Donatela Resort and Sanctuary

Rooms and decor

Picture a stand-alone wooden villa with a shape unlike anything else — a roofline and lines that nod to Filipino tribal homes, yet carry Balinese, African and Chinese accents in the details — scattered across a lush garden of big shade trees and blooming tropical flowers. That's the first impression Donatela Resort and Sanctuary gives from the moment you arrive. The resort hides away in Hoyohoy, Tawala on Panglao island, on a private botanical garden of more than 7.5 hectares, deliberately kept to only about 11-12 villas. What clearly sets it apart is the one-of-a-kind architecture: the villas are built from warm-toned mahogany wood, and the joinery and finishing reflect the owners' intent to blend several cultures together with taste. Inside, wood and characterful pieces make it feel more like staying inside a work of art than a standard hotel room. Anyone who loves a stay with design, character and privacy among nature should fall for it on sight.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay at Donatela is taking it slow among nature. Start the morning with a walk through the botanical garden of big trees and tropical flowers, birdsong for company, then a meal in the resort restaurant where the mood blends into the green around you. Midday, slip into the garden pool or find a quiet corner to read and sip something cold without rushing anywhere. Because the resort is small and friendly, the whole feel is more relaxed and private than a big hotel. For anyone who wants to get out and explore, Bohol is known for its nature and iconic sights — many use Donatela as a base and plan days out to the oddly shaped Chocolate Hills, the tiny wide-eyed tarsiers, a lunch cruise on the Loboc River, or a boat trip out from Alona to snorkel over coral and swim with dolphins, before returning to the quiet of the garden. You get both the do-nothing side and the go-explore side.

Location and getting there

Donatela sits in Hoyohoy, Tawala on Panglao island, and what's interesting about the spot is how it balances calm with convenience. The resort hides inside its own garden, not on the sea, so it's quieter and more private than the often-busy beachfront hotels — but it isn't so far out as to be a hassle. The Alona Beach area, the heart of tourist life on Panglao with its beachfront restaurants, bars, massage shops and jump-off points for dolphin-watching and island-hopping dives, is only about 3 km away, a few minutes by car. That makes it easy to head out for dinner by the sea or to find a tour, then come back to the private quiet of the garden. The grounds feel like a tucked-away calm corner of the island, and Bohol-Panglao airport is only around 20-30 minutes by car, so getting in and out is simple. A location like this suits people who want privacy first and the buzz of the beach now and then, more than those who want to stay on the water and step onto the sand.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — first, you'll need to accept that this resort is not on the beach. Donatela sits in the garden in Hoyohoy, Tawala, so anyone dreaming of walking straight from the room onto the sand should reset expectations: swimming means driving about 3 km out to Alona Beach or another beach, so have a transfer or rental car ready and you'll get around far more easily. Second, this is a small boutique resort of only about 11-12 villas, so the facilities aren't as extensive as a big resort — no choice of several restaurants, a single pool, and fairly limited on-site activities. Anyone expecting everything in one place may feel the options are few. Last is consistency: with the focus on design and harmony with nature, some areas can feel simple or older than a brand-new resort, and reviews on service and upkeep run both ways. Read recent reviews before booking, ask about the villa and service details, and come for the architecture and the private atmosphere above all.

Our take

From reading through plenty of real guest reviews, Donatela Resort and Sanctuary is a resort that sells its distinctive architecture and hidden-in-nature feel with real charm — a handful of multi-culture mahogany villas set in a quiet botanical garden, giving a lot of privacy, and still only about 3 km from Alona Beach for easy days out. If the trip in your head is waking up in a stylish villa, walking out for coffee in the green garden in the morning, then driving out for dinner by the sea at night before coming back to your private calm, this fits couples and anyone wanting to escape the crowds. But if you want a beachfront resort where you walk straight into the water, or loaded facilities and activities all in one place, the small scale and garden location may not be the best fit. Overall we give it 8.8/10 — best for couples and anyone after a design-led, quiet and private stay among nature, more than those set on staying right by the sea.