Melo Villareal
Secrets of San Vicente, Palawan: Club Agutaya Resort Review
“At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour, but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.” These words were exactly what resonated in us when we recently visited Club Agutaya Resort in San Vicente, Palawan.
It was my second time visiting San Vicente and I was quite surprised to see a lot of developments in the town. From the paved roads and tourism-related establishments to the newly opened airport, I’m glad this place is being developed with sustainability in mind.
As a frequent traveler, I love to see new beach destinations. With the increase in the number of areas being developed, tourists will have more equally beautiful options to choose from and will not just overpopulate destinations like Boracay, giving these islands time to breathe and heal. This also means giving the people in these localities more livelihood sources while protecting their own environment.
San Vicente is an upcoming resort town in Palawan surrounded by lush green forests with amazing waterfalls, pocket beaches, and beautiful people. Its main attraction is its Long Beach, a 14.5-kilometer stretch of coastal haven blessed with creamy white sands and crystal clear waters.
During our recent visit, we stayed at Club Agutaya – an eco-friendly boutique resort with environmental sustainability at the helm of its vision.
How to Get to Club Agutaya
From Manila:
- Fly to Puerto Princesa Airport.
- From Puerto Princesa, travel to San Jose Terminal via tricycle.
- Take the bus or van going to San Vicente. That’s P450 – P550 per way. Club Agutaya is 2-3 hours away from Puerto Princesa City.
- You may take the Cherry Bus Liner or Day Tripper (you can book online) and ask to be dropped off at the Itabiak Junction (in San Vicente). Please inform the resort in advance so their official transport can pick you up.
From Clark International Airport:
- Fly to San Vicente Airport.
- You may arrange airport transfers by contacting the resort prior to your arrival.
From El Nido:
- Fly to El Nido Airport.
- From El Nido, take the van going to Puerto Princesa City.
- Take the bus or van going to San Vicente. That’s P450 – P550 per way.
Arrival Experience
Upon reaching the resort, we proceeded to their lobby. Filled with Philippine-made furnishings, the lobby showcases the use of local materials that present that ultimate island vibe. Sighting a magnificent chandelier (designed and built in Capiz) hanging from its high ceiling and a wooden staircase leading to the resort’s rooms, the interiors were truly a great welcoming view.
The check-in process was fast and efficient too. We were able to go to our respective rooms quite faster than usual I loved the cold cucumber, lemongrass, and lemon-infused water available at the lobby for free.
Resort Rooms
Club Agutaya Resort has 58 rooms with luxurious private villas dotted with pocket gardens and great access to the pool and beach. It also has smaller rooms in the main building which are suited for travelers who want to save money on accommodations.
I stayed on the 3rd floor of the main building. There’s no elevator in the resort, but I prefer it (walking up) that way since burning calories takes a little bit harder as you grow older. 🙂 Our room was a bit small, but it’s good enough since you won’t be staying in your room the whole day long after all. You’ll have plenty of time to relax and unwind. The bathroom has enough space though and comes with complimentary toiletries.
Resort Food and Dining
Right next to the main building on the way to the beach is a beautiful thatched roof restaurant called Cafe Lily. The restaurant serves international cuisine, but the main highlight was their local food which uses the freshest ingredients mostly coming from their garden or sourced locally.
How can I forget their Barako coffee? It simply sets my mood to start the day right. The dishes in their menu were created by Chef Maria. It boasts of delicious cuisines from around the world. For Chef, fresh is best.
Hands down to Chef Maria who prepares all the food starting from breakfast all the way to snacks and dinner. With each dish she crafts, she’ll literally take you to her own personal dining table just as what she’d do to a friend visiting her house. It was a truly lovely experience.
Café Lily also bakes their bread in their own kitchen and serves them fresh every day!
Resort Facilities
As green as it aims to be, Club Agutaya generates solar and wind power to light up its LED lights that provide noteworthy luminescence to the resort. It is the first resort in the Philippines to use separate pipes in segregating the toilet wastes and treats it in an efficient sewage treatment system that converts it to reusable water.
The resort also boasts of a well-stocked bar called View Bar. Look for Icy “Dixie” Marinas, the resort manager who is also an expert mixologist. Whenever she is in the resort, she would personally mix different liquors for the resort’s guests. I swear, I fell in love with her old-fashioned cocktail.:)
Club Agutaya has a freshwater infinity pool that coaxes you with its warmth and ambiance. Guests may opt to laze in the sun by the beach or may arrange for a private tour at the concierge.
Overall
What makes this resort appealing for a frequent traveler like me is its rawness. It literally feels like you are in Boracay back when it was still more pristine 40 years ago, but of course with the convenience of having a remarkable resort and good amenities.
Club Agutaya is really big given that it sits on 3.5 hectares of beach property. And even if it was fully booked during our stay, it still did not feel that crowded. We even felt that we were the only guests in the resort. Too bad the weather was uncooperative when we went there and we were not able to do other activities.
Overall, we had a great stay. The resort is at its perfect state at the moment, at least based on my experience. Everything the resort has is unforgettable, especially its friendly staff and its lovely in-house cats and dogs (seriously). I can’t wait to go back to this piece of paradise!
Club Agutaya Resort
Book Online via Agoda
Address: Long Beach, Barangay San Isidro, Palawan, San Vicente, 5309
Telephone: 0917 898 1047
Check out our complete list of recommended Hotels and Resorts in San Vicente, Palawan via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in San Vicente.
Also see:
- The 17 Most Beautiful Infinity Pools in the Philippines
- 16 Best Luxury Resorts in Palawan
- EL NIDO PALAWAN TRAVEL GUIDE: DIY Itinerary, Things to do, How to get there and more
- Veranda Restaurant: Puerto Princesa’s Seafood Sensation
- 25 Island Destinations in the Philippines for Your Bucket List
