The Former Leper Island of Culion

For decades, this isolated Philippine municipality was a strict colony where people with leprosy were exiled. Now, it is a peaceful island that has transformed its grim medical history into a unique heritage destination.

Once known as the Island of the Living Dead, Culion functioned as a self-contained quarantine facility starting in 1906. Thousands of patients were sent here, where they established their own society, currency, and local government. Today, visitors can explore the preserved buildings and a museum dedicated to the global fight against the disease. It serves as a fascinating example of how a place can reclaim its narrative after a century of forced seclusion.