Nalu Surf Camp Resort Baler Review (Sabang Beach)

Where to Stay in Baler: Nalu Surf Camp (Sabang Beach)

It’s officially summer in the Philippines. And you know what that means, right? Along with the summer sun comes the craving for some salt, sand, and fun. And so we decided to jumpstart the beach season with a quick weekend trip to one of the most popular beach destinations in North Luzon — Baler. I’ll come up with an ultimate travel guide of Baler soon, don’t worry. But for now, we’d like to share our experience at the Nalu Surf Camp (Sabang Beach). So here are 5 reasons why you too should book at the Nalu Surf Camp when in Baler.

 

Accessible, Beachfront Location (Reason 1)

One of the first things I check whenever I head to the beach is the location. I figured, since I’ll be basking under the sun for a few days, might as well stay in a resort that’s beachfront. Luckily, Nalu Surf Camp offers a wide and unobstructed view of Sabang Beach in Baler.

We arrived via JoyBus around 11AM, got on a tricycle (Php 17.00 per person), and the resort was a short 5-7 minute ride from the bus terminal. Restaurants and watering holes were also quite accessible via the beach walk. Craving for some local eats? You can buy home-cooked meals from some eateries and stores just outside the resort’s beach gate (behind the watchtower). Ambulant vendors (aka turu-turo) also set up daily for some afternoon snacks like qwek-qwek (quail eggs), isaw (chicken intestine), mani (peanuts), etc.

 

Good and Highly-Competent Surf Instructors at Nalu (Reason 2)

While it wasn’t my first time to surf in Baler, I can confidently say that Nalu Surf Camp has some of the best surf instructors in town. And Karla can also attest to that fact in her last trip in Baler with Lakbay Norte. (Check out her Baler Travel Guide too!)

Surfing lessons at Nalu Surf Camp cost Php 350.00 per hour. Inclusive of personal instructor, surfboard rental, and picture. According to Karla, if you’re lucky enough, you can even get a free beer! Oh diba?

And for more experienced surfers, you can also avail of board rentals. It just costs Php 200.00 per hour, Php 400.00 halfday, and just a mere Php 800.00 for the whole day. Sulit talaga!

 

Cozy Rooms and Luxurious Amenities (Reason 3)

Attuned to our “surfing state of mind”, we went adventurous and booked a low-key but equally charming Ifugao Nipa Hut Fan Room at Nalu Surf Camp Baler. It’s located in a cluster of 10 nipa huts in the lush garden.

The room itself can accommodate up to three persons (1 double + 1 pullout) with a ceiling fan to cool you down. There’s a cozy patio-cum-chill area under, leading to the bathroom.

Both Steph and I enjoyed our room. It was basic, yes, but clean and comfortable. And for just Php 2,500.00 per night with breakfast for 2 (Php 2,000.00 during lean season) it’s definitely one of the best deals in Baler!

Ifugao Nipa Hut AC rooms are also available at Php 3,500.00 per night with breakfast for 2 (Php 3,000.00 during lean season). While bigger groups can stay at either the Modern, Deluxe, or Premier (Beachview) Nipa Huts.

Going beyond rooms, we loved the lush surroundings and the luxurious amenities that Nalu Surf Camp has to offer. Tired from the surf? Wind down and chill on any of the resort’s day beds. Or get refreshed and take a dip at their IG-envy pool enveloped in a jungle of coconut trees. You can even catch the Sabang Beach sunset while having a bottle of beer by the garden. And oh, did I mention there’s also a bonfire pit for cold, smores-worthy nights?

 

Cheap yet Delicious Food at Nalu Surf Camp (Reason 4)

During our three days stay at Nalu Surf Camp, breakfast was included in the room price. Normally for budget-friendly accommodations, I don’t really expect much in their breakfast servings. But I was actually quite impressed with what was served to us. Each guest can choose from 5-6 kinds of silog meals, complete with complimentary coffee or hot chocolate.

We had the tapa and longanissa for breakfast and they were fresh, tasty, and big in serving. In fact, I enjoyed the longanissa so much, I bought 3 kilos from their supplier to take home. BTW, their breakfast meals are served all day so feast up!

While we ate most of our lunch and dinner outside Nalu, we decided to to chill on our last night by the pool. So that gave us an opportunity to also sample the other non-breakfast options offered at Nalu Surf Camp. I ordered the Carbonara (Php 155.00) and iced tea (Php 60.00). While Steph had the Crispy Pork Binagoongan (Php 155.00). Both dishes had the flavors spot on and were quite generous for servings meant for one. BUSOG!

 

Warm, Helpful, and Friendly Staff at Nalu (Reason 5)

Another measure of how good a hotel or resort is for me is its warm hospitality. (As previously expressed in my post about Wyndham Tamasari Jivva Resort in Bali.) As soon as we arrived at Nalu Surf Camp, warm smiles greeted us at the reception. Of course our room wasn’t ready yet so we couldn’t check in yet. But I appreciate that the staff warmly welcomed us to rest around the resort’s facilities.

They also gave us tips on where to eat and where to go around in Baler. And since we didn’t have our own car with us, the staff was nice enough to hail us a tricycle everytime we had to go to town. At one point, the lock on our room door kept getting jammed and we had to ask for the staff’s assistance to open the room. Which they gladly obliged for a few times until they decided to just change the lock altogether for our convenience. Our dining experience at Nalu was also met with friendly service by their staff (even though we had a million requests). Talk about real customer service!

Overall, Steph and I had an excellent stay at Nalu Surf Camp. A cozy, budget-friendly, and well-thought-of resort paired with a friendly touch of hospitality. See you again soon Baler!

 

How to Book a Room at Nalu Surf Camp Baler

Ready for the surf of a lifetime? Get in touch with Nalu Surf Camp through their website. Or you can send an email to nalusurf.ph@gmail.com and reach them through mobile: +639178172606/ +639178049323. Nalu Surf Camp is located at Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora, Philippines.

 

Overall HTD Rating of Nalu Surf Camp: 4.5 stars

Price: 5 Stars

Amenities and Facilities: 4 stars

Dining: 4.5 Stars

Service and Hospitality: 4.5 stars