Coco Grove Beach Resort is on the edge of a beach in a beautiful garden enclosed by a pebbled wall. The well maintained garden is full of coconut trees, bougainvillea, fragrant frangipani trees, philodendrons clinging to knotted tree trunks, ficus trees and hibiscus. Little store pathways lead to the different buildings.

The cottages are at the back if the beach on a slight elevation obscured by the vegetation. These are constructed from natural minerals like wood, bamboo, with roofs and walls made of plaited nipa. The interior of each room, though a bit dark, is pleasant with wood flooring and wicker furniture covered with floral printed fabrics. Each one has a terrace with a little bamboo sofa. Although the cottages are semi-detached, the privacy of each one is preserved through bamboo partitions that separate the terraces.

The most pleasant cottages in the resort is the only one on the beach — very spacious, with a drawing room and a second room in the mezzanine. The decor is better planned: mother of pearl lamps, colored wall hangings. It has a nice marble bathroom.

Along the beach are the Garden Bar, the swimming pool and the restaurant. The Garden Bar, with high stools and wicker tables was built with little beach pebbles, its interior is painted in a bright yellow.

The nearby swimming pool is pretty, surrounded by multi-colored bougainvilleas. It is pleasant to stop here and have a drink as there are lounge chairs and tables scattered around. Above the swimming pool is a stone terrace bordered with frangipani trees and two dove cotes.

The restaurant which also houses the reception area and the bar, is at the bottom of the garden, directly on the beach. The meals served on a covered terrace overlooking the sea.

The sea, however, does not have any exceptional coral — just a few little fish — but there are starfish of incredible forms and colors. On the right side of the beach begin the rocky coast with small coves to explore.

How to get there

From Manila by air, land, sea and land, 75-minute flights on Air Philippines or Cebu Pacific from Manila to Dumaguete, 10 minutes by car from Dumaguete airport to Dumaguete harbor, 45 minutes by ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor Island. There are two ferries: Delta I arriving in Larena and Delta Car Ferry arriving in Siquijor town, 30 minutes by car from Larena.
More photos here