New Property Acquisition, a Different Style of Vacation!
Yes we did!
We were shown a property that we just cannot let go to someone else. The place, topographically speaking is a BEAUTY! Activity-wise, it is a great sister resort to compliment our first property Mindoro Palms Beach.. It compliments the first property so perfectly that it gives YOU the Vacationeer an “all-around” experience.
Just like children, we cannot say which one is our favorite. Each one has it’s strong points and choice of which to stay in really depends on your “speed” at that moment. (;)
Good for you our Guests, you NEED NOT choose! With one reservation you can experience both Resorts. You do the comparison then, and may request to stay longer at whichever one suits your mood. Let’s all agree- a vacation is a lifestyle and a “mood”, Yeah?
For men, you can be as active as you want. For women, slow down and be catered to. Hey that is what it’s all about.
MACOPA REEF sits on hillside amid hardwood trees and bamboo groves. Underwater it is a contiguous reef. The Clubhouse will sit down below the cottages’ locations, and guests will have to use a zipline to come to dinner! Ha ha, no not really. But I remarked that when we were atop the hill looking the property over. When you’re up there looking down, it’s as if you could jump, spread out your wings and fly! The zipline I thought was a novel, better idea. 
MACOPA REEF Beach Resort- quick video glimpse as we toured it for the first time.
The waters of MACOPA REEF are of several depth levels, kind of in a stairstep fashion. From the sand’s waterline, you could walk a quarter mile out on knee-high waters during a medium level low tide. At a part of the lunar cycle when tide gets to its extreme lowest, the reef dries up for a few hours. The whole front of the Resort is a plateau of reefs atop volcanic rocks. It is teeming with life that is pretty young. In this shallow reef, fishes and corals are still in their infancy. While snorkeling I wondered why that was.
Due maybe, to the Reef’s constant shallow nature, it’s a perfect place for hatchlings to hang out and be protected from predators. It could also be due to sun’s exposure when the reef dries up that only small corals can be found.
As you come to the end of your quarter-mile walk, you come to a descent in the ocean bed. This cliff drops off to about 30 feet. Even as I hover on the surface snorkeling, I could see the bottom very clearly. Bigger fishes and other lifeforms populate this deep. Different types of corals, some I’ve never seen before seem to be healthy and thriving. Starfishes and many other invertebrates also can be found.
It goes deeper as you go out. Waves break here as they hit the shallow rocks. Go a little further out and waves become very tamed. I intend to build a diving platform/ sushi bar here! Also.
These water cliffs are the favorite “secret” spot of some of the fishermen in the barrio. They spearfish successfully here. Some who know how to spot the elusive octopus will almost always come up with one.
Being a scuba diver, Jim liked this feature of this beach. I liked it because I can snorkle all day!
The rock formations that support this coral ecology are a breathtaking sight. Jagged, with lots of in-out ways for fishes to take shelter, and never use the same pathway. There is a story of a “foreigner” who followed a school of fishes to an underwater cave and almost lost his life when time came to breathe. I refrain from commenting as to his actions and decisions, but it’s easy to believe there are underwater “little” caves here. I looked down one while straddling atop it. I wish we had gone back and took underwater videos, but it’ll happen soon enough!
The “MACOPA” part of the Resort name is derived from a tree right on the sand’s edge called “wild macopa”. I chose this tree to name the Resort with, because it is very unusual to find such wild version of this domestic fruit tree. There is one more uphill I was told. One of the best, more endearing qualities of this property, at least to me, are the full grown trees that dot the hillsides and line the beach sides. Some are fruit trees, some are hardwood. My last request before we left for the USA was for the keeper, and owner, to never cut down a single tree anymore.
MACOPA REEF is shaped like a sail, with the shortest distance being the two beaches to the north-west and south-west sides. Hiking can be done even on crocs sandals! I got to the summit on wedge flops! That is to say- the incline is easy going up. But- but- but; when you get to the top, descent is a whole totally different challenging experience. If you continue the trail instead of re-tracking back it is almost a 35% descent, with only shrubs to grab on to.
Take heart- this trail is only the short version. There is so much more acreage (10.87 acres) to hike, and its inclines and declines are gradual. So I was told!
The “Hill” part of the name of this property as you can safely assume is- simply because it is “hill-y”.
We are totally excited by this new find that we talked about suspending building on the MINDORO PALMS side after the Main House is complete. We focus resources on building here at MACOPA BEACH. That will be difficult as I want to finish one phase before we start at another. We shall see. Maybe I can juggle building on two fronts!
Get your passports out and updated!
