The Lalimar (or La Limar) Experience

I spent a night in Lalimar (or La Limar, as some spell it) with friends over the weekend. For those who have not yet visited or heard of this place, it's a government-owned resort in La Libertad, Negros Oriental; a project spearheaded by Congresswoman Josy Limkaichong. La Libertad is a municipality approximately two hours north of Dumaguete. It's a town close to my heart because it is the birth place of my mother. One reason why I wanted to visit Lalimar was so that I could also visit my grandparents as a side trip.

An overnight stay in Lalimar perfectly fits the budget. Their room rates start at P1,400--good for two, and you only have to add P200 per extra person, up to a maximum of six. The cottages are spacious, with a porch outside where you can dine. Food is not a problem because you can either bring from outside, or you can order room service. Their food is not bad, and the prices are reasonable. Since the resort is fairly new, the facilities are still very good. The cottage walls are covered with banig, which adds personality to the room. The bathroom is huge, and hot and cold shower is available. There is no tv or telephone in the rooms, though.

The cottage entrance

The beds

The bathroom

Dinner

Calamares - P180, Breaded Chicken - P180, Potato Salad - P60

Tuna Sandwich - P55

Baconsilog - P80

One thing I noticed about staying at Lalimar is that you cannot sleep in. As early as 5:30 in the morning, when the sun starts to shine, the brightness already wakes you up. The cottage windows are made of frosted glass, and there are no curtains, so nothing blocks out the sun's glory. This is a good thing perhaps, because during sunrise is the best time to enjoy Lalimar's beach and swimming pool. Later in the day, as we witnessed, so many people will be in the not-so-big pool, and they'll be there until late in the evening. So if you want peace and quiet or a private swim, it's probably not a good idea to go there during a weekend in the summer. 

The pool

The water at twilight

Lalimar is fast becoming a popular tourist attraction north of Dumaguete. I'm extremely proud of it because it puts the sleepy town of La Libertad on the map. Even if it's not as posh as the other resorts in Negros Oriental found in Dauin or Siaton, it has a charm of its own. But as I always say, "it's not the place but the company." And while a lot of factors make Lalimar the perfect stopover for a road trip, what really makes an outing unforgettable is the people you're with.

For more information about Lalimar, you can contact them at (035) 409-4020 or 0908-212-7683. You can also check out another blog post by my friend Lorselle.