NOTE: I am NOT affiliated with these resorts. Please direct all inquiries on rates and bookings to Estares Lake Resort & Punta Isla Lake Resort. Thank you.
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With its rich cultural traditions and natural attractions, more and more tourists are visiting Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Dubbed the Summer Capital of Southern Mindanao because of its cool climate, Lake Sebu is a peaceful, idyllic fishing town, and the ancestral domain of the indigenous T’boli tribe.
If you’re heading to Lake Sebu and looking for a place to stay, Estares Lake Resort and Punta Isla are two places worth checking in.
Estares Lake Resort
Estares Lake Resort is one of oldest lake resorts in the area and was the hotel recommended by a guide for me to stay in. The resort has seen better days, but if you’re looking for a quaint place to get away from it all, then this isn’t a bad option. The best cottage rooms are located on an elevated hill which offers a good view of the lake.
The cheerful reception area is decorated with native touches, like a t’nalak wall covering, a hand-embroidered sign of the resort and carved wooden sculptures, which are the traditional crafts of T’bolis.
The cottage rooms are spacious and comfortable. The VIP rooms come with satellite TV, wall fan, hot and cold shower, and have a private balcony overlooking the lake. Air-conditioning isn’t really a necessity as it gets pretty cold at night there.
Cheaper rooms for backpackers and budget travelers are also available in an older building beside the lake. Though the budget rooms are a bit run-down compared to the cottages and amenities are basic, it can be a good option for those who will just be stashing their bags for the day.
What makes Hotel Estares worth staying in is its location beside the lake. In the morning, you can enjoy a quiet breakfast of daing na tilapia in the lakeside huts, while you watch the fishermen go about their business. Estares is also just walking distance from where vans will drop you off at the poblacion.
Estares Lake Resort
- Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines
- Mobile number: 0915-9885175
- Email: estareslakeresort@yahoo.com
- Facebook Page: Estares Lake Resort
- Room rates: K’mayaw rooms – twin bed, CR and bath (good for 3) – P400; K’naban Rooms – family room with CR, wall fan (good for 6) – P700; Gono Blum Rooms – VIP room, matrimonial be with CR, hot & cold shower, TV, wall fan (good for 3) – P,1000; Dormitory rooms with stand fan, CR & bath – P100/head
Punta Isla Lake Resort
Punta Isla Lake Resort provides another great view of the lake, but you’ll need to ride a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) going there from the poblacion, since it’s about 5 minutes away. I didn’t get to see the rooms here, but based on the rest of the place, it looks like a nice place to stay. It’s a popular choice for events and conferences in the area because of its amenities.
Aside from the main restaurant with a good vantage point, Punta Isla has a floating restaurant right on the lake that you need to take a small boat to get to.
Punta Isla also offers boat tours (P500 per boat), which lets you cruise around the lake and see the different fishpens and lakeside houses dotting the different islets.
Like Estares, Punta Isla specializes in tilapia dishes. They serve over 50 different tilapia dishes including tilapia fuyong, tilapia kilawin, paksiw na tilapia and their specialty, tilapia chicharon (crispy tilapia rinds). Food servings are large if you’re eating alone, but if you’re with a group, this is a cool place to relax and unwind for dinner.
Punta Isla Lake Resort
- Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines
- Contact numbers: (083) 826-0962 and (083) 238-8503
- Email: reservations.puntaisla@gmail.com, reservations.puntaisla@ yahoo.com
- Facebook page: Punta Isla Lake Resort
- Room rates: VIP Room – single bed w/bath (good for 2) – P950; Family room with twin bed, bath, toilet & cable TV (good for 4) – P975; Family Room dorm type (good for 6) – P750; T’boli House (good for 15 persons) – P1,350
How to get to Lake Sebu: (commuting)
General Santos Ariport to Yellow Bus Terminal (YBL) – P300
Non-aircon bus from YBL to Marbel (Koronadal) – P65
Bus from Marbel to Surallah – P27
Van from Surallah to Lake Sebu – P35
Habal-habal to hotel – P10
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Van from Lake Sebu to Marbel (direct) – P55
AC Bus from Marbel to GenSan – P83
Taxi from GenSan to Airport – P300
Coming soon: Things to do in Lake Sebu & One-stop Pasalubong Center: COWHED
wow! affordable nga… thanks for sharing!
Thanks for dropping by, Mervz!
WOW. The place looks awesome and reaaaally affordable! <3
Estares Lake Resort’s cottage room looks so cozy! I’d love to check in there someday when I finally get to visit Lake Sebu.
Hey Robbie. Both Estares and Punta Isla are pretty affordable. 🙂 Food is better in Punta Isla though since lumipat yung chef ng Estares to another resort.
Hi Gaye. There are a lot of other new places like Mountain Lodge Resort and Dolores Inn, which I wasn’t able to visit. The zipline there is the best though baka hindi pa pwede yun kay Luna. 🙂
the pLace is so awesome!! punta isla improves a lot! i’ve been there 3x but it was a Long time! im pLanning to visit there next year!!when i got home!!!
Hi Eliho. Punta Isla was very pleasant and the food was very good there too. Sarap ng tilapia chicharon. Lake Sebu is such a beautiful place to visit.
‘eto nga yung nabasa ko na dati pa…heheh… im going there this weekend… Thanks Kara for the infos… ^_^
Thanks for this info. am planning to celebrate our monthsary this coming feb. 19. . .
Glad you found info useful. Congrats and have fun!
hi can what is the best resort in lake sebu i have visitors from manila. ang punta isla lang ba nag poprovide ng tour sa 7 falls? thanks!
😀
Hi Macky. I would recommend Punta Isla since they have a good resto, boats for lake tours, and can probably arrange the 7 Falls tours for you. You can also just talk to habal-habal drivers and arrange for them to take you to the falls. Baka lang mas mahirap yun if you are in a big group. Thanks for visiting my blog.
thanks! helpful info:-)
I would like to know if commuting from gensan to lake sebu is not toxic? Like waiting for hours for bus to leave or availability of buses @ ybl and marbel or van @ surallah to lake sebu? Around how many hours gensan- lake sebu if one commutes? Wld you know if there are vans from gensan to lake sebu? chartered vans are expensive since we are only 2 going there. Thanks 🙂
Hi Bobbie. Based on my trip, land travel from GenSan to Lake Sebu takes about 2-3 hours. Breakdown: 20-minute taxi from airport to the bus terminal, 1 hour long bus ride to Marbel (Koronadal), 30-minute bus ride to Surallah, then a 45-minute long van/jeep ride to Lake Sebu + waiting times. The buses seem to leave pretty regularly (waiting time 10-15 mins), but you may have to wait 30-40 mins for the vans/jeeps to fill up before it leaves (sometimes it can take longer daw in case kulang passengers). Not sure of direct vans from GenSan to Lake Sebu except for chartered vans which cost something like P3,500 according to my contact there. Traveled alone and didn’t find it too toxic. Since you have a companion, commuting shouldn’t be too bad. Happy trip 🙂
Hi..good day.kung may sariling sasakyan,ilang oras from gensan?
Makapasok ba ang sasakyan until sa place ninyo?
Still the same ang room rate until this day?
Hi Jeanee. I’m not connected with the hotels. Maybe you can contact them directly regarding rates & travel time. Their contact info & FB pages are listed above. Thanks.
Hi! Thanks for the info lady 🙂
I’m planning to go there with my friends. I’d just like to ask kung may other way of transportation pa ba other than a habal-habal going to Punta Isla? Parang dilikado.
Hi April. Habal-habal or motorcycle is really the main mode of transportation around Lake Sebu. You could probably walk, pero medyo malayo siya from the town center. Not sure if may mga vans or jeeps for rent. This might help you plan your trip: http://www.lakesebutourism.com/faqs.php
hello there, I would like to ask normally magkano ang package ng punta isla going to 7 falls and the zipline?
hello! i’m going to general santos on august 15-17. i would also like to visit sarangani but after reading your blog, i also like to go to lake sebu. which do you think is more feasible, considering my travel date – general santos-sarangani or general santos-lake sebu? and can you help me with the itinerary, please. thank you! 🙂
hi…thanks p0 sa info madam
kc we are planning p0 na mag visit sa lake sebu..maam ung price p0 sa Estares resort good f0r 0ne whole day??
mga mag kanu p0 budget para p0 maexpl0re ang lake sebu..hehehehe
Check this travel guide by Escape Manila for a one-day itinerary and budget breakdown. Factor in the hotel costs and extra meals if you’re staying overnight.
Per night yung room. Please contact the hotels directly, as I’m not connected with them and rates might have changed since my visit.
Hi Anabelle. Check out my previous post on things to do in Lake Sebu. Here’s a suggested one-day itinerary by Lakwatsero.
Hi Rhoan, please contact Punta Isla for inquiries as I didn’t book a package through them. Thanks. 🙂
Punta Isla is probably one of the best though there are some new places that I haven’t been to. You can arrange DIY tours by negotiating with habal-habal drivers.
if ever po ba na we are going to have our class activities like team building in estares lake resort , over night , ilan po ba yung magagastos namin ?? or any offers like package!!
we will use function hall, the dinner and breakfast then lodging!! ilan po ba magagastos namin?? thanks
Again, I am not affiliated with these resorts. Please inquire directly at Estares Lake resort’s FB page.
hi… is estares resort near in one of the 7 falls ? thanks
Hi Ms. Kara,, mam pwede ko po bang i request na isali po ninyo yung mountain log resort sa Lake Sebu lodges? maraming salamat poh…
Hi Gelo, hindi pa ako nakapunta sa Mountain Log Resort, so I don’t have any photos or info on the place. If you want, email me info and photos, and I’ll just include a link to your website.