Cuyo Island Travel Guide: Journey to Ploning’s Homeland

Cuyo

About Cuyo

Blessed with rich history and culture, unexploited islands and islets decorated with white sand beaches, and built by waves and strong winds, is Cuyo. It is a group of island in Sulu Sea under the jurisdiction of the Province of Palawan.

Cuyo is a small community that punches above its weight and carried great importance specially during Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Being the oldest town in Palawan, it served as the province’s second capital from 1873 to 1903, influencing the culture, language and tradition of the whole province. Cuyunon, its native dialect is still widely spoken by the elders in the mainland Palawan until today.

Cuyo
Pandan Island

It is bounded by Quiniluban Group of Islands to the north, where the Pamilacan Island’s Amanpulo Resort is located. To its south is the town of Cagayancillo and the reefs of Tubbataha. Panay Island lies on the east while the mainland Palawan is on its west. It is composed of three municipalities – Cuyo, Agutaya, and Magsaysay. Its prominent landmark is its Spanish fort constructed in 1677 to protect the town from Moro Pirates.

Cuyo is more than Ploning. It has distinct and appealing charm. Its remoteness makes the island less appealing to tourists but a blessing in disguise for it has maintained and preserved its beauty.

Cuyo
San Agustin Church and Fort

How to Get to Cuyo

By Air

Air Juan is the only commercial airline flying in and out of Cuyo Airport. It operates flights to and from Puerto Princesa, Caticlan, Iloilo and Sipalay.

By Sea

The common mode of transport going in and out of Cuyo is by ferry. There are two major ferry companies serving Puerto Princesa – Cuyo – Iloilo (and vice versa) routes – Montenegro Shipping Lines and Milagrosa Shipping Lines. The following schedules are as of February 2010.

Montenegro Shipping Lines

Montenegro Shipping Lines has Ro-Ro vessels serving the route. Based on their website (which I believe is not updated) here are the schedules:

Puerto Princesa to Cuyo: Departs the port of Puerto Princesa every Tuesday t 1800H and arrives at Cuyo the next day at around 0900H. Fare: Economy – P916. Fiesta – P1,099. Mabuhay- P1,374.

Iloilo to Cuyo: Departs the port of Iloilo every Saturday at 0800H and arrives Cuyo at around 1600H of the same day. Fare: Economy – P695. Fiesta – P834. Mabuhay- P1,043.

Cuyo to Puerto Princesa: Departs the port of Cuyo every Saturday at 1800H and arrives at Puerto Princesa the next day at around 0900H. Fare: Economy – P916. Fiesta – P1,099. Mabuhay- P1,374.

Cuyo to Iloilo: Departs the port of Cuyo every Tuesday at 1200H and arrives Iloilo at around 2000H of the same day. Fare: Economy – P695. Fiesta – P834. Mabuhay- P1,043.

Milagrosa Shipping Lines

Milagrosa Shipping Lines has two ferries serving the route twice a week. For more information, you may call their Iloilo office at (033)-3350955 or their Puerto Princesa office at (048)-4334806.

Puerto Princesa to Cuyo:  Departs the port of Puerto Princesa every Sunday and Thursday at 1500H and arrives at Cuyo the next day at around 0700H. Fare (as of August 2009): Economy – P610. De Luxe – P715. Tourist – P860. Admiral – P2,128.

Iloilo to Cuyo: Departs the port of Iloilo every Tuesday and Friday at 1900H and arrives Cuyo at around 0800H of the next day. Fare (as of December 2009): Economy – P450. De Luxe – P540. Tourist – P665. Admiral – P1,600.

Cuyo to Puerto Princesa:  Departs the port of Cuyo every Wednesday and Saturday at 1500H and arrives at Puerto Princesa the next day at around 0700H. Fare (as of August 2009): Economy – P610. De Luxe – P715. Tourist – P860. Admiral – P2,128.

Cuyo to Iloilo: Departs the port of Cuyo every Tuesday and Saturday at 1700H and arrives Iloilo at around 0700H of the next day. Fare (as of December 2009): Economy – P450. De Luxe – P540. Tourist – P665. Admiral – P1,600.

Cuyo
A rocky islet off Pandan Island

There are also cargo ship operators that ferry passengers from Manila to Cuyo. Contact the shipping lines for schedule and fare information. Please note that these are smaller cargo ships/hauls that cater specially to cargo but also allow passengers.

  • Operator: J.V. Serrano Shipping Lines (M/V D’Asean Journey, M/V D’Sea Journey)
    Route: Manila-Cuyo and vice versa; Coron to Cuyo and vice versa
    Contact Info: (02)-243-4595

Where to Stay in Cuyo

There are accommodations near the port in Cuyo town as well as in the town of Magsaysay.

Cuyo Town

Feroland Hotel
Poblacion, Cuyo
Contact Number: +639217904848
Aircon Rooms with T/B: Single Bed – P600; Double Bed – P800; Family Room w/ TV – P1,000
Fan Rooms with Shared T/B : Single Bed – P200

Nikki’s Pension
Poblacion, Cuyo
Contact Number: +639208760008 / +639153865201
Aircon Rooms with T/B: Single Bed – P600; Double Bed – P800; Family Room w/ TV – P1,000
Fan Rooms with Shared T/B : Single Bed – P200

Dok’s La Paz Batchoy & Homestay
Barangay Tenga-Tenga, Cuyo
Contact Number: +639771641539 / +639075887177
Single Bed – P200

Jade Felimar Value Inn
Barangay Cabigsing
Contact Numbers: +6328065958 / +639228540335 / +639303478084 / +639301069821
Double room: P750 (Fan) and P1,000 (Aircon)

PSU Hometel
Palawan State University, Poblacion
Contact Number: +639199850074.
Dormitory bed – P200/person (fan) or P250 (aircon)

Magsaysay Town

  • Anino Retreat
    Formerly Quijano Windsurfing
    Victoria Beach (Quijano Beach), Barangay Lucbuan, Magsaysay
    Contact Number: +639296033275.
    Garden villa – P1,750 (offpeak) or PHP 2,500 (peak)
Cuyo
Cuyo’s Pagdayaw Festival

What to Do in Cuyo

Klook.com

  • Island hopping: check out the white sand islands of Pandan, Bisucay, Barrin, Capnayan, Quiminatin, Malcatop, Imalaguan and Silat or the other islands in the north covered by the town of Magsaysay and Agutaya
  • Wind Surfing/Kiting in Anino Windsurfing Retreat
  • Snorkeling/Diving (bring your own equipment or hop on live aboard dive cruise)
  • Fishing
  • Beach bumming in Capusa Beach and Lucbuan Beach
  • Island tour – see the old houses and structures that can be traced back from Spanish era
  • See the century old St. Augustine Church inside Cuyo Fort
  • Trek to Mount Aguado
Cuyo
One of the white sand islands of Cuyo

Tips

    • Best time to visit Cuyo is during the the dry season or from November to May. During rainy season, the waves are generally rough.
    • Town Fiesta is celebrated during the month of August with their Pagdayaw Festival in honor of their patron Saint Agustin. The festival features street dancing and performances that showcase the rich history of the island. You will see church goers put blue marks on their faces after the mass.
    • Mobile signal is available
    • Credit cards and travelers cheques are not accepted
    • While in the island, don’t forget to buy casuy.
    • Kitesurfing season: October to April

Comments

  1. przeglądy regałów

    Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!
    Extremely useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot.
    I was looking for this particular information for a very long time.
    Thank you and best of luck.

  2. Hi, would be nice to update the “How To Get There Section”. Until 2008 Asian Spirit was flying twice a week from Manila – Caticlan (Boracay) – Cuyo – Puerto Princesa. Since spring 2014 Air Juan flies every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between Puerto Princesa and Cuyo. Another airline is preparing to reactivate perhaps still in late 2015 the Manila – Caticlan (Boracay) – Cuyo – Puerto Princesa flights. This would enable kiters who need a break from Boracay to visit beautiful Cuyo Island. Perfect for Kiters at Capusan beach in Cuyo town and at the Anino Retreat in Magsaysay of Cuyo island.

  3. […] Travel Guide: Cuyo Island […]

  4. Great your information about Cuyo Island. However the informations about the ferry service is outdated. The same applies to the accommodations available on Cuyo Island. It would be also helpful to add information about Air Juan service between Puerto Princesa and Cuyo as well as the flight schedule between Caticlan (Boracay) and Cuyo Island. It should also be mentioned that Cuyo became a famous destination for kiters looking for perfect kite spots. The homepage of the Anino Retreat on Cuyo Island has lots of practical information about how to get to Cuyo and back.
    Regards Ulrich & Victoria

  5. sulpicia silva

    thank you so much for the informaton

  6. Henry

    Thanks Angel…very informtive specially your “how to get there” portion…lol…already thinking of visiting it…great blog.

  7. […] 28th day of August, the remote town of Cuyo in Palawan celebrates its town fiesta in honor of their Patron Saint Agustin. Kids performers in […]

  8. […] blog Lakwatsero points out that the best time to visit Cuyo is between November and May when the beaches are calm. […]

  9. nice info,help a lot for kiteboarder and windsurfer who travel around the Philippines.

  10. Reynaldo Rodriguez

    My family and I are really interested to see Cuyo Palawan. I ‘ve been there when I was still very young. Could you send me more ideas about cuyo palawan.
    thank you so much.

  11. […] Cuyo Island by Lakwatsero – general Info, How to get to Cuyo by RoRo, where to stay, town fiesta […]

  12. […] Cuyo | Lakwatsero […]

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