Cuyo Travel Guide, Philippines

Cuyo Travel Guide: General information

Cuyo, located to the north of Sulu Sea is a collection of 40 islands that form a small part of Palawan province of the Philippines. It is situated very far from the coasts of main Palawan and Mindoro. Cuyo is a paradise walk for people who want to enjoy life at a slow pace amidst natural exquisiteness. The beautiful coastline with little activities has preserved the loveliness of the region. The white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, bubbling aqua marine life and exotic splendor of coral reefs make Cuyo a perfect snorkeling and diving destination.

Cuyo is very sparsely populated and is almost isolated from the heart of Palawan.

The southern region of Cuyo islands concentrates most of Cuyo’s population. Though Cuyo is not a commercial region, there are fairly good facilities for the tourist to retire and have a peaceful vacation.

Cuyo Travel Guide: About Architectural Heritage

The major landmark in Cuyo's architectural heritage is Cuyo Fort built in 1683. It is situated very near to the Gapusan beach. The fort catches glimpses of Spanish traditional architecture. It marks the era in which Cuyo was the capital of Palawan.

This fort served as the city center and also protected the capital from pirates. The Moros were the major threat to the city at that time. Except for the addition of a bell tower no major change has been done to the fort till date. It still preserves the original architecture.

Another major landmark of Cuyo is its oldest church that is located very close to Cuyo Palace.

Cuyo Travel Guide: Economy and Infrastructure

The economy of Cuyo is agriculture oriented. The major occupation of the people is farming. The people of the region still use the traditional methods of farming and are not familiar with the latest technological advancements in the field of agriculture.

Sea food is also a major source of income for the people of Cuyo. A major market for sea food from Cuyo is Manila. Fishing based small scale industries like making fishing nets, traps, boats etc., are other occupations of the inhabitants.

Cuyo offers a little bit of air transport facilities to its visitors. There is a small airstrip for operation of light aircrafts. Cuyo is easily accessible from Manila and Puerto Princesa. The area has a fairly good network of water transport by small boats and ferries. There are small docks that cater to small ships and boats.

Cuyo Travel Guide: People and culture

The people of Cuyo enjoy a rich social life. They work together to complete their day to day activities. The people here are catholic and stand besides their culture and beliefs. A strong presence of Cuyo's culture can be felt here. Its traditions have stood the test of time and remained unchanged.

Cuyo is basically a Spanish speaking region but one can clearly feel the influence of languages of Negros and Panays in heir dialects.

People here enjoy the leisurely pace of the island. Music is an essential part of their lives. Their songs and dances depict the old culture of Cuyo. The use of traditional instruments made of bamboo and animal hide have a charm of their own. All in all, Cuyo travel is an experience of a life time.