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motorbike

Cuyo


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Cuyo is a small island in the open ocean, so the winds are consistent, making it a good spot for kitesurfing. And unlike Boracay, it is not so well known, so you can expect a lot more space.

As one website wrote, when comparing the different surfing spots in the country:

What to Expect:  There are a few different spots on Cuyo Island, which is found almost in the middle of the Sulu Sea, just south of the windiest region during Amihan season. Victoria Beach gets a side onshore wind, while Capusan beach has a wealth of shallow water and offshore winds. Quijano Windsurfing Retreat which is also known as Anino Retreat, offers a vast virgin and reef-protected lagoon with sandy bottom sea, smooth onshore wind and small waves that are perfect for those just stepping into the amazing thrill of kitesurfing. Very few visitors know about this spot, which makes it extra safe for rookie kiters. The thing to watch out for in Cuyo is that during low tide the water heads so far out that there isn’t enough water to kite in.
Category: Beginner to advanced.

You can also check out our own comparison of kitesurfing spots in the Palawan area.

Getting There

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Located east of El Nido and southwest of Borocay, with sporadic ferries, it’s not the easiest place to get to (click to enlarge):

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As the image instructs, make sure to confirm the schedule beforehand, as it can often change.

Zooming in closer we can see a lot of other islands in the area:

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Unfortunately I did not get a chance to check out any of the surrounding islands, but I will try to come back at a later point to do so.

When you get off the ferry and walk to the gate at the beginning of the pier, hang a left and soon enough you will find Nikki’s Pension. Affordable and did the trick for my short stay.

Since I had about a day before another ferry went on to my next destination, decided to rent a motorbike to explore the island.

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Going counter clockwise I thought I’d check out the smaller white road along the shore:

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Rather enjoyable and perhaps the most fun of the island.

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One part was close enough to take a peak at the ocean.

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After that the only interesting part I found was at the northeast corner:

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Following sign around the San Miguel church:

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Didn’t check out Anino Kite Resort but seems to have nice enough reviews on Trip. So went to check out D’Romielea’s Place instead:

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Somewhat of a goofy place, but hey, what’s a tourist supposed to do?

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Then it was back to the town of Cuyo to check out it’s long beach and lie on a bench before catching my ferry.

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Following is a short video clip of the consistent winds I experienced here, mixed in with a band I played shortly with at my next destination, Iloilo:

Back to Explore the Philippines


Lou PrataliLou Pratali
11:04 25 Jul 23
This is a must to do!!Super ultimate tour is the best with Kayangan and barracuda lake, twin lagoons (my favorite), coral garden (blue fabulous coral) were the best. It’s really worth it to pay for private tour (3500 to 4000 PHP). You will also have to pay for entrance fees (150 to 200PHP by location) and eventually shopping at the market - must do (count 300 for 2 for fish, pork, fruits and vegetables, water).
Gérard BENOITGérard BENOIT
16:11 07 Feb 23
I was looking for a personalized excursion to the beautiful Gulf of Bacuit.Seeing the comments, I contacted Mel.Very responsive, very efficient and perfect organization.The flight attendants were very friendly and very helpful.And I'm not even talking about the meal on board...a marvel.In all fairness, this excursion will remain an excellent memory and I cannot recommend Mel and his team highly enough.A big thank-you.
Alyse TarbottonAlyse Tarbotton
23:48 30 Aug 22
This tour went well above all our expectations! I couldn't recommend this enough! The boat crew, captain and tour guide were nothing but amazing, everyone was so kind, helpful and friendly. The crew knew the best spots to visit that weren't overcrowded with tourists, 3 times we were lucky enough to have whole islands to ourselves! It was my partner's birthday while away and everything went above and beyond, bonfire, cake, birthday card, singing and celebrating with us.If you love camping this is definitely a tout you should do, it has been the highlight of our trip!!
Danish KayaniDanish Kayani
10:24 31 Oct 19
Coron is the best place i have ever seen.. picturesque. Beautiful. Peaceful
We booked a 4 days/3 nights private boat trip from Coron to Sibaltan. The organization went very well from the beginning, the owner answered to all my questions, and we were able to choose which islands to visit and where to sleep. The first night we slept in a bungalow in Banana Island, the second we camped in Araw beach and the last we slept in a seafront bungalow builded on a tree in Pical on Iloc Island.The islands in that area are the most beautiful islands I have ever seen, with clear water, lots of coral reef and fishes to see, white sand and almost deserted. The crew was very friendly and polite and they organize every single meal and for camping they give you a tent which was just perfect! This was our highlight in our 2 weeks in the Philippines and I wish I had booked a longer trip. A private trip gives you the freedom to decide where and when to go.
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We are a family operation managing private custom boat tours in the beautiful Palawan area, and are happy to help travelers with their plans through the country, having traveled a lot of it ourselves and planning to visit it all.

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