Quite a few years passed between our first and second visits to Moalboal. After reading and talking to many travelers who had been there recently, it was clear to us that the less‑touristy Moalboal we knew in 2015, with hardly any restaurants or hotels, was a thing of the past. Now, thanks to the sardine run, the diving, and the nearby Kawasan Falls, Moalboal has earned a well‑deserved place in Philippines travel itineraries and, with it, places to stay for every taste have appeared. After searching, comparing, and weighing pros and cons, we decided to stay at Beyond Island Moalboal and, as you’ll see, it was a total success.
Location of Beyond Island in Moalboal
A very important point for us when choosing accommodation in Moalboal was the location. Panagsama Road, which used to be a long, practically empty street that simply connected the beach with the main road, is now the main artery of this destination. There you’ll find the best places to eat in Moalboal, as well as some shops, dive centers or, for example, places to do your laundry.
We didn’t want to depend on a motorbike 24 hours a day as happens if you stay in one of those hotels far from the center where there’s nowhere nearby to eat, so this area, near the beach and Panagsama, was our main choice. Thus, Beyond Island is just one minute from the street where you’ll find the vast majority of restaurants and 5/6 from the beach. Literally, you can go from lying in bed to finding yourself surrounded by a school of thousands of sardines after just a few minutes’ walk.
It’s also located on a very quiet street where you won’t be bothered by noise from cars, roosters, or nearby karaoke. The location of Beyond Island in Moalboal is a win in every respect.
Beyond Island, a recommended hotel in Moalboal
The Beyond Island hotel impressed us from the very first moment because of how well maintained all the rooms are. As soon as we entered our Double Room, the first thing that undoubtedly caught our attention was the huge bed where two people fit perfectly without any issue of space. The decor, although really very simple and without frills, has a modern minimalist feel that makes you feel very comfortable, far from those overly ornate Filipino hotels with garish paintings, brightly colored walls, or sheets that look like they’re from another era. Here you’ll find simple wooden furniture perfectly combined with lovely bedding sets and white walls that are zen‑like.
Each room has a modern air‑conditioning unit—the type that hardly makes any noise, cools really fast, and doesn’t smell like dust. Plus, if you’re not a big fan of air‑conditioning, there’s also a large ceiling fan over the bed to help air out the room quickly.
You won’t have space issues at Beyond Island in Moalboal either. Although the rooms are medium‑sized, they have a large wardrobe where you can put all your things, thus avoiding having them scattered all over the place. That wardrobe also has an electronic safe where you can safely store valuables such as documents, money, or a camera when you want to go on an excursion.
Want a hotel in Moalboal with a good internet connection? Then, without a doubt, Beyond Island is a great option for you. During our stay there we enjoyed one of the best Wi‑Fis we’ve had in the Philippines, giving us the chance, for example, to upload many of our photos and videos to the cloud as a backup.
The bathroom at Beyond Island doesn’t have much to highlight. It’s perfectly ventilated thanks to its window, has a water heater that will come in handy after an epic swim with Moalboal’s immense sardine run, and a vanity that follows the same simple wooden aesthetic as the rest of the room.
The outside area of the double rooms has a small terrace with a table and a couple of chairs to relax after a day of adventures, as well as clotheslines where you can hang your clothes and leave your swimsuit and towel to dry after enjoying the nearby beaches and waterfalls. After our stay at Beyond Island, some interesting renovations were made and now many of these terraces also have a small sink and a camping stove where you can prepare a simple dish or two.
Other room types at Beyond Island
During our stay at this hotel in Moalboal we stayed in the standard double room but, if you’re looking for something bigger, you’ll be glad to know they have other room types that, following the same style, offer much more space and other amenities.
The rooms called Apartment with balcony offer many more square meters of room where, among other conveniences such as more storage space, you’ll have a refrigerator to keep your drinks cold—something you’ll really appreciate on hot days—and a drinking water dispenser from which to refill your reusable bottle without having to spend money or constantly generate plastic waste. In addition, these rooms also have a small kitchen where you can prepare some dishes and a private balcony.
If there are three of you traveling or you’re two but want maximum comfort, don’t hesitate to take a look at the One‑Bedroom Apartment. This one, in addition to everything mentioned in the Apartment with balcony, has a sofa bed that can accommodate a third traveler, a small dining room with a table and four chairs, and a full kitchen with four burners and an oven.
© Beyond Island
Common areas at Beyond Island
Right in front of the reception at Beyond Island in Moalboal there is an open space where the breakfast included with the room is served every morning. They have a small menu where you’ll find the classic breakfasts of toast, eggs, omelette, jam, or “carnaca” and rice Filipino‑style. You’ll also find a free drinking water dispenser where you can get cold or hot water to make yourself tea or the instant coffee that comes with breakfast.
You can use those same tables throughout the day if you need a place to relax or somewhere to sit with your laptop to download photos if you’re on a long trip.
The reception is right next to the access door to the home of the friendly hotel owners, who are available for you at any time to help you both with matters related to your stay and to provide useful information about excursions such as canyoneering at Kawasan Falls—they’re both truly lovely!
Now they also have a pretty nice tennis/padel court.
Besides helping you with tips about the area and making your stay in Moalboal super pleasant, at the hotel itself you can rent a motorbike very conveniently for a great price to explore the surroundings.
Restaurants near Beyond Island
In our guide to Where to eat in Moalboal you’ll find lots of detailed information about the best places, but to whet your appetite, here are some options close to the hotel:
- Smooth Café: A couple of minutes’ walk from the hotel, right at the intersection with Panagsama Road, is this restaurant that we happily visited several times. If you go in the morning, you can start the day with one of their delicious coffees accompanied by cake or some pastries. If you stop by at lunch/dinner time, you’ll find premium burgers that will surprise you with their quality and flavors.
- Ven’z Kitchen: If you keep heading toward the beach you’ll come across one of the most popular restaurants in Moalboal, which tends to attract many travelers. Whether you’re vegetarian or not, their plant‑based dishes will win you over, and more than once you’ll find it hard to believe what you’re eating isn’t meat. One of our favorites in Moalboal!
- Trattoria Altrove Moalboal: This chain has locations in El Nido and Coron, and this one in Moalboal is one of our favorites. Italian dishes with top‑quality ingredients and pizzas from a wood‑fired oven await you at the best restaurant in town for a special dinner. Careful decor, 10/10 service, and a good variety of desserts and wines. Our mouths water just thinking about it!
Beyond Island Moalboal recap video
We always try to accompany our reviews with a video where you can see the hotel “live” and decide whether you like it as much as we do. Beyond Island was no exception, so roll video!
Final opinion of Beyond Island Moalboal
If you ask us whether we’d stay at this hotel again on our next visit to Moalboal, we’d be pretty clear that obviously yes! Our experience was 100% positive and we can’t wait to see how the pool turned out.
Pros:
- Great location near the sardine run and the main restaurants
- Well‑equipped, clean, and quiet rooms
- Excellent value for money
- Very friendly staff who help you get to know the area
- The convenience of being able to rent a motorbike right there
Cons:
- The breakfast coffee is instant
- The rooms are very different from each other and you won’t know which one you’ve got until you arrive.
Final score: 8’5/10 Filipino suns
Check prices and book
You can see Beyond Island’s prices and availability here or head to our guide to Where to stay in Moalboal to see other options we also recommend.
