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4.5
#6 of 20 resorts in El Nido
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Is a luxury resort that embodies the pristine beauty of its natural surroundings and first class personalized services. Escape to a paradise of tranquility and haven of comfort. Indulge yourself in a perfect serene lifestyle vacation. The beach coastline is a welcoming picturesque of clear blue water and a vast stretch of white sand beach that exudes a tropical ambiance. It captivates the true essence of natural beauty with its surroundings of lush greens and wide array of flower blooms. Each villa is designed with spectacular views that redefine coziness and relaxation. Enjoy a dining adventure and savor the taste of our impeccable dishes. Immerse yourself in the different island activities and facilities to make your vacation experience truly memorable.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mountain View
Lagoon View
Languages Spoken
Filipino
Location
Cauayan Island Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan Island 5313 Philippines
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Cauayan Island Resort is often described as a tranquil oasis, with its serene atmosphere and private, nature-infused environment making it an ideal spot for relaxation and honeymoons. While the value of the resort can be a point of contention, with some guests questioning the costs, many agree that the luxurious villas, diverse activities, and exceptional staff service contribute to the resort's appeal.
The staff's attentive and personalized service consistently earns high marks, although there are suggestions for better maintenance to further enhance the clean and well-appointed rooms.
Location
Secluded
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Neglected
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Opulent
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I was very excited to stay at this resort based on the location but after reading some of the past reviews I was a little nervous.
So let me start with the positive. The staff are truly wonderful.......courteous, happy, smiling and helpful. And I mean “really” helpful. Nothing was too small to deal with and they were very quick with any request.
The island itself is really spectacular. A real paradise of unspoilt water and beach with glorious rock formations all around. You can swim with sea turtles, or small (harmless) sharks. The views from any spot on the resort are stunning and some of the best we’ve seen for an island getaway.
So why not 5 stars? Fundamentally this resort could be absolutely amazing, a real gem in the sea, but it needs a facelift as it’s a little tired, underinvested and needs some basic maintenance. We did, however, still love the place so much that we would come back, but perhaps they could fix these little touches to bring it up to a higher standard of luxury:
1) the towels in the rooms, pool/beach are old and need to be refreshed. 2) the A/C in our kids room did not function properly so it was still too warm. They tried to fix it but ended up bringing an old fan instead. Obviously they just need to replace the A/C. 3) No cell reception in gym 4) Gym equipment was old or at least in poor repair and again, the gym was very hot as the A/C wasn’t working properly. 5) the Spa - loved the glass bottom floor so you view the waves but they need a better changing room to get you into the mood(I.e., not the toilet). They provided a lovely ginger tea afterwards but more “gourmet” cookies could be a nicer touch and served with a proper cloth napkin rather a paper one. 6) The flip-flops they provided looked worn so my wife was reluctant to use them. Even simple rattan slippers or terry cloth ones would be an upgrade. 7) Little “luxuries” like a straw basket or sun hat for guests to use would be an extra touch that goes a long way 8) More towels on the boat for boat tours -you will get very wet and one towel each didn’t cut it 9) they need to replace the mini bar items each day eg, the snacks, and coffee cups.
So in summary, this resort has the nicest staff and perfect location. Probably some of the best service we have experienced.... especially from Jolary, Jeff, Aya, Elaine. It just feels like they haven’t maintained it enough since it opened three years ago. We would still recommend it as the pluses help you to overlook the minuses and it would be nice to see it reach its full potential!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Response from Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Mar 25, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for taking the time to let us know what it is we can and should fix. It is with reviews like these that we are able to grow more. We are very happy that our service was memorable during your stay and cannot wait to welcome you and your family once again to our paradise island. All the best, Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager
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We spent one week here in a beach front bungalow and loved it the collection from the airport and subsequent transfer to the resort was a bit haphazard for two reasons we were told to wait in the baggage hall but it turns out that hotel agents from companies other than el nido who own the airport are not allowed into the baggage hall consequently we waited inside for twenty minutes while the agent waited outside obviously I went outside in the end and found him waiting patiently for us additionally disembarkation from the launch once on the island is very precarious with rolling seas and bouncing pontoon dock and flexi bridge which is waving in the air in a contrary direction to the pontoon , definitely not for the faint hearted or any one lacking agility such as the older guest or someone with very young children that said the staff are superb doing everything possible to make the transfer safe , the check in was friendly and very efficient as was the check out . The baggage delivery was equally quick .The chalet was spacious and well furnished in a tropical style . Room facilities especially internet are excellent . Water is desalinated but it didn’t bother us and showers etc were as you would expect . There is a complimentary breakfast which is a combination of buffet style and cooked to order main courses , service is enthusiastic and for the most part efficient but the staff are fantastic ‘ Externally there is a great beach with excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities ,as well as a nice pool with no shortage of sun loungers .The only drawback for some may be the lack of evening activities ,personally we liked the tranquil casual atmosphere . It should be noted that there is a regular complimentary launch transfer into town which takes about fifteen minutes and stops about 5pm it’s worth taking as the hotel spa services are between four and five times the cost of similar spas in town , blue sea spa is particularly good . In short we loved this resort and would definitely return.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Beach front villas are worth the extra cost
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.
Response from Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Mar 25, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, We are very grateful for your detailed review of our island! We apologize for the miscommunication of the transfer from the airport to the resort. I will ensure that this will be fixed for your next arrival to Cauayan. We hope to welcome you back soon, thank you again. Jeffrey Catanjal General Manager
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Stayed here for my birthday, and stayed 4 nights. Right from arrival, somebody was already waiting for us to take us to the island. Every staff was truly accommodating, not expecting a tip. Breakfast is included, but lunch and dinner is something you have to buy, they also conveniently give you their Whatsapp phone number so that you can text them if you need anything. Wifi works very well, but can be a little spotty at times. The place is truly PARADISE. There are plenty to do on the island. One afternoon, we decided to do one of their hikes and somebody escorted us without hesitation. We also booked a half day private island hopping tour, which is probably a bit overpriced. For the convenience, it was worth it. I went scuba diving and was surprised that nobody else on the island was going the same day, so I got a private dive trip; and El Nido's diving is SPECTACULAR. Norriem, our tour guide and my dive master is great! Everyone that works there is also really sweet. Would definitely suggest, and come back when I can. The food is also really good. I'm surprised at how they nailed PIZZA because Pizza in the Philippines can be hit or miss.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Stay at the beach front villas
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.
Response from Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Mar 25, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, We are grateful that you decided to spend your birthday at Cauayan island this year! Thank you for your kind review, we hope to welcome you back soon to our paradise!
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I was surprised when I got to finally see the resort. The place looks outdated and tired which needs repairs especially the rooms. No phone inside the rooms and the only way to contact the front desk is via whatsapp but the wifi is VERY POOR. And we used saltwater for personal hygiene! A 5-star resort using saltwater for visitors???
We were stranded in the island for 3 days with nothing to do due to bad weather. They have their activity department but they lack of activities to offer during typhoon season. Another downside is that we were advised that yoga is free thru email before coming but when we booked it at the activity desk, we were informed that there is additional fee around USD20!!!! DISGUSTING.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Response from Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Mar 22, 2020
Dear Valued Guests, Thank you for your feedback and for taking time to write about your experience. I was of course most alarmed to learn that your experience did not meet with the high service and quality standards we strive to achieve. Your comments about our place have been discussed among the team and action has been put into place and I would therefore sincerely like to apologize for that. Your concerns regarding wifi and using saltwater in the island does not reflect the reality as we do have our own exclusive internet connection provider that enable guests to access high speed wireless connection moreover we also operate with high end desalination system with reverse osmosis hence the water we drink and daily consumption at Cauayan Island Resort comes from this state of the art system. Our activity department offers complimentary origami folding activity, yoga (MWF) and board games during typhoon season, only charges applies on special yoga session upon request. Despite the mentioned, we hope to have the chance to welcome you back in the near future, in order to show our services and facilities from the best possible side, as our guests' satisfaction is indeed our utmost aim. Sincerely, Jeffrey Catanjal General Manager
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No doubt the Cauayan Resort is lovely, it’s location and the images online are why we booked it. BUT, due to the continued and fast spreading coronavirus we are unable to get to the Philippines in March (2020) due to the restrictions understandably imposed by the Philippines government. The resort has refused to refund any of our money. I appreciate that under normal circumstances they have a ‘no refund’ policy, but in these exceptional circumstances and due to the fact we literally CANNOT even get into the Philippines, surely they should give a full refund?!! Payment is taken at the time of booking and now we will lose almost $4000. They did offer us the option to book something at a later date up to one year ahead (excluding lots of blackout dates) but that is not an option for us on the next year. I have received only very short, curt, completely UNSYMPATHETIC email responses from them (they are NEVER available by phone. The coronavirus and their own country’s restrictions should be reason enough to honor refunds. All airlines have refunded us immediately in full. What is wrong with you Cauayan Resort? Outrageous customer relations.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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.
Response from M F, Sales at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Feb 26, 2020
Thank you for your time in leaving your thoughts and please accept our apologies for the inconveniences you experienced. Please be assured that I have reviewed the details of your experience with the team and shared with them the correct manner of how guests should be treated, that is with sincerity and compassion. Moreover, please allow us to assist you further with your reservation concern. You may email sales@cauayanresort.com. I hope you will give us the opportunity to resolve your concern.
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We had booked a 4 night stay here in March whilst we were travelling round the Phillipines. This was a treat to ourselves before we headed back home.. When we had reached EL Nido, the world had started to go into lockdown from COVID-19, we were staying near El Nido town for 2 nights and since we were nearing the end of our holiday we thought we would continue as planned. We called Cauayan to ask if it was ok still to come and were told that they had plenty of guests and operating as normal. When we arrived on the island, we found we were one of 3 couples and a small group from Manilla residents who had rented one of bigger houses. More than half the staff had already been sent home, the Spa had been shut, the store was shut that day, all the villas were shut up. The resort was empty running on skeleton staff. We were lured there with false information. We ended up having to leave after 2 nights in order to make it home before the travel ban. We had to repurchase tickets at hugely exorbitant prices. We paid full price as well as a fortune on drinks and food for being here less than 48hrs. I have been trying to get a refund or some compensation since to be told we weren't entitled to anything. We even were taken off the island on a fishing boat they usually use for the staff because they had banned all boats the day we had to leave. Customer service has been shocking. Be warned what you are getting into booking this resort!
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Date of stay: March 2020
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 hotel is set in an isolated island. It is crazy to say it’s a bad place as the island itself is beautiful, but there are a lot of issues with the hotel and some with the island itself. The first impact is the skanky boat that will bring you from the pier to the hotel, not acceptable for the hotel standard. The hotel is dated but still nice. We had one of the big pool villas and the amenities were enough, thou not great. The room is nicely decorated, but nicely, not wonderfully. A TV that has no news or no channels, but only pirated movies from a torrent (with a selection made by a teenager, with all the avengers but not 1 comedy). Lot of areas of the hotel need revamping but it is not bad like I read in some reviews. The big issues are the following: 1: the restaurant is far from any 5 star resort I have been. There is only 1 restaurant which is ok on such small resort, but the weird menu is always the same. They just add a daily soup and 1 daily entree which is usually nothing else than a variant of the menu ones. The dishes are actually not bad, meaning that there is a decent chef, but the overall presentation and especially the menu are not great, just fair. 2: there is no boat service to the village. You can hop on the boat that carries the people that checks in and out but you depend on their decision if there is space and time. I wanted to visit the (horrible) village of el Nido, and I was offered a ride at 7:00 am inbound with 1 pm outbound. Usually on holiday you want to go at 10 and eat there or maybe in the afternoon. When I asked to book a private boat the manager came back that they organized a boat at 9:30 with return at 1:00... my supposition is that they don’t want any outsider to do any business with their guests. Lame. In all other 5 star resorts on remote island I have been there was a hourly boat in and out also up to 11:00 pm. 3: breakfast. It’s so bad you will compare it to a free breakfast at a holiday inn express. See to believe. One quick word about the sea. High tide in the night and water to your ankles in the day. The only way to swim is to take a boat and pay for the excursion. So, to make it short, if you are used to Evason, One and Only, Banyan Tree, Anantara and the other real 5 star resorts, do not expect anything like it. Just expect to pay the same price. Sorry folks of Cauayan, I can only give you 3 stars.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Response from Jeffrey Catanjal, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Mar 22, 2020
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for your honest feedback. I am glad to read that you liked the resort as a whole in terms of its location and views. I was of course most alarmed to learn that we were unable to meet your expectations on some aspects. I would like to apologize for these shortfalls and reassure you that your comments have been discussed among the team and action has been put into place to prevent such an event from happening. I look forward to the possibility of welcoming you back to our resort and we get a chance to host you again in the future for a more relaxing stay. Sincerely, Jeffrey Catanjal General Manager
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Where do I start, if your reading my review to decide if you want to stay here or not, think no further. This is an absolutely amazing Resort. The true meaning of hospitality and customer service. I did the same thing, kept on ready the reviews but then finally decided to just book it and see how it turns out. The most adventures part is the arrival and departure- bouncing on the jetty the floats with the waves, could be a bit challenging for the elderly, but than I had my nephew on crutches and he managed. I thing the best part was that we arrived after sun down and didn’t know what to expect. They change there welcome drinks depending on the weather and the time of the day, it was twinning so we got warm towels and hot chocolate. The rooms are very well appointed, except if you are planning to share the beach front bungalows with someone your not intimate with, then book a different room because the shower has no privacy. We were all boys so it was fine. The attention to detail this hotel provides is amazing, and I truly mean this- from a person who works in a hotel myself. We were three, and they made sure to have all amenities in three sets. The beds are very comfortable and spacious. Very nice and clean linen. We purchased the all inclusive at arrival, and boy we really made use of it. My nephews were in food coma every time. We went to the restaurant. The food is delicious and fresh. Drinks are amazing, bar manager made sure to always check on us. Salil, you staff is truly amazing at the restaurant. We booked a day tour and happened to be just us in the boat that day. Imagine a boat with a capacity of 34 reserved just for 3 and 4 staff. Had a blast snorkeling, island hopping and not forgetting the fresh bbq lunch. The resort is remote from other islands, so if your seeking privacy, this is the spot. I also wanna add how accommodating the staff are, my nephew had to work for two nights while we were there, the IT we very quick on fixing any WiFi issues, they offered us the meeting room for him to use for privacy and better internet. I could write a lot more, but I have to stop. I will definitely be back.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Response from Cauayan Management, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Nov 10, 2022
Thank you for the great review! It was our pleasure serving. We really work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear that we hit the mark for you. We hope to welcome you again soon.
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My wife and I were lucky enough to stay here for 7 nights in February. We've stayed in some wonderful places together and have been lucky in that regard also. Cauayan Island Resort stands out as the best place we've ever been.
The staff here are exceptional and provide wonderful service. The food is great, with dozens of options on the lunch and dinner menus as well as a host of special private dining options. But really this is all about the setting. This is the most beautiful resort I can remember ever seeing. It occupies a large island that's the last in a cluster off the coast of El Nido. Having been around most of those islands now, I think it's the best location for a resort in the area, given the ability to dock at both the front and the back whilst getting a totally clean view from the beach each evening.
The very best part of our trip was the Bukal Dinner, where you get taken to a private island by boat (~20 minutes by speedboat, which feels like you're in a James Bond film!) and have a private chef and butler for the evening. I still can't wrap my head around how good this experience was, it was truly unforgettable. I think it's the best thing my wife and I have ever done together. It does come at a price, but if you can, I can't recommend it enough and can promise you'll never look back on your choice.
The spa is another highlight of the resort. We both went for 120 minute massages a couple of times and loved them.
Last recommendation will seem totally random but seriously, try the Wagyu burger at the poolside bar. Can't believe Cauayan Island Resort also makes the best burger I've ever had haha
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Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Cleanliness
Room Tip:Beach view villa 5 is closest to the bar and a great choice. Sea villa 1 has an unimpeded,...
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.
Response from Cauayan Management, Marketing at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded Feb 13, 2023
As I read through your comments, I can't help but express my gratitude for the compliments and kind words you have for our staff. We genuinely take pride in being able to provide our guests with warm and genuine service from the heart. Thank you for appreciating everything from our location, food, amenities and services. Looking forward on your next visit.
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We spent two restful nights at the resort and enjoyed our time there immensely. The airport transfer included in the room rate was greatly appreciated and was very smooth. After 30h of travel it was a great relief to get from el nido airport to the island quickly without having to worry. We were greeted with friendly smiles and a staff that was dedicated to making us comfortable. The island is stunning and the facilities are all in good condition. The rooms are well appointed. Very good included breakfast with delicious coffee and an assortment of options to eat. The lunch, dinner, and drinks were a little disappointing, especially for the price. Food is quite expensive for the quality. The accommodations are reasonably priced, but they are making up by charging a lot for food and beverages that are not five star quality. We ordered a whole fresh fish and it was completely over cooked. Poor fishy. For lunch we ordered a pizza which was very mediocre. The pool area is beautiful and they play great music all day. It has a laid back Spanish beach vibe. We highly recommend the wonderful sunrise hike. Overall it’s a lovely resort in a stunning area. An absolute treat to experience El Nido like this. But be aware you will be laying out a lot more money on top of the room rate.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip 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.
Response from Cauayan Management, General Manager at Cauayan Island Resort
Responded May 15, 2022
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for providing us with a review highlighting our staff and their attention to detail. We understand that our guests visit us worldwide, and a smooth arrival process is vital for the start of a happy, well-deserved vacation. We hope you visit us once more in the new future and enjoy continue to enjoy our amenities and the island. Wishing you all the best, Cauayan Management
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Hi, yes. The resort can also arrange this for you. We have done private tours elsewhere twice, and have only learnt about Cauyan’s private tour and its fees on our third visit. We intend to use their service next time as the feedback from our next door hut neighbours at that time was better compared to what we had from another tour boat. I advise to go during sunny season if travelling with kids. Couples can enjoy whatever season =) Enjoy!
Chicago, Illinois, United States58 contributions13 helpful votes
"Book beachfront Villa 8 or 9. Hike up mountain for sunrise or sunset views. Opt for private island hopping tour on speedboat. Private sunset dinner is a must!"
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