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Cuyo holds the western half of Cuyo Island, the largest island of the Cuyo Archipelago in the Sulu Sea, about 13 km long and 7.5 km wide, together with Bisucay, Manamoc, Pamalican, Pandan and several other small islands. The town centre is built around a Spanish fort, finished in 1680, whose high stone walls enclose the church, the convent and a chapel. Cuyo was the capital of Palawan from 1873 to 1903.

Municipality of 17 barangays, 84.95 km² of land.

Photo: LuzViMindaLife, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cuyo holds the western half of Cuyo Island, the largest island of the Cuyo Archipelago in the Sulu Sea, about 13 km long and 7.5 km wide, together with Bisucay, Manamoc, Pamalican, Pandan and several other small islands. The town centre is built around a Spanish fort, finished in 1680, whose high stone walls enclose the church, the convent and a chapel. Cuyo was the capital of Palawan from 1873 to 1903.

Around Cuyo

Cuyo was the capital of Paragua, present-day Palawan, from 1873 to 1903.

Cuyo holds the feast of San Agustin every August 28, now celebrated as the Purongitan Festival.

  • Mountain

    Mount Aguado

    A mountain in Cuyo lined with life-size Stations of the Cross from foot to peak, climbed by pilgrims in Holy Week penitential rites.

  • Beach

    Capusan Beach

    A beach in Cuyo that stretches into a sandbar, forming a broad, shallow sand flat suited to kiteboarding.

  • Island

    Manamoc Island

    An island-barangay of Cuyo in the northwestern Cuyo Islands, surrounded by coral reefs, with a lagoon in its southwest and Mt. English open for trekking.

  • Island resort

    Pamalican Island

    A private island in Cuyo municipality, home to the Amanpulo resort.

  • In town

    Cuyo Lighthouse

    A lighthouse near the pier, described as the first landmark of Cuyo Island visible from the sea.

A short history

  1. Cuyonon, the language and culture of the islands, spread from here across much of Palawan. Cuyonon music, the courting songs of the post-harvest season and the Mazurka de Cuyo, a social dance with mazurka steps, are part of the town's heritage.

  2. Each year on 28 August Cuyo celebrates the feast of Saint Augustine, now called the Purongitan Festival, the town's main celebration.

The way in

  1. Puerto Princesa

    From Puerto Princesa: Montenegro Shipping Lines runs a weekly ferry between Puerto Princesa and Iloilo that calls at Cuyo; schedules change with the weather. Cuyo Airport is in Magsaysay, on the same island.

  2. Cuyo

    Nearest gateway. Cuyo Airport, in Lucbuan in neighbouring Magsaysay

A place in Cuyo

  • Stone archway of Fort Cuyo framing the wooden doors of Saint Augustine Parish, dated Ano 162210°51′N 121°00′EFort CuyoHeritage

    How to get there. By ferry or flight from Puerto Princesa to Cuyo town; the fort stands in the town center

    Best time. November to May, dry season, and ideally during the February Cuyo town fiesta

    Photo: Carlito Palatino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

Official website
Municipality of Cuyo eLGU portalChecked 21 Oct 2026
Local government
Municipality of CuyoPSGC 1705310000
Sources
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