Camp Paradisio: Hilltop Getaway in Tabogon, Cebu

Lying along the quiet northeast coastline of Cebu island, Tabogon is one of the least visited towns in the province. Many Cebuanos won’t even be familiar with the town when you mention it! For those who do make it this far, the biggest draws are Banyan Spring Resort (formerly Guiwanon Cold Spring) and the new redeveloped Port of Tabogon.

But Camp Paradisio – a new resort opened only last December 2021 – is another great reason to visit this town. Perched on a hilltop in Barangay Camaboan, this property boasts of a unique location where mountain, river and sea meet, overlooking the old hanging bridge and concrete footbridge of Salag.

*The hilltop campsite overlooks the Pasil River and Camotes Sea.*

Amenities

Camp Paradisio is sprawled over a hill next to the mouth of the Pasil River, which empties out to the Camotes Sea. There are three open-air huts (Teepee, Chalet and Kamalig) of different sizes which can accommodate overnight guests. Each hut has a small patio with outdoor seating. (Only tarpaulin curtains cover the entrances of the huts, so privacy and security of your valuables are a concern.) Hut accommodation is inclusive of complimentary camp fire. Large groups of day visitors can rent out cabanas. (₱1,000 – ₱2,500). Accessed by a 89 concrete steps, the gazebo restaurant and two-level dipping pool sits at the very top of the property with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and Camotes Sea. One can see Capitancillo Islet, Kalanggaman Islet, Camotes Islands and the distant mountains of Leyte. Guests may bring along their dogs and cats because this establishment is pet-friendly.

Aside from watching the sunrise at the hilltop pool, one should not miss exploring the Pasil River by kayak (₱300 for two hours), paddle board (₱300 for two hours) or paddle boat (₱500 for two hours). (The paddle board can only accommodate a child or small adult, and lacks a proper paddle for stand-up paddling.) The resort has direct access to a small riverside beach, where you can start your exploration. It was a serene experience paddling up on a kayak along a section of the narrow, emerald-green river lined with nipa palm and mangrove trees, then downriver, passing under a concrete footbridge – next to the dilapidated hanging bridge it replaced –at the river’s mouth.

After a full-day of activities, one can have the staff prepare a kawa hot bath (₱500 for 30 minutes) for some well-deserved pampering and relaxation. An antique kawa (cauldron) once used in old sugar mills is filled with scented water and freshly picked flowers, and heated with an open fire.

*A two-level pool sits at the very top of the property.*

*A giant chessboard offers both a mental and physical exercise!*

*…then relax in a soothing kawa hot bath.*

Dining Options

The poolside restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, room rates are not inclusive of breakfast. They serve basic breakfast plates (₱99) with your choice of pork tocino, corned beef or mushroom omelet, served with eggs cooked your way and coffee or juice. For lunch and dinner, there’s an assortment of mostly Filipino rice meals (₱170 – ₱199) like pork chop, grilled pork belly, grilled squid, and chicken cordon bleu, which come with a free bottle of soft drink.

Room Rates

Accommodation at Camp Paradisio starts at ₱1,000 for the Teepee hut, good for two persons. Larger groups can be accommodated at the Chalet (₱4,000 per night) and Kamalig (₱5,000 per night) huts, which can fit up to eight persons and 12 persons, respectively. As of the time of writing, all huts share one outhouse toilet and shower (cold water only). The Chalet hut, currently the farthest away from the outhouse, will have its own toilet and shower in the future. Entrance fees for day-use guests are ₱100 and ₱50 per head for adults and children, respectively, on weekdays, and ₱150 and ₱50 per head for adults and children, respectively, on weekends.

Tent rental is ₱400, inclusive of foam, blanket, pillow. Or you can bring your own tent and pay a camping fee of ₱200. Note that tent guests must pay the entrance fees.

*The Chalet has the best views among the three huts.*

*The Chalet hut has four double beds, accommodating up to eight persons.*

*Don’t miss the sunrise from the poolside restaurant!*

How to Get There

From Cebu North Bus Terminal (SM City Cebu), take a bus bound for Tabogon via Borbon (3 hours, ₱161). From Tabogon town proper, take a habal-habal to Camp Paradisio in Sitio Pasil, Barangay Camaboan (10 minutes, ₱50). Note: The popular northbound buses heading for Hagnaya (San Remigio) or Maya Port (Daanbantayan) do not pass by the town proper of Tabogon. If you happen to ride one by mistake, alight at Sogod, and wait for a bus heading to Tabogon via Borbon.