Skip to content
This isPalawan
Map
11°17′N 120°54′E

Agutaya is an island municipality in the eastern Cuyo Archipelago, in the Sulu Sea. Its namesake island is the second largest in the group, with four peaks rising over it, and the town also takes in Diit, Halog, Maracanao, Matarawis, Eke and Quiniluban islands. Cuyo Island lies about 20 miles away, yet in the strongest months of either monsoon native sailboats once could not make the crossing.

Municipality of 10 barangays, 37.31 km² of land.

Agutaya is an island municipality in the eastern Cuyo Archipelago, in the Sulu Sea. Its namesake island is the second largest in the group, with four peaks rising over it, and the town also takes in Diit, Halog, Maracanao, Matarawis, Eke and Quiniluban islands. Cuyo Island lies about 20 miles away, yet in the strongest months of either monsoon native sailboats once could not make the crossing.

Around Agutaya

  • Heritage

    Agutaya Fort (Baluarte de San Juan Bautista)

    A fort in Agutaya created by remodelling the 1683 Church of St. John the Baptist, built 1700–1748; the church was the town's evacuation centre in World War II.

  • Island

    Agutaya Island

    The municipality's namesake island, the second-largest of the Cuyo archipelago; Agutaya also covers Diit, Halog, Maracanao, Matarawis, Eke and Quiniluban islands.

A short history

  1. The islanders have their own language, Agutaynen, spoken by about ten thousand people; Tagalog and Cuyonon are also widely used.

  2. The Spanish built the church of Saint John the Baptist in 1683, and after Moro raids it was rebuilt as a fort, the Baluarte de San Juan Bautista. It sheltered the town during the Second World War. Agutaya became a permanent municipality in 1916.

Fees, rules and schedules change. Check them with the town.

Facebook page
Municipality of Agutaya (Facebook)Checked 21 Oct 2026
Local government
Municipality of AgutayaPSGC 1705302000
Sources
Sources (5)