Hostel Review: Nuts Huts (Loboc, Bohol)

I was a little scared if Nuts Huts would live up to its hype. Recommended in almost every blog and website I read, including Lonely Planet, I had high expectations for this hostel located just outside Loboc town in Bohol, Philippines.

Arriving to Nuts Huts is fairly simple but a bit challenging. Be prepared for exercise! You can either take the bus from Tagbalaren or Loboc, or a taxi/tricycle that all can drop you at the start of the access road. When you reach the road, you’ll walk around 800 meters with your things down a rocky, dark (if arriving at night) road and then you’ll need to take many steep steps to reach reception. Definitely exhausting, but if you’re prepared for it, and pack right, you’ll be fine. 

Rooms 

The rooms range from different types and sizes. There is one dorm room available and the rest range from fitting 2+ beds. Extra beds can also be arranged if need be. Our room was called 9.5 Weeks (all huts are named after movies). By “room” I really mean hut, because you essentially get your own little house with your own bathroom (with the exception of the dorm). 

The huts have their own front porches, electrical sockets, a fan and heavy duty bug nets covering your beds! Beds and pillows are a bit hard but it’s hard not to get a good sleep when you have the relaxing sounds of nature around you. Also, don’t be intimidated by the dorm rooms as they are very low key and this is not at all a party hostel or located somewhere remotely close to a “night life”. 

Bathroom 

The bathroom is semi-private as the door isn’t really a full roof to floor door, however, they’re clean and are equipped with a manual-flush toilet, a cold shower and sink. 

You’ll also get your own towels! Yay! 

Common Room & Restaurant 

The common area of this hostel is located on the same level as reception. It’s rather large and includes beds to chill out on, hammocks, and of course, tables, as this room is also their restaurant. You can order off their great menu anytime between 8am-10pm, and since Nuts Huts is pretty remote, you’ll likely end up eating here more than you normally would at other accommodations. But to me that was no problem because the food was really good. I found myself pre-planning what I was going to have for my next meal and looking forward to each one. They have a variety of things to order, from soups and salads, to curry and burgers. While I was there I tried the following: 

– Banana shake
– Indian curry
– Sweet & sour chicken
– Calamansi (lemon) chicken
– Boiled eggs & fresh roll
– Muesli with homemade yogurt
– Fruit salad
– Sotanghon soup
– Tomato salad 

I wasn’t disappointed in anything I had, although I do wish there were more Filipino specialties on the menu to try. The staff even packed us a sandwich to go the day we were heading to the airport. 

Quiet hour started at 10pm and the grounds were relatively quiet and secured the entire time we were there. The most noise we heard was from the restaurant boats that float up and down the river. 

Staff & Information 

The staff made this stay even better! They were a wealth of information and provided us with everything we needed to know. The common room also has these magical info books which have so much beneficial information and suggestions of what to do and not to do. 

I enjoyed the cave hike for 250 PHP, a massage for 350 PHP and a morning kayak for 200 PHP an hour, all through Nuts Huts. You can also book their herbal sauna, and they can help you arrange a motorbike rental or taxis if you need them. Additionally, their staff can paddle you over to the other side of the river for 10 PHP where you can walk the scenic way into the town of Loboc along the river and through rice terraces which takes 30 minutes or less.

Overall, my stay was incredible. Nuts Huts is beautiful and the whole experience was A+. It seems the biggest complaint people have of this place is the stairs, but I wouldn’t suggest this place to someone who was incredibly out of shape or packed with giant suitcases anyway. Once you stay here, it’ll be hard to leave! One night is simply not enough, if you have the ability, stay for at least a few nights. You’ll get the perfect mix of a remote retreat, yet still have the ability to leave to do activities nearby!

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