Santorini Vibes in Claveria: A Rainy-Day Staycation at Mary Danielle’s Café & Resort

There’s something about a rainy day that either ruins a trip or makes it unforgettable — and this one leaned toward unforgettable. We packed up the family and headed to Claveria, Misamis Oriental, for a staycation at a spot that’s been all over our feed lately: Mary Danielle’s Café & Resort. With its white-and-blue, Greek-Mediterranean façade tucked into the highlands, it’s earned a nickname locally — “Santorini vibes sa Claveria” — and honestly, even under grey skies, it lived up to it.

This trip was all about slowing down: my wife, the kids, and the rest of the family in tow, no strict itinerary, just good food, a pool, and mountain air.

🛣️ Logistics & Transit

Claveria sits up in the highlands of Misamis Oriental, and Mary Danielle’s is nestled in Barangay Lanise — a short drive off the main road, with the resort’s access road weaving up toward a ridge overlooking the valley. The drive up is part of the experience: cooler air the higher you climb, and that first glimpse of the resort’s Santorini-style architecture against the mountains is a nice payoff after the ride.

Entrance Fee: ₱150 per person (pool access comes with an additional fee if you want to take a dip)

Simple, straightforward pricing at the gate — no complicated tiers, just one entrance fee that gets the whole family in to enjoy the grounds and view deck. Swimming is a separate add-on, so keep that in mind if a pool day is part of your plan.

💡 Montero Guy Travel Tip: Rainy season in the highlands means fog is almost guaranteed, especially in the afternoons. If you’re going up specifically for the mountain view, aim for an early morning visit — the mist tends to roll in as the day goes on.

🏊 Main Experience: A Family Day, Rain and All

We ordered food not long after arriving — nothing beats a warm meal when the weather’s cooling things down outside. While waiting, the kids didn’t waste any time. There’s a swing on the property, and that alone kept them entertained for a good stretch. It didn’t take long before they made new friends with other kids staying at the resort, and before we knew it, they had their own little playgroup going.

We skipped the pool this time around — this trip was really more about the food and the atmosphere — but it was still fun watching other guests enjoy a dip despite the light rain. The pool’s clearly a big draw here, and it’s now on our list for next time, hopefully paired with an overnight stay.

One of the features we were most curious about was the view deck with a telescope, set up for sightseeing across the valley and toward the mountains. Unfortunately, the fog that day was thick enough that visibility was pretty much zero — a reminder that in the highlands, the weather calls the shots. Still, it’s a nice touch that tells you this resort was built with the view in mind, and we’re already planning a return trip on a clearer day to actually use it.

Beyond the pool and the swing, we also walked around and checked out the function hall (Palazzo), which the resort recently opened for events like birthdays and family gatherings — definitely worth keeping in mind if you’re planning a bigger celebration up in Claveria. They also have rooms available for guests who want to turn the day trip into a proper overnight staycation, which is exactly the direction we’re leaning toward for our next visit.

💡 Did You Know? Claveria is one of the higher-elevation towns in Misamis Oriental, which is why it consistently gets that cool, almost Baguio-like climate — a big part of why resorts like Mary Danielle’s have become such a draw for families looking to escape the Mindanao heat without a long trip.

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Over the Horizon

Rainy days have a way of testing whether a place is really worth the trip, and Mary Danielle’s passed that test for us. Between the good food, the kids making new friends, and even a foggy, view-less telescope moment that just gave us a reason to come back — this staycation reminded us that sometimes the best family memories aren’t the ones that go according to plan. We didn’t hit the pool this time, but watching other guests enjoy it has us already eyeing a return visit — hopefully with clearer skies, an overnight stay in one of their rooms, and a proper swim of our own. Until the next horizon!