5 reasons Culion in Palawan deserves your attention | ABS-CBN
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5 reasons Culion in Palawan deserves your attention
5 reasons Culion in Palawan deserves your attention
Kara Santos
Published Oct 06, 2018 05:00 PM PHT
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Updated Oct 06, 2018 05:35 PM PHT
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It may be the last quarter of the year before the busy Christmas season, but the weather lately feels more like summer is in full swing. The months of October and November are some of the best to enjoy beach vacations in the country.
It may be the last quarter of the year before the busy Christmas season, but the weather lately feels more like summer is in full swing. The months of October and November are some of the best to enjoy beach vacations in the country.
With tourists flocking to the most popular spots, it can be hard to find a beach where you can enjoy peace and serenity, especially in Palawan.
With tourists flocking to the most popular spots, it can be hard to find a beach where you can enjoy peace and serenity, especially in Palawan.
For those looking for an off-beat destination, here are some reasons why Culion, dubbed Palawan’s Last Frontier, should be on your bucketlist.
For those looking for an off-beat destination, here are some reasons why Culion, dubbed Palawan’s Last Frontier, should be on your bucketlist.
1. Fascinating history
Culion is part of the Calamian group of islands situated at the northern part of Palawan. Long overshadowed by popular tourist hotspots like Coron and El Nido, Culion offers a different kind of destination.
Culion is part of the Calamian group of islands situated at the northern part of Palawan. Long overshadowed by popular tourist hotspots like Coron and El Nido, Culion offers a different kind of destination.
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Formerly a leprosarium, Culion remained isolated to the outside world for over a century. The leper colony was established in 1906 and patients from different parts of the Philippines and hospital staff were brought to the island and placed under quarantine. The cure for leprosy was developed in the 1980s and the island has been declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2006.
Formerly a leprosarium, Culion remained isolated to the outside world for over a century. The leper colony was established in 1906 and patients from different parts of the Philippines and hospital staff were brought to the island and placed under quarantine. The cure for leprosy was developed in the 1980s and the island has been declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2006.
Culion has several historical sites of interest, including the Culion Museum & Archives which provides a glimpse of the painful yet hopeful history of the island and its people, 17th-century La Inmaculada Concepcion Church and the remains of Fort Culion, which offers an excellent vantage point of the town and surrounding islands.
Culion has several historical sites of interest, including the Culion Museum & Archives which provides a glimpse of the painful yet hopeful history of the island and its people, 17th-century La Inmaculada Concepcion Church and the remains of Fort Culion, which offers an excellent vantage point of the town and surrounding islands.
With the island’s rich history and raw, natural beauty that has remained untouched for decades, Culion is ready to emerge from its dark past. This mysterious island will appeal to curious travelers looking for a memorable destination.
With the island’s rich history and raw, natural beauty that has remained untouched for decades, Culion is ready to emerge from its dark past. This mysterious island will appeal to curious travelers looking for a memorable destination.
2. Underwater paradise
One good thing that came out of the island's long period of isolation is that natural sites in Culion have remained pristine and unexploited. Culion offers some of the most surreal and remarkably preserved underwater landscapes for snorkelers and divers.
One good thing that came out of the island's long period of isolation is that natural sites in Culion have remained pristine and unexploited. Culion offers some of the most surreal and remarkably preserved underwater landscapes for snorkelers and divers.
Three ecosystems sustain the rich marine life of Culion including mangroves, seagrass, and corals. Culion offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling sites in the country. Culion’s marine parks including Buyang Lutang, Punta Dinamita and Crowning Glory Reefs are among the best in the country.
Three ecosystems sustain the rich marine life of Culion including mangroves, seagrass, and corals. Culion offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling sites in the country. Culion’s marine parks including Buyang Lutang, Punta Dinamita and Crowning Glory Reefs are among the best in the country.
Crowning Glory Reef is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) with amazingly clear and shallow water leading to rainbow colored corals and schools of fish. Sea turtles and dolphins also have been spotted in the area. From Culion, boat trips to wreck diving sites that popularly associated with Coron like Lusong shipwreck are easily accessible.
Crowning Glory Reef is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) with amazingly clear and shallow water leading to rainbow colored corals and schools of fish. Sea turtles and dolphins also have been spotted in the area. From Culion, boat trips to wreck diving sites that popularly associated with Coron like Lusong shipwreck are easily accessible.
3. Beach camping
When going on day trip island-hopping tours, the time you actually spend on the beach usually gets limited because of the number of islands you need to visit and the long boat travel time in between. Tours from Culion allow visitors to access some remote islands which are not usually included in package tours and stay longer or camp out overnight.
When going on day trip island-hopping tours, the time you actually spend on the beach usually gets limited because of the number of islands you need to visit and the long boat travel time in between. Tours from Culion allow visitors to access some remote islands which are not usually included in package tours and stay longer or camp out overnight.
Instead of heading back to the poblacion for the night, overnight beach camping trips can be arranged making your visit more relaxing. Imagine falling asleep with just the sound of the waves and waking up to gorgeous sunrises.
Instead of heading back to the poblacion for the night, overnight beach camping trips can be arranged making your visit more relaxing. Imagine falling asleep with just the sound of the waves and waking up to gorgeous sunrises.
4. Peace and serenity
In an increasingly fast-paced world, Culion still offers that feeling of remoteness, isolation, peace and the back-to-basics island life that everyone craves for once in a while. City folk can go off-the-grid, learn how to fish the traditional way, reflect and just recharge from the urban grind.
In an increasingly fast-paced world, Culion still offers that feeling of remoteness, isolation, peace and the back-to-basics island life that everyone craves for once in a while. City folk can go off-the-grid, learn how to fish the traditional way, reflect and just recharge from the urban grind.
Travelers who want to head to a meaningful destination away from beach parties and karaoke bars might want to consider Culion.
Travelers who want to head to a meaningful destination away from beach parties and karaoke bars might want to consider Culion.
5. Meaningful journey
Aside from than the place itself, what makes Culion special is the genuine community spirit and hospitality of the people. I’ve found that in more remote and rarely visited places, it’s where visitors are genuinely welcomed by locals. Many of the island’s older inhabitants were cast off by their families onto the island and have lived most of their lives on the island so they welcome interactions with visitors.
Aside from than the place itself, what makes Culion special is the genuine community spirit and hospitality of the people. I’ve found that in more remote and rarely visited places, it’s where visitors are genuinely welcomed by locals. Many of the island’s older inhabitants were cast off by their families onto the island and have lived most of their lives on the island so they welcome interactions with visitors.
Kawil Tours (The Coron-Culion Palawan Expeditions), the only Culion-based tour operator, works with locals from the island in operating historical, cultural and island-hopping tours there.
Kawil Tours (The Coron-Culion Palawan Expeditions), the only Culion-based tour operator, works with locals from the island in operating historical, cultural and island-hopping tours there.
Kawil Tours is managed by young and dynamic operators and partners who believe that promoting tourism on the island will help provide livelihood and progress for the island and its people.
Kawil Tours is managed by young and dynamic operators and partners who believe that promoting tourism on the island will help provide livelihood and progress for the island and its people.
For those who looking for a truly memorable journey before the year ends, Kawil Tours is offering a special 5D-4N live on-board expedition around Culion and Coron from October 25-29, covering everything that will be needed for the trip (including fees, meals, etc.).
For those who looking for a truly memorable journey before the year ends, Kawil Tours is offering a special 5D-4N live on-board expedition around Culion and Coron from October 25-29, covering everything that will be needed for the trip (including fees, meals, etc.).
This includes a 2-night accommodation in Hotel Maya a night before and after the trip on a room-sharing arrangement and roundtrip service between Coron and Culion a day before and after the trip.
This includes a 2-night accommodation in Hotel Maya a night before and after the trip on a room-sharing arrangement and roundtrip service between Coron and Culion a day before and after the trip.
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