You cross a cheerful countryside with many orchards and plantations, notably the immense Dole pineapple plantation. Etched from a distance is the imposing silhouette of the Matutum Volcano (2,293 meters). The last part of the route from Surullah onwards takes you up on the mountain trail. The atmosphere changes as soon as you leave the agricultural plain—the air gets cooler and the light becomes brighter. Finally, about two-and-a-half hours trip from General Santos, you arrive at Lake Sebu where you will notice the tilapia fish-breeding enclosures.

There are several small, similarly styled hotels offering basic amenities around the area but Punta Isla Lake Resort is the only one with a good view of the lake. You can, of course, visit Lake Sebu by spending a night at Gen. Santos, although the length of the trip will not allow you to see much of the region, which would be a pity. The resort is up on a cliff overlooking the lake. It is very popular among the locals who come here to spend the day, especially to have lunch in the little wood pavilions floating near the shoreline. The restaurant is situated on top of a hill with a pleasant terrace having a superb view of the lake. From the top, you can also view the tilapia fish-breeding enclosures that form interesting pattern of squares. The tilapia is served in all possible culinary preparations: kinilaw (raw in vinegar), adobo (stewed, in vinegar and soy sauce) grilled (the dishes are cooked on over charcoal fire) and then hauled up to the restaurant by an ingenious system of pulleys!

The resort is made up of a double bungalow and some rooms located in a nearby building. Obviously the double bungalow is the best choice, as it has a very pleasant terrace with a view of the lake. You can even have your meals served there in complete privacy. The interior brings to mind a simple, tiny— though neat—mountain refuge.

It is clear that Punta Isla Lake Resort does not have the comfort of a five-star hotel but the welcome is warm and the staff is efficient when asked to organize excursions, which include boat rides, renting a bike or visiting the nearby waterfalls and the weavers’ workshops.

How to get there

By air and land (5 1/2-6 hours) – – One-hundred-five-minute daily flights on Philippine Airlines or one-hundred-eighty-minute daily flights (via Cebu) on Air Philippines from Manila to General Santos. Two to two and a half hours by the resort’s jeepney from General Santos to Lake Sebu (92 km).

Note: It is recommended to take the jeepney arranged by the resort as it takes a lot more time by public transport. However, if you arrive without prior notice, you have to take a Yellow Bus bound for Koronadal (an hour from Gen. Santos), then in Koronadal take a Yellow Bus, minibus or jeepney bound for Surallah (an hour from Koronadal) and from the market at Surallah, take a jeepney bound for Lake Sebu.

Superferry also operates ferry service from Manila to General Santos.

More photos here

About the Author: WayPH

Our mission is to bring each of the 7,107 Philippine islands to you. We constantly make sure that our tour packages are high-quality and with reasonable rates. We do not just want to satisfy your travel needs, we make sure that we go beyond your expectations by taking you to the most memorable trip of your life, each and every time.

20 Comments

  1. rhoan joy May 14, 2013 at - Reply

    keep texting punta isla kaso walang sumasagot sa text and call..how can we reserve a room here?

  2. Travelsure International March 22, 2011 at - Reply

    if you want tour package for Punta Isla just email us..
    travelsure_int@yahoo.com

    Thank you!

  3. Jeaneth Demaclid Paragas January 29, 2011 at - Reply

    According to my friend it’s nice daw. . . . We’ll really find time to visit your place. . . Hope you could post your contact number for reservation. . . thanks. . .

  4. Jennifer December 20, 2010 at - Reply

    what is your recent number ? we want to have a reservation here from december 27-30 2010.pls contact me

  5. mary grace pelicano samonte December 19, 2010 at - Reply

    wow.. i like the view. even the food. kahit di k pa n titikman,, alam ko masarap. bro ko ata ang cook….. gudluck… more power.

  6. rose ann d November 15, 2010 at - Reply

    uo naman maganda lake sebu very fresh lugar na yun

  7. mj October 13, 2010 at - Reply

    pwd update kmi sa new contact number nyo?

  8. Isidro M. Pascual Jr. July 29, 2010 at - Reply

    meron ba website punta isla,,or ano ba contack # nila???

    tnxxx,,,

  9. XEN((: July 25, 2010 at - Reply

    PunTA isla IS so Great!!

  10. ahgarcera April 22, 2010 at - Reply

    Very Informative Post… I had also visited the Place and it was wonderful..

    PUNTA ISLA LAKE RESORT: Lake Sebu, South Cotabato —> http://www.pinasbackpackers.co.cc/2010/04/punta-isla-lake-resort-lake-sebu.html

  11. Emil John Ballentes March 18, 2010 at - Reply

    PUNTA ISLA LAKE RESORT,, PLACE 100% VERY NICE,VERY RELAXING,STAFF VERY ACCOMODATING,FOOD VERY AFFODABLE BUT VERY YUMMY SARAP NG TILAPIA SPECIALLY THERE CHIHARONG TILAPIA,IF I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW I WILL MISS THE MONKEY MASYADONG PASAWAY!!KKKRRRRRRRRRRR!!ANG CUTE KASI MALAPIT ROOM KO ,,
    MY FREIND MICHEL COULON FROM FRANCE AND MY SELF WILL GO BACK HERE IN SEPTEMBER SANA MY DISCOUNT HAHAHAHA,PUNTA ISLA LAKE RESORT IS INDID ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKE RESORT IN LAKE SEBU,,SOUTH COTABATO,

  12. Emil John Ballentes March 18, 2010 at - Reply

    WOW!!
    AMAZING PUNTA ISLA!!AND I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE HERE!!
    GUESS WHOS HERE NOW!!THE VERY POPULAR TEEN ICONS
    GERALD ANDERSON AND KIM CHIU!!!

    THEY ARE SO NICE AND MABAIT,,NALIGO SA DONGON FALLS NA WALANG BANLAW PERO MGA GWAPO AT MAGANDA PARIN!!KAINIS SUPERRRRR!!!!!!!!

  13. john paul palmes November 3, 2009 at - Reply

    i’m so impressed with my self kasi akala ko maganda pero sa tooto lang pangit,pangit ka thanks ang ganda ng comment ko diba.

  14. sinta October 30, 2009 at - Reply

    hello!can you pls send me thru my email ur package for the stay?

  15. tam October 23, 2009 at - Reply

    magkano ang 1 day stay s punta isla?2days?3days?…

  16. genne September 21, 2009 at - Reply

    we’ve been there last few weeks ago..ganda…ngboating kmi…sayng nga lng and di kmi ngatagal ilang oras lng kmi ngstay kc uwi pah kming davao…ganda ng mga accesories and ang bait ng moongky n alaga nila…this december blik kmi sana meh mga black t-shirts nah keo..puro kc puti and red…tska ganda ng view sah resort nla…sarap ng tilapia…

  17. Angelie Cabilao April 3, 2009 at - Reply

    pwede makuha ang contact number nyo? sana kung mag aadvertise kayo sa net, pakilagay ang contact number para makakapagpareserve kami. Today is April 3,2009 at nagpaplano kaming pumunta sa punta isla bukas april 4… so kung pwede lang makuha ang contact number… please…

  18. tweety.... March 9, 2009 at - Reply

    nice!

    see you soon

  19. melody March 3, 2009 at - Reply

    pede mkta mga pic ng resort neo?

  20. novie mae baay November 3, 2008 at - Reply

    hmmm nice,.,.

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