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Blog - Culion Island: A Hidden Cultural Gem Nearby Coron, Palawan
(written in September 2026)
Once famous as the world's largest leper colony, Culion is now an exceptional testament to the Filipino spirit and a pivotal place in the history and culture of Palawan, the Philippines' beloved ecotourism destination.
View arriving in Culion. Photo: Tropical Experience.
The paradise of Coron was once famous for other reasons
Ever since I arrived in the Philippines, I've always wanted to visit Culion, the neighbouring island of the famous Coron. I'd heard about it in some TV shows and read a few things here and there. We are always on the lookout for new, truly authentic and genuine places to add to our Philippine tours, thus I often get lost reading the history of the lesser-known spots.
Before Coron became the world-famous ecotourism destination it is today, many Filipinos I've spoken to knew the entire area for few reasons, such as the presence of wrecks of World War II and the establishment of the (former) largest leper colony in the Philippines and the world.
Over time, I had somewhat forgotten about it, however a few years ago, during one of our classic excursions around Coron, I spoke with a local guide who lives in Culion and who reminded me of their history, reactivating some synapses that perhaps had fallen a little dormant.
The location of Palawan Province, in the Philippines. The whole province is made of 1780 islands around a main Palawan Island. Coron and Culion are located in the northern archipelago of Calamian Islands. Image: Tropical Experience.
The 3 main islands of the Calamian Islands, part of Palawan Province, are Busuanga, Coron and Culion. Image: Tropical Experience.
The places I'm talking about are located in the province of Palawan, but in a separate area from the main island, in the northernmost island group known as the Calamian Islands. The most famous island in the area is Coron, a highly sought-after destination for its spectacular seascapes, huge sea rocks, sacred lakes guarded by local tribes, and many other attractions. Coron often rivals El Nido; the classic question being "Which is better, El Nido or Coron?" (answer: who knows!).
But apart from Coron, it is worth also reaching the neighbour island of Culion. Let’s see how and why.
One of the most iconic view points of Coron. Photo: Tropical Experience.
Our arrival in the small port of Culion. Photo: Tropical Experience.
How to Reach Culion from Coron and Why It's Important to Visit
While Coron is widely visited—and rightfully so—for spectacular sights like Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoons, Malcapuya Island, and many other heavenly spots, far fewer people know about Culion Island, the third largest in the Calamian archipelago. Yet, this island and its 23,000 inhabitants have a unique, important, and very curious history. It is also perhaps Palawan's most important cultural destination, at least for its contemporary history. Furthermore, it is also one of the least touristy and alternative spots around Coron.
During the last decade, Palawan has become one of the absolute favourite places to visit in the Philippines, but it is the go-to destination primarily for its natural beauty: most international visitors leave these islands with their eyes enchanted and their hearts filled with the beauty of nature, but having discovered very little about the local people and life.
Culion can be reached from Coron with a 45-minute boat ride: the best option is to take a private boat trip if you want to visit it as a day trip. Public boats also exist, however, as many Culionons work in Coron's tourist areas.
The old entrance to the leper colony. This gate once separated the Culion of the sick from the Culion of the “healthy.” Photo: Tropical Experience.
A street in Culion, with the town’s main church standing in the background. Photo: Tropical Experience.
The Calamian Islands area had only been marginally visited by Spanish settlers, and most of those that located there were the Augustinian friars. The Spanish, however, built a small fort in Culion - Fort San Pedro - of which only a few traces remain, as what was left of the structure was incorporated into the Church of La Imaculata Concepcion, built in the early 1900s by the Jesuits. The church structure containing the fort was one of the first local attractions we visited when we reached Culion.
The former leper colony of Culion: how and when it was born, what it is like today
We were guided around by locals, who shared their personal stories and those of their families. It was a wonderful way to discover these places, as we weren't just given generic facts and stories, but real personal testimonies that made this experience a moment of sharing. The stories of Culion's inhabitants are inextricably linked to local history, and without them, we wouldn't have fully grasped the essence of this hidden place in Palawan.
Culion was, in fact, home to a leper colony for decades. The largest in the modern world! The area was chosen by the Americans, precisely because of its isolated location, when they acquired the Philippines from the Spanish in the early 1900s. By the first half of the 1900s, the Philippines - if you didn't know- effectively became a US colony.
The leper colony in Culion was established in 1906. Indeed, one of the colonists' most powerful interventions was the establishment of a nationwide healthcare system, something that is still visible in many parts of the Philippines today.
An introductory video showed us personal testimonies and archival images. Photo: Tropical Experience.
The visit is guided in English. Informational panels provide additional details. These panels can be helpful if you find it difficult to follow the spoken English. . Photo: Tropical Experience.
Until relatively recently, isolation was the primary tactic for treating leprosy. Besides the lack of a sure scientific treatment, much of this stems from the fear this disease has generated in society. In the Christian Bible in particular, this disease has often been associated with divine punishment or the consequence of unacceptable acts. This is discussed here, for example.
Once the ideal site was identified by health authorities, hundreds of people from various parts of the Philippines were forcibly brought to Culion. Their story is detailed in the extensive local archives, which have also been awarded the prestigious title of UNESCO Memory of the World, a testament to the local history's great universal value.
Leprosy is now curable, but little was known about it at the time. If you are not familiar with leprosy, the World Health Organization explains on its website that this disease—also known as Hansen's disease—is a chronic infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It causes symptoms in the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract, and eyes. It is now entirely curable with a combination of antibiotics and – unlike what was said in past centuries – it is not spread through casual contact.
Culion today: a joyful community with the best local healthcare
The local hospital (Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital) is now the most modern in the area: it was built and renovated over the years thanks to significant investment. The Culion colony became a research center with volunteer doctors arriving from all over the world: their names are still remembered and inscribed in the museum—the most important site to visit in Culion—which was created on the hospital grounds. The scientific community also agrees that the exceptional nature of this place has enabled many experiments and studies that were crucial to finding a global cure.
The last active cases in Culion date back to 1999, and the World Health Organization declared the area leprosy-free in 2006. There are no active cases, so there's no need to worry about visiting the area.
The most pleasant thing I noticed is that even in Culion, the unfailing enthusiasm of the Filipinos and their proverbial adaptability were shown at their best. The stories and testimonies are often emotional, but in the history of the place, it's beautiful to see how this community organized itself in the past with celebrations, weddings, and agricultural work, recreating the joyful life of a Filipino community even in these difficult conditions.
Culion is now a quiet town populated by the descendants of the colony's inhabitants, as well as now-healed former patients, many of whom commute back and forth from Coron where they work. It has effectively become a peaceful and supportive residential area.
In the museum you can find many old documents and records, as well as medical studies on leper. Photo: Tropical Experience.
The community of Culion was organized as a modern society and even had its own coins and banknotes. Photo: Tropical Experience.
The island of paradise rediscovered: in Culion, you can experience Filipino life in its essence
The most exciting part of our visit was meeting the people who still lived in the colony when it was open. Some of them still bear the scars of the symptoms that were later treated and now live peacefully in the community. The stories are told in true Filipino style: with great passion and detail, but also with humour, irony, and joy, with a strong desire to share. The typically Filipino happy attitude is the best recipe for removing the stigma that this very curable disease still sometimes carries.
For decades, the island has been unfairly dubbed "The Island of the Living Dead" or "The Land of No Return." To remove this stigma, the municipality has banned the use of such slogans in tourism, instead launching the new title, "The Paradise Regained".
The old dental clinic in the colony of Culion. Photo: Tropical Experience.
View from the old colonial fort. Photo: Tropical Experience.
Indeed, the boat ride to Culion took us through beautiful landscapes, and its territory is home to resorts, coral reefs, and picturesque tropical islands. Our boat docked in Culion in a harbour with crystal-clear water, and wandering the local streets was truly delightful, experiencing the simple Filipino life out of the hot spots and the cities. We were also given lunch at a small restaurant in the centre of town, where we enjoyed some fish and delicious pansit (stir-fried Filipino noodles) before returning to the more touristy Coron.
On the way back, we also took the opportunity to stop at one of the local paradisiac beaches, because Coron's beaches are fantastic, making an exceptional day even more complete.
On the way back, we stopped by this wonderful small beach to swim and enjoy the beautiful sea of Coron. Photo: Tropical Experience.
Visiting the old hospital. Photo: Tropical Experience.
If you have an extra day in Coron, or if this history has piqued your interest and you want to discover more, you can add a visit to Culion to one of our tours of the Philippines.
We've intentionally kept the stories you discover while visiting this place short, because it's much more enjoyable to discover them for yourself by interacting with the engaging Culion community.