Hamilo Coast: Premier gateway to ‘Philippine Riviera’

Pico de Loro Cove is the maiden community of Hamilo Coast, the premier sustainable beach resort town of the SM Group in Nasugbu, Batangas

Over the holidays, our family enjoyed the sea and sand of several beach properties along the Batangas coastline. Property development in Nasugbu, Batangas has grown immensely through the years.

Hamilo Coast is the premier seaside development of the SM Group at the head of the Nasugbu coastline. Its unique location as the long-established favored seaside address of the country’s elite, makes it the gateway to the “Philippine Riviera”.

The sprawling seaside sanctuary is located near the southwestern tip of Luzon, one of the three main island groups of the Philippines.

Bounded by the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on the west and mountain ranges in the east, the property encompasses three major mountain peaks and 13 coves, three of which are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Only a 90-minute drive from the Philippine capital Metro Manila, Hamilo Coast is envisioned to become the premier sustainable beach resort town of the Philippines, where beach resort living may eventually become an everyday lifestyle choice. It is the closest world-class private beach resort community to Manila.

Travel time to the resort from Metro Manila was reduced to only 90 minutes by car after the Ternate-Nasugbu Road was completed in mid-2013.

Hamilo Coast’s maiden community is Pico de Loro Cove.

The community strives to practice environmental and social sustainability in its operations, through its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF Philippines) and the SM Foundation.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel in Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast. Tom Epperson

The use of alternative energy sources, coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, livelihood training and local hiring of majority of staff are just some of the major efforts to achieve this goal.

In 2015, Hamilo Coast was conferred the Bronze Benchmarked status through EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

The first residential community of Hamilo Coast’s Pico de Loro Cove is comprised of three main locators—Pico de Loro Cove Condominiums, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club and Pico Sands Hotel.

Pico de Loro Cove Condominiums is composed of eight mid-rise residential buildings set around a tranquil lagoon, Hamilo Coast’s Pico de Loro Cove Condominiums makes owning a beach home as effortless and expedient as condominium living.

All of the four residential clusters in Hamilo Coast’s Pico de Loro Cove are named after birds that complement the natural environment. Each cluster has two residential condominiums, standing six and seven storeys respectively. Each floor is comprised of a mere 22 meticulously laid-out residential units.

Membership at the Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club can be purchased along with a beach condo at Pico de Loro Cove. The Club gives access to the most extensive land- and sea-based recreational facilities in the Nasugbu area.

Hamilo Coast’s Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club gives you access to a plethora of recreational facilities on both land and sea all in just one club membership. Basketball, squash and tennis courts are steps away from a white sand beach while biking, bowling and billiard may be enjoyed alongside sailing and scuba diving.

Pico Sands Hotel is a tropical contemporary seven-storey hotel that boasts 154 spaciously decorated guest rooms amid the awe-inspiring view of the mountains and the tranquil man-made lagoon.

The hotel’s Rain Spa-fusing traditional and progressive therapeutic practices in health and wellbeing, provides relaxation and renewal. Pico Restaurant & Bar is open to all guests and members.

The entire property management is handled by global real estate services leader Colliers International for long- term value preservation.

My favorite structure is the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel, a striking minimalist structure tucked in a tropical jungle, designed by renowned architect Carlos Arnaiz.

Prominently featuring modern materials such as metal and glass, the chapel has an airy space that lends it a solemn and meditative quality while providing, at the same time, panoramic views of Pico de Loro Cove’s untarnished natural sights.