Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Philippines / Pamalican Island / Amanpulo
Amanpulo
Pamalican Island, Philippines · Aman · Grand Luxury
Designed by National Artist Francisco Mañosa and opened in 1993, Amanpulo occupies all of Pamalican Island, a 5.5-kilometre sliver inside a coral ring in the Cuyo Archipelago, reachable only by the resort's own seventy-minute private flight from Manila. Mañosa modelled every casita on the bahay kubo, the traditional Filipino nipa hut. Adrian Zecha famously sketched the layout from a helicopter and sealed the Soriano partnership with a handshake in the air.
- 61 rooms
- Opened 1993
- Neighborhood: Cuyo
- Rooms from 731 sq ft (68 m²)
- Architect: Francisco Mañosa
About Amanpulo
- The Soriano family found Pamalican while sailing the Sulu Sea during a typhoon in the early 1980s; the island was unmarked on most navigational charts.
- Amanpulo operates its own Manila lounge, aircraft, and landing strip: one of the few Asian resorts with a dedicated runway.
- Francisco Mañosa, later named a National Artist of the Philippines for architecture, built the casitas in wood, thatch, and open-air tropical vernacular.
- The name joins Sanskrit aman (peace) with Tagalog pulo (island), coined when Zecha partnered with A. Soriano Corporation.
- Bill and Melinda Gates stayed here in 2015 while reviewing Gates Foundation work at the International Rice Research Institute.
History
Amanpulo opened in 1993 as Aman Resorts' first property in the Philippines, a collaboration with A. Soriano Corporation on Pamalican Island. Designed by Filipino architect Francisco Mañosa, inspired by traditional bahay kubo using native materials to blend with the environment. Casitas refurbished in 2014; new villas added in 2015.
The setting
Private island resort on Pamalican Island in the Cuyo Archipelago, northern Palawan; encircled by 5.5km white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoon, coral reef, and jungle.
Restaurants and bars
- Clubhouse Restaurant — Restaurant
- Beach Club — Poolside · Mediterranean
- Lagoon Club — Restaurant · Japanese
- Picnic Grove — Restaurant
- Kawayan Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Sea turtle nesting and hatchery — Nesting season June to November; eggs are moved to the turtle hatchery and hatchlings may be seen released into the sea.
- Aman Spa — Hillside spa with sea views; six single and couple treatment suites, locally inspired massages, body, face and salon treatments.
- Fitness Centre, Yoga and Pilates — Fitness centre with personal training, yoga and meditation studio, Pilates studio, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and an outdoor Jungle Trail.
- Scuba diving — Courses from beginner to advanced levels from the PADI dive centre; guided snorkelling and diving trips may be arranged.
- Kitesurfing — Kitesurfing available seasonally on the lagoon side of the island.
- Watersports and Seasports Hut excursions — Sunset cruises, Manamoc tours, sandbar and fishing trips; snorkelling; kayaks, pedalboards and stand-up paddleboards.
Amenities
- Aman Spa
- infinity pool
- private beach
- dive centre
- diving and snorkeling
- tennis/multisport courts
- fitness/yoga/Pilates
- kids club
- organic farm
- Private pool
- Butler service
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Asia's Leading Private Island Resort 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- Travel+Leisure World's Best Resorts 5th (Rest of Asia) (2025)
- Asia Pacific Interior Design Award (1994)
- Gallivante Best Beach Resort 1994/95
- Michelin Guide
- Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice
Open Amanpulo in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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