San Vicente is an up-and-coming tourism hotspot in Palawan. Some people consider it as the next Boracay because of its 14.7 kilometer Long Beach, declared by local tourism officers as the “longest white beach in the Philippines.” Although there were increased tourism-related developments, San Vicente still has that remote and laid-back vibe. If you want to see this peaceful and uncommercialized side of Palawan, then this is the exact kind of escape you get from Club Agutaya Resort.
Planning a trip to San Vicente, Palawan? Check out this San Vicente Palawan Itinerary for first time visitors.
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About Club Agutaya Resort
Club Agutaya is a sustainable eco-friendly boutique resort in San Vicente, Palawan, just an hour’s flight from Manila. Powered by a vision that revolves around Filipino ingenuity and environmental sustainability, Club Agutaya is the first resort in the Philippines with an efficient Sewage Treatment System that converts toilet waste to reusable water. Aside from its architectural design that coexists with nature, the resort also generates its own renewable energy from solar and wind panels.
Arrival at Club Agutaya Resort
Upon arrival at Club Agutaya Resort, I was impressed by the receiving area with a chandelier made from Capiz shells and a reception counter designed with solihiya. I was also amazed with the grand lobby which showcases Filipino craftsmanship with ample usage of natural elements. While waiting for check-in, my friend and I helped ourselves with the refreshing cucumber lemonade. And because “pics or it didn’t happen,” we Instagram-ed our way through the grand staircase with complimentary WiFi throughout the resort.
Deluxe Twin Room
Located right on the Long Beach, Club Agutaya features beautifully appointed guest rooms and villas, with customized hand-crafted furnishings, equipped with air-conditioning and ensuite bathroom. Jerome and I stayed in a Deluxe Twin Room, which looks out to the garden and the courtyard. The bathroom is pretty basic but I enjoyed it nonetheless because of the all-natural coconut-based toiletries, which were surprisingly nice! I hope they would sell it in the future.
Project Gora Tip: This room is great value for money and is ideal for budget travelers who want to take advantage of the resort’s luxury amenities. Seriously, guys. When in San Vicente, do yourself a favor and book a room at Club Agutaya.
Breakfast at Cafe Lily
Cafe Lily is where breakfast happens every day. It’s a casual all-day dining restaurant that fuses Filipino flavors and international cuisines. Our stay came with free breakfast, which was sufficient for Jerome and I. Below are some of the food photos I took during our stay. If you’re a big breakfast eater, they do have ala carte menu if you want to order extra.
Signature Cocktails at Solihiya Bar
If you need a drink during the day, or to end off the night, there is Solihiya Bar at the main edifice. The Vice President for Operations, Dixie Marinas, is usually the one preparing the signature drinks like Palawan Mule and San Vicente Gin Tonic. Unfortunately, she wasn’t around during our stay so we settled for Red Horse Beer instead. Oh well, there’s always a next time!
Freshwater Infinity Pool
The massive pool of Club Agutaya is pretty much the resort’s star attraction. I’m not exaggerating but this swimming pool is worth the resort reservation alone. During our 3 days and 2 nights stay, I was able to swim for about 4 times! I swear I was obsessed with it! Lol! The pool is about half (or 1/3?) of an olympic-size pool with multi-depth that starts at 5 feet and gently slopes to the end at 8 feet. It’s not the best pool for a non-swimmer but for a decent to expert swimmer, you can definitely swim to your heart’s content!
Direct access to the Long Beach
Just a few steps ahead from the pool is the Long Beach, if you’d prefer the ocean over the infinity pool. At Club Agutaya, you’ve got a portion of the 14-kilometer beach to yourself, with no other people, except for the resort guests, to share it with.
Overall Experience at Club Agutaya
The massive infinity pool, the comfy pillows and beds in our room, the coconut-based toiletries, delicious breakfast, and the direct access to the beach were perfect. The area where the resort is located is very peaceful and clean, devoid of crowds, and close to Poblacion.
I didn’t like that the Long Beach is infested with niknik (sand mites). I always get niknik bites (it takes weeks to months to heal!) whenever I go to virgin beaches so this is a big deal for me. Thankfully, Club Agutaya provided us with generous amount of natural insect repellant (virgin coconut oil infused with citronella oil) upon check-in.
Overall, Jerome and I loved Club Agutaya! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a perfect place for a vacation, with everything you can ask for easily handled by the resort’s helpful staff.
How to book a room at Club Agutaya Resort
You may book a room thru the resort’s official website. You may also book Club Agutaya in Agoda, which offers one of the widest selections of accommodation within the Philippines and worldwide.
Address: Long Beach, Barangay San Isidro, San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines, 5309
Contact Numbers: +639178986566 | +639178754422 | +639178981047 to 48
Instagram: @ClubAgutaya
Facebook: @ClubAgutaya
How to get to Club Agutaya Resort
From San Vicente Airport
If you’re coming from Manila or Clark International Airport, flying is the fastest and easiest way to get to San Vicente. Philippine Airlines flies from Clark to San Vicente in less than 2 hours while SkyJet flies from Manila to San Vicente in 1 hour. From San Vicente Airport, you can charter an e-tricycle to take you to Club Agutaya for less than 200 pesos.
From Puerto Princesa International Airport
Another way to reach San Vicente is via Puerto Princesa International Airport. From the airport, charter a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. Tricycle fare is about 100-150 pesos so it’s better to find other travelers to split the cost. Take a van going to San Vicente. Travel time is about 2-3 hours and one-way fare is about 400-500 pesos.
Alternatively, you can take a van or bus (Cherry Bus or Day Tripper) bound for EL Nido and ask the driver to drop you off at Itabiak Junction. From there, you can wait for vans from El Nido or Port Barton bound for San Vicente. You may also ask Club Agutaya for their official transport service to pick you up.
From El Nido
If you’re coming from El Nido, there are direct vans going to San Vicente. Travel time is about 2-3 hours and one-way fare is 500 pesos. There are only two trips per day (8:00 AM and 1:00 PM) so it’s best to make a reservation at the van terminal or from your hotel receptionist.
Alternatively, you can take a bus or van bound for Puerto Prinsesa and ask the driver to drop you off at Itabiak Junction. You may ask Club Agutaya for their official transport service to pick you up.
How about you? Have you been to San Vicente, Palawan? Have you stayed at Club Agutaya Resort? Let me know in the comment section below!
Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link, which means I will receive a small commission if you make a booking, at no extra cost to you.
One reply on “Club Agutaya in San Vicente, Palawan”
Thank you for visiting Club Agutaya! I enjoyed reading your comments . I was just wondering why you weren’t able to order the Palawan mule or Palawan Gin tonic even if Ms Dixie is not around . We have trained bar tenders to do it on a daily basis. Come and visit again on us .