The 6.5-hectare (15-acre) Banwa Private Island, nestled in Sulu Sea on Puerco Island off Roxas on Northeastern Palawan, is Palawan’s most talked about new all-villa holiday destination for discerning guests seeking the ultimate in contemporary luxury, privacy and bespoke service.
Voted “Private Island of the Year” during the 2020 Destination Deluxe Awards, Banwa Private Island recently announced a new Preferred Aviation Partnership between the resort and Ascent Flights Global (Ascent), an on-demand air mobility platform.
Ascent, Asia’s leading air mobility company, is a convenient, reliable mode of mobility that addresses congestion, connectivity, environmental sustainability and health issues generated by rapid urbanization and the pandemic, powering air taxi, experiential, medical and cargo services. With Ascent, people and businesses can avail of on-demand flights, across cities and regions, on board helicopter, private jets and seaplanes. Across the Philippines, they operate with hubs in major locations such as airports, central business districts and popular leisure destinations.
Starting September 1, 2021, Ascent will offer an exclusive, seamless and highly personalized travel bubble experience from on-demand private flights to the luxurious island sanctuary, truly a curated experience of personal safety and privacy through sustainable chartered air travel. At these pandemic times, passengers can now fly on curated aircraft in accordance with Covid-19 related safety protocols such as enhanced aircraft cleaning and frequent health checks on the crew.
Swedish national Peter Nilsson, chief executive of Banwa Private Island, greeted this new dynamic partnership by saying, “We found a great partner in Ascent with our shared goal to deliver exceptional, personalized and intimate guest experiences to our affluent clientele. Our utmost priority is the genuine care and well-being of our guests from their chartered flight to their holiday experience in our informal and intimate island sanctuary. Personal safety and handcrafted travel experiences have become even more important in the luxury travel landscape nowadays. Ascent’s long-term approach and commitment to a decarbonized world is well aligned with Banwa Private Island’s continuous dedication to sustainability.”
Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, founder and chief executive of Ascent added, “Banwa Private Island’s vision of an enhanced experience by air between Banwa Private Island’s guests’ home, and its remote delicate environment, is dear to us. With its partnership, guests’ experience now starts with a seamless and private bubble. Ascent’s dedicated solution for Banwa Private Island, brings a holistic journey by air, like no other, beyond motion. With best-in-class air operations on fuel-efficient aircraft, Banwa Private Island’s guests elevate their journey with peace of mind.”
from magnificent beach-front villas.
With its partnership with Ascent, the exclusive island, though still remote, will be conveniently and privately accessible by air, from Manila, via a scenic 1 hour 45-minute flight on a preferred 8-seater seaplane which lands on the doorstep of the exclusive island. Helicopters for up to 10 passengers are also available are from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport or The Peninsula Manila’s helipad. Also part of the Ascent fleet is the larger capacity fixed-wing aircrafts from any destination in the Philippines.
Alternatively, guests can also choose any commercial airline to any of Palawan’s three commercial airports, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa or El Nido, followed by a short-hop helicopter flight across the Sulu Sea, and land on Banwa Private Island’s own heli-lawn. For a more cost-effective option from either San Vicente or Puerto Princesa airports, guests can opt for onward travel to the island via a premium Sports Utility Vehicle, followed by a short boat transfer to the island.
fresh produce and harvest from the sea.
They also offer to service both domestic and international arrivals by private jets, be it in Manila or Clark for onward journey with any of their varying types of aircraft. Part of Ascent’s bespoke service is ground handling arrangements with meet and greet arrangements, inter-airport transfers, exclusive lounge service and immigration fast track.
Banwa Private Island’s sought-after exclusivity is more timely and important than ever before. Located within a marine protected area, Banwa Private Island is home to lush, verdant landscaping, pristine white sand beaches and an abundance of vivid, rare, incredibly rich and diverse number of native flora and fauna (such as the protected Hawksbill sea turtles and Tabon birds) species. Its six magnificent beachfront villas (ranging from one to four bedrooms), each with their own private infinity pool and Jacuzzi, provide the utmost in privacy and tranquility. There are also 12 garden rooms and a top-level residential suite. The island can accommodate up to 48 people.
World-class amenities include a stunning open kitchen restaurant and terrace bar, a spa pavilion featuring floodlit tennis court, gym, massage suite, Pilates/yoga studio and juice bar. There’s also a dive centre and a short-game golf course. Guests have use of an island concierge and get unlimited spa treatments.
This inclusive resort, the ultimate in luxury, tranquility and infinite privacy, has a full staff of chefs who cook with vegetables from the on-site organic farm and fish caught from the surrounding Sulu Sea. The resort even makes its own honey. The wine list has bottles costing as much as $36,000 (though premium wines are not included in the resort rate). Banwa also offers a myriad of activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, scuba diving, sailing, yoga and tennis. There is an on-site marine specialist to talk about the local wildlife. For the ultimate friends and family escape, the entire island can also be chartered on an “exclusively yours” basis.