CAMAYA COAST IN MARIVELES, Bataan, spells summer. It is a soothing sanctuary that would make beach junkies giddy with the prospect of just lounging around, urban-chic style.

The sprawling 354-hectare area is a promising haven for nature lovers with its white-sand beach, clear waters, refreshing view of the mountainside, forests, waterfalls and eco-trails. Once completed in 2011, it is projected to be Luzon?s ultimate summer destination with all the works.

It will have resorts, bed-and-breakfast and boutique hotels. Those who have a fantasy of owning their own beach property may check out residential and commercial units being sold now.

?We believe anyone with a decent job can afford it,? said Camaya Coast president Manuel Carlos ?Goody? Ilagan Jr.

?We wanted to achieve a high-quality product at the lowest cost possible. We wanted to make [a dream vacation home] affordable.?

?Camaya? is said to be Mariveles? ancient name. From Manila you can reach it by land through a three-hour ride to Bataan and a boat ride to the island. A quicker, direct way to get there is through the ferry boat that leaves the Philippine International Convention Center bay area at 8 a.m., but it?s only available for scheduled site visits every Saturday.

Beach love

The lush place is being compared to other private beaches, even to the party island of Boracay.

But Ilagan said developer Earth&Shore Leisure Communities Corp. is careful in establishing Camaya Coast?s identity as a diverse vacation spot with the comfort of a gated community.

The vision of Camaya Coast is to be a premium beach resort and residential community that inspires people to be active or to relax.

?It?s as natural as when we first set foot on it,? Ilagan said. ?The beauty of the white sand and the beach is what inspired us to develop Camaya. We will not sell or develop more than 45-50 percent of the total land area. We will retain the valleys with streams as an attraction.?

Progress started this year since it was ?discovered? in 2006. Camaya Coast was initially a private property consolidated from different owners.

To give you an idea of how it looks like, Camaya Coast is divided into commercial/recreational and residential sections. The commercial area covers hotels, restaurants, leased space, outdoor activities and nature parks; while the residential area houses gated communities, villas and condominiums. The main attraction, of course, is the smooth sand cove with a kilometer-long beach.

Subdivisions are clustered in phases according to the size of the lots, but Ilagan guaranteed there will be ample space for gardens to keep up with the green theme.

The initial two phases are almost sold out. Minimum size for a condo unit is 70 sq m, composed of living space, parking and a roof deck. Discounts are offered for cash buyers.

Active lifestyle

Camaya Coast promotes healthy and active living. It has a sports center that would allow guests to play basketball, badminton, volleyball, tennis, billiards. The adventurous ones could go kayaking, fishing, hiking, trail biking. It would also have parks where kids could go camping. Spas are in the works.

?We believe in a relaxing yet diverse lifestyle,? Ilagan said. ?One can enjoy the privacy of their home or hotel room, then stroll on the beach when they feel like it. It is a good investment.?

The place is perfect for families, couples, and nature enthusiasts. And the best part? You don?t have to jump on a plane to get there from Metro Manila.

Visit the Camaya Coast showroom at G/F, Prudential Bldg., Annex, No. 31, Edsa Mandaluyong City. Call 539-1960, 535-1593 or 0917-6CAMAYA. E-mail info@camayacoast.com or visit www.camayacoast.com.