Taytay lies on the northern mainland, south of El Nido and about 214 km from Puerto Princesa. It takes in Malampaya Sound, a protected area that is home to the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area. The municipality calls itself the first capital of Palawan, and its seventeenth-century stone fort, the Fuerza de Santa Isabel, still stands.
Municipality of 31 barangays, 1,257.68 km² of land.
Taytay lies on the northern mainland, south of El Nido and about 214 km from Puerto Princesa. It takes in Malampaya Sound, a protected area that is home to the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area. The municipality calls itself the first capital of Palawan, and its seventeenth-century stone fort, the Fuerza de Santa Isabel, still stands.
Around Taytay
In 1818 Taytay became capital of Calamianes province, which then covered all of Paragua, present-day Palawan.
Heritage
Fort Santa Isabel
A coral limestone fort in Taytay town, first built in 1667 as a wooden palisade under Augustinian Recollect priests; renovation with National Historical Commission help began in 2018.
Nature
Malampaya Sound
A sound within Taytay on Palawan's northwestern coast, protected since 2000 as the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape; home to Irrawaddy dolphins.
Nature
Lake Manguao
A lake in Taytay declared a critical habitat on May 29, 2024, through Resolution No. 24-994, primarily for the Palawan pangolin.
Island resort
Apulit Island
An island in Taytay, home to Apulit Island Resort, one of the four island resorts of Ayala Land's El Nido Resorts.
A short history
The municipality traces its name to talatayan, a wooden or bamboo walkway the first inhabitants used to cross between stretches of coast. Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan's voyage, recorded the surviving ships anchoring at Taytay in 1521.
Augustinian Recollects founded the Christian town in 1623 and dedicated it to Santa Monica. The fort, Fuerza de Santa Isabel, was built in 1667 against raids; its chapel and cannons remain, under the care of the municipal government. Taytay was capital of the Spanish province of Calamianes from 1818.
Before you go
Fees, rules and schedules change. Check them with the town.
- Official website
- Municipal Government of Taytay
- Local government
- Municipality of Taytay
- Sources
Sources (10)
- PSGC code 1705320000 and 31 barangaysPSGC API, data from the PSA Philippine Standard Geographic Code (psgc.gitlab.io; release not stated by the mirror, counts cross-checked with psgc.cloud and PhilAtlas)
- Land area 1257.68 km² (PSA 2013 figure) and barangay countTaytay, Palawan Profile, PhilAtlas
- Name from talatayan; Pigafetta's account of the 1521 visit; founding by the Augustinian Recollects in 1623 dedicated to Santa Monica; Taytay as the first capital of PalawanHistory and Culture, Municipality of Taytay
- 214 km from Puerto Princesa; Malampaya Sound and the Irrawaddy dolphin; Fuerza de Santa Isabel built 1667, chapel and cannons intact, under the municipal government; capital of Calamianes from 1818Taytay, Palawan, Wikipedia
- El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area includes portions of TaytayEl Nido, Palawan, Wikipedia
- In 1818 Taytay became capital of Calamianes province, which then covered all of Paragua, present-day Palawan.Taytay, Palawan - Wikipedia
- Fort Santa IsabelFort Santa Isabel - Wikipedia
- Malampaya SoundMalampaya Sound - Wikipedia
- Lake ManguaoLawak Island, Lake Manguao named critical habitats in Palawan - Palawan News
- Apulit IslandUnique luxury, environmental responsibility define Apulit Island - Philstar