Hotel Maya-Culion is a small hotel at the heart of Culion. It stands next to the town church and fortress. Set on a cliff and facing east, it allows an unobstructed view of one of the most spectacular breaks of dawn I had seen. From the hotel, all the other major points of interest in town are very accessible. The Culion Museum and Archives is within a five-minute walk while the shore is just a few yards eastward. And since it rubs elbows with the church, often the center of the town, Hotel Maya is surrounded by stores, eateries, and other landmarks including the hospital and sanitarium, and the plaza. Hotel Maya-Culion is a laboratory hotel of the Senior High Schoo of Loyola College of Culion (LCC). All proceeds from the hotel operations goes to supporting the scholars at LCC.
Barangay Libis Libis, Palawan Island 5315 Philippines
Hotel Maya - Culion
20 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We stayed at Hotel Maya for 5 days and it was by the far the most incredible trips I've ever taken. You land at Busuanga Airport on Coron Island, then take a beautiful 1-1/2 hour boat ride to Hotel Maya. (The boat ride itself will blow you away. The sights are gorgeous!) Hotel Maya is small hotel (I think there are only 5 rooms) on the northeastern edge of Culion. It's an eco-hotel that has solar power and I believe the money the hotel makes also goes towards funding the local school. (So you're money's going to a good cause!) It's a simple, no-frills hotel that has some of the most stunning views on the island. It looks out over a beautiful bay and the view from the backyard simply can't be beat. The staff is wonderfully accommodating, friendly, and helpful. The hotel's rooms and amenities are simple, yet comfortable. There's a fan and an air conditioner in the room, or you can open all the windows, so you can really control the temperature in the room. My only complaints are the wifi didn't work very well and I wish the lighting in the room were brighter since I read a lot at night. There's nothing fancy here, but what the hotel lacks in fancy amenities it more than makes up for in views and overall experience. We woke up every morning with the sunrise because you don't want to miss it. The view out the window is stunning and the perfect way to start your day. You also can eat at the restaurant on the premises. It's very affordable, and you just have to tell the staff what you'd like to order ahead of time and what time you plan on coming down for your meal. It's not gourmet food, but it's good and we ate almost all our meals there.
Culion is one of the most fascinating and unique places I've ever been, but there are hardly any tourists which adds to the charm and the overall experience. If you're looking for a fancy, all-inclusive resort kind of stay or an exciting nightlife, this isn't the place for you. However, if you want a serene, down-to-earth, relaxing, and unforgettable vacation I can't urge you enough to stay here. Don't expect any tourist maps or a list of things to do around Culion. Those don't exist. We just walked around town (it's hard to get lost, but if you do anyone on the island would be happy to point you back in the right direction) and locals were excited to see us, wave hello, and chat. There are signs in English everywhere pointing out the local history of the island. Culion was a former leper colony (it was declared leprosy free in 2006) but they're proud of their history of taking care of a population that was heavily discriminated against and of also being a part of the search for a cure for leprosy. It's a truly fascinating story and I encourage visitors to go to the local museum, wander the island to read the signs, and chat with the locals---many of them are direct descendants of lepers. Come nighttime, the sun sets and island is pitch black and quiet. You'll go to bed early because there's not much to do after dinner, but that's ok, because you'll want to get up bright and early to catch the sunrise.
To fill our days we booked tours ahead of time with Kawil Tours. Along with our excellent guide Elee and a friendly boat crew, we we went island hopping to a bunch of pristine beaches, snorkeling at a coral reef and a sunken WWII ship, and went fishing! They even prepared our lunches for us, which we ate beachside staring at the water. It was incredible! Definitely book a tour through Kawil Tours!
Staying at Hotel Maya and visiting Culion is for travelers who want a unique non-touristy experience, who aren't afraid to explore on their own, talk/hang with locals, and don't mind simple accommodations.
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Date of stay: January 2017
Value
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Request one of the rooms that looks out over the bay---there are only 2---you will not regret it!...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you are looking for a beautiful but less touristy island in the Philippines, Culion is the place to go! As other reviewers mentioned, because of the stigma from its past, it is still not crowded with tourists.
Hotel Maya location: next to the sea on a small hill in Island Culion. It is the only hotel on the island.
Getting there: an hour drive + an hour boat ride from Curon airport. Beautiful drive, ride and location.
Rooms: We were a group of 10, and stayed in two dorms. Very clean. They even opened up other rooms/ bathrooms when we all came back from our snorkeling tour.
Charming: not an attractive building, but friendly and easily likable hosts!
Service: They clean the rooms every day, provide fresh towels and anything else you need. You have to order your meals in advance as there is normally only one person who cooks. Great food!
Activities: plenty of fun things to do. If you are with a group, Kawil tours can organize snorkeling, fishing, diving and visit to beaches nearby. If not, you can run and walk around the town, meditate on the steps, write, play music, watch sunrise and stars, etc. Talk to towns-folk.
Noise level: average - not because of vehicles, but roosters nearby :)
I would recommend it to any family or friend visiting Philippines! I hope you have a wonderful time on the islands too :)
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Date of stay: August 2014
Value
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This one’s the place to stay in Culion, despite no frills. Nothing else comparable: the Maya has a restaurant, some aircon rooms, and functioning internet (though lobby only). They will arrange tours. We were not able to make advance reservations in Culion, showing up with some apprehension, yet found availability everywhere. In addition to the several hotels listed on the internet, there are quite a few small lodgings and pensiones in town, all in walking distance and some looking quite new. So, if Maya doesn’t suit you, there are options.
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is by far the best place to stay in Culion...friendly staff...close to everything: the historic church and fort...the level-2 hospital (the referral hospital of the Calamian Islands)...the Museum--the perfect jump-off for the walking tour of the historic town...and the boat landings for the island -hopping tour.
Love that the sound of the breaking waves lull you to sleep at night and the stunning view of sunrise rouse you in the morning.
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Date of stay: March 2017
Rooms
Location
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Â The two junior suites--tangyad and kabel-kabel--have the best view especially of the sunrise.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff at Hotel Maya made us feel welcome the second we arrived. In fact, they greeted us with drinks! They consistently went out of their way to make our group (a group of graduate students) feel comfortable. I can't say enough nice things about them.
Hotel Maya also partners with a great tour agency called Kawil Tours! If you visit, you should also use their services! They know the best places to snorkel and the best beaches to visit! They even make delicious food on the boat for you. On top of that, they are all extremely friendly and fun.
All in all, if you value meeting wonderful people, great food, traveling sustainably, and enjoying the natural wonder of Palawan, I can't think of a better place to do it! This isn't a four star type of travel experience. In my opinion, it's better because it's personal and authentic. Bring friends and family who are adventurous! Take advantage of your peaceful surroundings and the rich culture of Culion. You won't regret it!
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Date of stay: August 2014
Value
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Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â This is a great hotel for big groups! You can get rooms with one of two twin beds or up to eight...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A quiet and restful hotel that made one-night of a week-long Coron trip for our 1st Wedding Anniversary a memorable one. Overlooking the peaceful bay, the fan was enough to lull us softly to sleep. It was also in close proximity to major tourist spots. However, dining options could be improved, our menu was limited and took a long time to be served. Overall, it was an experience worth it.
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Date of stay: June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nice and beautiful hotel with a lovely view over Culion bay. At little bit more expensive compared to the other 2 lodges but worth it. Excellent service und clean rooms. And you are doing sth good as the hotel is run by the school and a part of the money goes into the support of education. Have been here 3 times already and can totally recommend it. Also the hotel is located in the heart of Culion town next to the church and all interesting and historical sites can be reached very easy.
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When you visit culion you must check-in to hotel maya it has a wonderful view from above and below... besides considering that historically speaking it plays an inportant role in the history of culion. Another thing is that their staff are very accomidating and friendly. Plus they are working out for a new menu. At present you must try the cashew cookies where you could order it ahead of tine and freshly baked!!!
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at Hotel Maya for 3 days with a 10-person group of classmates in August. They treated us like we were family for those 3 days. I highly, highly recommend staying with the wonderful folks at Hotel Maya :)
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Date of stay: August 2014
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Culion is an island in Palawan, Philippines. it used to be a leper colony but has seen its last patient since the 1960s. However, the stigma still sticks to this little island with it's beautiful and bountiful natural resources.
Hotel Maya is the only hotel on the island, sponsored and for the benefit of the Loyola School in Culion. It has a very lean team who are very efficient in their work to serve their guests. You can ask them anything and to arrange any tour you want and they'll find it for you. It's more of a home than a hotel.
Want something special to eat? Crab Dinner or some seafood? They'll buy it for you and package it into your stay. The staff is all-around. So they'll be your driver, tour guide, cook and maintenance staff. They're very open to ideas, suggestions and any way they can improve their service. They'll even let you cook!
The island is very provincial and even basic services is hard to come by here. Electricity only runs for 12 hours on the entire island. But Hotel Maya has solar power to run your room lights and fan. There're no air conditioning in any of the rooms to allow you to inhale and clean our city-smoke filled lungs.
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Date of stay: September 2012
Value
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Washington DC, District of Columbia121 contributions71 helpful votes
"Request for a room facing Coron Bay (don't stay in Bugur). The hotel's neighbors keep animals and dogs/roosters can be quite noisy throughout the morning and late afternoon."
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