Banwa Private Island
Six villas on a Palawan island, let by the villa or entirely, at the top of the Asian market.
Banwa occupies a small island in the Palawan archipelago north of El Nido, reached by private aircraft to Busuanga and then boat. The island is a few hectares of beach and rock with a house reef, and one property holds it. The surrounding waters are part of a marine protected area.
Six two-bedroom villas hold up to twenty-four guests, with a staff ratio at the very top of the market and an all-inclusive model covering food, drink, spa and excursions. The island can be taken whole and frequently is. It has traded on being among the most expensive island rentals in Asia, which is a positioning claim rather than a description of the product.
Six villas with a staff of many times that. The ratio, rather than the architecture, is what the property sells.
Bookable by the villa or by the island. Very few properties this small offer both, and the choice defines two quite different stays.
Who it is not for
Banwa is wrong for couples booking a single villa, who will share a very small island with up to five other parties. It is wrong for travellers wanting a large resort's range. And it is wrong for those needing simple logistics, given the private flight. And it is wrong for guests who want space to walk, since the island ends in minutes. Those wanting Palawan at resort scale should look at Amanpulo or Pangulasian.
Sources
- banwaprivateisland.com — six two-bedroom villas, up to twenty-four guests, all-inclusive, whole-island available
- Villa count, guest maximum and island area unverified. Confirm before publication.
Booking
Private Island Resorts arranges each stay on request, quoting the rates available for the island and dates. No benefit should be assumed unless it is confirmed in writing for the individual reservation.
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