Tucked in the southernmost reaches of San Vicente lies Cluster 4, represented solely by the village of Caruray. Though often overlooked due to its distance from the bustling Long Beach and the San Vicente Airport, Caruray holds a unique, untapped allure-a raw and rugged paradise for those who seek immersive, remote island experiences far from the crowds.
Identified in the Conceptual Tourism Master Plan (CTMP) by Palafox Associates, Cluster 4 is projected to take more than 20 years to be fully developed due to current access limitations, land classifications, and limited tourism infrastructure. But this timeline reflects not a lack of value, but rather the potential that awaits patient investors and planners.
📍 Geographic Profile: San Vicente’s Southernmost Frontier
Caruray sits on the southern end of San Vicente, bordered by lush forests, steep terrain, and pristine coastlines. It is the most isolated of all the 10 barangays in the municipality, yet it borders one of Palawan’s most internationally celebrated natural landmarks: the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Underground River).
Despite being geographically close to a globally recognized attraction, Caruray remains untouched, offering an exceptional opportunity for eco-tourism and sustainable development-once critical road infrastructure is in place.
🏗️ Development Timeline: Patience Required, But Worth It
According to the CTMP, Caruray will take 20+ years to fully develop, primarily due to:
- Inadequate road infrastructure: Currently, the route from the airport to Caruray is under construction. Once completed, travel time is expected to take around 1.5 hours by land via Port Barton.
- Land classification constraints: Much of Caruray is considered timberland, which limits real estate acquisition and large-scale development unless properties are officially released as Alienable & Disposable (A&D) by the government.
- Limited utilities and support facilities: The barangay currently lacks basic infrastructure to support tourism, such as power lines, water systems, healthcare access, and emergency services.
While these challenges are real, the long-term potential is significant, especially for conservation-minded investors and eco-tourism brands.
🌿 Untouched Beauty and Sustainable Appeal
What makes Cluster 4 unique is its raw, uncommercialized character. Caruray offers a setting unlike anywhere else in San Vicente-a blend of forested mountains, hidden beaches, and coastal serenity, free from the footprint of mass tourism.
Caruray is ideal for:
- Eco-resorts and wellness retreats
- Adventure tourism (trekking, diving, wildlife watching)
- Scientific research stations and conservation programs
- Indigenous and cultural tourism for small, guided groups
Its proximity to the Underground River means it could serve as a gateway to cross-boundary eco-adventures, especially with proper coordination between San Vicente and Puerto Princesa LGUs.
⚠️ Land Ownership and Investment Considerations
As with Port Barton in Cluster 2, much of Caruray’s land falls under timberland classification-government-owned and not for private sale or development unless reclassified.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
| Land Type | Description | Developable? |
|---|---|---|
| Titled | Privately owned, legal for development | ✅ Yes |
| Untitled – A&D | Alienable & Disposable; may be titled | ✅ Yes |
| Timberland | Protected; not alienable or disposable | ❌ No |
This legal status creates barriers to rapid private investment, but it also preserves the ecological integrity of the area. For stakeholders interested in long-term, sustainable projects, land acquisition should begin with a legal land status review and close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
🚧 Infrastructure and Roadmap to Growth
To unlock Caruray’s tourism value, a few essential developments must be prioritized:
✅ 1. Road Completion
The current road network from San Vicente Airport → Port Barton → Caruray is under construction. Once finished and paved, this will dramatically increase accessibility and investor confidence.
✅ 2. Zoning and Land Reclassification
The local government and national agencies must work together to reclassify key areas from timberland to A&D where appropriate and environmentally sound.
✅ 3. Utilities and Community Services
Basic infrastructure-electricity, clean water, internet connectivity, and disaster preparedness-must be established before any major tourism operations begin.
✅ 4. Eco-tourism Planning and Preservation
The LGU must adopt rigorous eco-tourism frameworks that protect biodiversity, respect indigenous land, and regulate visitor capacity. Caruray must not follow the mass-tourism mistakes of other destinations.
🔮 Long-Term Vision: An Eco-Tourism Sanctuary
In 20+ years, Caruray could be San Vicente’s crown jewel of sustainable tourism-a model of how conservation and development can coexist.
Imagine:
- Quiet, solar-powered resorts offering yoga by the sea
- Canoe expeditions through mangroves and limestone cliffs
- A regional eco-lodge network connected to the Underground River
- Marine sanctuaries and protected reef zones attracting divers and scientists
- Community-owned homestays offering authentic cultural immersion
This is not just a fantasy-it’s a strategic opportunity. All it takes is vision, patience, and planning.
📌 IMPORTANT NOTES:
- The Pandemic (2020-2023) drastically delayed infrastructure funding. Resources that could have been used to develop areas like Caruray were reallocated for emergency response.
- As of 2025, the real estate and tourism sector is still recovering. Investment interest in Caruray is minimal due to infrastructure and legal hurdles-but this may change quickly once road access and reclassification progress.
- The San Vicente LGU has expressed intent to connect all barangays, including Caruray, via a comprehensive road network.
- Developers should monitor the status of DENR land classification and LGU zoning ordinances before considering any acquisition.
🌅 Conclusion: A Sleeping Giant in San Vicente
Cluster 4, embodied by the secluded village of Caruray, is not for the impatient or short-term thinker. It is for the trailblazers, conservationists, and visionaries who understand the value of untouched beauty, ecological diversity, and sustainable tourism.
In time, with the right foundation and guidance, Caruray could emerge as one of Palawan’s most inspiring examples of conscious tourism development-where nature isn’t just preserved, but celebrated.
