Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary — Hotel in Cordova

Yes — Nalusuan. Named after sea cucumbers, or as Bisaya folks cheekily call them… well, let’s just say the resemblance is pretty self-explanatory. 😂 The name alone already gives this island a personality, but trust me — it’s not just the name that’ll make you remember it. This place is legendary.

For me and my girlfriend, Nalusuan was the ultimate stop on our Mactan Island Hopping adventure, following Hilutungan and Caohagan. It’s located in the municipality of Cordova, and who would’ve thought that what used to be a simple sandbar could be transformed into a marine sanctuary and resort that perfectly blends natural charm with comfort?

The island’s concrete/wooden pier is cinematic — the kind that makes you pause just to take in the blues of the sea. It leads straight to a restaurant that doesn’t just serve seafood, but also veggie and meat options for everyone. Still, if you’re here, go all in with the buffet — good variety, satisfying flavors, and they even serve meals for your boat crew (how cool is that?).

The real gem, though, is the marine sanctuary — a surreal world of fish, coral, and color. Swimming there feels like diving into a living postcard. My only wish? That they’d rent out GoPros, because the experience deserves more than memory; it deserves proof! The island itself has been renovated with rooms for overnight stays, but to be honest, a day trip hits the sweet spot — enough to soak it all in without the hefty price tag.

Here’s my rule: if you go island hopping in Mactan and skip Nalusuan, it’s like watching Avengers: Endgame and walking out before the final battle. This is the climax — the one you’ll talk about long after...

Awesome place! We spent 3 nights of our honeymoon here. The Island is small, which is great. Imagine sitting on the terrace watching the colorful fish swim right under you. The staff is always friendly and serviceminded, they do all they can to make your stay perfect. I recommend a trip to Bohol Island to see the Tarsier sanctuary and chocolate hills while you are there. The boatman will help you organize motorcycles once you get to bohol.

The absolute highlight was...

I enjoyed the place a lot.....every corner is instagramable......I really recommend it to everybody especially to nature lovers.......food served at the lunch buffet were so yummy....its worth your money....staffs of resort were so accommodating and courteous.......resort is clean especially the comfort rooms.......will definitely go back soon....its really more fun in...