I had no expectations when I first visited Hiraya Wellness Ecopark and Resort. When I left, I couldn’t shut up about it. In a span of six months I’m lucky to have visited twice, each time gave me another reason to come back.

Located right along the bus route to Bolinao from Manila, along Romulo Highway in Brgy. Niñoy Aguilar, Pangasinan, Hiraya is the ideal place should you want the peace and quite of the province. It takes the storybook definition of life in the mountains but elevates it with amenities that help you connect with nature and disengage from the wired world.

An Array of Accomodations

Hiraya offers different lodging options. They have something for everyone: couples, families, bachelorette parties, and even companies who need a team building venue.

On my first visit last August, I had a the privilege to stay in the Lakan Couple Villa. It’s my favorite type of lodging as it is so adorable. It has everything you need in a studio set-up: kitchen area, lounge area with a TV, one queen-sized bed, and bathroom with rain shower. The compactness convinces you that luxury is a curated approach to detail, rather than making everything larger than life. It also has a private lounge pool. The villa is postcard perfect.

When I checked-in for the second time, I stayed in the Paraluman Lodge. It boasts of two queen-sized beds with a lounge area, and a bathroom. Ideal for groups of four, it is very spacious and is directly in front of Hiraya’s pool area.

If you’re interested in even bigger accommodations, there is White House Villa for 10 to 15 people. It has five bedrooms and two private lounges. Lakan Family Villa can host up to four people and has its own lounge pool. The Lakambini Lodge is also ideal for four people with two queen-sized beds.

All of Hiraya accommodations boast of tropical decor and interiors that makes you feel like you’re in a five-star beach hotel.

Your Vacation Self

Whenever I leave for a vacation, I’d like to believe I turn into a version of myself defined by what my getaway gives me. My vacation self in Hiraya loves to bike all around its six sprawling hectares. I also go for some swimming, taking advantage of Hiraya’s four different pools.You can also be that type of person who wakes up at 5:30 am to go trekking at 6 a.m. It’s the best way to watch the sunset overlooking the mountains of Pangasinan. It’s a breath of fresh air, literally.

In the afternoon, you can opt to go rafting and fish feeding, it’s a nice way to clear your head. Hiraya also offers fishing—and if you catch a fish of a good size you can have it cooked the way you like it!

Unique to Hiraya are their various culinary activities.This is why I feel like the resort is similar to going home to your grandmother’s place in the province. There’s a lot ways to put down your phone. There’s Pizza Making which allows you to create the dough from scratch, Juice Mixology that uses some ingredients harvested from Hiraya’s gardens, Tea Alchemy, and Cooking which lets you learn about Pangasinense cuisine. One of my favorite activities is S’mores Making over a bonfire that you can enjoy all night.

If you want to further relax, Hiraya also offers massage services that can be an add-on to your room package, or even booked through Parlon so you can get extra deals. When you’re lucky, you can also opt for yoga classes and other seasonal activities.

The Heart of Hiraya: Abong ni Tio Berto

What’s an at-home experience in a lush location without good food? Abong ni Tio Berto is the newly-opened two-story restaurant that caters to the resort but also welcomes walk-in guests. Abong ni Tio Berto is Hiraya’s heart. It shows off the expertise and passion for food of Golda Zamuco. She tirelessly develops her family’s haven into what Hiraya is now. She personally perfects each dish, drawing from family heirloom recipes, Pangasinense classics, and her experiences in France.

If you were to close your eyes and randomly pick from Abong ni Tio Berto’s menu, I guarantee you will love that dish. It’s a big claim to make, but I have the extra pounds to prove it. There are two types of menus: World and Filipino. From the Filipino menu, the standouts are the Crispy Palabok, Sizzling Osso Bucco, and Sinuglaw. The World menu still carries touches of our native cuisine with Rojo ala Filipina Calzone. The Korean Spicy Wings are also something you want to try out.

I also make it a point to bring home Abong ni Tio Berto goodies for pasalubong: Basque Burnt Cheesecake and their Chocolate Cookies, all made in-house.

The diversity of their menu doesn’t betray taste. My favorite when I first visited was the Taba ng Talangka Rice, my new favorite from my second visit is the Sea Salt Caramel Latte (with the homemade caramel!) Go figure.

I could tell you more about the food but there’s a word limit to this article. And also, I best leave it to you to take the trip to Hiraya on your own and find what titillates your tastebuds.

Home at Hiraya

Calling Hiraya Wellness Resort and Ecopark your “home away from home” is cliché and doesn’t quite capture everything it has. Calling it a “hidden gem” doesn’t do it justice either since it undersells the welcoming nature of the place.

What do you call it when your heart can rest to appreciate what matters in life, from good food to the ability to disconnect from the digital space? I don’t think there’s really one word to encapsulate all of that, but Hiraya Wellness Resort and Ecopark is exactly the place for it.

Learn more at hirayaresort.com. Follow @hirayaresort on Instagram and TikTok

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