Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Day Tour

If you ever wish to travel back to Old Manila or the 18th Century Philippines, that’s exactly what it feels like when you step foot in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar! This intense collection of restored Spanish-Filipino houses is Jose Acuzar’s special hobby that showcases the best of Filipino heritage and culture.

Daddy Jaze‘s family invited us to come along a day tour experience of this historic resort. And of course, Ysha and I instantly said yes! 😀

Bataan is accessible via the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Coming from Manila is fairly easy and it takes roughly around 3 hours to get there.

The tourist destination is worth the drive! I don’t know about you but there’s a feeling of nostalgia that I get whenever I see old colonial houses and churches.

Ok, so we registered and were given welcome drinks. There was a boat ride tour before we get to visit some of the old houses open for tourists.

Each casa comes from an elite and notable accesoria that has its own story to tell. We were amazed by the unique Filipino craftsmanship used in the restoration of each house. What’s even thrilling are the stories behind each house!

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

Can you imagine transferring mansions and building it here piece by piece, brick by brick, plank by plank? The tourist guide said it was just like creating a 3D jigsaw puzzle. And I just find that sooo surreal!

The total area is approximately 400 hectares. 26 hectares of which is developed. It would be about a kilometer and half walk from tip to tip. 10 years in the making and 7 years in operation.

The only property in the Philippines to be part of Historic Hotels Worldwide, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar serves as a bridge between the rich history of the Spanish colonial era and the contemporary luxury and comfort of a modern hotel.

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

dyosathemomma: Las Casas Pilipinas de Acuzar in Bataan trip with family and kids

There are jeepney rides to take you from point to point.

Lunch time!

There are 3 restaurants you may choose to dine in. The first one we visited was full!

There is a P500 consumable on food per head on the P2,000 registration/tour fee. Which includes guided tours, 1 kalesa ride and the jeepney rides.

I wasn’t really on an eating mood lately being on my 1st trimester, but based on Ysha’s appetite, the food is good! 😀

Our tour resumes after the sumptuous lunch!

Ysha had so much fun riding the kalesa! Shouting “Hello, everybody! I’m riding a horse!”

It’s time to check the old houses and their history!

Our tour guide is very knowledgeable of the resort and the history of each casa. I learned a lot and it also refreshed my memory of Philippine History.

Tourists are required to remove shoes or sandals before entering a casa. The tour guide said Ysha could keep hers since she’s the only kid in the group but she insisted to remove hers too whenever we enter a house! 😀

On the last part of the tour, I was even amazed by how detailed the houses used to be. The intricacy of architecture gets me every time. It’s that feeling of being taken back in the past and suddenly having a vision of what it was like back then.

Just look at this Function Hall! The designs of the walls and ceilings are very detailed!

There are also rooms or entire casas for rent. The prices vary but this room is P22, 000 per night! OMG! No, thanks. Hahaha! 😀

I would like to add that the rooms, most especially the ones that are not for rent, are really creepy for me. But when we ask if there are spirits making their presence felt in these old houses, all the staff says, wala naman po. Hihi.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is part of the Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Global Collection and Peninsula Hotel’s Pencities Luxe Guide. This Bagac Bataan beach resort is also the Asia Awards of Excellence winner for Asia’s most excellent destination for 2017 and is a project of the New San Jose Builders, Inc. in consultancy with Asian Grand Legacy Hotels. You may visit their website to find out more and book a stay!

Here’s our vlog! Look how the little Ysha enjoyed exploring the entire resort! 😀

This place isn’t just about the preserved buildings but about the stories of the homes, families and the hands that rebuilt them. We had fun touring this one of a kind resort.

Have you been here before? How was your experience? It would be awesome to hear about it!

Love,

Momma Nish