North Zen Villas

Built into a stretch of mangrove forest on Panglao Island, North Zen Villas was shaped around the land it occupies rather than cleared for it. A raised bamboo walkway still threads through the mangroves to a viewing deck, looking out over neighbouring islands. The resort holds 22 rooms and villas, each with a balcony or terrace, air conditioning, a mini-fridge and a private bathroom with shower. Design mixes contemporary lines with Boholano craft, evident in the woodwork and furnishings across the property. The Zen Villa suits families, with 83 m² split across two bedrooms plus a separate living and dining room facing the garden. Zen Pool Villas hold a private plunge pool within 100 m² of ground-floor space, built for two. Zenses' Rooms are smaller, at 30 m², but face mangrove and sea from a bathtub set by the window. It is a compact stay by design, with the SEADS restaurant serving seafood and organic produce grown nearby, and the Nest Bar positioned for sunset over the water. You can hear the mangrove birdlife from most terraces at dusk. Spa treatments and two outdoor pools round out the grounds, aimed at rest rather than activity. Check-in details and rates run through the resort's own booking channel.