Camp Spotted Wood: Immersing in Nature in Quezon

 

Camp Spotted Wood is a first rate campsite located inside Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort which is accessed through its entrance in Tiaong, Quezon.  One registers at Villa Escudero's front desk to perform the usual health protocols and settle fees before entering the gate and following the road that leads to the campsite farther into the property, beyond the resort's more popular attractions.  Named after the Spotted Wood Kingfisher, a brightly-colored, medium-sized species endemic to the Philippines, the camp is the habitat of many bird species and diverse plants. 

Villa Escudero, as I remembered it from my youth, was all about man-made attractions: a waterfall (of the mini hydro power variety), cultural shows, museum, buffet, coconut plantation - these are all still here - but a turn to nature has taken place. There’s now a forest with more native trees where mostly coconut trees used to be, there’s new camping grounds in addition to the air conditioned accommodations in the resort, there’s river rafting along a lushly vegetated riverbank … sure - its still man-made, a forest planted with intention - but the intention is to allow wildlife to flourish and for nature to take over. This place is well-tended, but not manicured. It’s beauty comes from beyond what people can produce.

There were many things we loved about Camp Spotted Wood.  The thoughtful arrangement of camping spots meant each party had space for their vehicles, flattened ground to pitch tents, a picnic table (this saved us the trouble of setting up our own table), a fire pit with logs and stumps surrounding it, for campers to sit on.  There's a good balance between clearing and canopy, sun and shade, tended and wild. The staff are attentive and eager to assist when approached, but they don't hover or disturb - they leave you in peace - it's impeccable service that is warm but unobtrusive.  It's the kind of place I can imagine going to on my own if I wanted to get away from it all - a place where I feel safe and secure, but can really enjoy solitude.

When night descended, campers were asked to dim their lights to reduce the disturbance to the wildlife. The whole place quieted down. My overactive children relaxed by the camp fire while my husband prepared our dinner (he cooks, I wash dishes - that's our division of labor). Staff provided us with a garbage bin with a huge trash bag inside, and a secure lid, and positioned it away from our tent (so as not to attract ants). Each camping party gets their own garbage bin to guarantee that trash won't be overflowing. Camp Spotted Wood really reduces sources of stress so people who seek some peace and quiet get a better chance of finding what they came for.

There are other comforts worth mentioning like very clean toilets (with bidet), showers, vanity sinks (for tooth brushing and hand washing), and kitchen sinks (for washing camping cookware). There's also charging stations above the sinks, so there's a way to recharge gadgets or even plug a rice cooker or hot water kettle. The amenity building is located centrally, somewhat equidistant to all camping spots, so that no campers will be stationed too near it - one has to walk across a field to get to this amenity bungalow, which is a good thing - it means one still gets the full camping experience - it is still not quite glamping - there are just enough comforts, and options to customize one's degree of self-reliance. The sinks for washing indicate that campers are expected to cook their own food - but at the same time - the opportunity to order food from the resort is available. Orders are radioed to the kitchen and a tricycle comes to deliver meals - we did this on our final day, when we had finished packing everything, and we wanted one last meal in the woods, on the picnic table surrounded by trees - rather than to eat at a resto in the city or to go through fast food drive through.

Waking up to the sound of very noisy birds was really the most welcome disturbance! My kids slept so well that my husband and I got to enjoy having good coffee and breakfast by ourselves (felt like a date!) then we took a stroll and just marvelled at how beautiful everything was - the rays of the sun landing on the trees, making leaves glow a glorious green - the reflection of vegetation on still water, the crunch of dried leaves under our feet, and the cacophony of sounds from the branches above. The people of Camp Spotted Wood have done a great job of making the riverside accessible. They created steps by terracing the earth and using fallen logs, and there were bamboo docks, small in scale, made with natural materials, blending well with the landscape. It is care-taking done right, with a deft touch, and not too much - just enough to help people enjoy nature, without the pitfalls of overdevelopment.

Our stay at Camp Spotted Wood was a beautiful experience. I spent the weekend with my husband Oliver, our 3 kids Narra-Guijo-Lauan, and tons of activity (packing-unpacking-packing, swimming, touring, with rounds of dishwashing in between) and yet, I had very meditative moments where I experienced a quieting of my mind and spirit, and had a chance to commune with God through nature. That's the magic of this beautiful place.

Date of visit: 5-6 March, 2022

Camp Spotted Wood at Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort, Tiaong, Quezon

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