Southern Soliloquy: Reflections at San Vicente's Club Agutaya

A serene 14.7 kilometer stretch of sandy beach, all to yourself. In this day of overcrowded destinations, this is a rare find. But look closer further down south and you'll find your own space on the beach...

...at Palawan's last frontier in San Vicente's Club Agutaya. Magnificent sandy beaches, hidden coves, a pristine waterfall deep in the forest and some the freshest seafood, Club Agutaya takes you close to all these and more, far away from the usual crowds. At Club Agutaya, thoughts of paradise found becomes a recurring theme during our entire stay.

Our adventure in Palawan's last frontier began at Clark International Airport aboard the new Philippine Airlines Bombardier NextGen Q400 turboprop aircraft for the forty-five minute flight to San Vicente. Now with regular flights to San Vicente, travelers to El Nido and San Vicente can fly direct effectively bypassing Puerto Princesa to conveniently cut your travel time so you can begin your adventure the minute you land at San Vicente Airport. 

Leaving Clark International Airport, the ominous grey clouds gave way to clear and bright skies as we neared San Vicente.  It's always summer in Palawan, and it shines brightest at San Vicente. Categorized as a first-class municipality in the province of Palawan, San Vicente is located on the northwest side of the island and around 186 kilometers from Puerto Princesa. The municipality boasts of 14.7 kilometers or roughly 9 miles of powdery white sand beaches, called Long Beach, said to be the longest white sand beach in the country. Along this spectacular coast lies the barangay of New Agutaya where Club Agutaya is located.

An eco-environmental boutique resort, Club Agutaya is your gateway to San Vicente's many hidden natural wonders. With its Filipino-inspired design, Club Agutaya exudes that tropical island vibe blending in with the lush and verdant greens and the calm waters of the beach. The expansive 3.5 hectare property is a perfect picture of sustained development, maintaining much of the space for natural gardens and growth. Learning from the Boracay experience, San Vicente offers a second chance at doing things right steering clear from excessive commercialism and unrestrained development. This is, after all, the last frontier. And the stakes are high in preserving this piece of paradise.

The wide and spacious open design brings in the cool ocean breeze, with the classic lines of local architecture and materials giving it a warm and comforting feel. The grand wooden staircase frames the resort's reception...

...accentuated by bright splashes of color from its elegant yet casual furnishings. Consistent with its environmental advocacy, the resort is powered by renewable energy with efficient LED lighting driven by both solar and wind for a clean environment-friendly footprint.  

Club Agutaya boasts of 58 rooms, including private villas with verandas to match any requirement or budget ranging from P 4,500 to P 14,000, each furnished with all the convenient amenities for the modern traveler.

A walk around the property gives visitors the sense of scale and the wide open spaces...

...but you're never far from the famed Long Beach...

 ...with its seemingly endless sandy beach. Immersed and surrounded by its captivating charm, one can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of being free from the clutter of modern day trivialities. This is paradise in its honest and purest form.

Finding your own secluded spot is easy at San Vicente's Long Beach, simply choose your own space along the 14.7 kilometer stretch of sandy beach. Time stops at San Vicente's Long Beach, with its tranquil and undeveloped state reflecting the island's natural charm. This is how paradise should be, without any hints of commercial trappings to obstruct the natural order and balance. It's been said many times before, this is probably the next Boracay. In fact, this is probably the way Boracay once was, uncluttered and immaculate. It's this sense of unblemished purity that makes San Vicente special. But there's more...

Just a short ten minute drive from Club Agutaya is Little Baguio Falls deep inside San Vicente's virgin forests. The gentle sound of water soothes the senses, covered in a canopy of lush greens.

Explore the cool waters and get up close to one of San Vicente's hidden gems. The scenic attraction offers trekking through forest trails and bird-watching.

San Vicente's Bokbok Beach is another picturesque attraction near Club Agutaya, offering equally impressive vistas bookended by rocky cliffs.

Long Beach, Bokbok Beach, just pick your beach. And even if you're traveling with friends, you can still have the beach all to yourself.

Early the next day, we head back to Long Beach...

...along with some Bloody Mary's for that perfect tipple at the beach.

Sun, sand, sea, and cocktails...it's just another perfect day at San Vicente's Club Agutaya.

Along the way, you'll just never know what washes up on the shore...

...and where else can you dig up some fresh clams at low tide? It still is possible, at San Vicente.

Back at Club Agutaya, the imposing coconut and palm trees await your arrival to your home in San Vicente...

...and its culinary treats (for more on dining at Club Agutaya, see my post on my other food blog at Flavors of Palawan: Discover The Last Frontier at San Vicente's Club Agutaya and Flavors of Palawan: Authentic Italian at San Vicente's Marina Terrace Restaurant on San Vicente's emerging dining destination). Club Agutaya offers fresh-baked bread, all made in-house...

...along with the day's freshest catch of Palawan's famed seafood. The local Tambakol, or fresh mackerel delicately grilled and topped with tart and garden-fresh tomatoes and onions laid on a banana leaf offers fresh and clean flavors.

Club Agutaya's savory 12-Hour Braised Pork is another special dish not to be missed. Club Agutaya's restaurant, Cafe Lily, sources most of its fresh herbs and vegetables from their very own gardens while the seafood is harvested and caught fresh just off the shores of San Vicente. The menu at Club Agutaya's Cafe Lily is dictated by what's fresh and in season, but no request is turned down by the kitchen. In fact, they always love a good challenge.

The fresh clam's gathered earlier by the beach becomes the main ingredient in a rustic Spaghetti alle Vongole. From sea to your table, it just doesn't get fresher than that.

A warm welcome from the local residents at a nearby fishing village presents yet another facet to San Vicente's idyllic charm...

...and its refreshingly slow clock for that much needed change of pace.

We all need some time on that hammock with a perfect view of the beach.

But San Vicente has so much more to offer, with more coves and coastlines to discover. You can just let time stop without a care in the world, immersed in its natural and pristine beauty. 

By day's end, relax and sit back and enjoy one of nature's spectacular light shows. Wonders never cease at Club Agutaya.

Club Agutaya chef and owner Maria Evangelista showcases a preview for the evening's sumptuous dinner...

...with the local Lapu-Lapu or grouper, all 14 kilos of pure freshness. Dining on the freshest seafood weaves another layer to the Club Agutaya experience.

A basket of fresh-baked bread kicks-off our dinner...

...followed by Chef Maria's Sopa de San Vicente, a rich and hearty seafood soup...

...and a local Sinigang with some of the grouper...

...with the remaining parts of the grouper used in a creamy and spicy Fish Head Curry. The soft yet firm flesh of the grouper with its delicate briny notes is complemented by the richly spiced curry, perfect with steamed white rice.

Guests can enjoy daily buffet breakfast at Club Agutaya's Cafe Lily, offering local fare like Danggit Lamayo with sunny-side up and garlic fried rice.

Three days are never really enough to fully experience Palawan's San Vicente vibe at Club Agutaya, but it offers a glimpse of paradise found in its natural and pristine undeveloped state. Finding gems like these are getting rarer and rarer, but they still exist if you look further south. At Palawan's last frontier...in San Vicente.

Club Agutaya is located along Long Beach, Barangay San Isidro, San Vicente, Palawan or call 048-723-1050 to 53, 63917-898-6566, 63917-898-1047 or visit their website https://www.clubagutaya.net/ at  for more information. You can also check out their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/ClubAgutaya/.

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