Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort, Glan


This resort isn't in the now getting famous Gumasa Beach. This is further and farther south.., probably about 5 kilometers or so from Gumasa, therefore something like 10 kilometers from Glan town center.

But Isla Jardin Del Mar was a good choice, recommended by some friends - and websites! I don't have many things to say about this resort, except that it's a nice hideaway. Let me show my photos instead!
after entering the gate of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
one of many outdoor resting areas at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

The beach is one of the best that I have seen on Mindanao's mainland so far...
fine white sand beach at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
a long stretch of white sand beach at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
These were all afternoon shots leading towards sunset...
a long stretch of white sand beach at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
the powdery white sand beach at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

And although cloudy, sunset was also nice (a guest told me it was even more beautiful yesterday).
sunset at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
After that 'sunset watch', on to dinner, and a lonesome muni-muni by the beach, under a moonlit night, I tried to shoot photos, to no avail hehe! Cameras these days still can't capture what our eyes can see.

But daytime (especially in the mornings)... this vast resort has a lot for your cameras to get busy with!

Here are some pictures in one of my mornings at this resort...
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Yep, the fine sand is somewhere between pinkish to reddish during early mornings. It becomes lighter in color to about cream and white as the sun goes up and the sand get's dry. Uniquely lovely nice 'no?!

When you wake up, you'll discover that all their equipment, free or 'for-rent' are ready and waiting!
various watersports equipment at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Even the little ones do not need to wait for their playthings to become available. All is ready!
children's play area at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Every morning, I would wake up to clean and tidy surroundings. I guess they do it very early at  dawn.
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

The short wait for breakfast is cool, as anywhere you look is clean and orderly, amid a cool breeze!
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Ah well, breakfast is also just the way I like it - simple and no frills...
breakfast at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
And your choice if you wanna make tunganga all day - at this restaurant, on the sand or your cottage!

This resort has many cottages of varying accommodation sizes. This was my 1-room cottage.
Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Note to solo travelers na madrama sa buhay. It could get lonely as everything you see is only for you!
Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Yep, that cottage and the wooden garden set are all yours - and no one dares use them when they see that the room is occupied! That small porch has a mini table and chair which was nice enough for me.

The room has only one small bed, which means there can't be more than two of you, yet you have that wonderful outdoor setup good for at least 4 (actually it can even be 8 as each wooden chair can fit 2)!

Here is the inside of that small cottage...
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
bedroom of Cottage D1 at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
The room's peephole (also called peeping hole, peekhole, spyhole, doorhole, magic eye, door viewer or magic mirror by other hotels/resorts) is funny too low at just my waist level! Sumobrang baba hehehe!

Maybe they had children in mind when they made that hole - sobra silang child-friendly hahaha!

By the way, this resort is so vast, the sandy beachfront alone is probably a kilometer long. And there is an interesting portion at the eastern end that they call a "Sunrise Boulevard". I went there, just curious.
sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Aside from the concrete path and balustrade, this "serena" is the most noticeable thing in the area...
the little mermaid statue at the sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Reminiscent of "The Little Mermaid Statue" in Copenhagen, right? I asked one resort staff who was in the area if that is an attempt to copy or replicate the original. Unfortunately, the manang doesn't know!

The manang does not even know about that thing in Denmark nor what/where Denmark is hehehe!
the little mermaid statue at the sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I actually silently laughed, because whether or not this was an attempt to replicate the original one, no need for the government and people of Copenhagen to worry, as this one isn't a "sad young mermaid". This statue is more of an almost-smiling woman "nga kiatan"! Og taas loyloy na iyang totoy oi hahaha!

Anyway, I was more interested in those boats passing by, and this rocky corner of a promontory.
sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Not clear in this picture (as the sun was rising behind them), but I could clearly see with my bare eyes, that those are also white-sandy beaches out there just not anymore part of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort.

Reason probably why I a lot of boats are going to or coming from that area, even early in the morning.
speedboat at the sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
island hopping boat at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Just looking at the boats, I could easily tell that they're not fishing vessels but for touristic purposes!

This is also the resort's "Sunrise Viewing Area" doubled with a wonderful picture-perfect pier!
sunrise viewing area of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I did not see boats dock at this pier during my morning walks, but awesome views anywhere I looked!

And when I say "anywhere" that includes the emerald green water below, teeming with abundant life!
emerald green crystal clear waters at sunrise viewing area of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
The shrieks and shouts of those kids, even before they jumped into the water, were testament enough at the bountiful marine life one could witness in this area - fish from fingerlings to about my palm size!

I just learned that the surroundings of Glan is a "protected seascape & marine biodiversity area". They have defined/marked areas where commercial fishing (use of nets or trawls) aren't allowed. Thus, the juvenile marine life thrive here - until they're fully grown, and venture out to sea on their own, as adults.

Out there, the commercial fishing boats can catch them, so they become our food. Sustainable!

By the way too, this has been, so far, the closest that I got to the Wallace Line. Do you even know what that is? If you do, congratulations, as not many people are aware of it! A very interesting phenomenon.

Anyway, this edge of the resort became the 'highlight' of my stay, due to its fantastic morning views.
sunrise viewing area of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Even looking and walking back to the sandy beach area of Isla Jardin Del Mar was also picturesque!
sunrise viewing area of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
You see that man in red shirt and white pants? He's trying to catch fish (hook-and-line fishing, allowed 'yan, since you will not accidentally catch the juvenile fish that way, so the younger fish can still grow).

Those other 2 folks also on that rock? Ah, they were tourists posing with that 'kiatan' mermaid statue! Oh, the Bisaya "ki-at" is "landi" in Tagalog. And "kiatan" therefore means "malandi". "Landiscious" hehe!

The boat at left, cruising on the water, is probably a "boat tour" or "island hopping tour". I could tell just by looking at the passengers - they're wearing the orange-colored life vests, which fishermen don't do!

Here here... when I was back that rebulto of this 'medyo malanding serena', I saw a banana boat. Yey!
banana boat at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
All I could do was grin as I listened to the laughter, shrieks and shouts of those people having fun.
banana boat at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I was sure they were enjoying that ride and having a time of their lives. That's what I call "inggit much"!
banana boat at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Of course I envied them! Isla Jardin Del Mar is such a hectic place for fun and frolic, to the extent that I questioned my royal highness why I was there alone. I wished I was also with family and/or friends :(

Anyway, if you go back up three pictures above, the manong in red shirt, here was one of his "catch"!
fish caught by hook-line-and-sinker fishing at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I don't know, "butete" ba yan? I didn't ask him, he was busy being 'silent' eh! But he seemed to enjoy it!

Anyway again, returning from the sunrise view area to the center of the resort, this was the view...
sunrise boulevard at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
And this was only about 8:01AM. That meant I probably just stayed about 2 hours at that sunrise area, yet I already saw many memorably fantastic things that nature at Isla Jardin DelMar has for us to see!

Not to mention that where the fine sand meets those big rocks, are also nice places for pictorials!
boulders at sunrise boulevard of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Not just as backgrounds to your pictures, but I saw visitors take photos of those boulders as subjects, kaya ayan, nakigaya ako! And not just rocks or stones on the sand actually, but even cliffs and ridges!

This place is mighty complete with all that nature has to offer, "from ride to reef" ika nga!

And mind you, all those pics I already had even before breakfast, because after that... tunganga time!
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I enjoyed just sitting idle at the restaurant, chill lang watching everything (and everyone) in sight go by.
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I even amused my self watching that manong and manang exchanging sweet nothings to each other!

I did visit the western end thy call "Sunset Boulevard" which attracts more people at midday...
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
And it is not just the fine white sand that lures many visitors to that area. There are walking trails amid trees and shrubberies but... either I didn't want to explore pathetically alone or 'tanders' na ako! Kapoy!

So that was it? No!

During the afternoons, I liked strolling by the front area of the resort where there' some kind of a lake.
lake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
That area across is the access road to this resort. Somewhere to the right is this resort's entrance.

This lake is rather long (probably also a kilometer in length). And in the middle they have this...
lake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
I couldn't make out what this 'wharf' is for, other than for great photo-ops! I saw fish and some birds!
lake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
There were folks (guests?) fishing by the banks. And a staff told me they grow some of their fish here!

This is the east end of the lake, viewed from the midle of that wharf whatever...
ake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
That structure with a red roof is the lobby, near the restaurant, near the mini-shop, near the play area.

This is looking towards the lakes's west end. Everything at left is part of their "sunset boulevard".
lake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
The resort staff told me that at the far end is actually also still a white sandy beach - Morales Resort. I already said it above, this isn't a so-so resort in terms of area. It is really vast and yes, worth exploring!

Here are more views as I walked around inside the resort area...
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
cottages at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
smoking area beside the lake at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
reminders at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
reminders at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
reminders at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
cottages at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Snacks in the morning or afternoon were never a problem. There are a lot of choices!
clubhouse sandwich at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Lunch or dinner was never an issue too! I didn't need to find outside restaurants, eateries or fastfoods!
menu book of Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
dinner (porkchop) a Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
FYI, I initially worried, since their menu only displays images of Pepsi and 7-Up. But as you can see my pictures above, meron din naman pala silang Coke! Plus, they also have SanMigLights, and even wine!

Especially on drinks and snacks, if you can't find what you want in their menu, try the in-house store!
convenience store inside Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani

Yep, the store also has beach wear and items you may have forgotten like sun lotions, even souvenirs!
souvenir gifts at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort in Glan, Sarangani
It is rare for me, but this time I never had the need to go outside of the resort's vast compound, except to visit Gumasa Beach (a must)! Everything else I needed was available at Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort.

Alright, next let's go to Glan, GEnSan and elsewhere. Not going home yet!

Comments