TESTIMONIALS
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
We make sure to get to know our guests weeks or even months before their arrival.
This allows us to prepare and tailored our services according to your preferences.
We want you to arrive serene and leave Terra Nova enchanted and relaxed.
-
We love our whole stay. The owner and staff are kind, nice amd really helpful. We felt at home! The place is so beautiful. We will definitely come back to... read more this place!
Stephanie
September 11, 2023Terra nova is an incredible space to restore body, mind and spirit. The hosts are on site and incredibly friendly and dedicated to their guests. The food is delicious. Chose... read more the island tours as they do not disappoint. The staff felt like family and the hospitality was really special. Lastly, there is the sweetest dog named Belle who watched over our family, even going on some of the tours with us. This was a time that our family will never forget.
Jennifer
August 1, 2023 -
What an incredibly restful, peaceful and magical place Terra Nova is! Guy and staff (Robie, Teresa, Ian, Noriel, Raymond, Steven, Verbin and Romie) are extremely accommodating and kind.
You... read more wonât go hungry while staying here and if you avail of their package! Thank you Robie for all the delicious food and for accommodating to our groupâs tastes and requests!
My family and friends stayed in Villa 2 and there was more than enough room to accommodate our party of 6. The beds were really comfortable and we stayed cool the entire night.
Our daily excursions island hopping and snorkeling was more than we could have asked for and more!! The islands we visited were so clean and pristine and our captain and first mate prepared our lunch on the boat as we explored the MANY fish and sea turtles in the water.
We stayed a total of 4 nights and could have easily stayed at least a week more!
Thank you, Guy! We are counting the days until our return to Terra Nova. Wishing you continued success!!Michelle
July 8, 2023Our experience at Terra Nova was truly magical! Such a beautiful resort that offered us peace, privacy, nature, and everything you can possibly dream of.
From our... read more very special host, Guy, to our Chef, Robie, and all of the exclusive staff and private boat captains. We felt right at home and our needs were fully accommodated for and beyond.
We took day excursions to the beautiful secret lagoons and island hopped as if the waters belonged only to ourselves. Guy made sure we were well taken care of. He was always there to see us off and greet us when we returned. It was more than we could as for!
The true Philippine cuisine from Chef Robie was delicious and filling! We are still craving her homemade pancit and lumpia! Robie was so much fun to talk to and hear local stories from.
Our travels to the Philippines will always carry the memories of Terra Nova. Thank you to our new friends Guy and Robie, and the rest of the amazing staff. XO Love, Pauline, Tracy, Jess, and Renny.Pauline
July 3, 2023Terra Nova is nestled nearby the most beautiful island locations. Guy and his boat Captain(s) and crew delighted in sharing and to offer us the opportunity daily to swim, snorkel,... read more kayak and explore the diversity on their doorstep. Robbie, Terresa and Rico helped us feel right at home every mealtime, preparing a mixture of local cuisine and some more traditional food. Robbie adapted each meal, to preferences, as required, even a birthday cake for my son!
This was the perfect holiday for my active teenage children. Very little choice but to relax, connect to nature and enjoy. Thank you for the genuine hospitality and care given, we hope to return!Jacqui
June 26, 2023 -
Die Unterkunft von Guy war sehr schön! Es gibt sehr viel Platz und die Natur ist wundervoll. Die Mitarbeiter sind sehr fleissig und nett. Die AusflĂŒge und das Inselhopping hat... read more sehr viel SpaĂ gemacht! Es ist ein sehr guter Ort zum entspannen und relaxen!
Einziger Minuspunkt: Das Internet ist sehr schlecht.Sara Und Alexander
June 20, 2023We felt truly blessed to have found Terra Nova. This is a truly beautiful, special place that felt âat homeâ even though we are thousands of miles from our... read more real home in Texas. The villa in which we stayed was extremely spacious for our family of five. In reality, this villa could have easily accommodated 10 persons. The overall concept of the place is absolutely amazing and the brainchild of Mr. Guy. He sought out to create a private island environment with first class accommodations and boy, he has really created a magical environment. There are currently only 2 villas on the resort, yet there are 10-11 amazing people who cater to you every need. Unbelievable! The manager, Tessa, is nothing short of fantastic. She wears many hats besides managing the resort and at one point, she even helped in the kitchen as chef during a brief transition. We chose the all inclusive package and had 3 home cooked meals daily catered to our taste. We also had the pleasure to âisland hopâ.
Catherine
June 1, 2023Tera Nova is an awesome place. It exceeded our expectations. The host Guy was always around if you need anything. He treats your needs and wants as his. Everything was... read more taken cared of. Tesa prepared nice / delicious foods. The staffs are awesome. the boat trips are fabulous , we were taken to unbeaten paths which I feel is special as we are always on our own in a private secluded place away from Tourist . We really enjoyed all the island hopping and the picnics in the Beach . You can see the passion and Love they put into making our stay enjoyable and memorable. Thank you Guy, Tesa , Kapitan and the rest of the Team for making our stay a superb hit! Wish you all the best, till next timeđ
Diana
May 19, 2023 -
I could not recommend Terra Nova enough. Guy and his staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. From the food, activities offered, and service provided, Terra Nova... read more is more than just a place to stay. Guy and his team make themselves available 24/7 to ensure that every need is met. Our stay was a group of 6 for the duration of 5 days. To Guy, Tessa, and the entire Terra Nova team; we canât thank you enough. We will absolutely be returning in the future, and would recommend Terra Nova to anyone who is looking to have an unforgettable vacation.
Angela
May 12, 2023Guy and crew were great hosts, the villa was very nice and comfortable and the crew taking us out to explore each day was very nice, warm and knowledgeable. We... read more also received recommendations on what to do after our time in Terra Nova. Our favorite was the privacy, getting away from all other tourists and beautiful views. It is a remote location so you should expect mosquitos, and bugs overall.
Claudia
May 3, 2023Terra Nova ist ein sehr schöner Ort abseits der Touristenhochburg El Nido. Es gibt nur 2x Villen. Es ist ein geeigneter Ort um private Urlaubstage in schönem landschaftlichem Umfeld zu... read more verbringen. Man kann Inselhoppingtouren bei Guy buchen. Das Restaurant bietet fĂŒr FrĂŒhstĂŒck und Dinner ein Menu an. Anpassungen sind möglich. Guy, Tessa und das Team sind sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Die Villenarchitektur ist optisch ansprechend. Im Bereich der Dachkonstruktion gibt es offene Bereiche zum benachbarten Schlafzimmer und nach auĂen gibt es ebenfalls einen offenen Bereich abgetrennt nur durch ein grobes Netz. Daher ist die AC-Funktion nur eingeschrĂ€nkt nutzbar. Die netten Wege und Stege auf dem Areal waren wĂ€hrend unseres Aufenthaltes nur bedingt nutzbar und teilweise reparatur- und pflegebedĂŒrftig. Der kleine Pool war auĂer Betrieb. Es gibt einen kleinen Strandabschnitt innerhalb der Hafenmauer und beeindruckende Sonnenuntergangspanoramen zu beobachten.
Holger
April 12, 2023 -
I had the pleasure of staying at a secluded villa for three nights and it was an unforgettable experience for me and my entire family. The villa was tucked away... read more in a tranquil location.
From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. They made us feel right at home.
Overall, I would recommend this secluded villa to anyone looking for a peaceful yet fun filled getaway with family/friends. The staff were exceptional, the location was idyllic, and the villa was the perfect home away from home. It was an unforgettable experience that we will cherish for years to come.
Special shout out to Tessa and her crew for being so awesome!Kristine
March 8, 2023To say this is the most unique Airbnb I have ever stayed at is an understatement. Terra Nova is truly a one-of-a-kind place, and I could not imagine my first... read more trip to the Philippines in any other way. Guy as a host was great at communicating with me from the time of booking up until I checked out. He was gracious enough to help me find transportation to his place as my group flew in from Puerto Princesa. What makes Terra Nova amazing, however, is the incredible staff at the villa! My friends and I completely fell in love with the staff and were extremely sad to leave them when we checked out. The staff goes above and beyond to make your stay a memorable one and they truly do make you feel like family. If you are looking for a peaceful and secluded place to enjoy your time on the island, then this is the place for you. I hope to return one day to spend time with the staff once again.
Jennifer
February 3, 2023Amazing place, amazing people! The villas are comfortable, clean, spacious, nicely furnished and decorated.
My family and I fell in love with Terra Nova and the people behind... read more it. The place is just beautiful and made even more special by the owner, the staff and the boat crew. They are genuinely caring people, sweet and hard working. They became our extended family and shared a lot of fun times with us. We had such a great and memorable experience and will forever be grateful with the connections we made. Thank you Guy for creating this paradise! Tesa, you are the sweetest and thank you for all the love and delicious food! Valerie, you added so much value to our trip! Thank you for taking such good care of us. Panya, Jean, Ismael, Renan, JanJan and Andy - you guys are the best! Thanks for all the fun times and for being so sweet and caring to my 91 year old mom. She had such a blast and cannot stop talking about you guys đ. We miss you all and we hope to be back again someday!
â€ïžâ€ïžâ€ïžMinie
January 14, 2023 -
Itâs a perfect getaway. We stayed for 4 nights and 5 days and Terra Nova management and staffs delivered as advertised. My family had the best times of our lives.... read more For the first time weâre disconnected with the world and had the time and place to our selves. We could talk with each other without interruptions and we could eat together like a real family. Terra nova provided us the time and place to be a family even for just a few days. Guy Mazzone, the owner, and his staff were very friendly and very considerate of our needs going beyond what is required. Kudos to the kitchen crews who prepared excellent food every day, (sit in meals for breakfast and dinner and picnic style for our lunch for our daily tours). The boat crew are likewise excellent. They gave us ample time to enjoy every place we went either the nice beaches or shopping in the town of El Nido. We couldnât ask for a better experience than our Terra Nova experiences. Most highly recommended.
Aileen
November 15, 2022Iâve been meaning to go back to Terranova ever since my first visit back in 2018. The service and experience Guy & the whole Terranova family (and even their wonderful... read more dog, Belle) provide are unmatched. They will prepare everything for you from all the delicious meals, the island tours, and car service. They truly do their best to ensure that you will have a wonderful stay & are very welcoming & accommodating. The rooms & their restaurant have also been improved & redesigned and are also cleaned daily. They also provide a water dispenser in every villaâwhich we greatly appreciated given how important it is to hydrate after a whole day out at sea.
The one downside was that our boat broke down during our last island tour day, but this allowed us to enjoy the Hidden Beach all to ourselves for the rest of the afternoon. And of course, they swiftly took action to rescue us. The good news is, for future visitors, this will no longer be a problem because the boats will be undergoing full & proper repairs now after our trip, haha!
Iâm very thankful to Guy, Tesa, and everyone at Terranova for giving me & my family a one of a kind & incredibly memorable vacation. I canât wait to be back again. đCaisa
June 2, 2022A great place to get away from the city. The hosts and their team are very friendly. They take you out for island hopping every day. They... read more will try to refer to your menu to serve you food, despite the relative lack of local supplies. All in all, a great place to try, the four of us got to relax
Joey
April 17, 2022 -
Weâve stayed at Terra Nova last Feb.18-21,2020 and we loved it! We are party of 4 (me,wife,son and sis in law) and stayed in villa 2. This place absolutely gave... read more us a real âislandâ experience. In the first couple days, we were the only guests and we were able to enjoy and explore the whole resort. We did some hiking,kayaking,snorkeling,swimming, sunrise and sunset watching,lots of island hopping,visited the secret lagoon and so much to see around. The view from our villa is fantastic. The pictures from the site couldnât give justice of how really beautiful the place is. If you love privacy and hates dealing with too many tourist, this is the place for you. We absolutely love the privacy and been able to be in a few beaches that we were literally the only ones there. Jeffrey the tour guide is amazing, he is very knowledgeable of each of the islands and beaches. We couldnât ask for a better place to chill and unwind. We definitely felt being away from the civilization and was able to enjoy Godâs beautiful creations every single moment we were there. The cook was amazing, she cooked yummy and healthy local food for us. They even did our laundry. No mosquitoes, electricity went out a couple times but not a big deal because weâre busy enjoying the whole day. Breeze was amazing and waves were so relaxing to listen to. No WiFi but you wonât need it anyways. I couldnât express enough how we love this place,highly recommended and you wonât regret the trip.Our family had a great time,this trip is very memorable.
Thank you Terra Nova, Guy and crews,for a great experience and for sharing this wonderful paradise with us. See you next time.Jeff
February 21, 2020Expect amazing and hands on hospitality by the owner and staffs, with two cute dogs to welcome you Everyday. Expect to be properly fed by the amazing Chef Lynn, and... read more weâll organised trips and transfers by Tezza. Expect your kids to be safe in hands of Suga and the crew members. Expect amazing starlight at midnight, beautiful sunrise and sunset on the beach. Maybe itâs a little pricey, but I personally feel like it is a bargain compared to other commercialised resort that are usually more expensive.
However, do be reminded that this is not a commercial resort, so expect hiccups and certain shortage, but it is worth it.Kah Soon
January 30, 2020 -
Terra Nova was amazing beyond our expectations. If you are looking for a large resort with hotel style amenities, do not come here. This is a place for... read more those who truly enjoy good hospitality and the quiet serenity off the beaten trail. We experiences beaches and snorkeling where we were the only ones around with an amazing boat crew. Terra Nova's location keeps you away from the tourist throngs of El Nido and gives you a true experience of the quiet life and relaxation Palawan can offer. The staff was very attentive and took care of us so well. The food was AMAZING! The views were uncomparable from the property, we could watch both the sunrise and the sunset everyday. A big THANK YOU to everyone at Terra Nova!!
Amanda
January 24, 2020Terra Nova was the perfect place for my family to escape for a few days, especially after escaping the huge Taal Volcano ashfall in Tagaytay the day before. The property... read more is located south of El Nido town and it offers an escape from distraction. If you came for a place to detach from the everyday stress, this is the place. The villa comfortably accommodated my family of 7 and provided great views of the sunset and moonrise. Beds were comfortable and the rooms were kept very clean. I also was able to walk around the property on the docks, up the hill for a tiny âhikeâ and down to the little rocky beach area.
As for the staff, they were incredible, patient and attentive. I was traveling with my father and uncle, both persons with disability, and they made sure both of them were included in all of our island hopping trips. The kitchen staff, especially Lynn, prepared delicious local food for each meal that my family enjoyed, particularly a boodle fight style meal on our last night. Tessa was great at managing the property with such a warm and inviting attitude. She was even able to hire us a boat and tour guide to take us around the Big Lagoon at the very last minute.
Overall, if youâre looking for the gracious hospitality that the Philippines is known to offer and want to soak in the beauty of Palawan, look no further. Terra Nova is the place and I would love to return again.Jenn
January 17, 2020If you are looking for something private, close to beautiful beaches and avoid the tourists then this is exactly what you are looking for!!
We had a wonderful... read more experience and such a lovely time myself and my other friends had staying at Terra Nova. When looking online when I found this location via Airbnb & we really didn't really expect our stay to be so remote and private which was completely perfect for us just finishing a busy project.
The staff were very friendly, welcoming & attentive. We had the boat crew take us from a remote beach to beach with white sands and crystal-clear waters, cruising along the ocean for day trips was the great. We were truly looked after with picnics, a variety of beverages and we could be flexible about where or what we would do for the day.
The location for dinning was really nice with great views, the chef made us fresh food everyday and there were several little hideaways where you could chill out across the area from the short climb up a hill for viewing platforms to the opposite side to where our villa was were you could capture a fantastic sunset.
As a massive animal lover especially dogs it was a pleasure to be greeted each time you return to the Villa for a quick dog cuddle.
We also opted for a massage session which was amazing to have this by the pier for privacy while listening to the waves crash off the rocks.
We got to kayak as much as we wanted which was great and we had the option if we needed to go back to El Nido town if we needed supplies, so we always had plenty of options to fill our day.
Overall it was a great experience and the team looked after us, we are happy to have met everyone and we also had the luxury if Guyâs motherâs cooking who was also visiting during the same time as our vacation.
So a huge thank you to Tessa, Guy, all the front of house staff, the boat crew and everyone in the background who we may not have seen that will be a huge part of creating a relaxing and beautiful home.
I will be highly recommending to others to visit and on top of that to know that proceeds from the accommodation are going to support the local community and environment is great.
If I am ever back over that side of the world again I would be sure to visit.
All the best
CherylCheryl
December 18, 2019 -
It is rare but sometimes you visit a place and stays with you forever. It changes you. It change the way you look at the world, the way you immerse... read more yourself in a culture, the way you open up to genuine people with genuine hospitality. I honestly feel like it was a dream. Too good to be true. No 5 star hotel can touch this place, it's one of a kind and has it's own wild and unique soul. It takes a visionary like Guy Mazzioni to be at the helm to pull off the magnitude of this quaint but robust passion project, a labor of love. I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this secret. The pictures will never do it justice. I could go on and on about how you should book this place, but after staying in over 30 different Airbnb locations around the world, this is literally my favorite Airbnb to date. Please, if you are an adventure lover, unique experience seeker and want something rustic yet have access to all the modern comforts and have the best island hopping locations with YOUR OWN PRIVATE BOAT & CREW (and she is GORGEOUS, everywhere we went we got compliments about her) please do yourself a favor and book it. Terranova is not perfect, but she is is perfectly imperfect to me.
Nina
November 30, 2019Let me start off by saying that this is not a typical beach resort: there are bugs, electricity is out for part of the day (usually while we were on... read more expeditions), there is no air conditioning (they are working on this â but AC wasnât really needed as it cooled off in the evenings), hot water isnât available all day, there is no wi-fi (they hope to have this fixed soon), and cell reception is spotty. However, these minor âinconveniencesâ just make the stories about our stay at Terra Nova more interesting, and did nothing to dampen our fun. In fact, we had more fun, in some cases, going without (i.e., kids were not on their devices all day).
Â
What Terra Nova lacks in modern conveniences is more than compensated for by the amazing staff. Guy, Neil, and the rest of the staff went out of their way to ensure we had an amazing time. One of the greatest benefits of staying at Terra Nova are the expeditions. Every day, the staff prepared an itinerary that included waterfalls, beautiful beaches, secret lagoons, and amazing snorkeling. They took us out every morning on their private boat and spent the whole day ferrying us from spot to spot to show us the best that El Nido has to offer. We have paid several hundred dollars at other resorts to go on expeditions that didnât compare to what we saw with the Terra Nova crew. The savings on expeditions alone make a stay at Terra Nova worthwhile.
Â
But, thatâs not all! The price of our stay also included all meals (prepared by the amazing singing chef). We had breakfast every morning before heading out.. Then, we would have lunch on the boat or a beach. Finally, dinner back at Terra Nova. We really enjoyed the dinners as the staff again went out of their way to make each dinner special. This included treasure hunts, karaoke, and dinner on the beach by a bonfire.
Â
My family and I absolutely enjoyed our stay at Terra Nova and hope to go back some day. I definitely recommend staying here for a unique, once in a lifetime experience.
ÂKelley N Jason
October 25, 2019 -
Magical and amazing. Those are the words that succinctly describe our stay at Terra Nova. Every attention to detail was thought out and all our stated... read more needs were met. Most importantly the staff listened to our comments and made adjustments to make our stay even more relaxing. Not only did they anticipate our needs before we knew what we needed but they provided touches that made our stay memorable - candlelight dinner and bonfire on the beach, karaoke nights with the staff, fresh caught fish, claims and shrimp,mango picking and personalized island hopping.
We had our own boat and crew and this was special as we did not feel rushed.
Most importantly our 3 girls stated that Terra Nova was the highlight of their vacation in the Philippines simply due to the service by all of the staff at Terra Nova - they were so kind and attentive. Our daughters emphatically stated that they felt connected with all the members of the staff. We only have high commendations for the personnel at Terra Nova - Rose, Tessa, Guy (owner) Mama Ed, Francis, Geo, James Brown and everyone else.
Terra Nova not only met our expectations, but anticipated our needs.
Terra Nova is the place to go to in El Nido.
Respectfully - John B.John
July 7, 2019If ever given an opportunity to stay at Terra Nova, do not hesitate to book! Our party of 16 (ages ranging from 4 to 68) booked both Villa #1 and... read more Villa#2 so had the whole resort. It was amazing to have a piece of paradise all to ourselves.
The Terra Nova staff took care of us like family and were very accommodating. We had one person in our party who had an injury that prevented her from walking up the steps to dinner so the restaurant staff essentially provided room service. When we requested adjustments to the meal times, they were very responsive and flexible. The meals were delicious and plentiful. The boat staff took us to some of the most beautiful beaches I've been to. The rooms in the villas were very spacious and offered a modern, tropical feel. After an 1.5 hr boat ride from town to Terra Nova we were greeted with top notch service in paradise. Wifi was very spotty so be prepared to go off the grid. Fruit shakes, alcohol and canned drinks were extra and it added up in the 2 days we were there, so just be mindful of that. As long as your willing to trade off some modern "luxuries" for this tropical escape, you won't be disappointed. We will be making a return trip!Gina
June 26, 2019I donât usually write reviews but Tera Nova definitely deserve my first.
Thanks again Guy and his brilliant team for arranging this most wonderful or if not one... read more of our best trip ever.
Our sweetest memories kept around the smiles and laughter we had at Tera Nova, the relaxing boat trips the team has arranged for us and the delicious dinner surprises prepared when we come back from boat trips.
The tour guide and boatman have been the best keeping us safe and going the extra mile to make sure we enjoy our trip.
Not forgetting the close bond we built with the two lovely dogs Belle and Gucci. We are all missing the days we had at Tera Nova already and will definitely be back again.
Great job Guy for the wonderful place youâve built.
With gratitude
Louis, Mandy, Kelly, Vivian & RogerKelly
June 5, 2019