-in
  • 7: 00 am – check out, the ff day after breakfast
  • boat travel time: 60 minutes

AMENITIES RATES

• Kayak – 200/hr; free if package availed for overnight & day tour
• Bike – 75/hr; free if package availed for overnight & day tour
• Small Boat – 200/hr; free if package availed for overnight & day tour
• Jetski – 3500/hr
• Banana Boat – 1000/4pax (3rounds only)
• Frenzy Ride – 500/2pax
• Donut Ride – 500/2pax
• Ballistic Ride – 500/2pax
• Snorkel Set – 200/day
• Zipline

Whizz through the trees and touch the sea as you ride the zipline (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

RESORT RULES AND REGULATIONS
(Taken with permission from the Management of the Resort)

• Boat Schedule
  Assembly time at Aroma beach is 8:30 am, boat departs @ 9 am; Boat departs from Grace Island to Aroma Beach at 4 am, 7 am and 4 am – for overnight checkouts.
• Time
  Daytrip Guests check-in is @ 10:30 am and check out is at 4 pm.
  Overnight guest : check-in is @ 10:30 am and check out is @ 7 am
  Overnight guests with early flight: check-in is @ 10:30 am and check out @ 4 am
• Occupancy and Additional Guests
  All our floating cottages, hilltop cottages, seaside cottages, day tour/ picnic/ mushroom huts have a maximum capacity allowed. The occupancy limits of each type are follows. Fees for additional persons will be charged.
  Floating couple cottage – 2-4 pax
  Floating family cottage – 4-6 pax
  Hilltop Seaview Fan (family 4-6 pax
  Hilltop Seaview – AC 2-3 pax
  Seaside Suite – 2 pax
  Seaside Suite w/ mezzanine – 2-8 pax
  Floating day tour cottage – 30 pax
• Wearing of life vests.
  We encourage our entire guests to wear life jackets when swimming. Children are required to wear life jackets at all times. Parents/ guardians are expected to be responsible for the safety and security of their children. Life jackets can be borrowed for free at the front desk.
• Wearing of footwear at all times
  Because of the terrain and the nature of our resort, we advise our guests to wear footwears ( slippers, swimming footwears, aqua shoes, etc . ) at all times
• Smoking
  Our cottage and resort facilities are made up of materials that are prone to fire; therefore smoking is strictly prohibited in all cottages except in designated smoking areas.
• Marine Sanctuary
  The waters surrounding the resort are part of our marine sanctuary. We discourage guests from taking any starfish, shell or seaweeds or doing anything that would harm the corals. We discourage spot fishing within the adjacent quadrangle of our floating cottages.

Don’t forget to bring your underwater camera to capture this beauty just beneath the cottage (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

• Quiet time
  Quiet time for floating cottages starts at 8:30 pm, and for octagon restaurant is at 10 pm
• Power supply
  The whole resort is powered by generator sets, Power is being turned on daily at 6 pm to 6 am only

Power is turned on at 6pm to 6am (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

• Water Supply
  We advise guests to conserve water
• Feeding Animals
  We have animal sanctuary in the uphill part of the island. Pls do not feed the animal or intimidate them in anyways.
• Firearms and Security
  Notify our security guards if u have any. Bringing any kind of firearms is strictly prohibited within the resort premises. Management reserves the right to deny entry to the resort of any guests who would violate this rule
• Valuables/ Security
  Please take care of your valuables. Guests are responsible for their things. The resort shall not be liable for any loss or damage to a guest’s personal property. Security guard are up front for inspection.
• Damage to Resort Property
  Guests shall incur additional charges in case wherein he/she proven responsible for any damage or loss of resort facilities, equipment and properties therein
• Grilling Area
  Management has provided a specific area for guests to grill their raw foods. Any form of cooking is not allowed inside the floating cottage and rooms.
• Pets
  Bringing pets is not allowed in the resort
• Garbage
  Pls throw ur trash and recyclables in their designated areas, trash cans are readily available in many areas of the resort.
• Trees
  Do not cut or damage any living tree or shrub.

Encircle the Island by bike (Grace Island Resort, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

• Appliances
  Bringing of electrical appliances is not allowed by the management because it contributes to a large electrical output of our
  generator.
• Alcohols/ Cigarettes
  We limit bringing in alcoholic beverages in the resort. We do not sell cigarette in the area but if guests opt to bring we allow them to do so.
• Right Conduct
  Resort management reserves the right to evict any guests whose actions are deemed unsafe or disruptive and will be immediately escorted out of the premises. Persons who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be refused of entry.
• No refund
  For safety and security of all our guests, management reserves the right to deny or remove guest from the resort without refund.

PREVIOUS BLOG ABOUT GRACE ISLAND

• 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit it during Off-Season
• Grace Island Resort 2012 Visit
• Finding Solitude in Grace Island
• Island Hopping in San Jose
• Ambulong Lighthouse

WHATS NEARBY

• Lininob Rock Islet
• Ambulong Cave (Ambulong Island)
• Inasakan White Beach (Ilin Island)
• White Island (Manadi Island)
• Aroma Beach & Landing Marker
• Lininob Point (Ambulong Island)

Lininob Point overlooking Grace Island Resort (Ambulong, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)

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