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Green Canyon Resort: An Eco-Art Resort that Combines Nature and Luxury

We all agree that a vacation is best enjoyed from the comforts of a beautiful resort, where the only thing you need do is to find your perfect spot and be one with nature.

Start your day with a beautiful sunrise view at the Green Canyon
Start your day with a beautiful sunrise view at the Green Canyon

In most cases, our vacation becomes more memorable when both needs and wants are taken care of by friendly staff and thats what exactly impressed me during our overnight stay at Green Canyon Resort (check rates) in Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga.

Find peace and quiet in the luscious green landscape of Green Canyon
Find peace and quiet in the luscious green landscape of Green Canyon

Green Canyon Resort Review

Green Canyon Resort has created a haven where you can relax and restore, and even be inspired. My time at Green Canyon was everything I’ve come to expect from a luxury resort and much more. They’ve chosen to focus on a few things in order to create a truly unique and enjoyable resort experience.

An Old Warehouse turned into a Green Hotel
An Old Warehouse turned into a Green Eco-Art Hotel

First, they’ve done everything they can to incorporate ecologically sound practices. From the building of the resort to design of the decor, to the fact that they’re organically growing a lot of their own food. They’re proud of the beautiful natural surroundings and they want to be sure that the natural beauty is appreciated and available in the future, too.

A couple enjoying the fresh air and the vibrant hues of green at Green Canyon
A couple enjoying the fresh air and the vibrant hues of green at Green Canyon

While green resorts are popping up all over, this new Eco-Art Resort is exceptional. Green Canyon Resort’s additional unique feature is their focus on art, again as a function of the way they’ve designed the resort and as a way for guests to experience relaxation and inspiration.

Green Resort in Pampanga
Green Resort in Pampanga

Green Canyon (check availability) is a boutique resort, with just 51 rooms. It’ll never feel crowded or busy. There are art installations around the grounds and part of the stay is a tour that shows guests how the place is run and the gorgeous natural surroundings that are so highly treasured. This is a place for people who want a unique and memorable break from the rest of the world.

Eco-Resort in Pampanga
Eco-Resort in Pampanga

Rooms

The design and style of the entire resort are minimalist and subtle, but also use re-purposing and other eco-friendly strategies to create a unique look. The rooms have fine wooden furniture made by Niccolo Jose, Green Canyon’s in-house artist.

Green Canyon’s spacious deluxe room features a bright and airy decor
Green Canyon’s spacious deluxe room features a bright and airy decor

Each room are uniquely designed and the beds are top quality and very comfortable. All rooms have air conditioning, en suite bathroom, 32” flatscreen TV, high speed wifi (a key feature for me), safety deposit boxes, mini-bar fridge, and a tea and coffee station.

All the rooms have a view. They look out over the Sacobia River and have views of the canyons and the resort’s flower beds. But you won’t spend a lot of time in the room, because there’s a lot to do.

Amenities

From the Water + Wave Pool and the Symphony Pool, and ample space surrounding them for relaxing, to art classes and ATVs, amenities doesn’t begin to describe the kind of extras offered by Green Canyon Resort. They’ve got the basics down, and in addition you can take courses in woodworking, painting, sculpture, and cooking. The spa options include massage and body treatments that use traditional techniques.

Dip in the pool or enjoy some quiet conversations while drinking a refreshing drink at the Symposium Pool of Green Canyon
Dip in the pool or enjoy some quiet conversations while drinking a refreshing drink at the Symposium Pool of Green Canyon

Abel Jose
Abel Jose, Green Canyon’s Brand Manager and Niccolo Jose, Green Canyon’s in-house artist and furniture designer

I didn’t sample the spa, but other guests raved about their experiences. Instead, I slept early and opted to join the sunrise Green Canyon Journey, a tour of the grounds timed to let us watch a life-changing, beautiful sunrise. I wish I used one of their ATV’s to explore even further.

Food

Paco Salad at the Palette Restaurant of the Green Canyon
Paco Salad at the Palette Restaurant of the Green Canyon

There’s no shortage of delicious offerings on the premises. First of all, the main restaurant, called Palette, is open all day so you can grab a meal when you want it. Nearer the pool is Shed, which offers lighter fair. Sanctuary is the coffee shop. And Boulders is the bar and grill. All include fresh produce from the Resort’s farm, attempting to create beautiful and inspired dishes from the abundance surrounding them. And everything I ate was a success.

Enjoy healthy food at the Palette Restaurant of the Green Canyon
Enjoy healthy food at the Palette Restaurant of the Green Canyon

Truly unique fusion foods, that tasted delicious but had a healthy helping of freshly harvested veggies, were presented at every meal. Very impressive. Also, don’t skip the fresh fruit drinks at the Palette Restaurant, they have more than a dozen of fresh fruit and vegetable shake recipe for those who wants to detox.

Fresh Fruits from resorts Farm
Fresh Fruits from the resorts Farm

Adventure

The Dawn Jungle Trek is offered at the resort on a regular basis
The Dawn Jungle Trek is offered at the resort on a regular basis

You can rent an ATV and have an early morning trail to the top of the Canyon to watch the sunrise and have a panoramic view of the resort and the nearby Aeta Village. For those who love hiking, it takes 45 minutes to an hour to reach the viewpoint but you wont regret it.. the view is truly priceless.

Early Morning Trek to watch the sunrise
Early Morning Trek to watch the sunrise

Experience an ATV adventure at Green Canyon
Experience an ATV adventure at Green Canyon

Art Installations

Niccolo Jose - Filipino wooden furniture designer and a visual artist
Niccolo Jose – Filipino wooden furniture designer, a visual artist and a Yoga Instructor

Green Canyon Resort has pushed beyond the typical resort by including an artistic angle that is truly inspiring. Not only can you participate in art classes by Niccolo Jose and create works of your own, you’re treated to art installations around the resort.

The wooden furniture is the in-use aspect, but additional art installations are scattered around the grounds. Contemplative pieces that are made with re-purposed items have multiple layers of thought woven into them.

The Staff

If you read my reviews, you know that I’m always paying close attention to the staff. A couple of bad experiences can turn an otherwise ideal vacation into something full of uncomfortable memories. Of course, everyone at Green Canyon Resort is on the same page, and it’s a page I’d like to spend lots of time reading. Friendly, relaxed, helpful, and smiling, Filipino hospitality at it’s finest is what I got from the team at Green Canyon.

Customer Service at its best at Green Canyon
Customer Service at its best at Green Canyon

The experience at Green Canyon Resort is everything you want from a jungle resort and so much more. It’s like staying in an artist playground where the entire resort becomes a beautiful canvass. I really love the concept of the resort, there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the Philippines.

Located at San Vicente Road, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Green Canyon Resort officially opens in September 2014. For inquiries and reservations, call Telephone number (+63 45) 499-1381 or you can e-mail them at info@greencanyon.com.ph.

PS: I accidentally formatted my SD card, Many thanks to Green Canyon for providing some of the photos:)

Written by Melo Villareal

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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