coron islands to visit

15 Incredible Islands in Coron You MUST Visit in the Philippines

Coron is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Philippines, a wild frontier of dramatic limestone rocks and white sandy beaches.

It’s a true tropical paradise, but there are hundreds of different islands to visit in the Coron archipelago and deciding which to visit on your island hopping tours can be a challenge. 

Busuanga Island is where you’ll find all the hotels and restaurants in Coron, while Coron Island is the place to visit for classic sights such as Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoons.

There’s so much more though, and you can enjoy the blissful white sands of Pass Island or the supreme snorkeling of Siete Pecados.

It’s a great place to visit, and to inspire your next adventure in the Philippines, here are 15 incredible islands in Coron that you MUST visit. 

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Philippines (Country Guide)

15 Incredible Islands in Coron

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1. Coron Island 

Coron Island is the archipelago’s most famed island, and for many, it’s the most beautiful of the many islands in Coron. 

Located just a short boat ride away from Busuanga, where most travelers will have their base, Coron Island is where you can find the most iconic natural attractions. 

Held sacred by the indigenous Tagbanua, this is a place steeped in local lore and legend, and you’ll soon see why when you see the beauty of the place. 

Visit Coron Bay for the most well-known viewpoint in the islands. Then take a swim in the refreshing freshwater of Kayangan Lake , said to be home to a giant mythical octopus.

Nearby you can also swim between fresh and saltwater at Twin Lagoons, where tall limestone cliffs dominate the scenery.

Looking for a tour to help you explore Coron Island? This tour takes in all the island’s highlights , including snorkeling at the Siete Pecados Marine Park and Coral Eden, a boat cruise around Kayangan Lake, and swimming at the Twin Lagoons, plus a delicious seafood lunch on Calachuchi Beach.

2. Busuanga Island 

Busuanga Island is actually the largest of the islands in Coron. This is where – to confuse matters for first-time travelers to Coron! – you find Coron Town, which is the hub for travel, hotels, and restaurants in the area. 

Busuanga is the island where you’ll most likely stay and it’s where you’ll be able to join island hopping tours to see the rest of the beautiful islands in Coron. 

But Busuanga is more than just a transport hub, and while Coron Town isn’t exactly the most beautiful place in the region, head along the coast and you’ll find small villages and secluded resorts overlooking the untouched coastline.

This is exactly how Coron Town might have looked a few years ago before the tourism boom. 

3. Dibuyuyan

Dibuyuyan is located to the north of Busuanga, and it’s one of the most beautiful islands in Coron. 

This isn’t quite as well known as an island as Coron Island itself and others to the south of Busuanga, as most island hopping tours don’t tend to visit this area. 

That makes it more difficult to reach, but it’s becoming a popular diving spot due to the spectacular reef that surrounds the island. Join a diving tour and enjoy the secluded splendor of Dibuyuyan both above and below the waves. 

4. Dibutunay

Dibutunay is another secluded island that’s off the usual tourist trail in Coron and it makes for a great place to visit if you’re looking for seclusion. 

This Island is found off the northwest coast of Busuanga and to get here you’ll need to endure a few hours in bumpy local transport, overland and then oversea.

Once you get to Dibutunay though you’ll quickly realize that it was worth the effort to enjoy one of the most peaceful small islands in Coron. 

5. Black Island 

A well-kept secret just a few years ago, Black Island is becoming ever popular, but it’s still far enough away from Coron Town that it makes for a wonderful escape from the larger crowds at places like Kayangan Lake. 

Black Island is rugged and wild, but it’s a good few hours away on an outrigger boat from Coron Town, over rough seas.

A long, incredibly sandy beach fronts a dramatic limestone rock that rises abruptly from the ocean.

You can relax on the beach, snorkel a shipwreck just a few meters off the coast, or venture into the cave system within the cliffs. 

6. Pass Island 

Pass Island could be the definition of paradise, and it’s a beautiful place even in comparison to the raw beauty you’ll be enjoying all over the islands in Coron.

You can walk from one end of Pass Island to the other in just ten minutes, but you can easily lose countless days just enjoying the remote beauty of the island.

Spend the night in a rustic wooden bungalow away from the rest of the world, drink from freshly cut coconuts under swaying palm trees, and snorkel amongst the coral and the fish that surround Pass Island.

It’s one of the most beautiful islands that you can visit in Coron, and given the long boat ride from Coron Town, you’ll want to spend a day or two here to have the place to yourself for as long as you can. 

7. North Cay (Pagtenga)

North Cay (Pagtenga) is another wonderful isolated island that makes for a great destination if you’re looking to escape the world. 

The island is again small but is home to gorgeous stretches of pristine white sand which make up some of the best beaches in Coron.

8. Malcapuya Island 

Malcapuya Island is one of Coron’s best-kept secrets, although it’s not going to stay that way for too long.

This is a true paradise because here you can find soft, sandy beaches fronted by calm, clear waters. 

Sit back on the beach, read a book and enjoy the sunshine, or head out snorkeling into azure waters. You can even stay over in basic beachfront accommodation if one day isn’t enough for you. 

Experience Coron’s pristine beaches and clear waters on an island-hopping cruise , complete with buffet lunch, guide, and door-to-door round-trip transfers from town hotels.

Start your day off with a boat ride to Malcapuya Island, where you’ll enjoy the panoramic views of coastal cliffs as you make your way Climb to the crystal waters of Kayangan Lake, swim in Twin Lagoon, snorkel Skeleton Wreck, and explore Siete Pecados.

9. Banana Island 

The quirkily named shores of Banana Island are found in the same area as Malcapuya Island and a stop here is often included on an island-hopping trip to this part of Coron.

While you won’t find too many bananas here, what you will find are dreamy white sands and crystal clear ocean.

Hammocks are strung up between palm trees and after exploring the coral underwater then you can laze away your days in the shade, before watching the sunset in a fiery blaze over the Islands in Coron. 

10. Bulog Dos Island

Bulog Dos Island is another small slice of heaven nestled amongst the spectacular islands in Coron.

This island is just a ten-minute outrigger boat ride away from Banana Island, and again, often forms part of the same island-hopping excursion from Coron Town. 

Bulog Dos Island is famous for its long sandbar that stretches out into the sea, and that can shift and change with the tides and the seasons.

Bring along a drone, because this is an Island that’s best viewed from above. 

11. Bulalacao Island

If you’re looking for both seclusion and luxury then spend a few nights enjoying the delightful climes of Bulalacao Island. 

This is where you’ll find Coron’s famous Two Seasons Resort, a place of understated luxury that combines rustic island living with wonderful service and amenities. 

You’ll have the whole place to yourself and the other guests at the resort, but make sure to book in advance as accommodation here is always in high demand, despite the high prices. 

12. Siete Pecados 

Siete Pecados is one of Coron’s more famous spots, as it’s usually included on the popular island hopping tours that take in the major sights around Coron Island. 

This is one of the best snorkeling spots in Coron because the small rocky outcrop is surrounded by colorful coral reefs and an abundance of marine life.

The island itself isn’t much to write home about, but the underwater world around it is second to none amongst the islands in Coron. 

13. Pamalican Island 

This small island off the coast of Busuanga isn’t often included on standard island hopping packages, which could be all the incentive that you need to visit. 

There’s zero development here, and arrive early enough and you’ll literally be able to enjoy Pamilican to yourself, as your own private island in Coron. At least for a while. 

14. Culion 

Culion is the second largest in the Coron archipelago, but despite being a beautiful place, it’s always carried with it the unfavorable stigma of having once been a leper colony. 

For that reason perhaps, Culion hasn’t yet developed on the same lines as Busuanga and Coron Island when it comes to tourism.

You’ll find plenty of secluded beaches, shipwrecks and beautiful vistas awaiting you here. And of course, don’t worry about your health, because Culion has been leprosy free for years now! 

15. Ditaytayan Island 

Sitting in the channel that separates Culion from Bulalacao Island, Ditaytayan is one of the most dramatic places to visit in Coron. 

The small island is green and verdant, covered in lush trees and rocky limestone cliffs, but the most awe-inspiring sight is the sandbar that weaves its way out to sea from the coast. 

This is a classic Instagram territory, although, in a place like Coron where everywhere is Instagram worthy, you might still find that you’re the only person at the sandbar taking photographs if you visit Ditaytayan Island. 

More on the Philippines:

• 20 Beautiful Places in the Philippines for your Bucket List
• 30 Must Visit Tourist Spots in the Philippines
• 25 Amazing Drone Photos of the Philippines
• 24 Bohol Tourist Spots & Things to Do
• Coron Palawan: Itinerary & Best Things to Do
• 15 Awesome Things to Do in Manila (Itinerary for First Timers)
• Philippines: How to Get From Manila to Puerto Galera
• Travel Recap: 4 Weeks in the Philippines

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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Ultimate Coron Itinerary: Island Hopping, Beaches, Hikes

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: September 21, 2023

Categories PHILIPPINES

Discover the unparalleled beauty of Coron, Palawan with my ultimate itinerary tailored to showcase the best of this island paradise. Whether you’re eager to dive into pristine waters, lounge on sun-kissed beaches, or hike up to beautiful viewpoints, my guide ensures you experience it all. Dive deep into this article to uncover the best spots, hidden gems, and local favorites that every traveler must include in their Coron itinerary.

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3-DAY CORON ITINERARY

This blog post details how to make the most of your time in Palawan, Philippines with a detailed Coron itinerary. The main attraction in Coron are the island hopping tours. Before we get into the itinerary, I’m going to share the most popular options below. I hope you actually end up staying for a week because there are so many awesome things to do in Coron.

• From Coron Town, embark on the renowned Coron Island Hopping & Snorkeling Tour , visiting highlights like Pass Island and Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck. Classic tours feature must-visits like Kayangan and Barracuda Lake.
• The 4-day, 3-Night  Big Dream Boat Man Island Hopping Trip offers a unique multi-day experience. This tour prioritizes early visits to popular spots like Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon to beat the crowds, then shifts to lesser-known jewels, allowing for activities like free-diving at WWII shipwrecks and camping on remote beaches.

HOW TO GET TO CORON

Coron has an airport that more or less every single visitor comes in via. However, there is another option these days which is three-night island hopping journey from El Nido with Big Dream Boat Man that combines transit with adventure as you camp at islands along the way and explore during the day while making your way from El Nido. You can visit their website to look at the trips they currently have on offer.

However, most people do fly in with daily flights coming from Manila and Cebu . The airport is about 30-minutes from Coron Town where you will find your accommodation. The transport from the airport is a fixed rate and shared in a van with other tourists at $3 unless you pay for a private taxi. It is quite a fair and well-organized system where you won’t have to barter or get ripped off.

Okay, let’s get into this Coron Itinerary starting with your first day in Coron.

CORON ITINERARY: DAY 1

Most people who visit Coron come for the epic island-hopping, SO it is best to get to that on your first day. Both TOUR A and TOUR B are equally epic with free-diving, snorkeling, and incredible lagoons of Coron Island. Both tours also include a seafood banquet lunch to eat on a beautiful island. I’ll give you a quick overview of what each tour includes. There is no ‘better’ or ‘worse’ tour, they are just simply to different snorkeling spots and beaches.

• Tour A : Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, Coral Garden Snorkel, Cyc Beach, Lunch
• Tour B : Skeleton Wreck, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Lunch
• Tour C : Malcapuya Island, Banana Island, Bulog Dos Island, Lunch
• Tour D : Pass Island, Lusong Gunboat Snorkel, Lusong Coral Garden, Lunch

In this 3-day Coron itinerary, I will suggest doing either Tour A or Tour B and then on the other day to do either Tour C or Tour D . Tour A and B are quite similair so don’t do both of them rather choosing C or D for your second day of island hoppping. I’ve done all four and they were all great but I will detail them below.

Here is a brief overview of what you can expect on TOUR A and TOUR B .

KAYANGAN LAKE

Kayangan Lake is by far the most popular spot on Coron Island and for good reason. You cruise into the ‘parking lot’, which in itself is an immaculate reef with crystal clear water.

After parking the boat you take a short hike up the stairs to the viewpoint before clambering down the other side to reach the famous Kayangan Lake. It’s a crystal clear freshwater lake with unbelievable underwater rock formations. It’s easily one of my favorite free-dive spots in the world. Make sure you head over the left side of the lake for the epic free-dive location. Kayangan Lake is part of Tour A .

TWIN LAGOON

Twin Lagoon in Coron, Palawan, stands as one of the most mesmerizing natural wonders in the Philippines. Nestled amidst towering karst cliffs, this pair of tranquil blue-green lagoons is connected by a narrow limestone passage, with one half hidden beneath the rocks, accessible only during low tide or by a short ladder climb. The unique mix of cold freshwater and warm saltwater in the lagoon offers a refreshing experience, making it a must-visit for every traveler seeking the untouched beauty of Coron. Twin Lagoon is part of Tour A .

CORAL GARDEN

The Coral Garden is a beautiful snorkel spot after the lagoons. Expect crystal clear waters, colorful corals, plentiful fish and a beuatifull backdrop of limestone cliffs. Coral Garden is part of Tour A .

BEACH LUNCH

The great part about every tour is that the team always cooks an amazing bbq and seafood lunch for the guests. It’s truly a feast in paradise with a great spread of food on a small bungalow on a white sand beach. The beach lunch is part of Tour A .

After your first day of island-hopping, you will return to the town around 4 pm. If you are up for an adventure head up the steep incline to the best viewpoint in Coron.

HIKE THE STAIRS TO MT TAPYAS FOR SUNSET

Mount Tapyas is the most popular viewpoint in Coron Town , Busuanga, with sweeping views over the rolling hills and a direct look towards the epic Coron Island in Palawan. The view doesn’t come easy though, to reach the giant cross at the summit, you need to climb 721 steps. In the piercing sun of Coron, this is a challenge that leaves many drenched in sweat and gasping for breath once they reach the top.

For some, the 721 steps will be a walk in the park. However, for those who aren’t very active, you may battle through the incline and the sun.

• Coron Land Tour : Get to know Coron! Visit Mt Tapyas viewing deck, Maquinit Hot Spring and important sites around town. Great for a day off from snorkeling and island hopping.

3 BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CORON

• Best Location: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort – Incredible Island Bungalows
• Where I stayed : Outpost Hostel – Central location, great hostel vibes.
• All-Round Resort: Sunlight Eco Resort – Great beachfront location & activities.

CORON ITINERARY: DAY 2

On day two you will head out for some epic snorkeling at some of the shipwrecks and at Barracuda Lake, one of my favorite free-diving spots in Coron. All of this will be done for a cheap price on Tour B .

Tour B : Includes Barracuda Lake, Banol Beach, Snorkel at Skeleton Wreck

SKELETON WRECK

Skeleton Wreck is a 25m long Japanese supply ship that was hit by an airstrike during WWII by US airforce. The ship now rests at a depth of 5m ranging to 22m at the deepest. It is an awesome spot for free-diving or scuba diving as well as snorkeling on the surface. Skeleton Wreck is part of Tour B .

BARRACUDA LAKE

Barracuda Lake feels like a dream world. The entrance to the lake leads you along a path that winds through jagged rocks that look straight out of a movie before they reveal the beautiful, expansive Barracuda Lake. The lake is huge but swimmers enjoy an enclosed area of free-diving paradise in the deep waters. Underwater cliffs will blow your mind as you snorkel or free dive in this fresh-water lake in Coron Island. Barracuda Lake is part of Tour B .

On the second night in Coron you again have another optional adventure depending on your energy levels. This one isn’t as hard as the Mt Tapyas hike.

RELAX AT THE MAQUINIT HOT SPRINGS

Only a 20-minute drive from Coron town in a tricycle is a hot spring oasis in the mountains. Amazingly the hot spring also has a view of the ocean and it is a salt-water hot spring. The sunset was beautiful and lit the sky up with deep pinks and purples.

I enjoyed it too much to get my camera out quick enough but this is what the hot springs look like. It is busy but there is enough space for everyone to chill around the edge. Sometimes I prefer places to be empty but the  Maquinit Hot Spring  had a really chill vibe with everyone enjoying their bath under the stars.

CORON ITINERARY: DAY 3

It’s your third day on Coron and now I suggest getting a little adventurous because by now, you have seen most of Coron Island on the regular tours A and B. Pick either Tour C or D and go on a bit of a boat journey to some more off-beat locations. There will still be tourists around but it will definitely be more low key. Tour D, in particular, is very low key with shipwrecks, freediving, and snorkeling while Tour C is all about beaches and sandbars.

That wraps up the best way to spend a 3-day Itinerary in Coron. I hope you found that breakdown of all the popular spots helpful. Remember, if you do have three to our days, I highly recommend looking into the 4-day, 3-Night  Big Dream Boat Man Island Hopping Trip .

BIG DREAM BOAT MAN ISLAND HOPPING TRIP

Big Dream Boat Man is a locally owned tour company that offers THE BEST island-hopping experience in Coron on their private 3-day, 4-night trip throughout the islands nearby Coron.

Reasons to book with Big Dream Boat Man

• Skip the crowds: Visit popular spots like Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake and Lusong gunboat BEFORE the crowds arrive.
• Secluded Spots: Visit islands that the daytrippers can’t reach.
• Sunrise & Sunset: Stay overnight at secluded islands in cabins and tents on the beach. Enjoy bonfires, drinks and a fun atmosphere.

3 POPULAR CORON TOURS

• Coron Island Hopping Trip : The iconic boat trip to amazing Kayangan Lake & Barracuda Lake. Best value and most popular
• Snorkeling, Shipwrecks, Private Islands (Island Hopping D) : Pass Island, Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck Snorkel & Coral Gardens. This is my favorite island hopping in Coron and is the snorkeling paradise & active tour.

I only recommend tours with Guide To The Philippines , who are a locally owned company and the most RELIABLE & PROFESSIONAL in Coron with small group sizes.

PLANNING A CORON ITINERARY: BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Coron, Palawan, hinges largely on the region’s tropical climate, which features a pronounced dry season and a rainy season. Typically, the months between November and May are considered ideal, with December to March being the peak tourist season due to cooler temperatures and minimal rainfall. This period witnesses clear blue skies and calm seas, perfect for island hopping, snorkeling, and diving excursions.

Conversely, the rainy season, spanning from June to October, brings with it heavier rainfalls and a higher chance of typhoons. However, travelers who prefer a less crowded ambiance and are willing to navigate occasional showers might still find this off-peak season appealing, especially with accommodations often being more affordable.

ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH MY CORON SERIES?

• Best Island Hopping Experience: (4 Days & 3 Nights) Big Dream Boat Man Coron Tour Review .
• My Ultimate Travel Guide: Coron Travel Guide: 22 Awesome Things To Do
• A detailed activity schedule for you: Ultimate Coron Itinerary for 3-4 Days
• A comprehensive accommodation guide: 20 Best Places to Stay in Coron
• Best activity that is not in the water: Mt. Tapyas Hike for the best view in Coron.

Or you might want to jump to a few of my favorite spots in Coron:

• Read my blog post about Kayangan Lake
• Read my blog about Black Island
• Read my blog about Barracuda Lake
• Read my blog about​ Lusong Gunboat

Friday 15th of December 2023

Hey JourneyEra! 🌟 Your Coron itinerary is a lifesaver! If you ever plan a Sikkim tour, hit me up for tips. Your travel guidance is pure gold – keep inspiring!

Wednesday 11th of March 2020

What's night life like in Coron? Are there bars/clubs around town similar to that of Siargao?

Thursday 12th of March 2020

It's not anything like Siargao. There are some bars and a few places you can dance to a DJ but nothing to write home about.

Tuesday 28th of January 2020

HELLO, ANY RESTAURANTS YOU WANT TO SUGGEST IN CORON?

Not really. I just eat for adventure fuel. Not a good person to ask for food reccomendations haha

Friday 24th of January 2020

Hello. Thanks for the Guide! I got a Q. Are A B C etc tours the same as the ones in El Nido? Do they take you to the same places? Or completely different?

It is yes like El Nido. Each letter is a new day of different adventures.

Saturday 23rd of November 2019

Hi Jackson I really enjoyed reading some of your blogs tonight and would love your advise. We fly in and out of Coron 25 Jan , back 7 feb, family of 4 with a 12 and 10 year old who love water. My 12 year old and her Dad are padi certified and i prefer relaxing on the beach getting some Mum time, after some good exercise! Can you recommend the bits we MUST see as we need some down time but obviously want to see islands, stay on them, have an amazing experience, BUT not be surrounded by hundreds of people doing the same and big party boats (sadly those days have gone!) I originally had a provisional booking for glamping on Nacpan island 27-31 jan (that was our big treat as its not cheap), but wondered if we need to see much more of El Nido, or just boat back towards Coron from there with maybe 5-6 nights left to really see some sight on a tours. I have been recommended a tour guide a friend used, but as you seem to know the area so well, i would value your opinion. Or do we base ourselves in Coron and have more than enough to see in 2 weeks- is Nacpan really that incredible etc? I'd like my daughter and husband to scuba dive a good 2-3 times really so want to now where best to head or stay. Any advise would be awesome. Thanks so much. Your photos look amazing.

Sunday 24th of November 2019

Thanks so much. Coron is great for diving with lots of dive shops and many shipwrecks and plane wrecks to explore. There are lots of people at the main attractions in coron but not at all the dive sites . so its not too crazy. Nacpan is a beautiful beach but four days there is a long time. Not too much to do out there other than relax. I'd stay in El Nido or Lio Beach and do a day trip or just 1-2 nights at Nacpan.

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Coron Island, Philippines

Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Natalia

Coron Island, Palawan, is one of the top destinations in the Philippines, known for its beautiful nature and some of the best wreck diving in the world. Although Coron Town is actually on Busuanga Island, a number of island hopping tours depart the town everyday to explore the beauty of Coron Island. It’s not possible to stay on Coron Island itself in order to preserve the pristine nature of places like the famous Kayangan Lake. Many tourists take advantage of Coron Island tour packages which cover as much as possible in a short amount of time, but we recommend doing it yourself as it’s cheaper and you can be more flexible. Whatever you do though, don’t miss Coron, Palawan, off from your Philippines itinerary! Find out everything you need to know about visiting with this Coron Island travel guide.

Make sure you have everything you need for your trip with this packing guide for the Philippines! It covers everything you need to take to make the most of your trip!

Table of Contents

How to get to Coron Island, Palawan

Flights to coron island, palawan.

Flights – The easiest way to get to Coron Island is by flying into Francisco B Reyes airport, on Busuanga Island, Palawan. You can find flights to Coron from a number of places in the Philippines including Manila, Cebu, El Nido and Puerto Princesa.

The cost will vary depending on where you are coming from and which operator you choose – with Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and more servicing this airport. We recommend booking in advance for the best deal.

Click here to find flight deals from a number of airports to Coron through 12go.Asia!

From the airport to Coron Town you can get a shared van which costs 150 pesos per person and leaves when full. Alternatively you can book a transfer online in advance through Klook.

Click here to book a transfer from Coron Airport to Coron Town!

If you’re going to Coron from El Nido it’s cheaper just to get the ferry rather than flying.

Ferry to Coron Island, Palawan

If you’re already in Palawan, you can catch a ferry from either Puerto Princesa or El Nido to Coron. If you’re in Port Barton , you’ll need to make your way to El Nido to catch the ferry.

From El Nido, we recommend taking the fast ferry run by Montenegro Lines. This ferry departs at 6am and takes approximately 4 hours to reach Coron, costing 1,760 pesos.

Click here to book your ferry in advance through 12Go Asia to avoid tickets selling out!

There are other ferry options that are slightly cheaper, but take longer and run less frequently. We recommend reading this guide to catching a ferry between El Nido and Coron if you’re interested in the other options.

Ferries run once a week from Puerto Princesa to Coron but due to the distance it’s an 11 hour journey. To avoid this long journey, either fly directly to Coron or get the ferry from El Nido instead.

If you do want to go straight from Puerto Princesa to Coron by ferry, click here to find the timetable and pricing information.

There is also a ferry from Manila to Coron but there may only be one departure a week depending on the season. It takes around 11 hours and so flying is a much better option if possible!

Getting around Coron Island, Palawan

It’s easy enough to get around Coron Town on foot but if you’re staying a bit further out you may need to use a tricycle. Fares should be relatively cheap, but it’s worth checking with your accommodation how much you should expect to pay. This way you avoid being overcharged.

To visit areas outside of Coron Town, you may want to hire a scooter. It should cost between 400-700 pesos to rent a scooter for a day, and gives you the freedom to take a tour of the Coron area at your own pace.

Personally we don’t think it’s worth paying to rent a scooter, as there isn’t too much else to see on the island. Tricycle journeys should be cheap enough, so we suggest just paying for them as and when you need.

Best time to visit Coron Island, Palawan

The best time to visit Coron, Palawan, in terms of weather is influenced by the dry and rainy seasons. Unsurprisingly, the dry season sees a lot less rain and so is a nice time to visit. The rainy season isn’t as bad as the name suggests though, as it rarely rains all day long and there are still days without any rain at all.

Coron Dry Season – December-April.

Coron Rainy Season – May-November.

Coron’s rainiest months are June-October, so it’s best to avoid these if possible. In general, you should try to visit Coron during the dry season for the best weather. Temperatures stay constant in Coron with a peak of around 30 degrees Celsius all year round.

The peak time to visit Coron is between December and April. If you’re visiting during these months it’s best to book accommodation in advance to avoid a lack of options.

Island Hopping in Coron Island, Palawan

Coron is home to some incredible nature, and the best way to see it is on an island hopping tour. You have the option of joining a group tour and following a set itinerary, or renting a private boat and deciding the exact spots you want to see.

Group Tours

Coron Island tour rates start from around 900 pesos per person depending on the itinerary and operator. The cost of a group tour should always include lunch and entrance fees.

It’s also worth paying particular attention to the itinerary to make sure you don’t miss out anything you were hoping to see. Itineraries vary from tour to tour so pick wisely!

Tours are available from a number of stores in the town, but you can also book some great tours through Klook in advance. The island hopping tours in Coron are often referred to as tour A, B, C and D, depending on the itinerary.

Booking in advance means you don’t need to worry about tours selling out and you can enjoy your time in Coron rather than having to arrange a tour!

Tour A involves a visit to the stunning Kayangan Lake, snorkelling at a coral garden, a trip to CYC beach and more! It’s the cheapest island hopping tour in Coron, with prices on Klook starting from 1,000 pesos per person.

Click here to book a spot on the wonderful Tour A for your trip to Coron!

Tour B takes you to Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol Beach, and Skeleton Wreck. Prices on Klook start from around 1,250 pesos per person, which is great value considering you get to visit some of the most beautiful places in Coron!

Click here to visit Klook’s website to book Tour B for your visit to Coron!

Tour C visits Malcapuya Island, Waling Waling Island sand bar, and Ditaytayan Island. As these idyllic islands are further away from Coron, the tour costs slightly more. Prices start from 1,600 pesos per person.

Click here to enjoy a day relaxing on beautiful islands with Tour C!

Alternatively, the Ultimate Tour available on Klook takes you to some of the best places in Coron. The tour visits Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Siete Pecados, CYC beach and more! Prices for the tour start from 1,450 pesos per person.

Click here to book yourself onto the incredible Ultimate Tour in Coron!

Private tours

The price to rent a private boat starts from around 2,700 pesos – but this doesn’t include entrance fees or your lunch. This price may rise if you have a larger group or want to visit places that are further away, like Malcapuya Island, so check the rates quoted before agreeing to a boat!

If you opt to rent a private boat you can choose up to 6 spots you’d like visit around Coron. Private boats in Coron are arranged by the Calamian Tourist Boat Association.

Places to visit on Island Hopping tours in Coron

One of the most popular spots to visit is Kayangan Lake , and so it’s included on most tours packages in Coron, Palawan. The lake is a mix of fresh and salt water and is claimed to be the cleanest lake in Asia.

You have to ascend and descend a number of steps to reach the Kayangan Lake, passing by a brilliant viewpoint from which you can admire the karst limestone cliffs and beautifully blue waters of Coron Bay.

Once you reach Kayangan Lake itself, take the time to swim and enjoy the impressive scenery. The lake’s beautifully clear water and the surrounding cliffs make for a majestic sight.

Life jackets are mandatory when swimming in Kayangan Lake as 2 tourists drowned there in 2017. As one of the most popular places to visit in Coron, Kayangan Lake can get extremely busy, so we recommend making it your first stop if you rent a private boat.

If you’re travelling with a drone, it’s worth noting that drone use is no longer permitted at Kayangan Lake.

One of the other points of interest on Coron Island that we recommend visiting is Twin Lagoon . As the name suggests, there are 2 lagoons – one which can be accessed by boat and one which cannot.

Your boat will dock in the first lagoon and you can reach the second one either by swimming through a small opening in the cliff or by stairs. The water at Twin Lagoon is also a mix of fresh and salt water, and you can feel the difference in temperature between the two.

If you snorkel, you will be able to see blurry patches, where the different types of water meet. The only downside of a visit to Twin Lagoon is that you won’t be able to have it all to yourself due to it being one of the most popular places to visit in Coron, Palawan.

Barracuda Lake  is a similar spot to both Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon, and is on the itinerary for some Coron island hopping tours. The lake gets its name from the singular resident barracuda – although it can be quite elusive.

It’s a particularly interesting spot to visit as the lake has layers of water at different temperatures, known as thermocline. At the top of the lake the fresh water is around 28 degrees celsius, in comparison to around 38 degrees at 15 metres deep – quite the difference!

Although you don’t have to dive to visit Barracuda Lake, we’d recommend doing so to fully appreciate this fascinating place.

One of the best snorkelling spots to visit during a Coron Tour is  Siete Pecados . This reef is home to an abundance of coral and sea life. It’s common to see clownfish, barracuda and squid, but if you’re lucky you may even see a turtle or sea snake.

If you aren’t a qualified diver but want to enjoy one of Coron’s shipwrecks, you’ll want to visit  Skeleton Wreck . With a depth ranging from 5-22 metres, the wreck is easily visible from the surface.

If you’re a confident swimmer you can get a lot closer if you hold your breath and dive down to get a better look. There’s a mix of sea life around the wreck too, which makes it a great place to visit.

On top of the above, there are a number of islands to visit with stunning beaches to offer. As these islands are further away from Coron, we opted to explore the nearby sites during our trip.

Malcapuya Island  in particular is supposed to be beautiful if you do plan to go further afield. If you don’t have time to see the beaches in Coron, we recommend visiting Siargao Island as there are some beautiful beaches to visit on the island hopping trips there!

If you do opt for a private tour, then you will be shown a list of places you can choose to visit. It’s best to have done some research in advance to decide which spots you want to visit. This way you won’t end up missing anything out.

We recommend being specific on the order in which you want to see places, as some get very busy early on. We did a private tour and they tried to take us to Siete Pecados first, but we insisted on going to Kayangan Lake instead. It’s lucky we did, as by the time we were leaving Kayangan Lake at around 9am, it was already getting a lot busier.

Other things to do in Coron Island, Palawan

Wreck Diving – Coron is known for having some of the best wreck diving in the world. During World War 2 a number of Japanese ships were sunk around Coron bay as a result of an American airstrike. There are plenty of dive schools in the area offering day trips to explore these fascinating wrecks.

Some wrecks are shallow enough to snorkel, but most require an Open Water or Advanced Open Water certification. Many of the wrecks are too deep for Open Water divers, so to fully appreciate the wrecks of Coron it’s best to be an Advanced Open Water diver. Alternatively, you can opt to take the Deep and Wreck specialty courses at one of the dive schools, which will enable you to appreciate them without an Advanced Open Water certification.

A list of some of Coron’s best wrecks and their required certification is below:

Wrecks in Coron requiring Open Water certification – East Tangat, Kogyo Maru, Lusong Gunboat.

Wrecks in Coron requiring Advanced Open Water or Specialty certification – Akitsushima, Irako, Okikawa, Olympia Maru, Morazan Maru.

Wrecks in Coron visible by snorkelling – Skeleton Wreck, Lusong Gunboat, East Tangat.

Mount Tapyas – One of the best and most popular options for what to do in Coron at night is climb Mount Tapyas. Standing at a height of 210 metres, Mount Tapyas is the perfect spot to watch sunrise or sunset in Coron town. To reach the top you’ll have to climb over 700 steps, but it’s well worth it!

Even if you decide to visit during the middle of the day, the view is incredible. The scenic view of Coron bay and the area’s countless hills is spectacular, and so we’d consider a visit to Mount Tapyas essential when in Coron.

It can get pretty crowded at the top during sunset, so if you want to avoid the crowds we recommend visiting Mt Tapyas at sunrise.

There’s no entrance fee to visit Mt Tapyas, so you can get the best view of the area for free!

Maquinit Hot Springs – Just 30 minutes from Coron Town, one of the world’s only saltwater hot springs can be found. The Maquinit Hot Springs  are a popular spot to visit, especially after climbing Mount Tapyas, as it gives your body chance to recover in the soothing waters.

To get to the hot springs, a tricycle costs around 300-400 pesos from Coron Town. The Maquinit Hot Springs have an entrance fee of 200 pesos, and open at 8am until 10pm – although the entrance is closed at 8pm, so you need to arrive before then.

Dugongs – If you’re a nature lover, take a trip from Coron to the other side of Busuanga Island to go on a Dugong watching trip. Dugongs are listed as a vulnerable species, so it’s a great opportunity to see them in the wild.

Trips are run by the Dugong Dive Center , who have a number of partner resorts nearby. It’s best to stay in one of the partner resorts as tours depart at 7am. Alternatively you can make your way from Coron Town, but this requires a very early start!

Once a Dugong is spotted, you will watch from the boat initially before getting in the water to snorkel and get a closer look. As long as the Dugong isn’t scared off, you will then have the chance to dive too – assuming you’re qualified!

Obviously there isn’t a guarantee of seeing Dugongs, but they do find them on over 80% of trips.

The cost of doing a Dugong watching trip is quite high, with the boat trip itself costing 3,500 pesos per person. On top of this there is a cost of 1,350 pesos per dive (up to 3 dives) and another 1,350 to rent scuba gear, if needed. If you are planning on staying in a partner resort you will also have to factor in this cost, or alternatively the cost of transport from Coron to the Dugong Dive Center.

More Diving  –If you want a change from wreck diving, there are a number of other dive sites in Coron. Barracuda Lake is a unique place to dive due to the thermocline water – meaning the water is notably different in temperature depending on your depth. There are also a number of reefs to dive in Coron – with Siete Pecados being a particularly popular spot for both snorkelling and diving.

Where to stay in Coron Island, Palawan

Amphibi Ko Resort

One of the best budget options in Coron is Amphibi Ko Resort. It’s well located a short distance from a number of restaurants and in walking distance of Mount Tapyas.

There’s also a lovely rooftop restaurant on site with pleasant views to enjoy during your meal. Rooms have air conditioning and hot showers, which makes this a great value property for the price.

Staff are also on hand to help arrange tours of Coron if you want!

Click here to check the latest prices at Amphibi Ko Resort for your trip to Coron!

Sea Horse Guest House

Another great budget option is Sea Horse Guest House. The property offers both dorms and private rooms, with a free breakfast included regardless of which you opt for.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants nearby and the pier is within walking distance for taking day trips around Coron. There’s also a lovely rooftop terrace, which is a great place for watching sunset – especially if you don’t fancy climbing all those steps at Mount Tapyas!

Click here to see the latest offers at Sea Horse Guest House for your trip!  

Bluewave Hotel

One of the best value hotels with a pool on Coron Island, Palawan, is Bluewave Hotel. The rooms are very clean and equipped with air con, which means you’ll stay cool even when you’re not using the pool!

Everything is within walking distance, so you’ll have plenty of restaurant options to choose from. If you’d prefer though, dine at the property on the 3 rd floor restaurant, which offers lovely views of the area.

Click here to see the latest prices at the Bluewave Hotel on Booking.com!

Sunz En Coron Resort

Another great value option with a pool to cool off in is Sunz En Coron Resort. Although the property is a little way out of town, they offer free tricycle rides there which more than makes up for this!

The staff are extremely friendly and are more than happy to help with your trip in any way they can. All rooms in the property have air conditioning, so you won’t have to worry about sleepless nights from the warm weather!

Click here to see the latest deals at Sunz En Coron Resort for your trip!

Treat yourself!

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay, consider booking a stay at the Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel. The rooms are comfortable and spacious, and the property has a lovely swimming pool overlooking the ocean and beautiful surrounding areas.

Although the hotel isn’t located in the main area of town, it’s a short tricycle ride away so it isn’t really an issue.

Click here to see the latest prices for a stay at the Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel on Booking.com!

Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort

One of the best resorts near Coron Island, Palawan, is the Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort. The property offers a unique island getaway, a 30-minute boat ride from Coron town.

It’s the perfect place to relax, whether you choose to spend your days chilling by the pool, relaxing on the beach or snorkelling in search of marine life!

Everything you could want from a resort is waiting for you at the Sunglight Eco Tourism Island Resort.

Click here to take a look at the amazing Sunlight Eco Tourism Island Resort on Booking.com!

Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!

Where to eat in Coron Island, Palawan

Brujita – If you’re a vegan wondering where to eat in Coron, try out the vegan friendly Brujita. The menu is also suitable for non-vegans, with a good variety of dishes on offer.

We ate here a number of times during our stay in Coron, and the barracuda was particularly good. While we didn’t try enough places to say it’s the best seafood restaurant in Coron, it definitely gave a good account of itself!

It’s a good option for cheap food in Coron, with some dishes available for under 200 pesos. Brujita is a popular spot, so if you arrive after around 7pm then expect to have a bit of a wait for a table!

La Sirenetta Restaurant and Bar – La Sirenetta is one of the most popular restaurants in Coron, partly due to its lovely location on the waterfront. A range of dishes are available, from pizza to seafood to Filipino cuisine.

La Sirenetta is slightly more expensive than some other options in Coron, but the location makes it worth it!

Pedro’s Gelato – There’s not much better than ice cream on a hot day! Pedro’s Gelato is the go to place if you’re hoping for something to help you cool down. There are plenty of ice cream/gelato flavours to choose from – with the salted caramel being one of our personal favourites!

Altrove – It can be hard to find a good pizza when travelling South East Asia, but Altrove is one of the exceptions. Although the prices are higher than elsewhere, the quality makes a real difference. Altrove also serve pasta, although we didn’t get a chance to try this ourselves. Expect to pay upwards of 300 pesos depending on what you opt for.

Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!

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Top 10 Places to Visit in Coron

Discover the best of coron, palawan: top 10 places to visit.

Discover the top 10 must-see destinations in Coron, Palawan, and prepare to be mesmerized by the pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning landscapes that this tropical paradise has to offer. This travel guide provides all the essential information you need to plan your perfect vacation in Coron.

TRAVEL GUIDE

Come to palawan.

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is a stunning freshwater lake located in Coron Island. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the world, with crystal-clear waters that have a greenish-blue hue and limestone cliffs surrounding it. The lake is renowned for its clean and clear waters, making it the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the cove and small islands of Coron Island from the scenic viewing area, which is accessed by climbing about 160 steps. The climb up and down to the lake can be a bit challenging, however, the stunning view and refreshing water make it well worth the effort. Kayangan Lake is a must-visit destination in Coron, and the Coron Island Tour will stop here.

Twin Lagoon

Twin Lagoon is a stunning location in Coron Island, known for its beautiful limestone formations and tropical vegetation. Visitors can kayak in the warm water and enjoy the great view, making it a memorable experience. The lagoon is surrounded by limestone cliffs and has interesting water, with a mix of freshwater and saltwater that makes it cool and warm at different depths. The water is crystal clear and provides a peaceful and calm environment. The smaller lagoon is still large and deep and has great acoustics, which add to the fun. Twin Lagoon is a must-visit destination in Coron, and the Coron Island Tour will stop here.

Barracuda Lake

Barracuda Lake is a unique diving spot in Coron Island with stunning rock formations and clear, deep waters. The lake is famous for its mystical and remarkable underwater experience, where tourists can explore the rock faces and swim beside the catfish and shrimps feeding on them. The lake also features a barracuda that takes time to show itself, making it an exciting experience for divers who are patient enough to wait. The diving experience at Barracuda Lake is like no other, with thermoclines and other-worldly critters adding to the mesmerizing experience. Though the lake may seem scary because of its depth, it is a magical spot that families can enjoy. The lake is accessible by boat, and Coron Island Tour will stop here.

Malcapuya Island

Malcapuya Island is a breathtakingly beautiful and special place that is perfect for swimming and enjoying the clear waters. The island has a long shoreline with lovely white sand and calm waves that make it a great spot for children. While snorkeling to the coral reef may be a bit challenging, there are still plenty of colorful fish to admire in the waters. Malcapuya Island is an ideal spot for relaxation and disconnecting from the digital world, as it has limited cell reception. Despite being a secluded island, Malcapuya Island has picnic tables, a shop, and hammocks spread around the area. Visitors can take spectacular Instagrammable photos, and climbing to the top of the island offers a stunning view. Malcapuya Island is a must-visit destination in Coron, and can be visited with Coron Island Hopping Tour .

Black Island

Black Island is a beautiful and secluded paradise with crystal clear waters, powdery white sand, and stunning natural features. The island is not as crowded as other tourist spots in the area, and visitors can rent a boat or join Calauit and Black Island Tour to reach the island. The island has a shipwreck, a cave with amazing structures, a swimming pool inside the cave, and water caves and tunnels within the black mountain or cliffs of Black Island to explore. The island also has a cold spring, huts for sheltered picnics, and lots of fish and corals for snorkeling and diving. Black Island is described as a magical, peaceful, and relaxing destination that visitors can enjoy with family, friends, or even solo.

Banana Island

Banana Island is a popular stop on an Coron Island-Hopping Tour and is known for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and good snorkeling spots. The island is well-maintained, with clean surroundings and is great for a relaxing day on the beach or a longer stay. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and taking photos around the island, as well as lounging in the hammocks. The coral is colorful and abundant, and visitors can observe a variety of fish and marine life. Banana Island is great destination for those looking for a relaxing island getaway with good snorkeling and clear waters.

Pass Island

Pass Island is a beautiful island with powdery sand, crystal clear waters, and fantastic snorkeling area.. The island is quite remote and takes about 2 hours to reach by boat, but it is well worth the journey. The island has tall palm trees that cast dancing shadows over the powdery sands and provides a relaxing atmosphere for visitors. The waters around the island are teeming with life, including territorial fish, corals, sea anemone with clown fish, and giant clams. Visitors have compared the experience to swimming in a large aquarium. Pass Island can be visited with the Coron Reef & Wreck Tour .

Banul Beach

Banul Beach is a stretch of white sand beach that is a popular destination for Coron Island Tour. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful lunch in one of the picnic huts designed specifically for island hoppers. Besides the picnic huts, there are no other amenities on the beach. The sand is super soft and the water is crystal clear blue, making it a little paradise. The beach is usually crowded during lunchtime, but visitors can hire a private boat to get there earlier before the lunch crowd arrives to enjoy the spectacular view without the crowd and all the boats. It is a beautiful fine white sand beach and a great photo stop.

Bulog Island

Bulog Island is a beautiful island in Coron that offers pristine white sand and clear blue waters. It has a sandbar that disappears during high tide. Bulog Island is a little gem with unexploited beaches, great for swimming and exploring. It is a popular stop on the Coron Island Hopping Tour , which also includes Malcapuya Island and Ditayntaian It is recommend spending at least two hours on the island and as one of the most beautiful beaches in Coron Bay.

Mount Tapyas

Mount Tapyas is a mountain in Coron with 720 steps leading to the top where a large cross is located. Despite the challenging climb, it's worth the effort, especially for the stunning sunset view and panoramic view of the city. The ascent is slow and allows one to enjoy the surrounding view. The front part of the place offers an ocean view, while the back has a mountain view. It’s advisable to go there in afternoon before sunset to avoid the heat, and the climb takes around 15 minutes to complete. Mount Tapyas in included in the Coron Town Sightseeing Tour .

14 Things to do in Coron + Tourist Spots

Imagine clear blue water, colorful coral reefs, white sand beaches, and tall cliffs – that’s what makes Coron one of The Philippines’ must-visit island destinations. This stunning archipelago, located at the northern part of Palawan Province, is filled with stunning spots under and over the water like the pristine Kayangan Lake, Maquinit Hot Spring, Malcapuya Island & more.

But Coron is not just pretty – it’s also got a cool history. You can dive into the past and check out old shipwrecks from World War II. It’s like going on a treasure hunt underwater! Coron is a fun mix of nature and history, making it a great place for a relaxing yet exciting getaway.

Here’s a list of beautiful places to visit in Coron including top things to do & the best Coron tourist spots.

To make your trip planning easy, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app. Seeing all your saved locations on the map will help you get started on planning your Coron itinerary and know the best areas to stay, near places you want to go.

See also: Coron DOT-Accredited Hotels , Best Travel Apps , Coron Itinerary . View all travel tips on: Coron .

Things to do in Coron

1. Tour around Coron and Busuanga

Island hopping is an absolute “must-do” in Coron. Boat tours typically run the whole day with picnic-style lunch included and pick-up/drop-off from your hotel in Coron town proper or resort (if you are staying overnight in the islands). Spend a least two full days for tours because there is a LOT of amazing lakes, coral reefs, beaches and dive sites to see in Coron and nearby towns like Busuanga/Culion.

There are different island hopping tour routes in Coron (scroll below for the list). Book Tour A & Tour B, which includes nearly all of Coron’s most popular tourist spots like Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon & Barracuda Lake.

If you want to compress the highlights in one day, book the “Super Ultimate” or the “Ultimate” day tour, which is a combination of Tours A & B. Then, choose another tour that’s more suited to activities you want to do. Book “Tour C” or the “Coron Island Escapade” for more time at the beach. Do you love snorkeling & freediving? the “Reefs and Wrecks” tour is the perfect option. If you want to see the Giraffes and Zebras, book the Calauit Safari tour.

Book your trip to Coron

Before you start ticking goals off your bucketlist, here are travel essentials & discounts you’ll need to check. Pre-book online for a hassle-free trip! Click below to compare rates & read reviews:

Coron Hotels Tours + discounts Flights

Popular tours & discounts booked by other travelers:

Coron Super Ultimate Day Tour

Coron-Busuanga Airport Shuttle – Shared and Private Transfers

Coron Ultimate Tour

Coron Tour A

Coron Calauit Safari and Beach Tour

Coron Tour B

Where to stay in Coron:

Two Seasons Coron Island Resort (Splurge | Bulalacao Island)

The Funny Lion (Mid-Range | Coron Town)

Zuri Resort (Mid-Range | Coron Town)

Coron Ecolodge (Budget | Coron Town)

Blue Waters Inn (Budget | Coron Town)

Outpost Hostel (Budget Backpacker | Coron Town)

Michel’inn Coron (Budget Backpacker | Coron Town)

Money-saving tip : Use promo code “ KLOOKDETOURISTA ” to grab 5% OFF hotels and 3% OFF tours/activities next time you book on Klook.

Book here Hotels Airport Transfers Insurance Internet

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2. Coron Island Hopping Tours

Includes: Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Twin Peaks Coral Garden, Balinsasayaw Reef Garden, CYC Beach, Beach 91.

Coron Ultimate Day Tour

Similar to the Super Ultimate Tour, but with Skeleton Wreck included. Includes: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Atwayan Beach, Skeleton wreck, CYC Beach, Twin Peaks Coral Garden.

Includes: CYC Beach, Coral Garden, Atwayan Beach, Siete Pecados, Kayangan Lake.

Includes: Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck, Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, Reef Garden.

Includes: Coco Beach, Ditaytayan Island, Malcapuya Island.

Calauit Safari

Includes: Calauit Island Safari, Black Island.

Reefs & Wrecks Freediving

Includes: Lusong Gunboat, Lusong Coral Garden, Pass Island.

Coron Island Escapade

Similar to Tour C. Includes: Malcapuya Island, Ditaytayan Island, and Bulog Dos Island.

3. Coron Town Land Tour

There are many interesting places to visit that can be reached by land from Coron town proper. You can easily add a land tour of Coron to your itinerary since spots like Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Springs are just nearby. Go for a half-day tour if you have free time during your arrival or departure day. Busuanga Island, where Coron and the airport are located, is a huge island with lots of other off-the-beaten-path destinations to explore.

Coron Land Tour (Half Day)

4. See the Shipwrecks & Dive Sites

Coron is home to some of the Philippines’ most beautiful coral reefs, perfect for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Of course, its historic World War II shipwrecks are not to be missed. If you love exploring the underwater world of Coron, the “Reefs and Wrecks” tour is for you. Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck, and Lusong Gun Boat are some of my favorite freediving spots.

Coron Reef and Wrecks Tour

Coron scuba diving packages.

5. Enjoy the Water Activities

In addition to the island hopping and land tours, here are some of the fun water activities that you can try in Coron.

Banana Boat   ( Book here )

Flyfish Ride and Clear Kayak   ( Book here )

Jet Ski   ( Book here )

Banana Boat Ride and Clear Kayak   ( Book here )

Donut Ride   ( Book here )

Waffle Glider   ( Book here )

Coron Tourist Spots & Places to Visit

6. Kayangan Lake

Location : Coron Island, Coron, Palawan, Philippines . Save on Google Maps .

Kayangan Lake, celebrated for its incredibly clear waters, stands as Coron’s most photographed tourist spot. Nestled on Coron Island, just a boat ride away from Coron town, it is considered the cleanest lake in Asia. A short hike from the boat docking area leads to a viewing deck offering a stunning panorama of the jungle, limestone cliffs, and the sea. After capturing the breathtaking scenery, follow the trail down to the lake for a refreshing swim, surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic landscapes.

7. Barracuda Lake

“Located next to Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake is famous among freedivers for its crystal-clear waters and warm thermocline, where the water temperature changes with depth. Encircled by stunning limestone cliffs, the lake promises a surreal underwater experience with unique rock formations beneath the surface.

8. Twin Lagoon

Also located in Coron Island, the Twin Lagoon is another tourist spot often seen on cinematic reels and travel videos. imilar to Barracuda Lake, this natural wonder is celebrated for its dual-temperature waters. As adventurers approach, they witness the captivating spectacle – the meeting of warm and cool waters. The warmth greets visitors first, creating a magical embrace, followed by a refreshing transition into cooler depths.

9. Skeleton Wreck & Beach

Location : Coron, Palawan, Philippines

This sunken World War II ship is a favorite among divers exploring underwater wrecks. It is found just off Coron Island. As divers descend, the ship’s skeletal remains emerge from the depths, creating an eerie yet mesmerizing sight. There’s small beach cove near Skeleton Wreck that has crystal clear waters perfect for a relaxing swim.

10. Lusong Gunboat & Coral Garden

Location : near Lusong Island, Coron, Palawan, Philippines . Save on Google Maps .

The Lusong Gunboat was my favorite WWII wreck and freediving site in Coron. Not only was the boat still largely intact, covered in colorful corals. If you are a skilled diver, you can swim inside the hull for a closer look. Next to the Lusong Gunboat was a thriving reef, also one of the best snorkeling sites in Coron.

11. Mt. Tapyas

Location : Near Coron town, Palawan, Philippines . Save on Google Maps .

A towering landmark, this mountain is famous for its panoramic views and iconic cross that stands proudly at its summit. To conquer this natural marvel, travelers embark on a challenging yet rewarding climb, marked by a staircase with over 700 steps. At the top, the reward is unmatched – a spectacular 360-degree view of Coron town and the surrounding seascapes. The jump-off point of Mt. Tapyas is a 5 to 10 minute tricycle or shuttle ride from the center of Coron town.

12. Maquinit Hot Spring

Location : Sitio Maquinit, Coron, Palawan, Philippines . Save on Google Maps .

Maquinit Hot Spring is another famous attraction accessible by land from Coron Town and often included in the land tours. This place is like a little oasis, perfect for chilling out after exploring. Just imagine yourself unwinding in open-air pools, surrounded by mangroves, soaking in the warm and therapeutic goodness. It’s a total mood booster!

13. Calauit Island Safari

Location : Calauit Island, Busuanga, Palawan . Save on Google Maps .

Calauit Island Safari is a wildlife sanctuary located in the town of Busuanga (the neighboring town of Coron). Renowned for its distinctive mix of African and local wildlife, the sanctuary offers a captivating experience akin to an African safari. Previously accessible primarily by boat from Coron town, Calauit Island now provides a convenient land access to a nearby pier, facilitating easy crossing to the island. Once there, visitors can encounter free-roaming zebras, majestic giraffes, and various other species. The land journey from Coron to Busuanga takes around 2 hours, while the boat ride was around 20 minutes.

14. Black Island

Location : Black Island, Busuanga, Palawan . Save on Google Maps .

Located in Busuanga, Black Island is frequently paired with Calauit Island Safari in tour packages. Out of all the beaches I explored in Coron and Busuanga, this one stood out as the most dramatic. Not only does it boast impressive fine white sand, but it is also blessed with towering ebony cliffs contrasting with clear blue waters. Follow a trail from the beach to discover a massive cave with a grand entrance chamber and fascinating natural formations. There are also lovely coral gardens off the beach, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling.

What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Coron that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Places to visit in Coron

Coron tourist spots, things to do in Coron, where to go in Coron & more.

Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank.

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What are you looking for?

19 best things to do in coron [+ 3,4 & 5 day itineraries].

As a part of our epic 30 day trip exploring the best sites in The Philippines , Palawan is the area we were most excited to visit.

And what was the first stop on our tour of Palawan?‍

You guessed it … Coron!

We were fortunate enough to spend 5 nights exploring and discovering the breathtaking natural beauty of Coron and the waters around Coron Island.

I would say that Coron is still very much up and coming, and is far less developed than El Nido.

In my opinion, it is also more beautiful and natural, and is being a bit better preserved.

But to help make the most of your time here and to experience it to the max, you need a few top tips.

Most notably, how to avoid the busy crowds of tourists at the most popular sports in and around Coron and Coron Island!

Well this epic Coron travel guide will help you with everything you need to know, including:

• The best things to do in Coron
• The perfect Coron itinerary
• Learning where to stay in Coron
• Knowing which Coron tour packages to do
• Plus, some top tips for avoiding the crowds!

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in …

A Quick Overview Of Coron, The Philippines

Before we visited Coron, I was quickly very confused about what constituted Coron, Coron Island and Busuanga.

It’s a bit confusing trying to plan what to do in Coron when you don’t know which parts you can visit and where tourists typically stay.

So here’s a few brief facts that should help clear that up for you.

1. Palawan is a province in the Philippines, made up of many of the Philippines most beautiful islands. Palawan Island is the biggest island in Palawan.

2. Busuanga Island is the second largest island in Palawan .

3. Coron is a municipality in Palawan that is made up of half of Busuanga and Coron Island (plus a number of other small islands, but don’t worry about those).

4. Typically, most tourists will stay in Coron Town Proper and then do day trips and tours around Coron and and the bay.

5. Most of the best spots around Coron are located between Coron and Coron Island.

6. If you wish, it is also possible to visit Coron Island, and I go into greater depth on that below.

How Do You Get To Coron?

You have two main methods of getting to Coron, these are:

• Using boat transfers

1. Flying to Coron

Flying is the quickest and easiest way to get to Coron.

You fly into Francisco B. Reyes airport, located in the central part of Busuanga.

From here it’s a roughly 30-40 minute drive to Coron Town Proper.

When you land, there will be masses of local minibuses offering transfers to hostels and hotels in Coron.

We had already booked ours through our accommodation, and they gave us details on which tour bus to head to when we landed.

You can get relatively cheap flights to Coron from islands all across The Philippines, and we chose here from Manilla.

For the best prices and availability, I recommend searching with Skyscanner .

2. Boat transfers to Coron

If you are heading to Coron after exploring EL Nido , then perhaps the most popular means of transport is taking the boat transfer.

We actually did this route in reverse, when we travelled to EL Nido.

The journey between these two islands takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours, and you can find the best rates and availability with 12GoAsia .

Alternatively, it is possible to book your tickets when you arrive; however, if you are travelling in busy months then I strongly advise against this as tickets sell out days in advance.

Also, I recommend picking up your tickets from the local office as early as possible, in case of any issues (which is what we had!).

For transfers anywhere in The Philippines, you can find the best availability and prices with 12GoAsia .

How To Get Around Coron, Palawan

There are 4 main ways of getting around Coron (besides walking).

1. Boat tours

Most of the best things to do in Coron are located out on the water or on neighbouring islands, so you’ll need to go on a private or group boat tour.

More on all of that below!

2. Rent A Moped For The Day

There are companies all around Coron Town renting out mopeds.

You can hire them for just a couple hours, half a day or even a full day.

We paid 350 for 4 hours, but it is possible to get it a bit cheaper if you shop around.

For reference, here are the prices offered by the company we chose.

3. Use The Local Tricycles

All throughout Coron Town you will find tricycles for hire.

You will find these all over the Philippines, and they tend to be very cheap everywhere you go.

If you want to do a full tour of all the things to do in Coron mentioned below, then just speak to a driver and negotiate a price.

I can’t advise you as we never did this, but I doubt it costs very much, especially when split between 2 or 3 people.

They may also be able to show you a few other hidden spots along the way.

4. Go On A Quad Bike Tour

Finally, you can go on a quad bike tour from town, which does a big hour-or-so loop past all of these sites.

To find out more about this, it’s a good idea to speak to a few companies in town.

However, be aware that you aren’t allowed to drive off on your own.

It is a guided tour with a guide at the front and you all follow behind on your quad bikes.

Even still, riding a quad bike is always a lot of fun, and a pretty unique way to get around Coron!

Also Check Out: Getting Around The Philippines: All Your Questions Answered!

Where To Stay In Coron

The thing about Coron is that it seems to have quickly exploded in homestays, hostels and guesthouses in an attempt to keep up with the drastic rise in tourists to the area.

What this means is that spaces book up fast, especially in decent accommodation.

As a result, if you don’t book far enough in advance you get stuck with a poor choice of bad quality places all offering prices above what you would expect to pay in The Philippines.

Our friends booked somewhere just 2 nights before and the homestay was so bad they simply got up and left after having been there for only 20 minutes.

We ended up booking through Airbnb and, although it was perfectly nice, it was more than double what we would pay for a similar quality anywhere else in Asia.

As a reference, here is the place we first spent 2 nights at in Coron .

The Number 1 Best Place To Stay - Paolyn Houseboats

During our time in Coron, we were lucky enough to collaborate with arguably the best place to stay in Coron.

It’s called Paolyn Houseboats and what makes them so special and unique is that they are the only way to stay close to Coron Island.

Staying on Coron Island is actually illegal, seeing as the island and all surrounded water is owned by the indigenous tribes that live there.

It is a very strange setup and one that rarely exists today.

As such, it took a lot of work and creativity to get Paolyn Houseboats built .

The owner, Paolo, had to strike up a once in a lifetime arrangement with the indigenous tribes in which he actually rents a small sheltered cove in the bay, nestled right up against Coron Island and near to all of Coron Island’s best spots.

How close? 

See for yourself …

Simply put, Paolyn Houseboats is the number 1 place to stay in Coron. The perks include:

• They are not restricted by when they can visit sites, so tours organised with Paolyn Houseboats get you to many of the busiest sites before 10am, before everyone else, so you have them all to yourself
• Alternatively, go in the evening when it is still sunny and bright at 4pm but everyone else has to leave
• Waking up in the middle of paradise and having breakfast served to you on your own deck
• Being able to go snorkelling at untouched coral spots any time you wish
• Being able to paddleboard or kayak to some of Corons best sites; such as Twin Lagoons or Green Lagoon
• They also organise tours to Coron Island where you can meet with indigenous Philippinos who have inhabited the island for generations (more details below ..)

How To Visit The Indigenous People On Coron Island

Going on an organised tour through Paolyn Houseboats is the only way I am aware of to make it onto Coron Island.

This is because Paolo, the owner, has a close relationship with the leaders of the indigenous peoples there and can put together tours that are otherwise entirely restricted.

As such, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Make your booking with Paolyn Houseboats
• Paolo will then send across more details about the different tours they offer
• If you wish to go on Coron Island, then email him as far in advance as possible so that they have chance to arrange it

Other Good Places To Stay In Coron

Staying onboard Paolyn Houseboats may well be outside your budget, so below are a few more of the best value places to stay in Coron .

I advise you nail down your dates and book as far in advance as possible (ideally a month or 2 at least).

That way you won’t be left scraping the barrel.

Here’s a few other top recommendations:

Budget Choice

Happy Camper Hostel

450 Pesos (pppn)

Asia Grand View Hotel

2,400-2,750 Pesos (pppn)

Luxury Pick

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

4,000-5,000 Pesos (pppn)

19 Best Things To Do In Coron & Coron Island

First up, I recommend spending a full day in Coron Town, discovering what there is to see on land before heading out onto the water. As such, the first 6 things to do revolve around this.

The rest are the best things to do on Coron island hopping tours.

1. Maquinit Hot Spring

The Maquinit Hot Springs are located roughly 20 minutes from the centre of town.

They are made of salt water trapped in from the ocean, and are a lovely place to visit, especially in the afternoon when it’s a little cooler.

Many people choose to visit around sunset time, as apparently it’s quite nice then.

We visited in May and, as you might imagine, it was already very hot.

As such, getting in the hot springs was a challenge at first!

As a heads up, there are no showers there, so don’t expect to be able to cool off or have a rinse afterwards.

Instead, to cool off, it’s time to head on round to ...

2. Bali Beach

Just a few minutes drive down the road from the hot springs you come across Bali Beach.

We’ve been to, and loved, a number of beaches in Bali , so I was happy to give this one a try!

It’s a small enclosed beach area with plenty of palm trees and seating area.

It seems to be privately owned, as there is a small entrance fee once you park up.

You can also buy some drinks and snacks there, so it is a pleasant spot to cool off and relax.

From the beach, you have wonderful views out over the islands in the bay.

3. Cabo Beach

Cabo Beach is just slightly further up the road from Bali Beach and seems to be a bit busier.

But despite that, it is so nice!

I found the water to be a little more inviting than Bali Beach, and there are little huts you can rest in if you don’t fancy swimming.

Many other people there were just sunbathing on the beach, and a couple of others had snorkels and were out exploring the waters.

Once again, there is a small entrance fee for visiting Cabo Beach, but it’s not very expensive and well worth it.

4. Go On A Quad Bike Tour (Or Rent A Moped)

To get to these 3 spots in Coron, you have a few choices with regards to transport.

If you don’t want to drive yourself, then you can grab a tricycle from town and pay for a driver to drop you at the different spots.

However, these are very uncomfortable as the road out to the hot spring and the beaches are rocky, muddy and very bumpy.

So instead, you might as well make fun of it and either go on a quad bike tour or rent your own moped.

A number of companies in Coron Town offer quad bike tours that do a big loop down this rocky road, allowing you to stop off at a few spots along the way.

Alternatively, you can do what we did and just rent your own moped.

Either way, it’s a lot of fun driving around this track and is, in my opinion, easily one of the best things to do in Coron.

5. Walk Up Mount Tapyas (At Sunset)

The 5th and final thing I recommend you do in Coron is to climb up to Mount Tapyas.

The walk takes around 15 to 20 minutes and there is a staircase that takes you all the way to the top.

All along the way, there are shaded rest stops, which are a lifesaver if you climb up in the middle of the day; which we stupidly did!

But after speaking to other travellers to Coron, we found that it’s best to make the ascent at sunset time.

At this point it is much cooler and you also get to enjoy a wonderful sunset once you reach the top!

Not sure what time the sunset is in Coron? Well, try this site .

6. Feast at Carl’s BBQ!

In two nights, with absolutely no research whatsoever, we somehow ended up in 2 of Coron's highest rated restaurants on Tripadvisor!

Normally we find ourselves in some real hit-and-miss joints; however, the two places below were absolutely great and I would recommend them to you if you’re spending a night or two in Coron Town Proper.

• Number 1 Choice - Carl’s BBQ
• Number 2 Choice - Trattoria Altrove

However, Carl’s BBQ was by far the best and well worth visiting for anyone heading to Coron!

It’s not just the best restaurant in Coron, but one of the best anywhere in The Philippines.

They serve well-priced incredibly tasty food; perhaps BBQ food it just tastes better in The Philippines than it does in the UK!

7. Kayangan Lake

By far the number one reason travellers have for visiting Coron is to go on a tour of Coron Island and the surrounding waters. 

Inside of the bay itself, you will find tonnes of untouched snorkelling spots, filled with all kinds of exotic fish and other marine life. 

As well as vibrant coral and crystal blue waters. 

On top of this, there are dozens of beaches with white sandy beaches and huts to relax in. 

Connected to Coron Island there are numerous lagoons and lakes to visit, and if you are a fan of diving then you will find plenty of wrecks and reefs to dive at all around Coron Island and surrounding islands.

Kayangan Lake is always one of the most popular, if not THE most popular spot to visit out on a Coron Island tour. 

And it’s no surprise as it is considered one of the purest lakes anywhere in the world. 

The water is still saline, but it is very clear; to get here, you have to walk up and over some rocks, but don’t worry there are steps. 

At the top of the steps, you can take some great photos in all directions, both of the lake itself and the bay in the other direction. 

Unless you get there first thing in the morning or last in the evening, then there’s a good chance it will be packed.

8. Green Lagoon

Green Lagoon is a popular spot to relax and swim in, whilst enjoying the incredible views of the rock formations all around.

It’s located right beside Paolyn Houseboats (discussed above), so we were able to kayak here and enjoy it completely on our own!

Actually, Cazzy kayaked here while I paddle boarded the whole way here and then onto Twin Lagoon (number 14 below …).

Be sure to bring a snorkel with you so that you can enjoy under the water as well above it!

9. Twin Reef (Twin Peaks Reef)

Located just out from the entrance of Kayangan Lake, Twin Reef was one of my favourite snorkelling spots anywhere in and around Coron. 

It’s very shallow, so the reef is literally just 20 or 30 cm from you at times. 

It is also very well preserved as boats are strictly forbidden to drop an anchor here; I also found 3 Clownfish homes, which is always nice!

10. CYC Beach

CYC Beach (or Coron Youth Club Beach) has grown massively in popularity both amongst tourists and local Philippino families. 

Here, you will find white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, as well as mangrove trees and nice rock formations. 

It’s a good spot to relax and enjoy lunch halfway through your Coron Island tour.

Below I give you a more detailed run down of which tours run here, as not all of them do.

11. Coral Garden (Smith Coral Garden)

Once again, Smith Coral Garden is a very shallow coral reef that is perfect for snorkelling. 

You don’t need any diving gear to enjoy the wonderful array of corals and fish living just a meter or two below the surface of the water.

To be honest, there are incredible coral snorkelling spots all around Coron, so you don’t have to head specifically to this one to see the incredibly diverse marine life below the water.

12. Balinsasayaw Beach

Wonderful beaches and crystal blue water has made Balinsasayaw Beach another favourite amongst cruise operators. 

There is also a resort located right on the beach, so you can even choose to stay here for a few nights if you wish .

13. Barracuda Lake

Barracuda Lake is another very popular spot, located just around the corner from Kayangan Lake. 

In my opinion, it is just as nice and you can take your snorkelling gear to explore the rocks around the edge and any fish who have made the lake their home.

It gets much deeper in the middle, so it can be quite eerie as you can’t see what’s below you.

But if, like us, this is one of your first times trying snorkelling, then it’s much better to stick to the edges where you can see what’s going on.

14. Twin Lagoon

As it says on the tin, Twin Lagoon is made up of two large lagoons, separated by a thin strip of rock. 

You can arrive at either lagoon, and then swim through to the other one. 

To get from one to the other, you have two options. 

• First is to use a small set of stairs that go up and over the divide. 
• The second option is to swim through an underwater passage! It’s actually pretty cool, and only a few metres long. So to get through you only need to hold your breath for up to 10 seconds. If you’re a bit nervous, let others go first and show you the way! You will need goggles.

15. Enjoy a Philipino BBQ!

I swear Philippino barbecues are the best barbecues ever!

We had one a few times, such as on our later visit to Siargao , and it always tasted amazing!

You get to enjoy a fresh array of barbecued fish, prawns, chicken, other meat, as well as rice and a variety of fresh fruits.

It can vary slightly from tour to tour, but when booking I recommend ensuring you book a tour that offers this as it really is a highlight of the trip!

All of the most beautiful beaches around Coron have large wooden structures with benches, which are purpose built for tourists to stop off at and relax when enjoying their lunchtime barbecue.

16. Go paddle boarding or kayaking between the coves

My favorite moments spent exploring Coron were when we went out on our own kayak and paddle boards for a few hours.

These are offered freely at Paolyn Houseboats, and you can head out as far as you want, just so long as you’re back by sundown!

Along the way, you can stop off at endless untouched snorkelling spots lining the edges of the large rock formations.

You’ll even come across a few small wooden structures on the side of the rock where families live!

We also met one local who was out fishing in the traditional Philippino method.

Which basically entails lying down on an old wooden door with your face in the water and a small spear to catch fish passing by.

17. Hunt for Clownfish over a reef garden

There are a whole bunch of “reef gardens” in and around Coron and Coron Island, so this could be referring to any number of spots. 

Ask your guide for clarity over which one you’re set to visit.

I don’t know why, but somewhere along the way, Clownfish became my favourite fish to try and spot.

They live in a strange little anemone home and they look so cool swimming around in there; the appeal probably has something to do with watching Finding Nemo as a kid ...

18. Stay On A Houseboat In The Bay!

You can only do this with one company, Paolyn Houseboats ,  and I talked about them at the start when mentioned the best places to stay in Coron.

Well, staying here was an experience in itself and I honestly believe is the main reason I have such fond memories and love for Coron.

By staying here, you get to spend your entire visit out in the bay, surrounded by the most incredible sites.

Each morning, you wake up to breakfast on your private balcony, and you can then head out to snorkelling spots that are otherwise unavailable to everyone else in Coron.

Find out more in my review of Paolyn Houseboats here .

19. Visit The Indigenous Tribes On Coron Island

Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to do this, but really wanted to! 

But, if you are looking for an adventure altogether unique and different, then you can choose to visit the indigenous tribes on Coron Island. 

Being able to do so is apparently a wonderful experience and one that we wish we had the time to have experienced. 

The people living here are the only 100% Filipinos left in the world as their inhabitants have never bred with anyone other than those on the island. 

Not a lot of tourists get the chance to visit, and there is only one way I know it to be possible. 

It is through Paolyn Houseboats, which I discuss in greater depth above.

Which Is The Best Coron Tour Package?

When it comes to booking a tour of Coron Island, you have a LOT of flexibility and choice!

There are 7 main tours that you can choose from, and I will go into brief detail of them all below, so that you can check them out and see which ones you most wish to see.

When reading the different Coron tour options below, here are a few things to bear in mind:

• It is possible to tweak some tours slightly, you will just need to speak to the tour agencies.
• Generally speaking, all tour agencies offer these 7 packages as standard and have very similar rates.
• When you arrive at the airport, you will be hounded with people handing you their flyers. Feel free to take a few, they do come in handy.
• The prices given below are relevant as of our visit in May 2019. Prices seem to be steadily rising for all tours, and have already increased by about 50% based on our research online from posts written in 2017 and 2018.
• The first 4 tours all involve sites close to both Coron and Coron Island. The other 3 tours will require you to travel further out. You can take a look at the two maps above to see the locations of all the sites listed.
• Some companies have slightly different names for different spots. For example, there are a couple of “Green Lagoons” and a few different Coral Reef spots. So check with your tour operator beforehand with regards to the exact spots you will be visiting.
• Coron Tour A

The cheapest tour, covering many of the most touristy spots. You will spend the day surrounded by a lot of other tourists, so accept that. Unless you book this as a private tour in which case you may be able to leave at a different time or alter the order.

Coron Tour A Price:

Spots you visit on coron tour a:.

• Kayangan Lake
• Green Lagoon
• Coral Garden
• Balinsasayaw Beach

Map Of Places Visited On Coron Tour A:

• Coron Tour B

Similar to Tour A, except you head a bit further out of the bay in order to get to Skeleton Wreck.

Coron Tour B Price:

1100-1200PHP

Spots You Visit On Coron Tour B:

• Barracuda Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Skeleton Wreck
• Malwawey Beach
• Reef Garden

Map Of Places Visited On Coron Tour B:

Ultimate Tour

A nice combination of tours A and B, as well as a couple of extra stops such as Siete Pecados.

Ultimate Tour Price:

Spots you visit on ultimate tour:.

• Twin lagoon
• Balinsasayaw beach
• Siete Pecados

Map Of Places Visited On Ultimate Tour:

• Super Ultimate Tour

Possibly the most popular tour as it allows you to see the largest amount of the most popular spots all in one day. This tour will be a lot of fun, albeit very busy.

Super Ultimate Tour Price:

1400-1600 PHP

Spots You Visit On Super Ultimate Tour:

• Coral Beach

Map Of Places Visited On Super Ultimate Tour:

Calauit Safari Tour

If you want to get out of the bay and discover some less touristy islands, then the Calauit Safari tour is a nice day long tour which takes you far and gives you lots of time to relax in the back of the boat as you fly across crystal blue waters.

Calauit Safari Tour Price:

2200-2500PHP

Spots You Visit On Calauit Safari Tour:

• Calauit Island
• Black Island (Malajon Island)
• Black Island Cave
• Concepcion Falls

Island Escapade

These are some of the most scenic small islands anywhere in the Philippines.

Island Escapade Price:

1200-1400PHP

Spots You Visit On Island Escapade:

• Banana / Ditaytayan Island
• Bulog / Waling-Waling Island
• Malcapuya Island
• Pass Island With Reef And Wrecks

If you want to snorkel and dive down to some impressive wrecks then this tour is a great choice! Make sure you take your GoPro (or cheaper GoPro alternative ) with you to capture some cool, Instagram-worthy underwater shots.

Pass Island With Reef And Wrecks Price:

Spots you visit on pass island with reef and wrecks:.

• Pass Island
• East Tangat Wreck
• Lusong Gunboat
• Lusong Coral Garden

Multi-day tour

If you don't want the fuss of swapping tours, or sharing the boat with loads of people, and simply want a more authentic experience, then I suggest you check out the guys at Big Dream Boat Man!

They offer multi-day excursions starting in either Coron or El Nido, and it's perfect if you hate organizing things, and want to see the best of what El Nido has to offer. You'll get to see some of the more famous sites, but you'll also get to go "off the beaten track" where there will be less crowds and more of a chance to connect with your surroundings and the beauty on offer.

The reviews for this company are crazy good, and if we had of found them on our travels, we would have headed out with them! We have full intentions of doing so in the future. But if you want something that's not associated with mass tourism, then you're gong to love this trip.

Limited to 18 people, the chance to make friends, connect with locals, eat amazing food and do make a better decision for the environment, a trip with BigDreamBoatMan is a good choice!

Check it out here.

How Do You Book A Coron Island Tour?

Now that you know which tours are available, it’s time to book one! There are 3 main ways to book a tour ...

If you are visiting Coron in peak tourist months, then it may be best to book online in order to secure a spot. Klook are arguably the best online tour operator all across Asia.

They have a massive array of tours, including those around Coron.

Based on my research, it seems booking online may work out a little more expensive (though it’s still cheap), and you can’t customise any tours.

Also, be aware that the exact itineraries may differ compared to the ones listed above, so check it carefully before booking!

However, you can check out the following available tours …

• Coron Tour C
• Coron Tour D - Lusong Gunboat & Pass Island
• Coron Ultimate Tour
• Calauit Safari & Beach Tour
• Malcapuya Island Day Trip
• Coron Town Half Day Tour

2. In Person

When you arrive in Coron, you can easily go ahead and book a tour in town.

There are loads of tour companies all across town, offering roughly the same prices.

However, these may vary slightly so it’s worth checking prices at a few before you book.

As a bartering technique, you might be able to get free snorkels and fins thrown in with your booking.

Also, make sure that they include food and how many people will be going.

It is possible to book a private tour for just 2 people or a group of you, however, you can expect to pay two or three times as much for this.

When you arrive at the airport, you will be given leaflets by a dozen or more locals.

Feel free to gather these up, as it’s a quick and easy way to compare the prices being offered by local firms.

From there, you can simply go ahead and call a few and book.

I’ve also attached an image below of a local company.

This is just a random leaflet I took pictures of, and have no experience of actually booking with them.

Epic 2, 3 And 4 Day Coron Itineraries

With so many great spots to see and islands to visit, it’s a good idea to plan your Coron itinerary ahead of time so that you can fit in as much as possible.

Here are a few basic itineraries from which to design your own schedule.

2 Day Coron Itinerary

If you have just 2 days in Coron, then you’ve got a lot to pack in!

• Head off on the Super Ultimate Tour - If you are keen to see as many of the top attractions as possible, then one of the most popular tours.
• In the evening, head up to Mt. Tapyas for sunset.
• Pick any one of the Coron Island tours listed above - I would probably choose the Pass Island With Reef And Wrecks.
• If you are back in time, then head to the Maquinit Hot Springs for sunset.

Alternatively:

• If you only wish to do one tour, or can only afford one, then on one of the days, rent a moped from town and go to see all of the things to do in Coron (discussed in section above).

3 Day Coron Itinerary

With 3 days in Coron, here’s how I recommend spending it ...

• Coron Day tour seeing all of the sites around Coron
• Another Tour of your choosing

4 Day Coron Itinerary

This is what I honestly believe to be the best way to experience Coron and Coron Island.

• Head straight on over to Paolyn Houseboats
• Spend the rest of this day snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding to all of the nearby spots.
• At 4:30 head over to Twin Lagoons. At around this time everyone will be leaving so you’ll have it to yourself
• Do a morning tour to many of the most popular spots (Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake and Twin Reef; as well as a couple of beaches in the area). You will start before 8, meaning you reach all of them when the sun is out but there are not yet any tourist boats arriving.
• Make it back in time for a home-cooked lunch
• Chill for a couple hours
• Grab a kayak and paddle on up to Smith Coral Garden - On the way, you will see local families living in houses on the rocks and find a few more remote snorkelling spots.
• Then go round and spend some time relaxing on the beach. If you time it right, then this is one of the best beaches in Coron to enjoy the sunset.
• Head out on a full day trip that takes you to many of the beaches, wrecks and islands much further away. Paolyn Houseboats offer a number of such tours.
• Choose another tour or, better yet, spend the day relaxing and unwinding on the houseboat before you need to leave. You can paddleboard, swim, snorkel and kayak to a number of spots nearby or just sunbathe. Whatever takes your fancy.

Other Coron Travel Tips

If after reading all this you still have more questions then you are one hell of an inquisitive person!

Here’s anything else you might hope to know ...

Can You Fly A Drone In Coron And Coron Island?

Hell yeah you can!

One of the things I love most about the Philippines is that they have hardly any drone laws.

And Coron is easily one of the most beautiful and drone worthy places we visited in the Philippines .

However, here is a word of warning …

A lot of other bloggers/vloggers/drone enthusiasts have lost their drones in Coron and El Nido.

After speaking to some local tour guides, the likely cause are the large rocky cliffs.

It seems that they interfere with the signal between the drone and the controller, causing them to go haywire and drop out of the sky.

I found the same problem, but managed to follow a few simple rules that meant we never had any problems.

• ‍ Use a good drone. We have a DJI Mavic Pro and absolutely love it! If you use a cheap drone, then there’s a good chance that this will make it harder to control anyway and increase your chances of losing it. For latest ones to buy, check out our epic travel drones buying guide . Or for something a little more affordable, check out our breakdown of the best DJI drone alternatives .
• Only send your drone up once your controller has established a “GPS connection” with the drone. If it says “atti-mode” or something else, then don’t take off. I always found that I would have to switch the drone off and on 2 or 3 times before it would finally connect via GPS. This is never usually a problem anywhere else in the world; just The Philippines.‍
• Do not take off in an area surrounded by cliffs. You are just asking for trouble. Instead find a beach or even a boat out in the water and take off and fly your drone in.
• ‍Don't fly over too many cliffs and rocks. You see the connection start to go weaker as you fly up and over rocks as the controller and drone then lose a secure line of connection. Aim to fly between large cliffs wherever possible.‍
• Don’t fly your drone if the battery is only half full. If you do have any problems and you lose connection, then it’s better that this happens when your drone has plenty of flight time left and you have a chance to reconnect and get it back to land in time.

What Should You Pack For A Coron Island Tour?

Good questions! Here’s a few items I recommend you have with you:

• Snorkel and fins (ask your tour company to supply these)
• Shampoo - A great way to keep your mask clear and fog-free when over the reefs.
• Water shoes (you can pick a decent pair up in town for maximum 500PHP)
• GoPro and selfie stick
• Drone (if you’re into that kinda thing)
• Waterproof drybag (they sell these throughout town, we paid 350PHP for a 15 litre bag)

Are There ATMs In Coron?

Yes but not very many.

Also, ATM’s in the Philippines have a tendency to all run out of money at the same time, especially in an area like Coron.

As such, whenever you draw money out, I recommend drawing out the maximum amount which is 10,000PHP.

Also, regardless of how much you draw out you’ll need to pay a fee of 250-500PHP, so it's best to take out more.

The only ATM I found in Coron with a 250PHP fee was the Metrobank located on Don Pedro Street.

Are There Supermarkets In Coron?

Yes, there are a number of small supermarkets throughout town where you can pick up basic supplies.

Nothing too fancy though so don’t expect too much choice.

Is Coron Expensive?

Compared to many other places in the Philippines, yes.

Unless you book up well in advance, it’s hard finding half-decent accommodation on the cheap.

Similarly, there are lots of places in town to eat, but found it’s worth paying a little more to eat somewhere that is half decent and doesn’t have a lingering smell in the air.

What Is The WiFi Like In Coron?

Absolutely Sh*t!

It’s even worse than in many other parts of The Philippines.

Probably the best WiFi we came across was that of Summer Cafe & Bar .

Is Coron Safe?

From what we saw, yes.

Probably the biggest danger are the cramped busy streets that are always filled with mopeds and tricycles.

If it’s late at night put a torch on your phone so that you can warn drivers coming towards you. Many of the vehicles have lights that don’t work and many of the tricycles have just one light so it looks like they’re just motorbikes.

Where Should You Visit After Coron?

One of the most natural places to head to after Coron is El Nido. It’s only a short few hour ferry ride away and is just as beautiful, albeit a lot more touristy.

Other useful guides for planning your trip through Palawan:

• Palawan - Planning The Ultimate Palawan Itinerary
• El Nido - 15 Best Things To Do In El Nido
• Port Barton - 15 Best Things To Do In Port Barton
• After Palawan - Our Complete 4 Week Philippines Itinerary

If you have any more questions or think I've missed anything then just drop me a comment below!

Leave a comment

Let us know what you think.

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Everything You Need to Know About Coron Palawan – 2024 Guide

By: Author Adam

Posted on Last updated: 14 February, 2024

The islands, commonly known as Coron, are some of our favorite places in the whole world. We have visited more than 80 countries around the world, but when my mind drifts to our favorite places – it always ends up here. Coron is special .

This cluster of islands has become most well known for a handful of WWII shipwrecks permanently entombed off Coron’s shores. Above the surface, Coron is just as majestic.

Over the past decade, it has become home to one of the most photographed spots in all of the Philippines. The deeper you look, the more breathtaking sights you will find here in Coron, Philippines.

Our first trip was in 2014, and we just returned from another amazing trip in Coron. Here is everything you need to know before planning a trip to Coron Palawan in the remote corner of the Philippines.

Where Is Coron?

A part of the Calamian Islands, or Calamianes Archipelago, Coron is in the Palawan Provence in the far west of the Philippines.

What most travelers call Coron is Coron Town, which is located on the largest island in the archipelago, Busuanga Island. What can be confusing is there is also Coron Island, which is a stunning undeveloped island that most Coron day trips visit.

Coron Island is located on Busuanga Island, a 30-minute boat ride from the town, and it is home to many of the top sights in Coron. You can find Twin Lagoons, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, and many stunning beaches and smaller lagoons here.

Coron Town is a fishing village with a population of just over 40,000, but it is becoming more and more popular tourist every year. Coron is often listed as one of the top tourist places in the Philippines .  The Palawan has been recently named the most beautiful island in the world many times over, and we’d have to agree.

Related Article: El Nido Palawan Guide

2024 Coron Travel Guide

How To Get To Coron

Traveling to coron by plane.

Coron Airport Code: XCN

The quickest way to get on the island is to fly. Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines run flights several times per day from Manila. If possible, avoid the later flights.

The Coron airport (Busuanga) doesn’t have runway lights, and flights can’t land after dusk. There are also flights from El Nido to Coron on Air Swift, click here to check prices and book online .

Coron Palawan Airport to Coron town:

When you arrive by plane, all of the local taxi drivers know the flight schedules, and they will be waiting to take passengers to the town of Coron.

Ferry from Manila to Coron

There is a ferry that runs from Manila and Puerto Princesa to Coron. The ferry from Manila to Coron is 15 hours long and runs twice a week. The journey from Puerto Princesa to Coron also takes 15 hours.

The same boat company then runs from Coron back to Manila or Puerta Princesa, which is the getaway to El Nido. There are tons of things to do in El Nido. We highly recommend adding El Nido to your Philippines travel plans.

Ferry From El Nido to Coron

There are two ferry companies that run an El Nido to Coron ferry, each once a day. For our complete El Nido to Coron, ferry guide click here , complete with schedule and ferry tips. The ferry only takes 4 hours and is one of the fastest ways to travel to Coron. The ferry sells out days in advance. Make sure book tickets online in advance .

Expedition Cruise El Nido to Coron

One of the coolest and most scenic ways to travel between El Nido and Coron is an Expedition Cruise . This is one of the newest ways it’s a super unique adventure cruise traveling between El Nido to Coron. The expedition cruises range from three to five-day options, and you’ll stop and camp at various islands that lie between Coron and El Nido.

If you want a crazy, fun Philippines adventure, then an expedition cruise is for you. You have to open to beach camping, but you’ll see the islands and beaches that very few people visit.

We recommend booking an expedition cruise with  El Nido Paradise . They have six different expedition cruises. The cruises include all your meals, water, rum & coke, snorkel equipment, tents & bedding, and amazing scenery. Prices vary based on the dates and length of the expedition cruise. Click here to book online.

Related Article: Things To Do In El Nido

Coron Palawan  Itinerary

The diving in Coron could take weeks if you have the time or desire. For most, it’s the main draw to Coron, and the most popular sites are a fleet of sunken Japanese warships in 20-35 meters of water.

The dive sites are about an hour’s boat ride from the port in Coron Town, and it’s typical to do two tanks per day and sometimes three, depending on the dives.

How Many Days Should You Spend In Coron?

Well, that depends on how you are diving and how much diving in the Palawan you’re doing. Outside of diving, we would plan a minimum of 3 days in addition to diving days to do some Coron island hopping and see the rest of the surrounding islands near Coron Palawan.

Coron Day Trips

During the day, get on a boat, get out of town, and explore the other islands nearby. There are a handful of preset island tours where you will join other travelers to see some of the top sites in the Palawan nearby. Prices are from 850P to 1500P, including lunch.

Most tours return after 4 p.m., leaving you only to find dinner in town. Picky eaters, beware. We didn’t find any options for Hannah’s selective pallet. The few good ones we found are in the tips section.

Where to Stay in Coron Palawan?

The easiest place to base yourself in Coron Town is on the Island of Busuanga. However, there isn’t much to do in the actual town. The beaches on the main island require a drive, but in the town, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, tour operators, and even a little bit of nightlife.

The action and the main draw to Coron is a boat ride away. The small islands clustered around Busuanga are some of the prettiest I have seen, and the diving is one of a kind. Here are a few properties we suggest:

• Corto del Mar (this is where we stayed) | Check Rates On Booking.com | Read Latest TripAdvisor Reviews 
• The Funny Lion the #1 hotel in Coron on TripAdvisor | Get The Best Price On Booking.com | Read Latest TripAdvisor Reviews 
• Two Seasons Coron Island Resort & Spa right on their own private bach |  Get The Best Price On Booking.com | Read Latest TripAdvisor Reviews 

There are also options where you can have a boat take you to another island to stay, but you need to bring all of your food and be okay without moving around a lot. If we were to come back, we would consider this option.

*When looking for the best price and the biggest selection of hotels in Coron, check prices on Booking.com . We’ve found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.*

Recommended Hotel in Coron – Corto del Mar Hotel

Don’t forget your insurance! You never know when you’ll need it. We suggest getting  travel insurance with Safety Wing. Which coverage includes medical, trip interruption, lost luggage, and more. Often rates are as low as $12 a week. 

Things To Do In Coron Palawan

1. Visit Kayangan Lake

Known as one of the clearest lakes in all of Asia, this gem and the island that holds it is one of the most stunning places on the planet. Kayangan Lake and the nearby viewpoint are one of the most photographed places in all the Philippines.

The main viewpoint most people are familiar with is not actually of the lake but the bay on the other side of Coron Island. Currently, they have parts of the lake roped off for conservation, and during our 2019 visit to Coron, there were no Bamboo rafts on offer.

If you visit in the late morning, this lake will be at its busiest. If you can, try to arrange a trip that goes early in the morning or after lunch. Many of the standard tours all follow the same route, which puts many people at the sight in the late morning.

However, just before noon is one of the best times to see the famous viewpoint at the top of the hill at Kayangan Lake, with no shadows in the bay. The best approach is to visit in the early morning and visit the lake and then, on the way out, stop at the viewpoint while it is sunny.

2. Visit Malcapuya Beach, Banana Island, & Bulog Dos Island

A short boat ride from Coron Town is the stunning Malcapuya Beach. With only a few small hotels on the beach, you can have this picture-perfect stretch of sand mostly to yourself. Seriously, some of the most beautiful scenery we have encountered. Bright blue and green waters with white sands.

To get to this beach, you can take a day tour visiting this beach and a few others as part of the Beach Tour day trip bookable in Coron Town. (all part of the beach tour #1, 1200P)

Also typically included on this day trip from Coron is a visit to Banana Island . This is a small palm cover island just a few minute’s boat ride from Malcapuya and Bulog Dos Islands .

Here you’ll find stunning water and cute hammocks draped from palm trees. It’s a great spot to relax.

Related Article: Siargao Island – The Philippines’ Best Kept Secret

3. Shipwreck diving in Coron

One of the main draws for visitors is the fleet of Japanese warships at the bottom of the sea in Coron. Here, you can find 12 well-preserved World War II wrecks at diveable depths, which is pretty incredible. I dove four of the wrecks as part of my Advanced Open Water Certification with Corto Divers.

4. Visit Coron Island

Some of the best things to see and do in Coron are on Coron Island, not the island with Coron Town. The best stuff is a boat ride away. Make sure to take lots of day trips while visiting Coron Palawan.

5. Get a Dive Certification or Advanced Certification

This is a great place to get certified to dive. There are incredibly unique places to explore while diving in Coron. The shipwrecks are a great place to complete an advanced open water certificate.

There is a lot to see on the required dives as opposed to other places where there you may just go through the skills. Here in Coron, Philippines, on your deep-dive training, you can swim around the shipwrecks, which are deeper than 35 meters at some points.

For the other specialty dives, you can again use the shipwreck to fill your wreck dive training. Coron is also an awesome place for a night dive with lots to see, including bioluminescent plankton glowing in the dark.

6. Swim into the Twin Lagoon

One of the most breathtaking scenes in Coron is the stunning Twin Lagoon. Make sure to take a day trip that brings you to these pools of water that hold every shade of blue imaginable. Located on the fringes of Coron Island, the twin lagoons are a must-visit.

Related Article: Top Things to do in the Palawan

7. Maquinit Hot Springs

Relax in the Maquinit Springs after a busy trip of diving and exploring the beautiful islands of Coron. The water in the springs is warm and cozy at just over 100 degrees F.

Located outside of town, you can either arrange a local guide or hire a driver to bring you there too. This is a great place for sunset to relax after a busy day exploring Coron, Philippines.

Related: See our full guide to the Maquinit Hot Springs

8. Dive or Snorkel in Barracuda Lake

Next door to Kayangan Lake is another ultra-clear lake named Barracuda Lake . For a quieter experience than the more popular Kayangan Lake, then head over to Barracuda. In addition to the fewer crowds, this lake also has some interesting features like thermoclines and underwater mountains. This lake is just as clear if not clearer than Kayangan Lake and is less visited.

Most people say Kayangan Lake is the clearest lake in Asia. Those people obviously haven’t been to Barracuda Lake. This Lake also has many unique features that make it a top dive spot in Coron.

9. Snorkel the Lusong Gunboat

One particular shipwreck is so shallow you can actually snorkel it. The Lusong Gunboat is situated just below the surface. After over 70 years, it has become part of the environment, and corals are growing on it. It is fun swimming around it.

10. Hike Mt.Tapyas

If you are looking for some adventure that doesn’t involve a boat, then do the climb to the top of Mt. Tapyas . While probably not technically a mountain, the view from the top is worth the hike up. Here you’ll be rewarded with views of Coron town and Coron Island in the distance.

Best Restaurants in Coron Palawan

There aren’t many choices of restaurants in Coron , especially for Western food. If Filipino food isn’t your thing, you will be limited.

By far, the best Western options we found were at the Corto Del Mar hotel, with pizzas, pasta, and burgers, along with Filipino options. We didn’t have a bad meal here.

Altrove Pizza – The same owner who runs the Altrove in El Nido has opened a location in Coron as well, and it’s just as good. There is sometimes a wait outside, but the line moves pretty fast. Worth the wait, generally.

Try the Sisig – If you like Sisig, try it at Lolo Nonoy’s cooking station. It is one of the best I have had in the Philippines. The garlic rice is good, too, and beer is always 40P.

Corto del Mar Hotel –  Good thin-crust pizza and some of the cheapest happy hour beer in town at 35P from 5-8 pm. Sunday pizza and a beer for 200P is a good deal.

Coron Travel Tips:

Dive with Corto Divers – Their boats are nicely set up for diving, the staff is knowledgeable, and they actually care if you have good dive experience. Lunch is included with dives, and the food is some of the better food I have had in the Philippines.

From all the other shops I visited, I am confident I made the right choice diving here, you won’t be disappointed.

Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date if diving: The ships are awesome to explore, but they are full of tight entries and rusty metal. We saw lots of people walking around town that looked like they had a run-in with a sharp piece of ship metal, so get your shots if you are going under.

Avoid the later flights to Coron Palawan Airport : Taking the last flight to Busuanga you run the risk of it being canceled because the airport stops service at dusk because they have no runway lights.

Coron Palawan FAQs:

Is there an ATM on Coron? Yes, we saw at least three machines. Fees were 200P per transaction.

Is there 24-hour power?  Yes, over the past few years, the power grid has been much improved, and brownouts or power outages are much less frequent.

El Nido Vs. Coron

This topic seems to have come up between Coron and El Nido of which to visit. The simple answer is they both should be visited! If you don’t have time in your schedule to visit both – cut something else out because you seriously need to see both of these places.

Do not skip El Nido, and definitely, do not skip Coron Palawan.

Related Articles

• Best Way From El Nido to Coron Palawan Ferry or Plane
• Best 15 Things to do in the Palawan, Philippines
• The Secret Truth About Kayangan Lake
• Top 10 Best Restaurants in Coron, Philippines
• Barracuda Lake Coron Island | Everything you NEED to Know

Don’t Forget to pin me for later!

Hannah Lukaszewicz

Wednesday 15th of January 2020

Nolton you'll have a blast traveling solo too. If you take the group day trip tours you'll meet lots of others who love to travel.

Friday 3rd of January 2020

What an amazing and helpful I and three more friends will spend two weeks in Philippines, we have decided to visit Coron and El nido, but we haven't decided another place, we have thought about Boracay, Cebu or Siargao, what recommendations could u give us?? Thanks

Monday 6th of January 2020

Siargao is a great island, that would be our top pick of the destinations you listed!

Thursday 7th of November 2019

We are planning to return from coron to manila through ferry on sunday . Is it worth, we are planning since it is cheap!!!!

Tuesday 12th of November 2019

Coron is a great place to visit and easier to get to from Manila since the Star cruise/ferry has started to run. We like to have 4-5 days to see everything, but you can see a lot in Coron with just a long weekend too. Have a great trip!

Andrea Ammann

Sunday 3rd of November 2019

Hi, thank you for the great Informations we could find here. My Boyfriend and I'll visit the philippines in january. We start our trip in siargao. I saw there us rainyseason in this time. Do you know if its usually just short showers oder is it rainy all day long? We're not sure for how long we should stay. After we're gonna fly to cebu/bohol for spending +/- one week and the last week wed like to spend in coron. Is one week in coron to much time? Thank you so much,

Monday 4th of November 2019

I would not say January is rainy season for all of the Philippines, generally, it is a pretty good time to visit. I was in Coron and Siargao last January and I had some rain in Siargao, but great weather the whole time in Coron. I found Siargao weather more unpredictable in January - I still had mostly nice days but it did rain for a little bit most days. In Siargao when you do have good days make sure to take the day trips on those days, some trips won't run if it is windy or rains later in the day. Have a great trip to the Philippines!

Friday 25th of October 2019

Hi, thank you for your recommendations. My family are planning to go to Palawan. I was thinking we would go to Puerto Princesa to go to the that cave then go to Coron. We are not divers but it would be a nice experience to go to that lake that you recommend in Coron. Do you think that’s a good plan? I

Thursday 11th of February 2021

Both Barracuda and Kayangan Lake are definitely worth a visit even for non-divers.

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Coron Travel Guide 2024 – EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Visiting! 

4  Comments

by  Manoling Martinez

February 1, 2024

Note: This post may include affiliate links. Read more about this here .  

If I had to describe Coron with one word, it would be UNFAIR.

As our plane took off from Coron, I vividly remember thinking if I’ll ever get to see a place as beautiful ever again. 

It’s almost unfair how much beauty was dumped into this one small island, tucked away on the top of Palawan. 

But alright… alright…

You’re not here for my sentimental thoughts. 

You’re here because you’re actually going to Coron , and you want to know what you need to know before your trip! 

In this Coron Travel Guide, I’ll go over everything – from what to expect, travel requirements, what to do, and so much more. 

There’s a LOT to discuss, so let’s dive right in! 

Coron Travel Facts (Understanding Coron)

Before we jump into the details, there are a few important things you need to know first. 

Coron is a unique travel destination for a number of reasons. 

Here are some of them: 

• Coron Town is NOT on Coron Island

Coron town is actually located on Busuanga Island. This town is where you’ll find accommodation, and where all the tours are based.

Coron Island, on the other hand, is where you’ll find famous spots like Kayangan Lake.

Finally, Coron the Municipality covers Coron Town, Coron Island, and about half of Busuanga Island.

Here’s what I mean: 

That said, “Coron” is a catch-all name for the entire region. People even consider Calauit Safari and Culion Island, which are FAR away, still part of Coron. 

Fun fact: Coron Island is actually still owned by the Tagbanua tribe. And aside from the famous lakes, the island is mostly off-limits to tourists.

Nowadays, the Tagbanua tribe is responsible for keeping the tourist areas clean and beautiful, so you may see some of them while you’re visiting! 

• Going DIY is HARD in Coron

Again, most of Coron Island is off-limits to tourists. 

That’s why unless you join a tour, getting to the island is not going to be easy at all. 

The most DIY-ish you can go is to rent a private tour boat. You can avoid crowds this way, but it can get expensive if you aren’t with a big group. 

• Coron is a Tourist Zone

Okay… Coron is difficult to go DIY…

But that doesn’t mean that it’s a place that’s difficult for tourists! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. 

Even if you aren’t an experienced traveler, you won’t run into many problems here in Coron. 

Because it’s a tourist zone. 

Busuanga’s soil isn’t suitable for farming. And the locals aren’t allowed to fish around Coron island either. 

That’s why Coron town exists almost entirely for tourism. 

The locals are VERY friendly and accommodating. They know what tourists are and what they’re there to do. 

You’ll have almost ZERO problems when you visit! 

How to Get to Coron

There are daily flights from Manila and Cebu to Coron. If you’re in El Nido, there are also daily ferries that you can ride – or you can hop on the occasional plane from El Nido to Coron. 

Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), which serves Coron, is located in the middle of Busuanga island. 

When you land, you can take a van that’ll take you straight to your hotel in Coron town. This takes another 30-40 minutes. (You can book a seat online here , or rent an entire van for about php1,500 – 1,900) . 

People will be immediately asking you which hotel you’re staying in when you first step out of the airport. You might feel a little skeptical at first, but these guys are actually asking since different vans serve different areas of Coron town – so they can direct you to the right van for you! 

If you arrive at the port, you’ll find plenty of tricycles that can take you to your hotel. You can also rent a van if you prefer that. 

Note: If you wanna know how to get to Coron from El Nido or Puerto Princessa , see the FAQs below ! 

Coron Travel Requirements

As of 2024, Coron is open to everyone that is fully vaccinated! To enter Coron, you’ll need:

• A vaccination card (or a VaxCert for foreigners)
• A confirmed booking from a DOT-accredited accommodation, and

S-Pass and tour bookings are NO LONGER REQUIRED.

Disclaimer! These are correct as of 2023. I’m going to do my best to keep this up-to-date, but please check with the Coron Tourism Office’s Facebook page for official updates! 

Last Updated: December 14, 2023

Coron Travel Map

Coming soon! For now, here’s a really nice map by Guide to the Philippines! 

Since DIY travel is difficult here, you probably won’t need a travel map too much (the tours can take care of that for you). 

Nonetheless, if you wanna know where things are, here’s how you can divide up “Coron”: 

Coron Island

• Busuanga Town

Let’s take a closer look at each one. 

Nestled right at the southeastern tip of Busuanga Island is Coron Town. 

And like I’ve said before, this is a tourist town, and a small one at that. 

No fishing, not many crops, so you’ll find most people here extremely friendly. 

This is where almost all the accommodations and restaurants are. They even have a McDonald’s up for tourists who need a fast food fix. 

Aside from the Mt. Tapyas view deck, there isn’t much to see in Coron town. The Maquinit hot spring is a full 20 minutes away, and there’s nothing spectacular about the old church and park they have here. 

Closer to the sea, there’s a reclaimed area (with noticeably red soil) where all the tours jump off from. 

And those tours will take you to…

This is where the real beauty lies. 

From afar, Coron looks like a sleeping giant. 

Up close? 

The massive limestone walls will take your breath away. 

One of the things that make Coron Island such a unique tourist spot is that you aren’t actually allowed to visit most of it. 

Again, this is the home of the Tagbanua tribe, and only very few people actually get to meet these people. 

Might sound like a bummer, but trust me, it’s not. 

When you see the gorgeous lakes that are open for tourism, you’ll already find that this is easily one of the most beautiful places in the WORLD. 

There are three popular spots on Coron Island, all with their own unique flare. 

The Twin Lagoons are two lagoons adjacent to one another, separated by a thin wall of limestone. On the docking side, you can get on a kayak. On the inside lagoon, you can go swimming. 

To get across, you’ll either have to swim under a small hole in the wall or climb the little wooden stairs to the other side. 

Kayangan Lake is the main swimming area. And it’s also very well known for the most famous view in all of Coron: 

You’ll have to climb about 300 steps up and down to get to the lake, but boy is it worth it! 

Finally, Barracuda Lake is similar to Kayangan. 

The main difference is that it has a less developed feel. There are fewer crowds here, and the lake is much deeper. 

It’s so deep, that people even go scuba diving here! 

Coron “Sea” 

Coron “sea” (which is actually part of the Sulu Sea) is what I like to call the waters surrounding Coron town and Coron island. 

There’s quite a lot to see here as well! 

There are a bunch of islands and islets, with beautiful white sand beaches. If you go on a Coron tour, they’re sure to bring you to one of these! 

There are coral gardens that are bursting with life. You’ll find all kinds of colorful corals, and schools upon schools of fish as well! 

And, most mysteriously, there are a dozen shipwrecks littered over Coron’s waters. 

These shipwrecks are from World War 2 when Japan occupied the Philippines. These ships were sunken by American planes, and they stayed down there for almost a century already! 

Some of the wrecks are very well preserved, and going for a scuba dive here is well worth it! 

Busuanga Island

Busuanga Island is actually pretty big. 

It might feel small since most of the action is only in Coron town, but it’ll take you hours to drive around this whole island. 

Again, most of Busuanga isn’t suitable for farming. Instead, you’ll find large ranches (with Australian cows), bare hills, and an occasional forest while riding around. 

Then, of course, there’s Busuanga town. 

It’s a very small town. You might stop over here to grab lunch while doing a Calauit Safari tour. 

Speaking of which…

Calauit 

On the other end of Busuanga Island, there’s a narrow strait that separates the mainland from Calauit Island. 

Here’s where you’ll find one of the more bizarre things about Coron – a safari. 

That’s right.

There are giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and Calamian deer that are free to roam around the island. 

These were brought here during Ferdinand Marcos’ time as president. And, since they were well fed and happy, they reproduced. 

Nowadays, the giraffes and zebras there are actually the third generation already. So this island – almost in the middle of nowhere – is their home now. 

Also, nearby Calauit, there are a bunch of other cool islands. One of the more well-known ones is Black Island .

This place is unique for having: 

• A white sand beach
• A literal shipwreck right there on the shore
• Beautiful rock formations, and

Sounds cool, right? 

Where to Stay in Coron

While Coron is generally more expensive than other areas of the Philippines, you’ll find that there’s accommodation for everyone! 

Whether you’re a backpacker, or on a luxury getaway, there’s sure to be something that fits your needs! 

Here are the main areas where you can find places to stay:

Coron Town 

Once again, the center of all the action. 

There’s literally something for everyone here. 

There are backpacker stays that go for as low as php500 ($10) a night. 

There are mid-range hotels that range from php2,000 ($40) to php5,000 ($100). 

And from there, there are grand hotels and resorts where you can have a luxury getaway. 

When we were here, we stayed in La Natura , a mid-range hotel on the outskirts of Coron Town. 

As the name implies, you will feel nature when you’re over there. 

The only problem was, there wasn’t any cellphone signal, the wifi was ridiculously slow, and there was no air conditioning (although I didn’t find it warm) . 

But hey? It’s “The Nature” after all. Right? 

You can book La Natura here , or check out these other options:

• Amparo’s Tourist Inn – Affordable Inn in the heart of Coron Town.
• B&B Backpackers – Mixed dormitory rooms with bunk beds and curtains. Located near docking area.
• Happy Camper Hostel – Wide space hostel with a shared kitchen and lounge to hang out and socialize.
• Purple Homestay – This homestay has a beautiful sea view with only a 5-10min walk to the town and just 870 meters to Maquinit hot spring.
• Blue Waters Inn Coron Palawan – A gorgeous hotel located in the heart of Coron Town. Property has two shared dining areas where guests can bring up their own food and use the amenities.
• Hop Hostel – Beautiful bunk beds with curtains. A big balcony with a great view and a rooftop bar!
• Zuri Resort – Beautiful hotel with a relaxing lobby. Big swimming pool fronting the sea. There is also a kiddie pool for your kids to enjoy. Located walking distance to eateries and other sunset beaches.
• Coron Westown Resort – Spacious rooms, friendly staff and only a few mins drive to the city. Enjoy the pool, gym and restaurant at Westown resort.
• Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel – Beautiful rooms, friendly staff and great services. You’ll also enjoy an infinity pool that provides an excellent view of the Coron Bay.

It’s easy to forget that Busuanga is a big island. 

Scattered all across the shores are plenty of places to stay if you want to avoid the crowds. There are also several dive resorts that are much closer to the shipwreck sites than Coron town. 

I personally wouldn’t recommend staying outside Coron Town if you’re planning to do the usual tourist activities. Transportation here is hard to find, so you may run into some problems. 

But if you’re an adventurer, and want something different from the usual, then maybe getting one of these off-the-beaten-path stays is for you! 

Coron Island???

There are NO hotels or accommodation on Coron Island itself. 

But there is this one houseboat floating off the coast of Coron which starts at around $500/night (and can get a LOT more expensive depending on the season) . 

Sounds creepy to be all alone next to a mostly untouched island. But if you want the thrills, why not?

Coron Activities (What to do in Coron!)

Coron isn’t the type of place where you just chill in your hotel all day. 

There are a LOT of things to do and see over here, such as:

Things to do in Coron #1: Visit the Beautiful Lakes of Coron Island

If you’re in Coron, you must, MUST visit at least 2 of the 3 gorgeous lakes on the island. 

If you could only do one thing in Coron, this would be it. 

The lakes they have here are unlike anything else you can find in the Philippines (and I reckon the world as well?)

I recommend Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake , but if you can throw Barracuda Lake in there as well, then go for it! 

Want to learn more about the different tourist spots in Coron? Read my blog about them here !

To get to these lakes, you’ll need to join a tour. 

I’ll show you what types of tours you can go for in Coron, but first…

Things to do in Coron #2: Climb Mt. Tapyas and Chill in Maquinit Hot Spring

Tour companies offer “Coron Town Tours” for about php699/head ($14). 

Skip these! 

Instead, you can go DIY mode. Hop on a tricycle, and ask him to take you to the two best spots in Coron Town: Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Spring. 

Of course, you can also throw in the old church or the town plaza if you really want. 

But Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit are the ones that you really shouldn’t miss! 

The foot of Mt. Tapyas is found right in the heart of Coron Town. To get to the top, you’ll have to walk up 720 steps (quite a workout!) . 

The views from above are well worth it though. 

Here, you’ll get a great vantage point of the entire Coron town. 

And if you look to your left, you’ll see exactly why they call Coron Island a sleeping giant. 

Maquinit Hot Spring is found a full 15 minutes away from Coron Town. Dipping in the hot, relaxing water is a great thing to do after a long day of exploring. 

What makes this spring so unique is that it’s the ONLY known saltwater hot spring in the country. 

Other than that, there are plenty of tables and chairs to chill on here. And there’s even a little mangrove forest, with Coron Island in the background, where you can take some cool pictures! 

At the end of the day, we paid our tricycle driver php1,000 ($20) for our little tour (STILL cheaper than the Town Tours if you’re more than 1 person) . 

Things to do in Coron #3: Go Wreck Diving

With so many mystical shipwrecks littered all around Coron, it’s no surprise that there are a bunch of dive resorts here. 

Now you might be thinking…

“But I can’t scuba dive! I don’t have training!”

Welp! 

Guess what?

You don’t need training to try it out! 

Coron is one of the best places to go discovery diving. 

You’ll get a quick lesson on the basics, a quick assessment by your instructor if you’re ready, then off to the deep shipwrecks you go! 

And don’t worry if you haven’t mastered anything in the short training. Because if need be, your instructor can “carry” you around instead. 

This way, you still get to enjoy the magical shipwrecks up close, but don’t have to worry too much about having to manage your buoyancy (and all the other skills that come with scuba diving) . 

Of course, if you’re already a certified scuba diver, then you can enjoy the shipwrecks even more! 

Things to do in Coron #4: Visit Calauit Safari

If you have an extra day in Coron, then I highly recommend you spend a day at the other end of Busuanga Island – Calauit! 

No, there aren’t nearly as many animals in Calauit as there are in something like Cebu Safari. 

But the fact that they’re free to roam around makes this island such a unique place. At times, you’ll actually feel like you’re in Jurassic Park – especially at the entrance where you’ll be picked up by a safari jeep! 

You also get to feed the giraffes here, which allows you to get really close to them. 

Aside from the giraffes, zebras, and Calamian deer, there’s also a small zoo where you can see other local animals like monkeys, porcupines, crocodiles, turtles, and more! 

Getting to Calauit takes a full 2 hours by van and boat, and most tours only stay at the safari for more or less 2 hours. 

So to make the most out of your day, you should definitely get a Safari tour that also includes a side trip to Black Island!

Things to do in Coron #5: Go Beach Hopping

One of the more laid-back things to do at Coron is to visit some of the beautiful islets that dot the Coron sea. 

Although Coron is famous for its lakes, and not really because of their white-sand beaches, they still have them anyway. 

That’s why I say Coron is so beautiful, it’s almost unfair. 

Most tours of Coron island will include a white sand beach or two, you’ll probably even have lunch in one of them. 

But if you want more time on the beach, you can get a dedicated tour that’ll take you to the different beaches around Coron! 

Where to Eat in Coron

Alright, so first up, there are a BUNCH of places to eat all over Coron Town. 

But while we were at Coron, we decided to ask the locals where the best places to eat were. 

And every dinnertime, we would go and check the place out. 

Here’s what we got! 

Lobster King

One popular place to have dinner is Lobster King. 

Here you can eat – you guessed it – lobsters. 

You can choose between king lobsters or the cheaper rock lobsters. And you can have them prepared either grilled, steamed with butter, or fried. 

The lobsters here are as fresh as they get! They’ll present them live to you before cooking. 

Aside from lobsters, they also have a bunch of different seafood to choose from. We went with some mud crab, which was just as delicious! 

Note: Some locals told us later on that Lobster King is actually quite expensive. And if you want to get cheaper lobsters, there’s a little store beside Two Seasons hotel where you can order and have it cooked! 

Also, I wasn’t able to get pictures here since I was STARVING.

Another recommendation we got was Carl’s BBQ, a cozy barbecue place that’s within walking distance from Mt. Tapyas. 

Here they serve a strange mix of Pinoy and Korean barbecue dishes. But their specialty is the Carl’s BBQ Delight, a BIG stick with meat and vegetables that’s doused with Korean sauce. 

Of all the places we ate, this one was my favorite for the food and cozy atmosphere. 

If you’re the type of person that enjoys live bands, then you should check out Island Boy. 

Island Boy is found in the reclaimed port area of Coron. This makes it just a stone’s throw away from where your tour boat drops you off, and also Lualhti Park. 

As for their food, they have a bunch of options you can go for. They have the normal Pinoy barbecue foods, as well as a bunch of seafood options as well. 

And, of course, they have a live band, which is really what sets this place apart from the others. 

Another place I wasn’t able to get pics due to hunger!

Cashew Pasalubongs!

Another thing to eat while in Coron is some of the cashew pasalubongs you can find all over the town. 

There isn’t a lot of agriculture in Coron, but they do have plenty of cashew trees. 

You can get cashew nuts almost anywhere here. Or, you can try the creative twists people have tried with cashews, such as: 

• Cashew tarts 
• Cashew butterscotch 
• Cashew of the gods 
• Cashew butter 
• Cashew polvoron 

and more! 

You can usually find these in pasalubong stores. We got ours right across the foot of Mt. Tapyas. 

Sample Coron Tours

Like I said, exploring Coron is difficult without the tours. 

So to give you a better idea of your options, here are the tours offered by Millenial Tours! 

Note: I already talked about this in my top 10 Coron Tourist spots article, so I just copied and pasted that over here.

Coron Town Tour

Price: php699/pax

Pick-up Time: 3-4pm

End Time: 6pm

Spots: 

• Coron Souvenir Shop
• Lualhati Park
• St. Agustin Church
• Mt. Tapyas View Deck
• Coron Cashew Factory
• Maquinit Hot Spring

Personal Thoughts: 

The town tour is definitely the most convenient way to explore Coron Town. 

However, if you’re like me, you might not want to do all of this in an organized tour. Instead, you can easily hop on a tricycle and tell them to take you to these spots! 

Plus, a lot of these spots are close to one another, so you can just walk if you want to! 

Ultimate Highlights Tour

Price: php1,450/pax

Pick-up Time: 8-9am

End Time: 5pm

• Kayangan Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Smith or Dimanglet Beach
• Skeleton Wreck
• Malwawey Reef or Las Isla de Coral
• Coral Garden or Siete Pescados

This is the tour that I went on when I was at Coron. And it’s a tour that, I’d say, if you only had one day in Coron, you should definitely do! 

It’s probably the best way to see everything that Coron has to offer. 

Take note that some of the spots listed here can be removed by the tour operations depending on the tides/crowds. But the main spots – Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon – are almost never removed. 

Beach Escapade Tour

Price: php1,499/pax

• Malcapuya Island
• Banana Island or Ditaytayan white sand bar
• Bulog dos or Coco Beach

I personally wouldn’t go to Coron for the beaches. 

Yes, they do have amazing beaches there – but so does almost every other province in the Philippines. 

That’s why I’d go on this tour only if I had a day to spare in Coron. Otherwise, visiting the lakes, safari, and even trying scuba diving are much more worth it for me. 

Reef & Wreck + Beach Tour

• Pass Island White Sand Beach
• Lusong Gunboat Ship Wreck
• Lusong Coral Garden
• East Tangat Wreck or Water Falls

I haven’t gone on this tour, but to me, the best way to see the wrecks is to try scuba diving. 

Again, you don’t have to be certified to try! The instructors will teach you the basics of scuba first. 

Then, if they see you fit, they’ll take you to some of the easier wrecks to explore, like the Tangat wreck. 

However, if that’s not your cup of tea, you could always go on tours like this one, which also includes white sand beaches as well. 

Super Ultimate Tour

Price: php1,699/pax

• Barracuda Lake

Personal Notes: 

The main difference between the super ultimate tour and the ultimate highlights tour is the inclusion of Barracuda Lake! 

And just like the ultimate highlights tour, some spots can be removed by the tour operators depending on the situation. 

Coron Island Tour A

Price: php950/pax

• Green Lagoon
• Las Isla de Coral
• Smith or Atwayan Beach

If you’re staying for several days, and want to spend more time at Kayangan Lake or Twin Lagoon – then you should consider going Coron Island Tour A AND B on separate days! 

Also, if you’re on a tight budget, going for one of these tours will also save you some money. 

All in all, I think it’s more practical to go for the ultimate highlights or super ultimate tour. 

But if you can go for both tour A and tour B, why not do it? You’ll get more time to enjoy the hotspots, plus, you’ll also explore some lesser-known spots as well. 

Coron Island Tour B

• Smith Beach
• Malwawey Reef or Coral Garden

Same as Tour A. 

If anything, if you could only choose one, I’d prefer tour B. To me, it feels more complete, even though you’ll be missing out on the famous Kayangan Lake. 

Calauit Safari with Island Hopping

Price: php2,499/pax

Pick-up Time: 6-6:30am

• Calauitt Safari Park
• Black Island White Sand Beach
• Black Island Cave

It might be pricey, but this tour is well worth it! 

Black Island was one of my personal favorites in Coron, so missing out on it will be quite a bummer. 

Also, Calauit Safari is quite a unique experience too. While there aren’t super many animals, the fact that they’re free to roam around is really what makes the place special. 

Those are the tours offered by Millenial tours, but you’ll find that most tour companies offer something similar to that one. 

Scuba diving companies also have their own itineraries, and you could also rent a private boat to take you anywhere you want. 

However, that’s really the only “problem” I had with Coron, it’s very difficult to go DIY. But honestly? Because of how beautiful it all is, I’ll give the tours a pass. 

Sample Coron Itineraries (+What I Did)

You can explore most places in 3 days. But if you’re visiting Coron, I highly recommend staying AT LEAST 4 days. 

Might sound like a lot, but you’ll thank me later. 

The reason for this is that most flights arrive in Coron late morning or early afternoon (making them too late to hop on most tours) , and leave Coron around the same time (so you can’t do a tour on the day you’re going home) . 

Make sense? 

If you only stayed 3 days, you can only have one tour (and maybe the town tour too). 

But okay, maybe some of you just won’t have that much time. So here are some sample itineraries you can go for! 

Sample 3D2N Coron Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival, Town Tour

• 11:00 – Arrive at Busuanga Airport
• 12:00 – Lunch
• 14:00 – Check in Hotel
• 16:00 – Mt. Tapyas (or join an organized town tour)
• 17:00 – Maquinit Hot Spring
• 19:00 – Dinner at Lobster King

Day 2 – Super Ultimate Tour

• 17:00 – End Tour
• 18:00 – Visit a Souvenir and Pasalubong Shop
• 19:00 – Dinner at Carl’s BBQ

Day 3 – Going Home

• 7:00 – Breakfast at Hotel
• 10:00 – Flight home!

Sample 4D3N Coron Itinerary

Day 3 – Calauit Safari and Black Island

• 6:00 – Meetup at Tour Office
• 9:00 – Arrive at Calauit Safari
• 12:00 – Lunch in Busuanga Town
• 14:00 – Arrive at Black Island
• 16:00 – Back at Busuanga Town
• 18:00 – Back in Coron Town
• 19:00 – Dinner at Island Boy

Day 4 – Going Home

Sample 5D4N Coron Itinerary (What I Did!)

Note: This is exactly what I did when I was there! I actually recommend tweaking this a bit – like doing the town tour on day 1 instead of just chilling. But other than that, I’d say it’s a pretty good itinerary overall. 

Day 1 – Arrival, Chill at Hotel

• 15:00 – Arrive at Busuanga Airport
• 16:00 – Check in and chill in Hotel
• 19:00 – Dinner in Hotel

Day 2 – Super Ultimate Tour and Maquinit Hot Spring

• 18:00 – Maquinit Hot Spring

Day 3: Scuba Diving and Mt. Tapyas

• 8:00 – Meetup at Port
• 10:00 – Quick training and East Tangat dive
• 12:00 – Lunch in Boat
• 14:00 – Lusong Gunboat Dive (certified divers only)
• 15:00 – Maldapon Reef Dive
• 16:00 – Back in Coron Town
• 17:00 – Mt. Tapyas
• 18:00 – Pasalubong Shop
• 20:00 – Dinner at Carl’s BBQ

Day 4 – Calauit Safari and Black Island

Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling Coron

And that’s about everything you need to know about traveling Coron. 

But, if you still have some questions, let me try and answer them for you. 

Here are the most frequently asked questions about traveling Coron! 

When is the Best Time to Visit Coron?

A big, FAT, dry season! Since a LOT of the adventure in Coron is accessible by boat, you don’t want your trips to be canceled due to a storm! The dry season in Coron runs from November to April. 

Now, this doesn’t mean that you absolutely can’t visit Coron any time else (in fact, I visited in May) . But just expect some rain! 

As long as there isn’t a storm, the tour should go on anyway. 

The “wettest” months of Coron run from June to September. 

If you’re willing to risk it, you’ll find that you might be able to avoid the crowds by traveling at this time! 

How Many Days Should I Stay in Coron?

At least FOUR! Try to go for 5 if possible because of the way Coron tours work. If you stay only 3 days, you’ll probably only be able to join 1 tour. 

Four days should be enough to see Coron town, take a tour of Coron island, and either scuba dive or visit Calauit Safari. 

If you do five, you can do all of these. 

And if you do SIX, then you can even throw in a beach hopping tour. Or maybe go on two separate tours of Coron Island to get more time and visit the lesser-known spots! 

Of course, you might also want to spend some time in places like El Nido or Puerto Princessa. 

If that’s the case, then maybe 3 days will be alright. 

What is Better, El Nido or Coron?

Generally speaking, El Nido is better for couples, while Coron is better for groups of friends! 

I haven’t been to El Nido (yet!), but I’m told that it’s just as beautiful as Coron. And looking at the pictures I can sure see why!

Coron is really best traveled with a group. 

If you’re a big group, you can even rent your own tour boat, and you can make your own itinerary and stay as long as you want on the spots! 

Why is Coron the Best for Snorkeling?

Coron is an awesome snorkeling destination because of its awe-inspiring underwater rock formations, its reefs bursting with life, AND the mysterious World War 2 shipwrecks found all over its waters. 

If you have snorkeling gear, make sure to bring them along! If you don’t, you can easily rent one before your tour begins. 

Also, for the shipwrecks, I actually recommend trying scuba diving. You can snorkel there, but you won’t be able to get up close and explore it as much (unless you’re a good freediver) . 

What’s the Difference Between Barracuda Lake and Kayangan Lake?

Kayangan Lake is more developed, better for swimming, and overall more popular. Barracuda Lake is rawer, deeper, and better for more adventurous people. 

The reason Kayangan Lake is so popular for swimming is that it has shallow areas. If you just want to take a quick dip, this is the place to do it. 

Barracuda Lake, on the other hand, is instantly deep. It’s also very interesting because as you go deeper, the temperature of the water changes. There were also bones of a Barracuda fish found here (although you’re very unlikely to actually meet one) . 

How far is Coron from El Nido?

Coron is 127 kilometers (78 miles) away from El Nido. Traveling there by boat will take you around 6 hours while traveling with a fast craft will take about 3 hours and 30 minutes – while traveling by plane shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes. 

How to Get to Coron From El Nido

There are two ways to get to Coron from El Nido – by ferry or by plane! 

The most well-known way is by hopping on a boat by Atienza or Montenegro Lines. 

Their schedule changes from time to time. The Atienza Ferry currently leaves every day at 12:30 pm except Sundays. You can check the latest schedules and book online here .

Meanwhile, Montenegro Shipping leaves at 12:00 pm every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. You can check their official Facebook page here for updates! 

You can also fly to Coron from El Nido with Air Swift. 

Flights aren’t regular though, so go and check out their website to know their current schedule.

How far is Coron from Puerto Princessa?

Coron is 298 kilometers away from Puerto Princessa. If you’re going by direct ferry, 13 and a half hours. If you’re going to do a mix of bus and ferry, about 9-10 hours of travel time. 

How to Get to Coron From Puerto Princessa

You have 3 main options if you want to get from Coron from Puerto Princessa: A direct ferry, a bus to El Nido followed by a ferry, or a bus to El Nido followed by an Air Swift flight. 

There used to be direct flights from Puerto Princessa to Coron by Air Juan. But as far as I can tell, they aren’t operational at the moment. 

The most popular shipping line that has ferries from Puerto Princessa to Coron is 2Go Travel. 

Right now, their ferry leaves Puerto Princessa every Friday at 2 am and arrives in Coron at 3:30 pm. Visit their website here to see their updated schedule!

If you’re going by land to El Nido, you can either get on a van. If you book online, you can have them pick you up at your hotel in Puerto Princessa, or at the airport. You can also book via the transport kiosk at the airport, or through your accommodation.

Of course, if you’re already going to El Nido, it makes sense to spend a few days there before moving on to Coron (unless you’re short on time of course!) . 

Ready to Visit Coron?

And there you have it!

That’s about everything you need to know about traveling to Coron.

So if you have your tickets already, I hope this guide made you even MORE excited to visit this absolute gem of an island. 

If you don’t have your tickets yet… why… what are you waiting for???

Book your tickets now! 

You won’t regret it, I promise. 

Still have questions? Leave a comment down below!

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About the author 

Manoling Martinez

Hi! I'm Manoling, a 24-year-old backpacker from Cebu City. I'm on a mission to visit ALL 82 provinces of the Philippines. You can follow my adventures on my Instagram, or plan your trips here on my website!

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very well written comprehensive guide for visiting Coron. thank you so much. we are visiting only for 2 days with my family (total 11 adults) and will be staying at Paolyn Floating Houseboat the last weekend of Jan. 2024. hoping to have lunch in Coron town before our flight back to MNL at 4:45pm. Paolyn Houseboat provides free RT transfer to the airport. but since, we would like to have lunch in Coron town, my issue is how our group will get to the restaurant? is there a van to take us there & pick us up to be taken to the airport? any recommendations how ti do this and approx cost for the van? we prefer to eat grilled seafoods or lobster, can you suggest a good, reasonable place? will they take only cash or visa card? thank you so much.

Hey Adelina!

Thanks for the kind words!

For lunch, you can head over to Lobster King. They have fresh lobsters there, it's delicious. The locals told us it's a bit pricier than buying at the market and having it cooked, but since you're in a big group, I think the convenience will make it worth it. Also, they accept major credit cards 🙂

For the van, you can take the free RT transfer and just ask your driver to wait for you while you eat lunch. Just make sure you give a nice tip!

If not, there are plenty of van services around Coron. A private van transfer from town to the airport will cost you around php1,500 – 2,000. All hotels in Coron have contact with van services, so you can ask Paolyn to help you out.

Personally, I'd wait until I'm in Coron and ask for help around there. But if you wanna book a van online, you can do so through Klook .

Hope this helps, and I hope you have a wonderful time in Coron!

Hi. Thanks a lot for such a comprehensive, well-written travel guide. Can you recommend some tour groups or sites? Do I have to book in advance? or is it okay to book them when I arrive in Coron?

Sorry for the super late reply! I was out on another trip hehe.

You can definitely book when you arrive in Coron. When you land in the airport, there are several brochures there where you can call and book a tour. Your van driver from the airport to the town, and your accommodation will all have contacts with tour operators, so it’s super easy to book once you get there.

If you wanna book ahead, you can use Klook , or you can search on Facebook and search there.

13 Best Tourist Spots to Visit in Coron Palawan

Coron is one of the best tourist spots among the 4 major islands in Palawan. It is a tropical paradise with a mix of fun and vibrant urban life. Even in the town proper, you can already enjoy a few Coron tourist spots and plenty of shops, pubs, and restaurants you can explore. There are indeed a lot of beautiful sceneries in Coron. The island has a very limited internet connection as well as a cellphone signal. This is also why it is the perfect place to disconnect from the world and just have fun with nature. However, if you need to rely on the internet during your vacation, you might need to consider this downside of Coron. It surely is a must visit in planning your trip to the Philippines too.

Table of Contents

Is Coron worth visiting?

Definitely! Coron has a lot of activities all around the clock. During the daytime, you can enjoy island hopping , basking under the sun, and diving; While during nighttime, you can meet friends, socialize, and grab a few drinks in town. Nightlife is also lively in Coron.

Reated Read: The Best ways to get from El Nido to Coron

What is the best month to visit Coron Palawan?

Coron Palawan can be enjoyed all year round but if you want to make the most out of it, the dry season is the best time to go. It typically starts in the month of December and ends in May. If you want to explore more sights, the ideal month to go is in April where days are the longest. The month with the least rainfall is in March while the warmest month is May. On the other hand, we can expect that the coolest dry months start in December until February. If you want to know more about when is the best time to visit Coron tourist spots, click this informative guide .

What is Coron Palawan known for?

Destinations involving diving and watersport activities are the main tourist attractions in Coron and these activities make Coron Palawan known to a lot of foreign and local enthusiasts. It can easily be booked in many tour packages across the island but if you want to make your own itinerary, here are the 13 best tourist spots in Coron, Palawan.

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is on the top of the most popular Coron Palawan tourist spots and is located on Busuanga Island. In fact, it is usually the first picture that will show up online when you search for “Coron”. The Kayangan Lake has become popular because of its crystal clear freshwater lake which can be best appreciated from the view deck that consists of 367 steps and down under when you are scuba diving. The lake also features limestone rock formations above water and even underwater.

Best Thing to do in Kayangan Lake

Upon docking in Kayangan Lake, you need to hike a total of 367 steps to get to the view deck where you can enjoy an overlooking view of the Instagrammable Kayangan Lake. Here’s where you can take the famous Coron Palawan shots you can find on social media. Behind that, you can also find a cave that used to be a cemetery. Swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling are the best things to do in Kayangan Lake.

Entrance fee: PHP 300 ($6)

Click here to book an island hopping to Kayangan Lake .

Twin Lagoon

Twin Lagoon is one of the must-see Coron Palawan tourist spots. It features a beautiful twin lagoon divided by 1 limestone wall where tourists need to cross to get from one lagoon to another. Another fun fact about the lagoon is that one part of the lagoon is made of saltwater while another part is made of freshwater and when this two mix together, it makes the lagoon appear blurry. Aside from that, it also alters the water temperature in the lagoon from warm to cold and vice versa.

Best thing to do in Twin Lagoon

For those who can scuba dive, the underwater rock formations are a treat. If not, snorkeling can also be enjoyed in the lagoon. If you just want to chill and relax, you can even float and drift with your life jacket.

Entrance fee: PHP 200 ($4)

Japanese Sunken Shipwrecks in Coron Bay

If you are a diving enthusiast, you might find wonders exploring the bottom of the sea in Coron bay. There are 7 dive sites you can find in Coron Bay and all of these feature shipwrecks from the sunken Japanese naval fleet which originated during World War II. These shipwrecks now serve as a home to the abundant marine life in Coron. While there are dive spots where a diving skill is necessary, there are also some spots that can be enjoyed with a snorkel. This underwater adventure is also one of the best Coron Palawan tourist spots.

Best thing to do in Coron Bay

There are different dive spots in Coron Bay which are currently named after the sunken ships in World War II.

Akitsushima Maru – This sunken warship served to deploy a seaplane named “Emily” during the war measures 118m long and lies 22-36m deep. This dive spot in Coron bay is suitable for Technical Wreck Divers and deep divers. Military History enthusiasts will only enjoy exploring the remains of this ship as you can still see debris and even war guns within the vicinity of the ship.

Irako Maru – The Iraku Maru is one of the best shipwrecks in Coron Bay. During WWII, the Irako Maru served as a cargo ship that carries food items for the Japanese Navy Fleet– not until it was bombed in 1944 by the US Task Force. It is 147m long and 34 – 45m deep.

Kogyo Maru – This auxiliary supply ship used to carry construction supplies and one of the survivors of the attack in Manila bay which fled to Coron Bay to hide. Currently, it is now home to various marine species along with hard and soft corals. It is now 22 – 36m deep in the water of Coron. Advanced Open Water, Deep divers, and Wreck Divers. will surely enjoy this shipwreck It is also one of the best Coron Tourist Spots for underwater photography.

Okikawa Maru – Considered the largest shipwreck in Coron Bay, the Okikawa Maru measures 170m and weighed 10,045 tonnes. It is now sunken at a depth of 10 – 26m and is suitable for Open Water divers and Wreck divers.

Olympia Maru – This ship is now 12 – 25m deep in the waters of Coron Bay. It was also used as an auxiliary ship during WWII. The remainder of this ship is the perfect site for basic or novice wreck penetrations and underwater photography.

Tangat Wreck – this shipwreck is located close to Tangat island thus the name of this Coron Palawan tourist spot. Divers can enjoy various marine life around it such as seahorses and ghost pipefish, as well as the view of the beautiful corals covering the shipwreck. This dive spot is suitable for Advanced Open Water divers most especially for underwater photographers and macro critter enthusiasts.

Kyokuzan Maru – Believed to be the last ship that sunk during the massive attack in WWII, Kyokuzan Maru now lies 22 – 29m deep. It is located on the far end of Busuanga Island which is why most diving centers in Coron do not include it in their itinerary. But if you still want to explore the beauty of Kyokuzan Maru, you can take a long boatride to get there.

Entrance fee: Fees are already included in the diving rates but if you wish to know more about the best diving centers in Coron and the best Coron tourist spots to dive in, read here.

Calauit Island and Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary

Calauit Island is known for the Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary and should be included in your list of Coron Palawan tourist spots. The travel time from Coron to Calauit is approximately 1 hour and a half. After that, you need to take a boat for 5 minutes to get to the Safari/Wildlife Sanctuary. For a brief history of the place, the Calauit Safari used to be a private island until President Marcos turned it into a wildlife sanctuary in 1976. Some of the animals that you can find here were imported from Kenya. You can find civet cats, monkeys, crocs, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife in the sanctuary. It considered one of the biggest Safari in the country.

Best thing to do in Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary

Exploring the island with the safari jeep is one of the best things to do here. From the rooftop of the jeep, you can also feed the giraffes and take really cool photos with them. Basically, Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary is a great experience if you don’t have the capacity to go to Africa to see this wildlife.

Entrance fee: PHP 300 ($6). There are also other fees like environmental fee, jeepney rental, and etc which will be asked upon entry. There are also tour packages that already include Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary in the itinerary. BOOK HERE.

Siete Pecados

Siete Pecados is named after the 7 rocky islets located south of Busuanga Island. It is considered to be one of the best Coron tourist spots because of the beautiful coral reefs surrounding it. It is also very accessible from the town proper which a lot of tourists love about it. You can book a snorkeling day trip in Coron which usually includes Siete Pecados in one of its snorkeling stops.

Best thing to do in Siete Pecados

Snorkeling is the main activity in Siete Pecados. You can find coral reefs, various species of fishes, turtles, and a school of barracuda in the area. In fact, it even has a certain spot known as the Barracuda Point where you can easily spot a huge school of barracuda.

Entrance fee: PHP 100 ($2). If you are booking a Coron Tour, entrance fees are already included in their rates. BOOK HERE.

Barracuda Lake

Barracuda Lake, also known as Luluyuan Lake, features a crystal blue water composed of fresh and salt water. The combination of these two makes the temperature of the lake drastically change as you dive deeper. Aside from this, you can also see rock formations which extends to the deepest part of the lake. Barracudas are no longer visible in the area but if you are lucky you might spot a few. Barracuda lake is one of the most popular Coron Palawan tourist spots for scuba divers and diving enthusiasts.

Best thing to do in Barracuda Lake

You can enjoy scuba diving in Barracuda Lake. The topmost layer of the lake is actually freshwater. 4 meters deep, you can now find yourself in saltwater where the temperature rises to 38 degrees Celsius as you go deeper. You can also find a long cave near the bottom of the lake where only one diver at a time can fit its entrance. You can find Gobie, Grouper, Trevally, and Barracudas in the lake.

Entrance fee: PHP 150 ($3). If you book a Coron tour, Entrance fees are already included in their rates. BOOK HERE.

Mount Tapyas is the second highest peak and the best viewpoint in Coron. From the town proper, you can already see the huge white cross located at the peak of the hill. Mount Tapyas is the best place to see the entirety of Coron and to catch sunset– of course. The best thing about this Coron tourist spot is that it is located very close to the town proper. It is usually one of the stops before going to Maquinit Hot Spring.

Best thing to do in Mt. Tapyas

The goal when visiting Mt. Tapyas is to reach the peak of the hill where the giant white cross is located. The road to the cross is not difficult and only requires a total of 721 steps or approximately 45-minutes of hiking. However, with the scorching heat in Coron, a lot of tourists find it challenging to reach the peak.

Entrance fee: There is no entrance to Mount Tapyas. You only need patience and perseverance to get there.

Maquinit Hot Spring

Maquinit Hot Spring is one of the very few saltwater hot springs in the world and is located on the southern coast of Busuanga Island. The hot spring has a temperature of 39 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius. To get there, you need to take a 30-minute tricycle ride from the town proper.

Best thing to do in Maquinit Hot Spring

If you want to relax after a long day or probably after hiking in Mt. Tapyas, one of the best Coron tourist spots to visit is the Maquinit hot spring. Although it seems impossible to bear with the hotness of the spring at the first dip, once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to enjoy it already.

Entrance fee: PHP 150 ($3). Book this Coron town Half Day tour for a convenient trip to Maquinit Hot Spring.

Black Island

Black Island is one of the gems located in Busuanga Island. It consists of water caves and tunnels, black limestones, a shipwreck close to the shore, a cold spring, a vibrant marine life, and a white sand beach. Because of its growing popularity among other Coron Palawan tourist spots, a lot of tour packages are including this island in their itinerary. One of the most popular tours going to Black Island is the Calauit Safari Tour by sea.

Best thing to do in Black Island

Aside from snorkeling, diving, and basking in the sun, you can also go caving in Black Island. The biggest cave on the island is easily accessible with a ladder and has an opening big enough to peek through the crystal clear water underneath.

Entrance fee: PHP 200 ($4). A tour guide is not yet included with the entrance fee and has another rate.

Banul Beach

Banul Beach is the most popular lunch stopover in most Coron Island tours. It has a beautiful, still, and warm sea water, a powdery white sand, and rows of huts as the lunch area for tourists. However, not all tours stop at Banul Beach for lunch most especially when the island has already reached its capacity.

Best thing to do in Banul Beach

After lunch, you can swim in the warm water of Banul Beach or go to the nearby coral garden to snorkel and enjoy the underwater life at the beach.

Entrance fee: PHP 150 ($3)

If you can’t get enough of the beautiful beaches in Coron, CYC Beach is a free-entrance beach that is as equally beautiful as the other beaches in Coron. It boasts turquoise crystal water, white powdery sand, rock formations, and mangroves.

Best thing to do in CYC Beach

A trip to CYC Beach is already included in the Coron Island tour and it comes along with a trip to Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon. A stopover at CYC Beach is perfect to relax and just enjoy the beauty of nature. You can also grab a few delicious snacks from the small snack boats in the island.

Entrance fee: CYC Beach has no entrance fee. Book the Coron tour A here for a convenient trip to CYC Beach.

Coron’s Royal Island Watersports

If you seek for a thrill day in Coron, the Royal Island Watersports tour is the perfect Coron tourist spot for you. It features a day filled with watersport activities such as Banana boat, Flying fish, and a lot more. The tour starts at Zipline Lualhati Park where you will be transferred to Royal Island Watersport via a speedboat. Keep in mind that this tour is not advisable for pregnant women and person with heart conditions.

Best thing to do in Coron’s Royal Island Watersports

While in Coron’s Royal Island Watersports, guests can access the floating sea pool, use the clear bottom glass kayak, and a 15 minutes ride of any of the following: Banana Boat, Flying Fish, Bandwagon, and Hurricane.

Entrance fee: Price starts at PHP 800 ($17).

Calamian Island Fireflies and Plankton Tour

A tour to Calamian Island is probably one of the most magical Coron tourist spots experience. Fun fact, Coron is also home to fireflies which come out during the night. You can spot them in mangrove swamps– exactly where this Calamian Island tour will take you. Bioluminescent planktons are also in the waters which makes the whole tour very magical.

Best thing to do in Calamian Island

Aside from the Fireflies and Plankton Tour, the Calamian Island tour is already inclusive of a buffet dinner, transfers, and kayak fees.

Entrance fee: The entrance fee is already included in the tour rate which is PHP 950 ($20) per person.

How many days do you need in Coron?

With all these exciting adventures and Coron tourist spots, it is not surprising that a lot of tourists would want to spend more days on the island. If you want to experience the most out of these Coron Palawan tourist spots, 3 to 4 days in Coron will already be enough. To save more time and have a convenient vacation, be sure to book all your activities in advance.

Did we miss something? Let us know if you have some more information about these trips.

Have you got any questions about traveling to the Philippines? Join our  Philippines Travel Planning FB Page  to get your answers.

Don’t know how to start planning your Philippines trip? You can  start here .

Read all our travel planning articles about Palawan  here.

Traveling around the world one baby step at a time. On a normal week, I juggle the life of a Software Engineer and a small business owner. I also write stories about my experiences while traveling– the adventures and the misadventures.

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Everything you need to know before visiting Coron

• April 7, 2018
• 134 Comments

Coron is the jewel in the crown of Palawan, an island that has been voted as the best island destination in the world several times in the last few years, putting a remote place located in the far east in the spotlight, thus bringing people from across the world to this little paradise. Three municipalities or towns specifically enjoy the maximum attention in Palawan – Puerto Princessa (the capital of Palawan), El Nido and Coron.  If you, like me, are one of those people who saw breathtaking pictures of the pristine waters of Coron on Instagram and were inspired to visit the enchanting islands, read on for everything you need to know before visiting Coron.

Best time to visit

Palawan enjoys tropical weather through the year. However, December – March is considered as the best time to visit not only because it is dry but also because the weather is pleasant during this time. It begins to get warm after March and the rains arrive in May until November. It does, however, get warm during the days even during these months. January is the coolest, with temperatures reaching highs of 28 degrees.

Getting to Coron

Out of the three popular provinces in Palawan, Coron is the most remote and toughest to get to. You can either fly in directly from Manila or take a ferry from El Nido or Puerto Princessa .

The airport of Coron is located in Busuanga,  about 35-40 minutes drive from the town centre. The ferry pier, however, is located much closer to the town centre. The fastest ferry ride from El Nido to Coron takes about 3.5 hours.

Montenegro Ferry from El Nido to Coron

If you are visiting Coron from El Nido, there are several ferry options. However, the slower ferries can take any time between 7-8 hours whereas Montenegro Lines provide the fastest option. Departing early in the morning from El Nido at 6.30 am,  you will arrive at Coron at around 10 - 10.30 am.

Why should you visit?

Without a doubt, Coron has some of the most pristine beaches I’ve ever seen. They’re remote, not as crowded as other places in The Philippines, are tough to get to and thus, are as natural as it can get and extremely gorgeous! Coron is also a diver's paradise, offering numerous shipwreck diving sites and coral gardens. The underwater sea life is spectacular, the beaches are out-of-this-world and you are far away from any semblance of fast-paced city life. For nature lovers, people who wish to be amidst the extreme beauty and don't care about vibrant and lively places such as Boracay , Coron is heaven!

The ideal amount of time to spend in Coron, in my opinion, is between 3-5 days.

What to expect?

Visiting Coron may not be everyone's cup of tea! It is stunning, no doubt, but getting to the islands or the most spectacular sites isn't as easy as you'd want it to be. 'Convenience' is one thing you cannot expect, and it is always better to know what exactly you're going to face if you plan on getting there.

Here are a few things that'll help you put things in perspective:

#1.  Coron town (which is part of the Busuanga Island, the largest of the Calamian archipelago) itself does not have a lot to see and do. This is where the flights will come to and where the hotels are located, so you will be staying on this island. However, apart from a couple of beaches (which aren’t really that great), the hot springs and Mt Tapyas, there’s not much to see here.

#2.  The best places in Coron can only be reached by taking a boat from Busuanga Island. You have the option to join either a group tour or rent a private boat. Private Tours are usually quite expensive and would make sense only for a large group of people thus group tours are the best way to go for budget travellers.

#3.  Unlike El Nido, where most companies offer the exact same itinerary for the island-hopping tours, there are no fixed itineraries in Coron. Depending on the tour operator that you're booking through, you might get different inclusions in your island-hopping tour. The best way to book a tour is either through your hotel or take a flier from the pier when you arrive by ferry and call them later to make your bookings.

Bulog Dos, Coron

#4.  Most full-day tours depart between 8.30 - 9 am, thus make sure to book your tour the day before or you're likely to miss out.

#5.  The weather in Coron can be extremely unpredictable. At one moment, you might face torrential rains and another, you'll have clear blue skies! This is true for almost the entire country.

#6.  If you're planning on taking an  island hopping tour in Coron , make sure to carry a waterproof bag and place all your belongings in it. It is highly likely that once the ferry docks at an island, you might have to wade through waters up until your waist to get to the land.

#7.  Carry your sunscreen lotions with you because the sun can be very harsh. Your skin can burn within 15 minutes! Also, hats and sunglasses would be sensible to carry too.

Banana Beach, Coron

#8.  Unlike El Nido, where you can rent kayaks at each of the destinations that the ferry stops at, Coron does not have the same option. Your boat is likely to have one kayak which you'll either have to share with others or choose to just swim/ snorkel through the waters instead. You will, however, be provided with snorkelling gear on board.

#9.  It is a sensible idea to carry some water shoes with you as many of the places where you'll disembark from the ferry will have either dangerous sea animals like the jellyfish or sharp stones at the bottom. These shoes are available for rent at the pier, where the ferry departs from.

#10.  Most full-day island-hopping tours serve lunch onboard. If you are a vegetarian, make sure to let your boat guide know in advance as they can arrange for vegetarian options such as salads.

Malcapuya Island, Coron

#11.  When you visit the remote islands on an island hopping tour, most of them won't have any snacking or drinking options. At best, you might find 1-2 beach shacks serving coconut juice and some chips but that's about it. You might want to carry your own drinks/ food.

#12.  The sea can get very rough! If you have a history of sea or motion sickness, you might want to carry medicines and be prepared for the worst situations.

#13.  There is not much nightlife in Busuanga Town. There are some karaoke or live music bars, but most of these places shut before midnight. The town is mostly safe but do be vigilant, like you would anywhere else.

#14.  Most bars will have Happy Hours during the evening hours where you're likely to get great discounts on San Miguel or the cocktails. However, if you're a wine-enthusiast, prepare to pay at least 3-5 times for a glass of wine as you would pay for a glass of Long Island Iced Tea!

#15. If you are a foodie, you will love the fresh seafood served at most places. Moreover, the food is cheap! Here are some of my suggestions, to try while in The Philippines: Sizzling Shrimp Gambas, Pork or Crocodile Sisig, Squid or Chicken Adobo, Seafood Gising Gising and Sizzling Chicken Salpico.

#16. Although you will find a few currency exchange places in Coron, you will not get the best conversion rates. If you're coming from Manila or El Nido, it's better to get your money exchanged before visiting Coron.

Book your hotel stay in Coron here . 

All in all, I can safely say that Coron is one of the most extraordinary places I have been to and if you're someone who loves beaches and water, you are sure to fall in love with Coron instantly. Visiting Coron will be one of the best decisions you'll ever make!

Click here to read about What to do in Coron in 3 days .

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Despite almost getting stuck on the island due to storms, had a great time in Coron. Hop Hostel was my favourite hostel of my whole year in SE Asia.

Very comprehensive post on what to know and how to prepare before heading to Coron islands. To carry water shoes is most important because it is throughout water activity all days. Good to know that weather is unpredictable and for this we have to get ourselves prepared in advance. Though Coron islands is not very popular destination but this place is for me as I love pristine and less crowded places.

Medha Verma

I guess the fact that it is not very popular yet was the top reason why I chose to go 😉

Coron looks so gorgeous, Medha. Love your photographs. The pristine waters and the tranquility of the place is a big draw for me. Your tips will be very useful when we decide to go!

I’m glad 🙂 I am sure you’ll love it!

OMG! This is so pristine! I really really hope I’ll get a chance to stay in Philippines for atleast a month and explore its natural beauty. Thanks for the tip about carrying the waterproof bag for island hopping tours. I wouldn’t have imagined this scenario…

OMG! I don’t know how to go on with my life after seeing this! lol I get it, why it was voted the best island destination in the world! So many useful tips, thank for sharing !

p.s. I´ll be posting an article soon on 10 places that gave me some serious Wanderlust in 2018, let me know if I could include your post in? Would be great to share it with my readers!

Have a wonderful weekend! Anna

I’d love to be included in your post, Anna. So glad it inspired you 😉

Wow! The very first pic sold me the place. It seems so unreal like a picture postcard. I am glad it is difficult to reach as you seem to appreciate the place more if it is difficult to reach there. I love the blue-green water. I would certainly love to dive in such clear blue water and with so much marine life down there I am sure it would be worth it. This is such an amazing guide to the Islands with all the complete information. I am sure it would be difficult to get so much of info. Thanks for sharing.

It is one of the best places to dive. There are also several ship wrecks that you can see underwater, apart from the marine life.

I think this is a perfect guide for Coron! Your photos are very beautiful. I have been to Philippines many times but not to Palawan. Hope to make it next time. I have been collecting articles on that region and yours is also being bookmarked 🙂

That’s great, Palawan is gorgeous, I hope you visit next time x

I am from the Philippines and I haven’t been to Coron. This post makes me want to go. Everyone I kno who’s been there loves it!

I hope you make it there soon x

Coron looks gorgeous in your photos, and I can see why it would be worth the trip to enjoy those beautiful pristine beaches. Do you have any suggestions for places to stay? It doesn’t sound like there are large resorts, but perhaps a cute beach shack? This is a great resource of information for anyone thinking about visiting Coron. Thanks for all the tips!

Unfortunately, Tami, the island where most hotels and accommodations are, does not have a lot to do. Even the beaches there aren’t as pretty, you’d have to take a boat and get to the lovely places. Unfortunately, the beaches on Busuanga Island (Coron main town area) do not even have restaurants or bars on the beach, let alone hotels and shacks. El Nido would be a better choice for that kind of experience 🙂 You could also look at staying in a hotel on a different island altogether, off Busuanga. I came across two budget hotels which were located off Busuanga (Coron’s mainland), so a little disconnected from the town life and ferry tours, but located right on the beach so a nice place to relax. Check out Balinsasayaw Resort & Majika Island Resort.

Contrarian Traveler Geemiz

Thank you for the extensive information. I think I am more ready to go to Coron because of your post plus the lovely photos. Coron is on my bucket list but I and the husband are still looking for a longer period of time to do backpacking in overall Palawan.

The longer, the better 🙂

I’m not much of a beach person as I’d rather roam around than just sit on the beaches. However, the beautiful natural landscapes all around definitely make up for this! I’ve not heard of Coron even though I know about El Nido and Puerto Princessa though, would love to visit.

It’s more off-beat than El Nido and Puerto Princessa, and thus more well-preserved and natural 🙂

Coron is such a paradise I wasn’t aware about , Its great option to know that we can either fly in directly from Manila or take a ferry from El Nido. I am going to plan this trip this year itself . the pictures are really motivating to plan this fun vacation.

You could visit it in winter (December) this year – it’ll be lovely!

Marcus and Mel

Those beaches and water look idyllic (wouldn’t mind spending the afternoon sleeping in the hammock) and we are not bothered by the quieter nightlife. The only concern is the chance of rough water as neither of us are great on boats.

Oh no, that’s a pity! Because there really isn’t much to do in the town itself, you’d have to take a boat and go to the nice places.

Oh my, your shots are so stunning. These places are so high on my bucket list and I love the idea that convenience is not the keyword for their visit. Have to plan my trip here for the next winter.

It’s the perfect summer destination for winter 😉

Coron is so beautiful with those amazing beaches! I liked the idea of water shoes. Very practical helpful tips, only I wish I will be able to visit.

This place sounds amazing. I love that it’s not so crowded with people, but I also love your practical tips such as sacrificing convenience. Overall, well-written post. I can tell you took good notes and delivered valuable travel tips.

Cheers Allison x

I never knew Coron was on my bucket list until now! lol. I’m going to be daydreaming about kayaking in those waters for AWHILE.

Haha, I already have an overflowing bucket list myself, I keep adding new places as and when I see any.

What a thorough post! It made me realise that, however beautiful these places are, I prefer my creature comforts. Thank you for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly!

I’m glad I could help you put things in perspective 🙂

Awesome list – honestly maybe I live under a rock but I hadn’t heard much about the island until very recently!! Hopefully by the time I am able to get there its beauty will still have been preserved 🙂

I agree, I hope it doesn’t get overrun by tourists like Boracay did 🙂

DebbZie Leksono

Judging from the beautiful pictures here, no wonder that it has been voted as the best island destination in the world several times in the last few years! Also since you’ve mentioned that it’s not too crowded compare to other places, it sounds like a perfect getaway destination for me. Thanks so much for all the throughly tips, specially #12. I’m prone to motion sickness :p

Aww, then you better be prepared 🙂 We had rough seas on our way back and lot of people were sick!

I’ve been to Coron few years ago and absolutely loved it! Yes I took the ferry to El Nino, it was a 9 hours journey but amazing, relaxing and with incredibles views (I saw a whale jumping out of the water). I didn’t have a padi at the time and it was a shame as I’ve herd there are many incredible wrecks to see underwater.

9 hours, wow! I took the fast ferry and it was only 4 hours and it was freezing inside, with no open deck seating! I also did not have PADI, I did a discovery dive, for non-certified enthusiasts 🙂

Wow, I didn’t realise Coron was so beautiful! Those beaches are amazing! Great post 🙂

It really is a paradise!

Shruti Prabhu

Coron looks gorgeous! The water shoes thing is a good idea. This was a problem even on Gili Islands in Indonesia. Disembarking from the ferry does involve your feet or even your suitcases getting wet. Is the sea rough only in certain seasons? I would want to try to avoid rough sea for travel.

The weather is quite unpredictable in the Philippines. Even though December – March is the dry season and the best time to travel, it can get rainy and rough even then.

Gosh can’t get over how clear that water is! I know where I’m headed this Christmas. Also, I feel like the fact that it’s not as convenient to get to almost adds to its beauty. Makes you appreciate it more for sure!

I agree, I am not the one for convenience either. I’d rather visit untouched, far off places for the beauty 🙂

I could not agree more that Coron, indeed is the crown jewel of the province of Palawan. Part of the adventure is getting there. It’s tough and challenging but one will be surely rewarded with amazing experience. Coron is more laid back which is just the perfect place to forget your worries and just soak in whatever nature has to offer.

I agree, part of the adventure is in getting there 🙂

Wow, what a fantastic place to visit! To be honest you sold me with just the first picture. Looks like some really beautiful beaches. Would love to try all the delicious seafood there as well.

The first picture is the view on the way to Kayangan Lake 🙂

Debra Schroeder

Loved your photos. What a fabulous guide, great tip about the ferry. Good to know that your itinerary will depend on what tour operator you use.

Unlike El Nido where the tour itineraries are fixed across operators, Coron’s tours don’t follow a fixed itinerary 🙂

This is a great guide! Your photos are all so sharp and oh my goodness, the colour of the water! That alone makes me want to visit so badly. I’ll definitely reference this article when I decide to go 🙂 Really useful tips!

Wow! Coron looks heavenly with those unspoilt beaches and turquoise waters. Perfect for unwinding and writing. I’ve been planning to travel to the Philippines for some time now and your post has totally convinced me!

That’s great, I hope you go soon x

Lauren Pescarus

I loved all your tips, but especially the one for renting or bringing water shoes! So many people don’t think of it! All of these tips offers some amazing insights to know before you visit. Thank you!

The water shoes are really important! You could hurt or worse, bitten, without them!

Suman Doogar

Forwarding this to a friend who is planning to go in June for his honeymoon. It will definitely help him in keeping things in perspective. I liked the way how you have given such wonderful and honest tips.

Wow this looks like my kind of place! We love exotic beaches and have never really looked at Coron, we are now googling it, thanks for all the info! Amazing place

Wow. This place looks stunning. Thank you for sharing these tips. Love your photos.

Thank you Olivia x

What a beautiful place, it looks like a fairy-tale! I am definitely adding this to my list of places to check out, thanks for the post!

Cheers Kylee x

Looks like a perfect idyllic beach destination to relax. Is this the new Boracay of Philipines? Are they competing or complimenting each other?

It’s nothing like Boracay Anu. Boracay is a lot more commercialised, crowded and happening. Coron, on the contrary, is lesser crowded, more idyllic and not really that ‘happening’ when it comes to vibe. It’s for true nature lovers who are willing to put up with some inconvenience to get to some of the prettiest places they’ll ever see! I will very soon write a post on Boracay vs Palawan, to help people understand the difference and pick the right place as per their choices 🙂

Followingtherivera

Coron is really on my list of places to see in the Philippines. I just hope it maintains its authenticity and isn’t ruined by mass tourism, like what’s happened in Thailand. I think the scenery is stunning, and will bear in mind your advice before visiting!

I hope so too Lisa, I am glad I got there already, you never know what’ll happen once mass tourism takes over 😉

amit sharma

You know Medha,I’m very much toying with the idea of making the Philippines my long-term travel destination for this year and reading through this post you’ve done nothing to deter me from that haha. I would love to do an Island hop and your comment about things not being convenient – It’s SE Asia Nothing is convenient to get to – but when you do get there it’s spectacular 😀 – Ok I’m going this year!! (Quick stop in Dubai before thought 😛 )

Haha, yes, a stopover in Dubai followed by a long term trip to The Philippines is actually a fantastic plan. If I could, I’d choose The Philippines as my long-term travel destination too!

Wow, the photos of the water blew me out of the water. I would love to visit, but given how challenging it is to get there, it might take me a while. Hope it continues to remain untouched and not go the way of Boracay.

The prettiest and untouched places are usually not the easiest to get yo 😉

Abhinav Singh

Coron has already been made famous hanks to the instagrammers. Philippines has some of the best beaches of the world! I am happy to hear that it is not crowded. Hope it stays that way. Despite being a difficult place to get to, I am tempted to spend at least a week here. You have shared some really great tips which people do no generally share on instagram.

Oh I wish I had a week to spare for just Coron 🙂 It really seems like you’re far away from the rest of the world, in some corner!

Ohh I love the beaches and I would like to escape there in December when it’s so cold in Europe – it would be a dream coming true. I can imagine myself laying whole day there on the beach not moving. Looks really amazing!

Haha, yeah, it’s amazing to have summer destinations in winter months 😉

These photos are amazing! It looks like a lovely place to visit. I would especially like that it is off the beaten path and less crowded. Your practical advice for the trip is very useful.

Thanks Kristie x

Denny George

While I’ve been to Manila numerous times(primarily on work), I’m yet to really venture out of Luzon, owing to time pressures and the like. I’ve wanted to visit both Boracay and Palawan for some time now. Your tips and recommendations will come in handy when I make my way down to Palawan. Nice photographs.

Hopefully Boracay will re-open much prettier and cleaner after the 6-month refurbishment. Palawan is gorgeous, you must visit if you’re in The Philippines!

Ive never heard about Coron before but when I am looking at your photos I really just wanna book my flight! The blue water looks amazing! I am very jealous about that hammock! It looks so relaxing to be on it ! Thanks for recommendation!

We were in El Nido in 2014 but never made it to Coron because my husband got a bad stomach flue! Coron is beautiful and no doubt we are going there one day and with your great tips everything will go smooth and easy!

Oh, that’s a pity. Yes, you must definitely visit on your next trip 🙂

What a beautiful place! Reminds me of the Cook Islands. This has been super high on my list of beach destinations to visit, I hope to make it there soon!

Hope you do x

What a paradise! It’s no surprise that has been voted top island destination various times… The color of its water is unreal and its remote location makes it even more special! Plus, I guess the seafood is the freshest you could find 😀

Absolutely!

Vicky and Buddy

I think it’ll be interesting to see how things develop in Coron now that more and more people are learning about it. You shared some really great tips. I especially appreciate the ones about the waterproof bag and water shoes. When I was in Thailand I had to jump off a long boat and wade through the water. I timed it right with the waves, but the person after me didn’t and a wave came through and completely soaked their bag.

Wow, I can imagine! No point getting your belongings wet. Waterproof bag and also water shoes are good investments when exploring a place like this.

It sounds like most of the activities are water-based. Just as it should be with gorgeous water like the pictures you’ve shown here. I think I’d be boating or swimming the entire time. Is there snorkeling good, too? And is the water warm? Coron does seem like paradise… And I’ll take a chicken adobe meal, please!

The water was the perfect temperature and plenty of snorkelling opportunities due to the clear waters and colourful corals!

Archana Singh

The Philippines is one of my favourite countries in the world. And, Coron is mind-blowingly beautiful. Palawan is such a great place to explore. Did you explore other parts too or just Coron?

I also explored El Nido in Palawan. Unfortunately could not make it to Puerto Princessa.

Suruchi Mittal

We have been planning to visit the Philippines this year and Coron will be a lovely addition to it. I loved that sea picture of green turquoise water. The beaches look really clean. Great pictures and post-Medha.

Thanks Suruchi x

Corona looks incredible! The colour of the water is unreal, I would love to try diving there! The food sounds delicious too, sizzling shrimp and squid would be on my menu for sure!

The waters were incredible and the food awesome, no doubt!

Absolutely gorgeous. So sad that we missed the opportunity to visit Coron when we were in the Philippines two years ago. The pristine water, the beaches…heavenly. Love fresh seafood…right up my alley! Thanks for the tips on how to get there!!

I can’t believe Coron was voted the best island destination in the world and I’d never heard of it! I actually don’t mind the lack of convenience. I’m totally willing to work and sacrifice for incredible views and new experiences!

As was I. And it was totally worth it 🙂

Jenn and Ed Coleman

We definitely want to go to Coron for scuba diving. Great advice about brining a waterproof bag for island hopping. We island hopped across the Andaman Sea in Thailand and had to wade into shore from the ferry in Railay. We were able to carry our luggage on our head and keep it dry but any surf would have soaked the lot. A waterproof bag would have been much easier and safer.

Waterproof bags and water shoes are a must! Luckily, they’re available for purchase right at the pier, when you’re boarding the ferry.

Renata Green

It’s so sweet that you write ‘what to expect’ and then there are all these breathtaking pictures of Edenic places – what more could one expect?! Seriously, I totally have to visit Coron – maybe already next year. Will pin your post for that occasion.

It’s good to know that there’s nothing much to do in Coron, and that the weather’s pretty unpredictable. But since it looks so beautiful I guess it would be totally worth it. I would definitely decide on the spot, and perhaps even one day in advance, whether to go to Coron or not to avoid disappointments and stressful moments. After all, it looks like this remote island is made for people to travel slowly, and to go there to unwind and relax, right?!

Well, there are islands and lakes around the Coron Busuanga Island which can be explored 🙂 It’s not meant as much for relaxing as it is for exploring around and enjoying some activities I’d say 🙂

First time reading about Coron and I am in love with the place. The beaches are so dream like. The color of water most fascinating. I just hope it doesn’t get too crowded.

It’s not really that crowded at the moment. But you never know what happens in the future 🙂

Palawan was not even on my radar – never mind the province of Coron. This would be a great winter getaway for us. Your tips are good and practical. A boat tour would definitely be something I would want to do. Fresh seafood is always a great draw for us. We are not big night life people, so a quiet place is just fine for us.

If you love remote places with rugged and untouched nature, you’re going to love Coron 🙂

Wow, Coron looks very pristine. I hope that it doesn’t deteriorate once more and more people will come. Yes, it’s getting a lot of buzz and I hope they don’t destroy it’s natural beauty. Btw, I am same, I also look at places on Instagram!

Instagram has inspired me to visit some really amazing places around the world!

The beaches in Coron look absolutely stunning. This is a great guide for what to expect for Coron and how to get around since it’s not quite as developed . The tips for bringing a drybag, sunscreen and water shoes on the boat tours are good too, bo need for sunburn or a cut to ruin your day in paradise

Hello Medha,

Such a nice blog, your picture collection is amazing, thanks for sharing these wonderful landscapes, I’m also following you, keep up the good work

Kavita Favelle

I’ve really been seeing quite a buzz about Coron lately, and I can see from your post why it’s so popular as one of the most beautiful island destinations in the world. The turquoise of the clear waters is almost unbelievable, just stunning, and against the lush greenery and striking rocky landscape. Would love to visit.

It is really gorgeous!

Siddhartha Joshi

Wow! The best island in the whole world – now that’s some reputation to live up to, and clearly Coron has done well there, considering it has won that title several times in the past few years! The Banana beach looks pretty awesome 🙂

They have an Island Tour which lasts the whole day and they take you to 3 of the most gorgeous islands I’ve seen in my life. I’ll be writing my post about that, soon!

Cool tips for Coron visits.. 🙂 Your photos makes me want to return to Coron. I was not able to visit some of those islands. 🙂 I think you have covered important points for a trip to Coron. I’d just like to add that you can now travel to Coron from Cebu. 🙂

Thank you for the additional tip, Marvi 🙂

Chris Bloomfield

Remote and tricky to get to, beautiful beaches and waters, this place is begging for me to visit. Coron looks like paradise. I might need more than just a few days though, because I could chill in that hammock for a long time before getting bored. Thanks for the helpful article, now I will have a chance of actually getting to the island.

I agree, you could actually spend a long time in a place like this. The only problem is, most of these gorgeous islands don’t have hotels or places to live in, they’re 1.5 hours away from the mainland by boat, and the mainland itself doesn’t have a lot to offer. If you rent a boat or take a private tour, it’s expensive and if you go with a group tour, you really don’t get as much as time as you’d like to spend in the loveliest of places.

Wow! I can definitely see why this was voted the top island destination in the world. Absolutely beautiful. Are they able to handle tourism responsibly, I assume there is a big influx with this kind of quality tourism rating!

Earlier, the focus was on Boracay and they did have a lot of tourism influx there, due to which they’re actually shutting the island down for 6 months to ‘rehabilitate’. In the meanwhile, they’ve shifted focus to Palawan. I hope they’re able to handle it responsibly there 🙂

Tamara Elliott

OMG that looks heavenly! I wonder if it would be better to go to El Nido for the ease of it, or Coron as its a bit more off the beaten path. Regardless, I’m sad I never made it to Palawan when I was in the Philippines!

That’s a big enough reason for you to go back!

Linda de Beer

I like that Coron is more remote and tougher to get to than the other Palawan provinces. It will be my first choice to visit for that very reason. Thanks for this guide that taught me everything I need to know to plan my trip. I’ll stock up on the motion sickness tablets in preparation of the rough seas!

I loved it too for that very reason 🙂 The more remote the place, the more untouched and beautiful it is bound to be.

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Coron travel blog — The fullest Coron travel guide for first-timers

As one of the three largest islands in the Calamian islands in the Palawan region of the Philippines, Coron has now become a “paradise on earth” for tourists who love the sea and islands. Furthermore, this place also has countless unique experiences under the clear blue water for you to experience. So, is Coron worth visiting, how to visit Coron, what to do in Coron and how to plan a budget trip to Coron for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Coron travel blog (Coron blog, Coron island blog) with the fullest Coron travel guide (travel guide to Coron, guide to Coron, coron island travel guide, Coron guide) from how to get to Coron, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Coron to help you maximize your trip as follows!

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Coron is the largest island city of the municipality of Busuanga, in the province of Palawan. Usually in the Philippines, the city itself doesn’t have many famous attractions but the surrounding areas and the rest of the island are amazing, Coron is no exception. This place is also famous for diving to see shipwrecks and going on island tours.

Overview of Coron (# coron travel blog)

Coron Island located north of Palawan, Philippines is the third largest island in the Calamian archipelago. This island is part of the municipality of the same name – Coron. It is about 170 nautical miles (310 km) from Manila.

Currently, when referring the Palawan region in the land of thousands of islands of the Philippines, perhaps the two names most mentioned are EL Nido and Coron. Both of these places are considered a resort paradise, especially for tourists who love the island and sea. And among them, the feature to identify Coron is its wildness, peace and freshness.

The area around Coron Bay has dozens of small islands with white sand beaches and World War II shipwrecks. Its breathtaking beauty makes it a paradise for scuba diving and island hopping.

There’s more to Palawan than the world-famous islands and beaches of El Nido and the subterranean river in Puerto Princesa. Coron is a tropical island in the Palawan province of the Philippines that is still quite wild, taking you on a magical journey!

When you come here, you will feel the different pace of life between the quiet city center and the especially vibrant coastal area thanks to natural specialties. In particular, when choosing to travel to Coron, you will have the opportunity to experience extremely interesting diving activities to explore the ocean.

While El Nido is popular for honeymooners and beach lovers, Coron is a bit more laid-back and suitable for family vacations and scuba diving adventures.

Coron’s town is smaller and quieter than El Nido. However, you will find lots of great things to do here, in the surrounding islands and waters and on the main island. You can hop on a boat and head to stunning islands to snorkel, scuba dive, or camp on the beach. You can also climb a mountain to watch a beautiful sunset or soak in a hot spring.

The best time to visit Coron (# coron blog)

There are two main seasons in Coron. The dry season from November to May. The rainy season which begins from July to September. An interesting thing about the weather in Coron is that it has a stable tropical climate, making it a great place to go during the summer.

It’s quite sunny if you plan to visit in the summer, with little chance of unexpected rain and thunderstorms. The warmest months are March to May, while the month with the coldest weather is October.

If you want to come to Coron to find blue seas and calm waves. You should go from February to May. During this time, Coron has a fresh blue color, gentle winds and calm. At the same time, the cool weather and quiet atmosphere will help you have an extremely enjoyable trip to explore Coron. However, this is also peak season in the Philippines in general and Coron in particular. Therefore, if you go during this time, you must book travel services 1 to 2 months before going. In addition, you also have to pay for services at higher prices than usual. So please prepare your mind in advance and limit having too much fun.

If you don’t want to go during peak season because your budget doesn’t allow it. You can go during the low season in the months from May to October. The reason this is the low season in Coron is because of the rainy season. The rainy season in Coron often lasts long with sudden and unexpected rains. Heavy rain will also make your journey uncomfortable. But if you still want to travel at this time, prepare your luggage with items such as: quick-drying, waterproof clothes, hats, umbrellas, raincoats, etc.

The average temperature in the warmest months is about 29°C. Meanwhile, the average temperature in the months with cold weather is about 22 – 23°C.

During the summer, it is best to wear beach attire. Make sure to bring other beach essentials like goggles and a cap. Another essential to bring on your trip to Coron is an umbrella.

Getting to Coron (# coron island blog)

If you choose to fly to Manila, then there are ways to get to Coron such as:

By plane (# coron travel blog)

The Philippines has many islands and seas, so traveling by road and waterway is quite time-consuming and complicated. Flying is convenient, tickets are also cheap. There are only three airlines to Coron: Philippines Airlines (national airline), Skyjet, Cebu Airlines (low-cost airline). From Coron to Manila, there are no night flights and no flights to other places, so it’s a bit inconvenient for people who want to save airfare and time.

The ticket price for this flight is about $37 – $41 and the duration is about 1 hour 50 minutes if flying directly. But you must book your tickets early.

From Busuanga airport into Coron island town (# coron blog)

After landing at Coron airport (Francisco B. Reyes Airport), you will have to travel another 45 minutes to get to the town center. Outside the airport, there are many vans, buses, and taxis to take you to the hotel and town in different directions. Just go out and say the name of the hotel your hotel and the drivers will guide you. The fixed price for a van is 150 peso per person, no need to bargain. When going from town to the airport, I asked the hotel staff to book a car for me, also 150 peso.

By boat from El Nido to Coron (# coron travel guide)

If you depart from El Nido town, the boat will be the most reasonable means for you to get to Coron. The price of traveling by ferry will be much cheaper than by plane. So you might save a bit of money. As for travel time, it will depend on two different types of ferries, which are:

• Fast ferry: Usually departs at 7 a.m. with a ticket price of about 1,600 Pesos. You will have to travel about 4 to 5 hours depending on the weather conditions offshore.
• Normal ferry: You will have to travel about 8 to 9 hours with this type of ferry. Although the travel time is long, you will save a bit because the train ticket price is only about 1,000 Pesos to 1,200 Pesos.

Taking a boat at sea for so long will be a bad experience for those who suffer from seasickness. But currently there is no other option for traveling between the two islands because at this time there are still no flights between El Nido and Coron.

Getting around Coron (# coron blog)

Getting from El Nido, after docking at Coron port, go out and catch a trycicle, it takes about 15 minutes to get back to town.

After arriving at Coron Island, you can try to experience countless interesting vehicles such as poracle cars, the cost is very cheap, only about $0.2/2km. Or you will ride a jeepney to get around the city. And if you want to be proactive and easily get around, rent a motorbike for $6.15/first 3 hours, if you rent for the whole day it will be cheaper.

We were mainly walking, motorized tricycles and electric tricycles (yellow, smoother ride). Tricycle, each trip the driver charges 10 pesos per person, for a group of 4 people it costs 40 pesos. Not sure if it was overcharged or not, but I think the price is reasonable, each person only spent $0.2, I did not bargain anymore.

Tricycle is the most popular and easily found vehicle in the Philippines. You will easily find this mean of transport everywhere on the road with the same design as an auto rickshaw but smaller. If you travel in a group of 4 people, this vehicle will be extremely suitable to take you to explore Coron city.

Tuk tuk is also a suitable vehicle for tours with large groups of people. At the same time, the price of traveling by tuk tuk is inexpensive. You will be able to save quite a bit when going sightseeing by this type of vehicle.

Motorbike/bicycle

These are the two most common types of means of transportation that you can choose for your trip. With these two types of cars, you can rent them directly at your accomodation. If they don’t have one, try asking the receptionist for the nearest places to rent one. The cost of renting a car is usually quite cheap and an international driver’s license is required. So please prepare an international driver’s license.

Motorbike rental service in Coron is quite popular with a price of about 500 pesos per day. Compared to auto rickshaw, scooters are more economical for long trips or multiple stops.

These are two indispensable means of transportation to other islands in Coron. With a boat/ferry, it will be easier for you to move and visit neighboring islands. At the same time, you will also have other exciting experiences such as diving to see coral, swimming, playing water motorbikes, kayaking, etc. in offshore waters.

If you want to relax and have a real walk. Look for hotels near the center of Coron. From the center, it will be easier for you to walk and explore Coron city. And of course, with this experience you will not lose any costs. However, it will take a lot of effort and you won’t be able to explore many tourist attractions. Therefore, you should combine other means of transportation to have a reasonable trip.

What to do and where to go?

Island hopping

Most tourists come to Coron to experience island-hopping boat tours. This is the main tour on Coron Island, the tour goes through many of the area’s top highlights in one day.

You’ll visit several white-sand beaches, see picturesque lakes, row boats in twin lagoons, and snorkel with fish in wonderful coral gardens. And visit at least one World War II shipwreck site. Don’t forget Coron is one of the most famous scuba diving spots in the Philippines. You can dive to explore the unique beauty of the islands during your trip.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

One of the must-do and exciting experiences that any visitor to Coron enjoys is diving to see shipwrecks from World War II. This place once was a battlefield for American and Japanese soldiers, so there are still many wrecks were left behind. Therefore, you only need to take about 1-2 hours by boat from Coron to get here to explore the ocean.

The area around Busuanga is one of the world’s most famous wreck diving sites. There are many Japanese wreckships found at this locations. Some wrecks lie deep in the ocean, others are in shallow water. Not only for experienced scuba divers, beginners can also come here. There is also a shipwreck located near the coast, if you scuba dive you can also see it.

Culion’s beautiful beaches

You can also take a leisurely cruise to Culion’s best tourist spots like Malcapuya Island and Ditaytayan Island. This is where you can enjoy panoramic views of the coastal cliffs on the boat ride there. You’ll want to stay a while on this island to enjoy the beauty of its pristine beaches and soft white sand.

Calauit Safari Park

For those who prefer land-based attractions, the Calauit Game Refuge and Wildlife Sanctuary is the ideal destination. Enjoying views of the island’s wildlife with this day tour to Coron’s savannah where African giraffes, antelopes, zebras, and brown deer roam freely… The reserve is located on an island Small island at Busuanga northern portion, about 70 km from Coron town. Leave town early to enjoy a relaxing morning safari around the park before it gets too hot.

Next is Tapyas peak, this is known as a beautiful viewing spot of Coron, Tapyas peak with a height of 210m and 742 steps has made many visitors admire the beautiful romantic sunset scene. Not only that, visitors can also walk on the stairs with lush green grass slopes mixed with golden sunlight on both sides and enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful Coron Island or the majestic limestone reefs offshore. Below Tapyas peak is the blue color of the sea and is most beautiful when the sunset is gradually falling with the last rays of sunlight in the clearest and most romantic way.

Maquinit Hot Spring

Located in a mangrove forest, Maquinit is one of the world’s very few natural sources of salty hot water. The mineral-rich water of nearly 400 degrees Celsius is loved for its relaxing properties and is good for physical and mental health. Soaking in the hot water pool at dusk is an experience not to be missed, especially on starry nights.

About 30 minutes by tricycle from the main town located in a mangrove forest next to the sea. It is said to be one of the very few natural saltwater springs in the world.

Kayangan Lake

Besides the clear beaches, you can go to Kayangan Lake to swim and dive. Not only is it beautiful when viewed from above and below the lake, but the surrounding space is also very peaceful and fresh. The journey here is also a very chill experience. You will sit on a boat and drift slowly through the rocky mountains, through the small bay and finally reach this fairyland.

One of the interesting activities in Coron is visiting Kayangan Lake. Swimming and diving here are so great! The area around the lake is extremely beautiful. From Coron you will take a boat through several rocky mountains to a small bay. A bit of climbing will be required before you can see the captivating panorama of this area. The image we took was of this place. Surely this is a destination not to be missed.

Coron Island

Besides Coron city in Busuanga, there is a place not far away called Coron island. Only 20 minutes by train from the city to the island. You can experience a day trip here.

Although there are so many stunning backgrounds, have you checked in with the majestic limestone mountains next to the clear sea on Coron Island? You only need to take the train for about 20 minutes from the city to reach and embrace the wild but extremely romantic and worthwhile beauty of this island.

Twin Lagoons

Among the beautiful and spectacular spots where you can trust your soul to the clear blue water, you must choose Twin Lagoons saltwater lake in Coron. This lake is so clear and quiet that you could mistake it for a giant mirror. How can you miss a great spot like that without coming to check-in and enjoy a little, right? And if you dive to the bottom of the lake, you can go through the “underground door” to the other lake.

Twin Lagoons is a paradise on earth with clear water like a giant mirror. When you come to Twin Lagoons, you will be able to freely soak in the cool and clear water. In addition, at Twin Lagoons, you can also become a “hot model” with the most attractive and unique photo styles. Because the natural scenery at Twin Lagoons is like a picture so beautiful it’s hard to believe it’s real.

Barracuda Lake

Among the must-visit and famous lakes in Coron is Barracuda brackish water lake. Viewed from above, this lake looks like a shiny jade sheet surrounded by majestic rocky mountains. This paradise-like space is also a healing place for a very good mood.

Barracuda is a beautiful brackish lake surrounded by rocky mountains. In addition to carrying the responsibility of “masterpiece” in Coron. Barracuda Lake is also an ideal place for you to take a scuba diving journey to the bottom of the ocean. However, just from the shore looking down at the lake surface, you can glimpse a few fish. But once you settle down to the bottom, you will definitely be amazed by the one-of-a-kind beauty of Barracuda.

Furthermore, this is also a place for you to experience scuba diving and explore the ocean floor under the clearest water in the world. So, more or less, you must come to this lake at least to experience and check-in.

CYC Beach (# coron island blog)

If you don’t call CYC beach a natural masterpiece, you can call it “sea paradise”. Because the beauty of this landscape painting is created from the smooth white sand beach running along the green coconut trees, embracing the clear blue sea, but it is wonderfully harmonious. Especially, if you get lost in this peaceful space, it will be very difficult for you to escape.

Coron isn’t just about remote sea beds. Of course, this place also has fine white sand beaches and tall, fluttering coconut trees. Come to CYC Beach to see this seascape painting. At CYC Beach, you will find a long stretch of white sand with an extremely quiet space. Spend the end of the day after sports activities sightseeing and having fun here. And don’t forget to admire the brilliant sunrise at CYC Beach.

Balinsasayaw Reef, Malwawey Reef & Coral Garden

Coron not only possesses heavenly beauty on the water surface, but also an artistic masterpiece below the ocean. If you have dived to explore the wreck, you should also give yourself some beautiful things below the sea surface in this colorful coral “garden”, right? This is also one of those experiences that will be imprinted in your mind for the rest of your life.

Balinsasayaw Reef, Malwawey Reef & Coral Garden are the two most attractive places that we really like. Because when you come to Balinsasayam Reef, Malwawey Reef & Coral Garden, you will come to a colorful coral “garden” underwater. Not only are there corals, but Balinsasayaw Reef, Malwawey Reef & Coral Garden also have other rich marine species.

There are many beautiful scenes here, the main means of travel is by boat. Taking a tour is the best choice for you to reach all places. Luckily the quality of the tours is very good. You don’t have much choice. Either you focus on the most beautiful beaches, or you go to the most popular spots. Remember to book a tour here!

How to choose where to go if your time is limited?

If you don’t have much time to go to all spots, there is a way to combine it all:

Choose about 8 places you want to go in 1 day, and go to faraway places the next day. Then go to the tour agents and said you want to buy a private tour and go to the places you want.

They will quote you the price of the tour, in the morning they will take you to the market to buy whatever you want to eat, and at noon they will cook it for free on the boat.

Private tour means you rent a private boat and don’t combine it with another group.

Going like this way is very proactive and if there are 4 or more people, the price per person is even cheaper than usual. So if you go in a large group, whether you have time or not, you should book a private tour.

And NOTE: If you book a tour, you should book the day before so that the next day they will arrange a time and location to pick you. You will have to deposit a little money in advance, but rest assured that you won’t be disappointed, the people here are good and honest.

When you return, remember to give the tour guides a few tips to thank them. 100, 200 pesos is ok.

Purchasing a personal Super Ultimate Island tour at Calamian Islands Travel and Tours is all-inclusive. This is a reputable tour company in the Palawan archipelago. I booked an airport shuttle service for 1,500 pesos/6 people because the airport is quite far away in the jungle. This tour will include destinations in Coron, my group of 6 people, 1900 pesos/person. Deposit 4,000 pesos to pay in cash.

What to eat in Coron?

The food in Coron will be quite expensive. Normally, meals in restaurants will range from 150 Pesos to 400 Pesos. If you want to save more money, you can choose small restaurants outside the port for only 50 Pesos for a portion. In addition, in the afternoon there will be stalls selling grilled food with prices ranging from 10 Pesos to 30 Pesos per skewer. You can also enjoy a variety of delicious dishes here.

Although it is said that the dishes in Coron, in general the dishes are similar throughout the Philippines. There are also a few famous dishes. It’s just that in each region, the seasoning is a little salty, a little sweet, just to the taste, the name doesn’t change.

A must-try dish here is a dish called tamilok, raw seafood cooked with vinegar, similar to ceviche. Another type is crocodile sisig, which uses crocodile meat seasoned with onions and chili peppers. You should also try danggit lamayo, a fresh, dried rabbitfish marinated in vinegar, pepper and garlic.

Some dishes mustr-try in Coron

• Roasted Pork Lechon: Lechon in Cebu and Manila is salty, I give 10 points in Palawan because it is not salty but fragrant. Lechon has smooth, crispy skin, a little bit of fat, a little is delicious.
• Bulalo: The name of a stew made from beef bones as the main ingredient, cooked with a few vegetables. In Manila, they add vinegar so it has a slightly sour taste. I heard that in Tagatay there is a restaurant that offers the most delicious and famous bulalo, but I was too lazy to go. In Coron, Season restaurant cooks like normal beef bone soup. The beef is soft and fragrant, one bowl can feed 2-3 people.
• Sisig: Sisig is the name of chopped meat, then fried with oil, diced purple onions, bell peppers, and this and sauce. Depending on the type of meat, there are names like chicken sisig, beef sisig, crocodile sisig, eggplant sisig (vegetarian restaurant) :). Sisig served with white rice.
• Sinigang: Sour soup, ingredients are fish, seafood, vegetables, add vinegar. Serveed with white rice.
• Lato: Sea grape salad, tomatoes, onions, chili, vinegar. This dish is often served with seafood. If you come to Coron, you will see it everywhere.
• BBQ Inasal: This dish is so famous, especially the famous chicken inasal brand Mang Inasal. Chicken is marinated with pepper, coconut vinegar and chestnut oil, then grilled and brushed with sauce. Served with kumquat + fried rice.
• Fried chicken: The most famous are Jollibee and Mc Donald’s, present everywhere across the country, including remote areas.
• Fruit juice: Mango, pineapple, especially green mango shake. Wherever I go, I look for it to drink. If I don’t have any, I only drink ripe mangoes.
• Halo halo (Filipino Shaved Ice Dessert): Traditional sweet treat includes milk, plantain cake, green, red, purple and yellow jelly, water coconut, and taro ice cream. Not sweet, not greasy. Sometimes put in a glass, sometimes in a coconut.
• Tapsilog: Garlic fried rice, I eat it at every restaurant. At every hotel, I have breakfast with Tapsilog garlic fried rice + eggs + bacon. It’s on the menu everywhere, if it isn’t, your request is ok.

In addition, you can try:

• Chicken Adobo (Adobong Manok)
• Kare Kare (Filipino stew with a rich and thick peanut sauce)
• Mani noodles
• Isaw (grilled chicken intestines)
• Chicken Arroz Caldo (Chicken Rice Porridge)
• Tsitsaron (fried pork belly or fried pork rinds)

Kare-Kare is a dish of boiled vegetables with peanut butter sauce and minced meat. Anyone who is tired of grease can try this dish. I’m loyal to this dish because of its heathy.

Kawayan BBQ restaurant is a perfect suggestion on the island. This restaurant with an indigenous motif is perfect for anyone craving seafood and grilled food.

Where to stay? (# coron island travel guide)

The most convenient place to stay is in Busuanga, where there are cheap guesthouses, bungalows and a few hotels for backpackers. Other places in Coron are also quite good to stay.

Affordable: You should stay at the hotels near town. The advantage is that it is cheap and close to the center for transportation. The downside is that it’s not beautiful, but there are also a few places with sea views (the sea on the Coron coast is not nice as expected). But it’s best to book in advance, booking in advance may be a bit expensive but not much…

Resorts: The advantage is beauty and comfort. The downside is that it’s very far. Even though there is a trycicle shuttle service, it’s only hourly and to certain locations, not where you want to go, so it will cost you more money to travel.

Also more expensive but not much. I stayed at the resort was also very beautiful. The resort I stayed at: Sunz En Resort ( Agoda , Booking )

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• The Funny Lion – Coron ( Agoda , Booking )
• Corto del Mar Hotel ( Agoda , Booking )
• Club Paradise Palawan ( Agoda , Booking )
• MO2 Westown Lagoon Coron ( Agoda , Booking )
• Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel ( Agoda , Booking )
• El Rio y Mar Resort ( Agoda , Booking )

Check out more top and best hotels in Coron on Agoda.com or Booking.com

My Coron itinerary 5 days

• Day 1: El nido – Coron, afternoon arrive in Coron, check in, rest and hang around town in the evening.
• Day 2 and 3: Island hopping (choose your own places to visit).
• Day 4: Safari or play in town then go scuba diving.
• Day 5: Town, Tapyas Mountain, hot springs, return to Manila in the afternoon, fly back to Hanoi at night.

If you only go a island hopping tour and don’t go on safari or scuba diving, then only 3 days will be enough to explore Coron.

Travel costs

In Coron, I found the food to be a little cheaper than El Nido, and the tour a little more expensive. Overall, it’s a little more expensive but not significant, compared to Vietnam, it’s still cheap.

We were free so we went for 5 days, the last day was considered lost due to travel. The remaining 3 days are 2 days of tour, 1 day of walking around town and hot springs. The mentality of eating, drinking, and having fun is not economical, and we miss out on promotional air tickets, so it costs a little.

• Round trip flight ticket Manila – Busuanga (Coron): 5241p (just missed the promotion so got extra cost).
• Buy tour = 2500p
• Eat and drink a lot of seafood 1 or 2 meals a day, each meal costs 1200 ~ 1800 pesos for 4 people.
• Miscellaneous expenses such as transportation, other miscellaneous snacks are not much.
• You should exchange money in Manila before going to Coron.
• When departing the island, each passenger must pay 100 pesos airport fee (terminal fee).
• Also important to note is that wherever you go, remember to bring bottled water to drink.

Some tips before you go

• Visiting islands in the Philippines, you will pay about 200 Pesos for environmental fees and 200 Pesos for entrance fees. If you have already paid 200 Pesos for the environmental fee, you will not have to pay extra for other island visits.
• You should check the ferry schedule in Coron in advance. Then, arrange to book the ferrt 1 to 2 hours in advance to avoid delays on previous journeys.
• If you suffer from motion sickness, consider traveling by plane to save time and not be tired while sightseeing.
• When arriving on the island, you should book a vehicle to take you to the hotel and a car to pick you up from the hotel to the airport. If you do not book in advance, there will usually not be a car to pick you up. You can still use a Tricycle or tuk tuk. But the cost of traveling to the airport will be very expensive.
• Please comply with Philippine regulations to avoid making certain mistakes.
• When visiting the island in Coron. You should work with the people to protect the environment as well as preserve the island’s landscape.
• If you participate in a scuba diving experience, remember not to break or pick the coral reefs.
• Do not catch underwater marine life on shore. Especially starfish, because they die very quickly.
• Most tours in Coron should have the assistance of a professional guide because of their adventurous nature. You can ask travel agencies for support with this.
• Don’t forget to bring sunscreen to help protect your skin from the effects of ultraviolet rays.
• Umbrellas and hats are also two extremely necessary pieces of equipment on every trip.
• If you go in the rainy season, remember to bring quick-drying clothes, umbrellas, raincoats, etc.
• High socks and insect repellent will be your close “friends” when you conquer the jungle and caves in Coron.
• You should exchange money before coming to Coron. Normally, the exchange rate in Coron will be higher than in your country.
• Don’t forget to prepare a 4G SIM card to conveniently contact family and tour services. In addition, you can also use network data to search for information or post photos on social networks.
• You can also use a wifi pocket device to access internet. However, the rental price will be quite high and if you lose it, you will lose your deposit. So you need to consider before renting.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Coron you can refer to

• Coron Tour A
• Coron Ultimate Island Day Tour
• Coron Tour B
• Coron Tour C
• Coron Island Escapade Day Tour
• Coron Super Ultimate Day Tour
• One-Way Fast Ferry Ticket Between Coron and El Nido
• Coron Town Half Day Tour
• Coron Tour D Reef and Wrecks
• Coron Tour in a Luxury Catamaran

Read more Philippines guide here .

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18 Most Budget-Friendly Places To Visit In The Philippines

• The Philippines offers a wide range of budget-friendly destinations for travelers, including Coron, Palawan, Vigan, and Catanduanes.
• These destinations offer stunning natural landscapes, historical sites, and affordable accommodations, making them ideal for budget-conscious travelers.
• From private boat rides in Coron to colonial vibes in Vigan and island hopping in Catanduanes, there are plenty of activities to enjoy while keeping costs low in the beautiful country of the Philippines.

The Philippines is composed of over 7,640 islands; hence, there is much to explore . It is one of the ideal destinations for travelers on a budget, and it features a wide range of choices for a budget-friendly vacation. The country has diverse tourism featuring various mountains, rich in marine life, history, and stunning views. To further explore the country, listed below are the cheapest places to visit in the beautiful country of the Philippines.

UPDATE: 2023/09/12 16:45 EST BY JASON DOOKERAN

A Few More Budget-Friendly Locations to Check Out in the Philippines

With so much to see, there's no shortage of budget-friendly spots to visit. This update offers four more budget-friendly locations. All accommodations mentioned were chosen due to several factors, chief among them being a minimum rating of 7.0 and a budget-friendly price for travelers.

Coron, Palawan

The island of Palawan is the country’s hidden gem , and by that, it means hidden beaches and water caves. Its white-sand beaches and turquoise-clear waters are surrounded by lush green forests and rock formations. Coron offers a more adventurous experience than other beaches on the island of Palawan. It is indeed a haven, especially for honeymooners, because it’s like the Maldives but cheaper and more private. A private boat ride only costs $43 and is still negotiable; tourists can also bring food or let the crews cook without having the need to pay additional charges.

• Recommended Tour: Coron Island Tour ( A Shared Tour)
• Duration: 8 hours
• Cost: From $29 USD per adult

Book this tour

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One of the most iconic travel destinations in the Philippines is the historic city of Vigan. The city is highly historical because Spanish Spaniards settled in the city during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In fact, it is included in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites ; the city truly gives a colonial vibe. The Liberation Boulevard is a perfect accommodation place for travelers on a budget; it features comfortable transient rooms to stay.

• Recommended Tour: Vigan & Laoag Private Tour
• Duration: 5-8 hours
• Cost: From $202.67 per adult

Catanduanes

One of the most visited islands by couples is the island province of Catanduanes, which is also said to be one of the cheapest destinations in the country. Catanduanes features its wonderful pastoral hills and mountainside as well as a beautiful coastline. The best thing to enjoy here includes island hopping on Palumbanes Islands, surfing, and locating the tidal pools within the region. The cost of the accommodation only ranges from $10 to $24 per night.

• Recommended Tour: Catanduanes 360 Full-Day Tour
• Cost: From $140 USD per adult, depending on the group's size

Antipolo City

Antipolo City is the capital of Rizal Province; it is a go-to destination for people coming from Manila for getaways. The city features fascinating landscapes and has an elevated topography, making it a perfect escape from the metro. Plenty of affordable resorts and cozy cafes can be found in Antipolo, and these are all budget-friendly. Maura’s Place offers stunning panoramic sunset views of the city. One of the most known resorts here is the Luljetta’s Hanging Gardens Spa, with a starting price of $17 per night.

• Recommended Tour: Skip the Line: Hike, Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve
• Duration: 2-10 hours
• Cost: From $21.8 USD per adult

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San Juan, Siquijor

The mysterious island of Siquijor is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the Philippines. When people visit Siquijor, most of them would stay in the town of San Juan because it offers very dramatic sunset views, which visitors love the most. Another reason for staying in San Juan is highly affordable hotels and resorts from $14 per night, and most of these are beachfront or located near the coastline. The best tourist attractions here are Cambugahay Falls, Paliton, Butterfly Sanctuary, Salagdoong Cliff Jump, and many more waterfalls and beaches.

• Recommended Tour: Siquijor Island Tour
• Duration: 3 days
• Cost: From $87.18 USD per adult

Baler, Aurora

Located in the northern part of Luzon is the coastal district of Baler, Aurora. Baler is one of the most affordable travel destinations as most of the attractions only charge minimal fees, and the bus rides are definitely cheap. There are a lot of historical sites within this town, including Museo de Baler. It is mostly known as a true haven for surfers because of its surfing waves. The biggest Balete tree in Asia can also be found here. Accommodation costs around $17 only.

• Accommodation: Kahanamoku Bed & Breakfast
• Address: Purok 7, Barangay Zabali, Baler 3200
• Amenities: Coffee Shop, Garden, Beach Access

Camiguin Island

Camiguin Island is the second-smallest island in the Philippines; it is located in the northern part of Mindanao and has so much to offer to every visitor. Despite being a small island, Camiguin is surprisingly packed with a lot of attractions and things to do that are relatively cheap. The lowest price for accommodation is only $5 per night, with free parking and free WiFi. Aside from having one of the most beautiful waters and white sand beaches in the Philippines, Camiguin is also home to hot springs, Nature Park, and waterfalls.

• Recommended Tour: Camiguin Land Tour
• Duration: 5-6 hours
• Cost: From $380 USD per group ( Up to 10)

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Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

Home to wonderful beaches in the town of Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro. In fact, it was awarded as the World’s Most Beautiful Bay in 2005 by the Les Plus Belles Baies Du Monde, a Paris-based organization. The most popular beach destination in town is White Beach; the most affordable accommodation place here starts at $20 per night. Island hopping is also a top activity by the visitors which is also relatively inexpensive. Visitors can also hike to Tamaraw Falls, a twin waterfall that flows through the human-made swimming pools.

• Recommended Tour: PUERTO GALERA Island Hopping & Snorkeling
• Cost: From $64 USD per adult

Tagaytay City, Cavite

Aside from Antipolo City, Tagaytay is also a go-to place for the people in the metro to unwind. Tagaytay gives a calm feeling to its visitors because of the nature and fresh air in the city. The cheapest thing to do here is to see the Taal Volcano, which features a beautiful sunrise; this is a free experience and a free therapy for some. The famous attraction here, aside from the Taal Volcano is the Sky Ranch, People’s Park in the Sky, Picnic Grove, and many more. Hotels here cost $20 per night.

• Recommended Tour: PanoramicTagaytay Ridge Tour from Manila
• Duration: 7 hours
• Cost: From $150 USD per adult

Baguio City

What’s interesting about Baguio is that most of the popular attractions here are free; all the visitors need is accommodation, bus fare, and food. For only $60 dollars, a person can already have an excellent yet quick vacation. Baguio is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the Philippines, and it provides numerous picturesque views of various attractions. Things to enjoy here include Burnham Park, Mines View Park, Baguio Botanical Garden, Bell Church, Kenon Road, museums, etc. The cheapest comfortable accommodation place costs $10 per night.

• Recommended Tour: Baguio City Tour with Lunch
• Cost: From $105 USD per adult

Bataan, Central Luzon

Located in the region of Central Luzon, Bataan is a destination in the Philippines famous for its history and laid-back atmosphere. All over the city are stunning buildings and memorials that shine a light on the city’s historic past. Besides the history, Bataan is also a place to enjoy relaxation as the city is endowed with charming beaches, impressive waterfalls, and towering mountains. In Bataan, tourists will enjoy activities such as hiking, swimming, and kayaking. Prices for some historic tours in the province may be expensive, but other outdoor activities and things such as transportation and food are cheap even by backpacker standards.

• Recommended Tour: Indigenous Forest Experience Manila 2022
• Duration: 10-12 hours
• Cost: From $160 USD per adult

Intramuros, Manila

Intramuros is one of the numerous historic places one can visit in the Philippines on a budget. Also known as - the Walled City, Intramuros is located in the capital city of the Philippines and is endowed with hundreds of years of Spanish history. During the exploration of this historic area, one will be met with old churches, beautiful stone fortresses, impressive cathedrals, and museums rich with artifacts ranging from cultural to artistic, musical, and historic. Many of these attractions come with surprisingly cheap price tags, and with 30-minute Kasela rides costing less than $10, one can easily drive around and have a wonderful time here without straining their pockets. As with many other parts of the country, food, water, and transportation are budget-friendly in Intramuros.

• Recommended Tour: Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours
• Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Cost: From $37.34 USD per adult

Cagsawa Ruins

One of the most unusual attractions in the Philippines is the Cagsawa Ruins. These are the remnants of a 16th-century Franciscan church that was built in the town of Cagsawa in 1587. It had a tumultuous history, first being destroyed by Dutch pirates in 1636 and then destroyed again by a volcanic eruption.

Today, the ruins are located in Barangay Busay, Cagsawa and are protected in Cagsawa Park. The ruins may remind visitors of the famous ruins of Pompeii - the famous Roman city destroyed by a volcano or the Caribbean island of Montserrat's capital of Plymouth, also buried under volcanic ash .

• Duration: 1 Hour
• Cost: Entry Fee Approx. $1

Cebu City is one of the Philippines' top tourist destinations . It is the most populated city in the Visayas and has a population of around 1 million people. It is the hub from which the Visayas revolve and enjoys a booming tourist industry. Around two million foreigner flocks to Cebu annually.

Prime attractions of the city include its white-sand beaches and spectacular diving - plus, it is full of lively bars and emerging eateries. Cebu City is the urban embodiment of tourism in the Philippines. It is also the oldest city in the Philippines and is nicknamed in the Phillippines - the Queen City of the South . Like in the rest of the Philippines, prices in Cebu are rarely great.

• Recommended Tour: Private Cebu & Lapu-Lapu City Tour
• Duration: 6+ Hours

Panglao Island

Known for its pristine beaches and vibrant marine life, Panglao offers budget-friendly beachfront accommodations and delectable street food. Adventurers can explore the famed Alona Beach, go island hopping to uninhabited islets, or snorkel at Danao Beach on a shoestring budget. A visit to the Hinagdanan Cave and the historic Baclayon Church adds cultural depth without denting one's wallet. Panglao Island, where thrifty dreams meet tropical paradise.

• Recommended Tour: Bohol Island Countryside Wonders Guided Tour
• Duration: Full Day
• Cost: From $68.00 USD per adult

Boracay, Malay

This tropical haven offers wallet-friendly accommodations in Station 3 and Bulabog Beach, allowing visitors to relish the island's natural beauty without breaking the bank. Budget adventurers can indulge in local street food, embark on island-hopping adventures, and partake in exciting water sports. Boracay's famed White Beach is a cost-free paradise, while sunsets at Willy's Rock are priceless.

• Recommended Tour: Boracay Sunset Cruise
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: From $16.42 USD per adult

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Iloilo City

This vibrant city offers a range of wallet-friendly accommodations, from cozy guesthouses to budget-friendly hostels. Street food stalls tempt with delectable local dishes at wallet-friendly prices. Exploring the city's rich heritage, including the Molo Church and historic Calle Real, provides an enriching cultural experience without straining one's travel budget. Nearby Guimaras Island, renowned for its sweet mangoes, is easily accessible for budget-conscious adventurers.

• Recommended Tour: Iloilo Fishing Port Tour and Local Market Food Trip
• Cost: From $16.16 USD per adult

This tropical paradise offers a myriad of budget-friendly accommodations, including beachfront hostels and cozy guesthouses in General Luna. Street food stalls dish out mouthwatering local flavors at modest prices. Adventurers can chase waves at Cloud 9 and explore tidal pools and lagoons without splurging. This island paradise's budget requirements are among the lowest travelers can encounter in the Philippines.

• Recommended Tour: Siargao Island Hopping & land Tour
• Duration: 8-10 hours
• Cost: From $107.00 USD per adult