The island group of Palawan, voted by many as the world’s most beautiful island, is a place with an abundance of scenic geography availing watery paradises across its expansive borders. Coron stands out among its precious gems renowned for its striking nature and its reputation as a world-class wreck diving site that features among the best.
If you are planning a trip to this beautiful location, let the following travel guide to Coron lead your way.
Geography of Coron
Palawan is an elongated strip of islands west of the Philippines. The municipality of Coron is found on an island at its north-eastern tip. It faces the Sulu Sea to the east and the West Philippines sea to the north.
The land area of Coron is quite fascinating as it is mostly comprised of rocky cliffs and rolling hills. In fact, only 5 percent of its entire surface is flat. This special topography featuring lakes with underground rivers, deep lagoons with crystal clear waters, limestone cliffs which reach as high as 600 meters, is the key reason for the popularity of this paradise island.
The island is also home to the Tagbanwa people, one the Philippine’s oldest inhabitants, who holds the island as a duly-proclaimed ancestral domain. Because of its natural wealth, Coron is designated as a National Reserve, Tourism Zone, Marine Reserve, and a Mangrove Forest Reserve together with the rest of Palawan.
How to get to there?
There are basically two modes of travel to the island and these include:
Making the trip by air
There are numerous connecting flights from Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Cebu, and Manila which will get you to Palawan’s Busuanga Island. From the Francisco B Reyes airport on Busuanga, you’ll need to take one more flight which will finally get you to Coron. It’s prudent that you book in advance so as to avoid any inconveniences.
Traveling by sea
If you are looking to make your way from El Nido to Coron, taking a ferry would actually be easier than taking a plane. There is also an alternative sea route from Puerto Princesa in Palawan. If you’re in Manila, you can also get there by ferry if you don’t mind spending 15 hours on sea hence reserving a plane ticket proves the better choice.
Traveling by sea is great in terms of sightseeing as you get to traverse picturesque settings but it takes considerably longer than air transport.
Getting around Coron
The town is best explored on foot but you can rent a tricycle if you’re covering long distances. For the areas outside the town itself, a scooter is more suited to the task. You may also choose to hire a boat- and a driver- to discover offshore treats.
When is the best time to visit?
Coron generally experiences two seasons with these dictating when the best time to visit is. The dry season is preferable because it hardly receives any rainfall and temperatures remain at a comfortable average of about 30 degrees Celsius. This season spans from December to April.
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Between May and November, Coron experiences its rainy season. However, thanks to its location on the west of the country, Palawan does not rain too heavily and the typhoons which come from the Pacific on the east rarely reaches it. However, it’s best you avoid the months of June, July, and October as they are the rainiest of the year.
Where to stay in Coron
Staying on Coron Island itself is restricted as the government aims to preserve the famous Kayangan Lake and other works of Mother Nature within the area. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of accommodation options nearby.
The Sea Horse Guest House is a popular choice availing a combination of private rooms and dorms nicely rounded off by a rooftop terrace. Not too far from it is the Amphibi Ko Resort which is desirable for its proximity to the striking Mount Tapyas. Sunz En Coron Resort is a nice choice if you’d like to stay out of the town and the resort makes up for its remote location with free tricycle rides.
For a touch of class, Bluewave hotel offers fine dining, a pool and air-conditioned rooms among other opulent amenities. More luxurious options come in the way of the Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel and Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort.
Where to eat
Coron has no shortage of these either with vegans well taken care of by vegetarian joint Brujita. The restaurant offers a nice lineup of tasty local treats that non-vegans are sure to enjoy as well. It’s quite a popular spot so reserve your table early enough- before 7 pm- or you’ll miss out.
Waterfront La Sirenetta doubles up as a ritzy bar-cum-restaurant offering a taste of the local cuisine, serving some of the must-try Filipino dishes and modern day delicacies. For a slice of top-notch ice cream, on the other hand, Pedro’s Gelato offers a huge diversity of flavors with the salted caramel a memorable item from their menu.
Lastly, for an eatery that specializes in pizza, Altrove is the place to be. It also serves lovely pasta further embracing the Italian cuisine quite satisfactorily.
What to do in Coron
A case of saving the best for last, here’s some insight into popular attractions and activities of the region:
Mount Tapyas
Towering 210 meters above sea level, this serene mountain offers an excellent viewpoint of the overflowing nature and bewitching seascape below. You’ll have to work hard for the view though with 700 steps standing between you and the top but’s it a climb you’ll be glad you made. Sunsets tend to get pretty crowded so visit at sunrise.
Check out our article listing down some of the Philippines’ most popular peaks for mountain climbing.
Island Hopping
With island after island to savor all presenting heavenly backdrops and pristine water features, island hopping is a must-do activity. There a number of tours available in the area encompassing the romantic island of Banana and powdery Bulog Island that is equally serene and enchanting.
As mentioned earlier, Coron is well-known for its outstanding wreck dive which is situated off Busuanga Island. This underwater delight puts at your disposal many sunken WWI Japanese ships for the curious history buff and diving enthusiast.
Kayangan Lake and lagoons
The crystal clear and extremely clean waters of this lake make it a popular swimming spot strutting Coron Bay’s endearing blue waters and the lovely karst limestone cliffs nearby. You can rent a private boat and head to secluded parts of Kayangan if you so desire however it is worth pointing out that the use of drones is no longer permitted. The twin lagoons and Barracuda Lake on the island offer nice alternatives to Kayangan Lake.
Maquinit Hot Springs
Coron’s hot springs are one of the very few saltwater hot springs anywhere in the world. Surrounded by mangroves and filled with lovely pebbles, this place offers soothing waters perfect for relaxing in after a hard day of exploring. Maquinit is about half an hour away from Coron Town.
Siete Pecados
Snorkelers will love the stunning reefs, corals, and variety of tropical fish at Siete Pecados which presents a wondrous underwater empire for you to get lost in. It’s just a short distance from Maquinit hot springs.
Check out our list of the 10 best diving destinations in the Philippines.
