Cauayan Island Resort and Spa is a private-island resort in El Nido's Bacuit Bay with just 30 villas. It gives couples a wider choice of price points than the bay's other island resorts. You can book a 55-square-meter Lagoon Villa from about PHP 30,000 a night or go big with a 185-square-meter Cauayan Pool Villa looking across the bay. For a private-island honeymoon in El Nido that does not require the very top budget, it is one of the best options.
The resort has one main restaurant, a bar that stays open until the last guest leaves and a spa called Haplos Sa Cauayan. Meal plans range from full board to two levels of all-inclusive, the most lavish with a sunrise breakfast, a lobster dinner and Champagne on a sunset hike. It suits couples who want a small island to themselves, flexible pricing and food taken seriously. Couples who want to wander between restaurants in town should stay on the mainland instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Only 30 villas on a private island
- 185-square-meter Cauayan Pool Villas
- Water Villas designed for two
- All-inclusive and full-board plans
- Private dining on the beach or over the water
Why Couples Choose Cauayan
Scale is the first draw. With only 30 villas on the island, it rarely feels busy. The staff get to know you quickly. The second is choice. The other island resorts in Bacuit Bay sit firmly in the luxury bracket, while Cauayan lets you start at a lower price and still wake up on a private island surrounded by limestone and clear water.
The third is the food program, which goes beyond the usual island buffet. There are set menus, themed dinners and private tables set up on the beach or over the water. For a honeymoon, those small, personal moments matter. The pace is slow and barefoot: a swim before breakfast, a boat trip to the lagoons, a nap and sunset at the bar.
Villas to Book
Cauayan has eight villa types. Official from rates per night give a sense of the range:
- Lagoon Villa, 55 square meters, from about PHP 30,000. The entry level, facing the lagoon.
- Beach View Villa, 55 square meters, from about PHP 33,000.
- Beach Front Villa, 70 square meters, from about PHP 52,000, steps from the sand.
- Water Villa, 60 square meters, from about PHP 52,000, built over the water and designed for two.
- Cauayan Pool Villas, 185 square meters, from about PHP 62,000 to PHP 100,000 depending on view, including Resort View, Bay View, Premium Sunrise and Premium Bay View versions.
For a honeymoon, the Water Villa is the romantic sweet spot. If you can stretch, a Bay View Pool Villa gives you three times the space and a view you will not want to leave. Confirm pool details when you book.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Hapag sa Cauayan is the main restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. InOM sa Cauayan, the bar, opens at 6 a.m. and stays open until the last guest goes to bed. On top of that, the resort offers destination dining: a Floating Brunch aimed at Pool Villa guests, a steak dinner, a lobster dinner, a barbecue, a traditional Filipino boodle fight and tables set up on the beach or over the water.
Three meal plans cover the whole stay. Hapag Signature is full board with set lunch and dinner menus. Infinity Indulgence is all-inclusive with free-flowing drinks and in-villa dining. Infinity Luxe Experience needs a three-night minimum and adds a sunrise breakfast, the lobster dinner, a sunset hike with Champagne and a beach dinner with the chef. Haplos Sa Cauayan, the spa, offers massages and treatments.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Bacuit Bay is the main event. Big and Small Lagoon, with their narrow entrances and still, green water, are best seen by kayak. Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and the beaches around Matinloc and Cadlao fill out a classic island-hopping day. Ask the resort to plan a private boat so you can set your own timing and avoid the busiest hours.
On the island itself, the sunset hike gives you a view over the bay. You can also swim and snorkel off the beach. Couples who like different things can split the day: one of you can join a dive or a longer paddle while the other books a spa treatment. Use reef-safe sunscreen and wear reef shoes on rocky landings. Bring repellent, since dengue occurs in the Philippines; if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Getting There
Fly from Manila to El Nido (Lio) Airport (ENI), which has short daily flights on small carriers. From there, the resort arranges a road transfer and a boat crossing to Cauayan Island. Ask the reservations team for transfer timing and cost when you book, since boats work around tides and daylight.
Flying into Puerto Princesa (PPS) is cheaper but adds a five to six hour van ride to El Nido. Try to arrive by early afternoon so you cross in daylight and settle in before sunset. The best weather runs roughly from November to May, with calmer seas and more reliable boat days. June to October is the wetter season, when storms can disrupt trips, so keep a buffer day before any onward flight.
Is It Worth It?
Cauayan is the best-value private island in El Nido for couples who want flexibility. A Lagoon Villa at around PHP 30,000 a night, roughly $520 for two, costs half of what you would pay at the bay's top resorts, while the Pool Villas rival them on space. The food program is a real strength. The all-inclusive plans remove the sting of island dining bills.
The trade-off is that island hopping and transfers are not bundled in the same way as at El Nido Resorts, so add them to your budget. Meal plans must cover the whole stay, which reduces flexibility. Couples who want a very polished luxury brand may prefer Pangulasian. Couples who want a small island, a range of villas and good food will be very happy here.
Insider tips
- Choose your meal plan before arrival, since it must cover the whole stay for everyone on the booking.
- Book the Infinity Luxe plan only if you are staying at least three nights.
- Ask the resort to arrange a private boat for the lagoons and leave early.
- Confirm the pool setup of your Pool Villa when you book.
