pov: You just found the best Coron Palawan Escape?! @ Sunlight EcoTourism Island Resort

Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort (SETIR) has improved tremendously since our first visit five years ago when it first opened. What impressed me most this time were the elevated food experiences, which now feel truly special—especially considering you’re on Naglayan Island in Culion, Palawan. Delicious food is key to a good travel experience and unlocks core memories with your travel buddies. It now competes with Discovery Coron while offering a more multi-generational experience and a more integrated resort offering compared to the El Nido resorts.

The Salepan and Sirakan Villas remain among the best accommodations on the island—perfect for creating unforgettable core memories with your family or enjoying a romantic honeymoon with your special someone. This 18-hectare island paradise features 104 Maldives-inspired overwater villas, four coves of natural white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters Palawan is famous for, and vibrant marine life surrounding the island.

Here are 10 awesome experiences that define the uniquely SETIR Palawan escape. 🏝️

Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort (SETIR)
📍 Naglayan, Brgy. Baldat, Culion, Palawan
📱 Viber / WhatsApp / Mobile: +63 917 521 4260 | +63 930 020 8218
✉️ Email: reservations.setir@sunlighthotelsandresorts.com
📸 Instagram: @sunlight_islandresort
🌞 Facebook: Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort
🌐 https://www.sunlighthotelsandresorts.com/

10 Awesome Experiences @ Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort

1. Salepan Villa

Salepan means “sunset” in the local Palawan dialect, reflecting what sets SETIR apart—its focus on multi-generational families, balikbayans, and international travelers. Dining and lounging above the sea is a highlight, whether al fresco with fully opened windows or indoors with air-conditioning during the summer heat.

Perfect if a family jacuzzi is your thing—with infinity pool vibes and a see-through glass floor. It’s the kind of place where you can happily tambay all day, enjoying the villa’s luxurious comforts while still feeling connected to the laid-back Palawan vibe.

The villas are thoughtfully laid out—spaced for privacy yet plentiful enough for a full family reunion. During high tide, you can use the ladder for a private snorkeling session by your villa. Galing! The best villas, of course, face the sunset.

2. Hikari Teppanyaki

The Hikari Teppanyaki at SETIR is a must—fun, delicious, and so immersive you’ll forget you’re on a remote Palawan island. With Filipinos now favoring premium Japanese dining over Filipino or Chinese cuisine, be sure to book the resort’s only Teppanyaki table in advance.

You can choose to cook the rice or the meat first. Opting for the meat first is a mistake—it’s better to have the fried rice ready while enjoying the meat hot off the teppan griddle. The chef makes the experience fun with amusing anecdotes, occasional cringy jokes, and teppan acrobatics with audience participation.

Make sure to have beef, tuna, and chicken options with mixed teppan-grilled vegetables. Start with sushi rolls, and enjoy the meats with fried rice hot off the grill. The exhaust is powerful, but you’ll still carry a smoky teppan aroma—so wear something that complements the Japanese dining vibe.

Finish the Teppanyaki experience with tempura ice cream and hot green tea for a memorable ending.

Hikari Teppanyaki Menu Download

3. Magical Culion Sunsets

In Coron town, you have to compete for a good sunset view—but at SETIR, the entire Habagat/west coast enjoys a panoramic view of the Culion sunset. The best view is from the privacy of your villa balcony, which serves as a backdrop for your sexy time with your special someone.

The next best spot to catch the sunset is by the pool, with a Barra Brew craft beer in hand. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a small-batch brewery right on the island. I loved sipping their calamansi and IPA craft beers while watching the sun dip below the horizon. You can even start with their unli cocktail happy hour, which perfectly culminates with the sunset.

Poolside Drinks Menu Download

Remember, the beauty of the sunset isn’t just when the sun touches the horizon—it’s also the hour after, known to photographers as the “magic hour,” when the sky glows a seductive red or a rare pinkish hue. Wait and let it surprise you.

4. Sirakan Honeymoon Villa

If I were getting married now, I’d have my honeymoon here. The Sirakan (“Sunlight” in the local dialect) villas are secluded and well-spaced, unlike other Palawan resorts, facing the sea for guaranteed privacy. Be sure to book the middle villas and avoid those near the noisy road.

Imagine being here with the crystal-clear Palawan waters all around with a make love “at-sea” vibe.

You can start and get naughty with a sunset jacuzzi first, with bubbly on hand and soak the sunset hues.

The bathrooms are spacious and easily accessible, each with a private sink, allowing you to shower together alfresco, naked and unafraid, embraced by the Palawan sea.

5. Mangrove Breakfast

The Mangrove Restaurant has beautifully transformed into an energizing breakfast buffet in the morning—probably the only time you’ll see an average of 50 guests on the island at once. I love the alfresco vibe, with the breeze flowing through, and you can choose to dine in the shade or soak up some Vitamin D while enjoying breakfast.

This is the kind of breakfast that makes you want to skip your intermittent fasting.

My favorites are the hot stations, especially the egg and noodle station—perfect for a protein-packed breakfast or a comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup.

The siomai and siopao steamed station is also popular. The buffet offers plenty of meat options, some breakfast dishes, and the usual fruit, vegetable, cheese, granola, and milk stations. There’s still room for improvement, though—you can taste the 20% food cost. It could be elevated with homemade tapas, Palawan longganisa, or even a well-prepared Danggit Lamayo, the small vinegar-soaked fish found in Palawan’s public markets.

What I love about this breakast setup is that it’s perfect for friendly morning chats and easily converts into a workspace for writing or early briefings. I also appreciate the espresso station for your favorite iced mochas or iced chocolate—just make sure a trained barista prepares your coffee.

6. Coron Tour A

I’ve been to Coron countless times and visited Kayangan Lake with its iconic viewpoint, swimming in waters regarded as the cleanest in the country—and I still fall in love with the experience every time. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate how well-maintained this popular spot has become, with mandatory life vests, organized lines for the best selfie spots, and clean restrooms.

Best of all, experiencing Coron Tour A—which includes the Twin Lagoons and Kayangan Lake—is best enjoyed with a private group on a speedboat, so you don’t waste time between spots. The tour comes complete with fresh towels, snorkeling gear from the dive shop, mineral water, and, most importantly, Bluetooth speakers for your own chill soundtrack.

The signature island-hopping lunch is a boodle fight of grilled liempo, tuna, squid, chicken, and rice with toyo, sili, vinegar, and fresh fruits. The fish is often grilled well-done, making it a bit chewy and dry. At Banol Beach, friendly beach aspin await scraps—just note there’s no proper restroom.

Coron offers some of the best snorkeling spots, with vibrant house reefs teeming with colorful fish and relatively calm waters. While popular areas can get crowded, you can still find clear spots to enjoy and breathe in the pristine waters.

7. Xiang Hotpot & KBBQ

Yes, there’s hot pot and KBBQ on the island! After teppanyaki, this is my favorite food experience—interactive, customizable, and a great way to enjoy fresh seafood and shells in a relatively healthier way. Just don’t overindulge.

We love how fresh the seafood is—crab, shells, tuna, squid, shrimp—and the hot pot lets you cook everything perfectly, preserving its natural flavor. Pair it with a sauce of sate, peanut, sesame oil, and chili for extra flavor.

You can also enjoy Korean BBQ with tenderloin, samgyupsal, and beef slices, served with classic banchan like kimchi, fish cake, and japchae. The quality of meats on the island is relatively good.

Hotpot & KBBQ Menu-2.jpg Download

8. Private Beach Dining

One of the best things about island escapes is enjoying your meal barefoot on the sand, with the cool breeze and memorable dining setups along the shore. Don’t limit yourself to the restaurant—organize a beach meal. We tried both the Chinese and Filipino menus; it’s best to order the insider favorites and mix them. Also, order your drinks ahead, as cocktails or craft beers can take a while.

Checkout the SETIR dining menu here.

The Salt and Pepper Squid (Php 490),seasoned squid stir-fried with onion and chili served with a side of garlic aioli sauce is one of our favorites.

Order the Chinese Beef Tenderloin (₱850)—sliced beef in OK sauce, topped with carrots, green peas, and red onions—paired with Yang Chow Fried Rice (₱700), made with egg fried rice, asado, Chinese sausage, shrimp, and vegetables.

Avoid the Seafood Platter (₱2,180) – a mix of grilled seafood that varies with the catch of the day. It’s often overcooked, served cold, and a bit chewy since it’s pre-cooked elsewhere.

For the Filipino, the Sinuglaw (Php 570) is the best made grilled pork belly and raw fish soaked in vinegar.

You can order classic favorites like Pork Sisig (₱420), Inihaw na Liempo (₱530), or Crispy Pata (₱960), but I prefer the regional specialties, like Laing.

After your private beach dinner, unwind with a round of cocktails at Ric’s Place before calling it a night.

Ric’s Place Menu Download

9. Sanctuary Spa Massage

The spa massage at SETIR is one of the best, guaranteed to lull you into deep, relaxing sleep.

You can enjoy the sauna for a detox, but note that it comes with a separate fee.

Make sure to book your slots upon arrival. We prefer late-night massages, usually taking the last slot.

Sanctuary Spa Menu Download

10. Ocean Wave Karaoke Finale

Secretly, I love karaoke—it feels a bit odd singing with people you just met, but the beach vibes wash your worries away. I like starting with “Kaleidoscope World,” and no session is complete without “Toyang” by Eraserheads and “Beer!” by The Itchyworms.

There are four large 20-seater KTV rooms, each with a different color vibe—green, blue, purple, and the standout, sexy red.

FINAL THOUGHTS

SETIR draws you in with its overwater villas featuring see-through floors and outdoor jacuzzis, but what makes the experience truly memorable are the food experiences—Hikari Teppanyaki, Xiang Hotpot & KBBQ, private beach Filipino Chinese dinner, Mangrove Breakfast or simply enjoying the sunset with a well-crafted IPA. One of my favorite touches is the curated playlists, customized for each scene, vibe, or villa—ang galing! I also admire their spirit of continuous improvement, enhancing the resort year after year while offering affordable luxury perfect for multi-generational family travel.

I dream of bringing the boys here to the Salepan Villas one of these days.

Live an Awesome Life with Christ,

Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet

Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. All photos were taken by Our Awesome Planet (watermarked), and official photos are courtesy of SETIR. Thank you to SETIR for inviting us to experience Sunlight EcoTourism Island Resort.

p.s. there are plenty of other activities to enjoy on the island...

Bikes are available, letting you explore the island on your own and find the perfect selfie spot.

Coron is famous for diving, and SETIR has a specialized dive shop right on the island.

Here’s the brochure and complete list of activities:

SETIR Brochure Download

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