Banwa Private Island : A Journey of Discovery and Adventure

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – 05th February 2024 - This week, over 200 guests from the Philippines, Hong Kong and beyond were treated to a preview of a movie documentary, “Banwa Private Island – A Two Part Adventure,” filmed on location and produced by Asian Air Safari.

Banwa Private Island is the gateway to the incredibly rich and diverse marine and land ecology in Palawan. ‘Banwa' actually means ‘community' in the local Palawano language and the Tagbanwa people are considered guardians of the region's indigenous nature. Proceeds from the island directly contribute to educational and infrastructure projects in the area through its Aquos Foundation whose ethos is to support, nurture and protect the island’s unique biodiversity.

The documentary highlights how guests are coming from around the world to explore the culture, history and ecology of this unique region. A truly private island with just 6 beautiful villas, guests enjoy un-paralleled hospitality from the Banwa Private Island team whilst being entranced by the nature, wildlife, beaches and stunning turquoise water in this mosquito free environment. Within just a 20-minute radius, there are an array of activities including snorkeling, diving, hiking, an underground river, waterfalls and unique wildlife indigenous to the area.

The documentary was produced by the enigmatic and humbling Captain Joy Roa, CEO of Asian Air Safari, who commented: “I was given a beautiful opportunity to visit this incredible island with its rich bio-diversity, right in our own backyard in the Philippines. Flying with the helicopter for only two hours from Manila allowed me to see this private world – a distinctive combination of luxurious pampering and hospitality, wildlife encounters, and authentic, meaningful interactions with the local community. Experiencing it all first-hand makes me proud that an award-winning, world-class property like Banwa Private Island can be found in the Philippines, because it defines what positive, impactful travel should be.”

Banwa Private Island is the vision of Richard Beattie who has been exploring the region for over 20 years and cannot escape the charm and lure of these islands. Richard commented, “We are so grateful to Captain Joy and his brilliant team for this incredible documentary. It enables people to have an insight into the sounds, smells, culture and scenery of this almost unknown region and Captain Joy immersed himself into every aspect of what the region offers. His generosity is unbounded, and he appears to have found quite a few future pilots for his team from the eager local school children!”

The screening was attended by an international audience made up of past island guests, those planning to visit in the future and the best of the luxury travel trade who have already booked guest visits to the island from far-away places such as Brazil, China and Europe – and perhaps surprisingly many from Manila who were previously unaware of the adventure that awaits them in Palawan.

The two-part documentary will be available for public viewing in March and a wonderful preview is available via this link.

Banwa Private Island Awarded as “The Philippines’ Best Beach, Island or Upcountry Resort” in Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – 8th June 2023 - Banwa Private Island is thrilled to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious award as “The Philippines’ Best Beach, Island or Upcountry Resort” in the inaugural Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023.

Peter Nilsson of Banwa Private Island expressed his gratitude for the support of Travel + Leisure readers and the recognition bestowed.  He stated, “We are honored to receive this esteemed award. This accolade underscores the dedication and passion of our island team members whom we warmly refer to as ‘Banwaites’, in providing intuitive yet unpretentious, seamless service, creating inspirational and unforgettable experiences that capture the hearts of affluent, seasoned travelers.

Nestled in the heart of Palawan, Banwa Private Island offers a sanctuary of privacy and tranquility amidst stunning natural beauty.  The garden island features contemporary beachfront villas ensuring exclusivity and serenity for discerning travelers.  With its commitment to sustainable practices and immersive experiences, Banwa Private Island sets a new standard for luxury hospitality in the region.

The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023 serves as a prestigious platform that recognizes and celebrates the pinnacle of excellence in the hospitality industry in the region.  An evolution of the Travel + Leisure Asia’s Best Awards 2022, the awards program includes an expanded list of 16 countries and award categories.  Nominees were selected by a team of editors and expert contributors across Asia Pacific, without any paid promotions.

The award was announced June 5 at the Park Hyatt Bangkok in Thailand.

For more information and enquiries on Banwa Private Island, please contact the Reservations team through mobile/WhatsApp: +639178882864, send an email to reservations@banwaprivateisland.com or visit www.banwaprivateisland.com.

About Banwa Private Island

Banwa Private Island is an intimate all-villa destination for discerning guests wanting to experience privacy and seamless service in a marine and land nature reserve. Nestled in one the world’s last frontiers of natural biodiversity, north-eastern Palawan in Philippines, the island sanctuary boasts of breath-taking views, verdant landscape, pristine beach and turquoise waters.

Banwa Private Island’s beachfront villas are designed to soak our guests in the natural beauty of the island. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the outside to flood in, the beach and garden terraces are mere bare-footsteps away and an infinity pool melts into the ocean. For a quintessential island escape, guests can choose to stay in a contemporary-designed villa or exclusively charter the whole island for family, friends and colleagues.

Central to Banwa Private Island’s ethos, the Aquos Foundation was established to support, nurture and protect delicate ecosystems. Among its pioneering programs is the protection and restoration of habitats of the critically endangered Mantanani Scops Owl, Hawksbill Turtle and the Tabon Bird (Philippine Megapode).

www.banwaprivateisland.com

L’IGUANA EST ARRIVÉ! Directly from the Iguana factory in Normandy, our new French-built amphibious Commuter Yacht has just reached our shores.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – 20th July 2022.  A hidden gem surrounded by the crystalline Sulu Sea, mesmerizing marine life, and radiant coral reefs, Banwa Private Island enthralls travelers seeking exclusive and unique adventures in a private sanctuary. 

With the arrival of world-class Iguana Commuter, Banwa Private Island has expanded the island escape experience. The Commuter model, being the most exclusive in the range of yachts from Iguana, is the first of its kind in Asia. Adding new dimension to immersive local activities, the sustainable, amphibious boat opens up access to new idyllic spots of North-eastern Palawan’s coastline to discover while enjoying the sheer thrill of the ride, seamlessly transferring between land and water.  

Head to nearby sandbanks or unspoiled islands, access the mangrove forest of the Barbacan River and venture to the untouched reef of Araceli Island, a known site for swimming with manta rays. Make that luxurious and memorable journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on this limousine tender.

Banwa Private Island chose the Iguana Commuter boat for its diversity and go-anywhere capabilities, and low ecological impact. The environmental footprint of the adventure watercraft is lower than a typical boat, with minimal requisites in logistics, materials and infrastructure.  Iguana Commuters are highly respectful to the coast, the sea and the beach by being versatile and stealthy, limiting water, air, noise and visual pollution. With its durable hi-tech build, the amphibious Iguana offers a safe, exhilarating ride experience for guests of Banwa Private Island.   

Accelerate your Island getaway and experience the Iguana Commuter for exceptional local discoveries.  For more information and enquiries, please contact the Reservations team through mobile/WhatsApp: +639178882864, send an email to reservations@banwaprivateisland.com, or visit www.banwaprivateisland.com.

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About Banwa Private Island

Banwa Private Island is an intimate all-villa destination for discerning guests wanting to experience privacy, serenity and intuitive services in a marine protected and nature reserve.

Nestled in one the world’s last frontiers of natural biodiversity, north-eastern Palawan in The Philippines, the island sanctuary boasts of breath-taking views, verdant landscape, pristine beach and turquoise waters. 

Choose to stay in any of the contemporary-designed villas delicately laid out or decide on an exclusive charter island for that quintessential island escape. 

The Aquos Foundation was established to support, nurture and protect the island’s delicate ecosystem and its rich array of flora and fauna it provides habitat for.

For more information, please visit www.banwaprivateisland.com

Experience the Pristine and Untouched Beauty of Banwa Private Island as The Philippines Opens to International Travellers

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – 3rd March 2022. Guests who yearn for privacy, serenity and tranquility in nature can now pursue their much-awaited holiday plans to explore the ultimate exclusive destination, Banwa Private Island, as The Philippines opens its shores to international travellers without any quarantine period.

There’s no better time than now to discover a luxurious hideaway gem nestled in North-eastern Palawan, one of the world’s last frontiers of natural biodiversity. Remote yet not removed, Banwa Private Island boasts breath-taking views, flourishing flora and fauna, and powder-white sands of the turquoise Sulu Sea. Charter flights via seaplane, private jet or helicopter will seamlessly take guests from Manila or Clark international airports right to the doorstep of the garden island.

Guests can choose to stay in any of the contemporary-designed villas or decide on an exclusive island charter and craft a dream holiday masterpiece.

Banwa Private Island is the perfect backdrop for shared travel experiences with family and loved ones -- take a plunge in the house reef, go kayaking or paddleboarding and walk on the wild side in the lush, verdant nature trails.

Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path, hop on a boat to explore nearby islands, and say yes to unique adventures. Embark on a deep-sea fishing excursion, take a short trek to a secret waterfall, or witness the quintessential Palawan sunset on a secluded sand bank while sipping your favorite cocktails.

Start planning now and see the world again. Revive your bucket-list, journey across the oceans and experience an escape unlike any other at Banwa Private Island.

For more information and enquiries, please contact the Reservations team through mobile/WhatsApp: +639178882864, send an email to reservations@banwaprivateisland.com, or visit www.banwaprivateisland.com.