Coron. It is the name for a town in Busuanga and the island just offshore. A haven for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Considered the wreck diving capital in the Philippines. In September 1944, a fleet of Japanese ships hiding in the harbour were sunk in a daring raid by the US navy. The result is around ten well preserved shipwrecks surrounded with coral reef.
HOW TO GET TO CORON?
By plane
• Fly into Busuanga from Manila with PAL Express, Cebu Pacific or Zest Air.
• Aiport to town: Jeepney - Fare: P150 / person ; 12 seater A/C Vans P1500 ; shared van P150/person
By boat
• SuperFerry stops in Coron on their way to Puerto Princesa. Leave Manila on Friday afternoon (4:15pm)and arrives in Coron early Saturday morning (5:30 am). Heads back to Manila on Sunday night (10:45 pm). Wait until a couple of days before it departs to get cheaper tickets. Don’t wait too long, though.
The town of Coron in Busuanga is what most people would refer to when they are talking about the place. We arrived in Busuanga airport at around 7:55 am, the 29th of April, 2010, our ride was already waiting for us. It was a relatively short travel from the airport going to the hotel we were supposed to check in to. We booked our accomodation through Coron Village Lodge but due to the peak season, it was fully booked so they asked us if they can just have us sleep at a different hotel but everything else will still be with them. We obliged and was booked in a hotel called Michelangelo Hotel owned by I think a grouchy old Italian. Our meals were still served in CVL(Coron Village Lodge) so we would have to be picked up by a trike paid for by CVL. CVL has a very modern-provincial type of look to it. Very accommodating staff.
After having our lunch at CVL, we were in our Coron Adventure. Here are some of the places we went to and have missed.
ISLAND HOPPING
Head down to the Market Pier and rent an authentic filipino bangka and captain (standardized rental costs vary by destination) Boats generally handle around 6 passengers. Grab a lunch before you head out. You can also buy meat, fish, veggies from the wet market and request the boat captain to barbecue or cook them for you or your group.
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| Coron Island |
Coron Island - is a black limestone island with breathtaking cliffs cascading down to thirteen magnificent lakes (only two open to public) and powder white sand coral beaches. It is the home to local attractions Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, and numerous snorkeling areas. Bring mask, fins, and snorkel to observe underwater rock formations. There is a pronounced thermocline, as the island's geothermal energy heats up the water as you decend into the lakes and water around the island. Ancestral home of the local Tagbanua people group.
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| Siete Pecados |
Siete Pecados is popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. There is a caretaker who will collect P100 from tourists. Recommended time to snorkle is around 1pm to 2pm. Current can be strong in the morning. This is one of the best sites to snorkel in Coron. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.
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| Culion Island |
Culion Island - the former leper colony. Offers a medical museum and presentation of the old leper colony highlighting the cure of leprosy. The public boat leaves Coron town at 12 noon daily and returns at 7:30 am the next day. Fare is P175.
CYC Island - is nice but gets very busy. It's the only free beach in the area. Entrance fees for the other beaches aren't too steep (P100).
Sangat Island - black limestone island with white sand beaches near most of the major WW2 wrecks in the area.
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| Malcapuya Island |
Malcapuya Island - Beautiful Island with very fine white sand beach just like Boracay (or better) but without construction. Entrance is P150-200.
Banana Island - A longer boat trip from town is beautiful Banana Island, with it's white sand beaches and numerous Pacific Giant Clams (local accommodations recommended as it is far from Coron)
Banol Beach accessible by boat from Coron, features picturesque limestone cliffs going down to this beautiful white sand beach adorned with numerous large Kalachuchi flower trees. Nipa huts for lunch are located in the shade of the Kalachuchi trees. (entrance P100)
Atwayan Beach located on the backside of the Skeleton Wreck island near Banol Beach, Atwayan Beach features Nipa huts to have lunch, and a beach volleyball court. (entrance P100)
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| Black Island |
Black Island - another limestone island with white sand beaches located far from town. Nearby are tourist attractions North Kay and Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary (local accommodations recommended as it is far from Coron)
Beach 69 is not as good as Banol. Free if you come from Kayangan Lake however seems unmaintained. Beware of jellyfishes.
VISIT
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| Mt. Tapyas |
Mt.Tapyas. There is a cross on the mountain above town, Mt.Tapyas. You can look at it from below or climb up the path. The climb up is worth to see the view of the small islands surrounded by glass-like water.
Coron Sign. Noticeable from the water is a Hollywood style sign up on a hill overlooking the town.
Skeleton Wreck is a snorkeling destination near Banol Beach off the coast of Coron Island where there is an old fishing boat wreck. Around it are beautiful corals. Beware of sea urchins. (entrance P100)
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| Kayangan Lake |
Kayangan Lake P200 entrance fee. Before approaching the lake, go over the cave and glimpse at the great view on top of the mountain. This view is the most photographed area in Palawan. It is also judged as the cleanest lake in the country.
Mangroves, natural mangroves are abundant, with magnificent kayak paddling trails. (Local mangrove kayaking tours available through Kingfisher Park)
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| Twin Lagoon |
Twin Lagoon. The water and towering rocks are great photos. On low tide, experience kayaking under the hole of the rock. At high tide, one can swim through the hole of the rock or a walkway can be used to get to the other side of the lagoon. P100 entrance fee.
Barracuda Lake is amazing. Entrance is P100. Bring goggles or snorkles to observe underwater rock formations.
Kingfisher Park, offering guided mangrove kayak tours (P500), trekking Mt Lunes Santo + bamboo cooked lunch (P500), and Starry Starry Night mangrove firefly/plankton cruises (P200). visit the website for tour booking details.
Maquinit Hot Spring. Offering large pools warmed by the geothermal water spring in the area. The hottest pools cascade into a large pool that empties into the ocean. Beautiful place to hang out in the evening after a long day of activities. (entrance P100) Accessible by boat or by tricycle from town (The four of us paid 250 peso for a trike roundtrip, including an hours wait.)
Calauit Wildlife Sanctary. An island inhabited by imported African wildlife living in harmony with Palawan wildlife. Safari tours available. (local accommodation is required as it is about a 4 hour boat trip from Coron)
HISTORY
The first inhabitants of Coron were the Tagbanuas who belong to the second wave of Indonesians who migrated to this area some 5,000 years ago. They were a nomadic, seafaring people, living mainly by fishing and subsistence agriculture. Although they are now sedentary (with the young using cell phones, etc.), they maintain many of their old customs, traditions and beliefs. Today, the Tagbanuas remain the dominant if not entire population of Coron.
In 1902 that Coron was registered as a town and the name of the town was officially changed from Penon de Coron to Coron.
From 1939 to the outbreak of World War II, the municipality experienced the mining boom. Labor shifted from farming to mining. In July 1942, the Japanese occupied the mining camps and resumed operation of the manganese mines. On September 24, 1944, a group of Japanese ships were sunk by American warplanes in Coron waters as the ships retreated from Manila Bay. To this day, about 10 or 12 of these World War II Japanese shipwrecks comprise what is considered one of the best dive sites in the world.
In 1947, large scale deep sea fishing was introduced to Coron, and the town experienced another boom, a fishing boom. The population increased, as many people from Luzon and the Visayas came to work either as fishermen or miners.
On June 17, 1950, Busuanga was officially created as a separate municipality from Coron and in 1954, Coron was further reduced by the official creation of the Municipality of Linapacan. On September 12, 1992, Coron was finally reduced by the official creation of the Municipality of Culion.
In the past, Coron was virtually unknown outside of Palawan. It remains a small, quaint fishing town with laid back charm but with increasing media exposure it is growing, slowly but steadily, Coron has taken an important position in the tourism industry. In the past decade, there has been a rapid influx of scuba divers and other tourists coming in, making tourism the major industry player in Coron today.
EAT & DRINK
There is food available for purchase at Coron Market and numerous bake shops around town. It's also recommended to buy fruits from the town market and have them prepared at the lodge you stay at free of charge (feel generous to provide a tip). Recommended to try local fruits such as mango, watermelon, jackfruit, coconut, but they are all seasonal.
La Sirenetta Beautiful waterfront restaurant on stilts offering international food with entrees ranging from P200-400. Recognizable on the water as sculpted mermaids adorn the posts supporting the roof of the open air dining area. (accessible through alleyway beside Coron Divers and Coron Reef Pension House and also by boat)
Bistro Coron Owned by Bruno it is home to French food at reasonable prices. Entrees go from P155-270 for the most part but crab and lobster meals are available for more. Get the onion soup, the apple pie, the coq au vin, the basquaise, the salade nicoise, the cordon bleu...San Miguel will set you back about P30. The good pizza would be excellent if the cheese was better.
Trining Bacsa Locally owned and operated restaurant located around the corner from Coron Market. Offers authentic Filipino cuisine.
KokosNuss Resort has a good kitchen. They have a Palawan style all you can eat BBQ deal. 6 or more people required at P475 each. They also have a Christmas feast on Dec 24 which is the BBQ and definitely worth going to if you are around (tell them in advance if you are going) San Miguel is P32. Breakfasts are good as well.
Kawayanan Grill has good food at very reasonable prices. It also has live performances. The menu reminds me of Gerry's grill and the likes.
Singapore Restaurant & Bar Located in the Sea Breeze Lodge, 25 meters up from Sea Divers. Has great Singaporean and Asian food at very reasonable prices. They currently have P140 dinner specials. It is a very chill and relaxing place to eat or drink at anytime of the day.
Bistro - you can also drink and play billiards at this amazing eatery.
Discovery Bar - chill on the beautiful balcony over the water and overlooking the bay. Relaxing atmosphere complete with hammock. Great place to get your dive theory out of the way at. One billiard table.
Ottos - Rock out to some AC/DC and enjoy spying on the hustle and bustle of Coron's main street.
The Old House - happy hour 5PM-7PM all you can drink rum and Coke for P50. Beer comes with a coozie. Nice view of Coron's main street from the balcony. It is also a good place to just watch the world go by from the outside seating. One of the best prices you will find outside of the local liquor stores. Laid back atmosphere, interesting clientelle, and warm staff.
Helldiver's Bar - their signature drinks are great for the adventurous drinker, all for reasonable prices. They have a billiard table and you can ask for free popcorn at the bar.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels, resorts and inns are listed here with web links for most of them, some has Facebook links.
Amphibiko Resort
Asia Grand View Hotel
Balay Majika Lodge
Banana Island Beach Resort
Birang Guest House
Coron Gateway Hotel & Suites
Mount Tapyas Hotel
Sunnytimes Pension
Sunz En Coron Resort
Swewa Homestay
A sample Tour Package c/o Coron Village Lodge.
This was what was quoted to us for our stay. Prices, times, locations and ammenities may differ depending on your preferred stay and interests.
T
O U R P A C K A G E
Tour II– 4 Days & 3 Nights - Coron Islands
Tour
Inclusions:
1.
3
nights room accommodation at
Michelangelo Hotel with daily breakfast
2.
6
Meals & 3 snacks during tours
3.
3
days island hopping for swimming, snorkeling, nature tour and adventure plus hot spring
4.
Entrance
fees to tribal and private islands
5.
Services
of a guide/ staff during tours
6.
Free-
flowing coffee
7.
Airport
van transfer
8.
Tricycle
transfers to boat dock
9.
Welcome
drink
10. Free wi-fi in the garden and resto
Itinerary:
1st day 11:30 am – Early Lunch
12:30 pm – Off to the Islands –
Cayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol or Atuwayan Beach , Siete
Pecados, Makinit Hot Spring.
5:30 pm – Back in town / free
time
2nd day 5:30 am – Go up the 786 steps of Mt. Tapyas
for a wonderful sunrise and a panoramic view of the town and the islands.
7:30 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Off to the Islands – Calomboyan Island
, Coral Garden , WW II shipwreck.
5:00
pm – Back in town / free time
3rd day 9:00 am – Off to Malcapuya Island,
a beautiful white beach.
4:30 pm – Back in town / free
time
4th day 7:00
am – Breakfast
8:00 am – Off to airport for
trip back to Manila.
PRICE:
9 pax ……………………………………………………..P 6,990.00/pax
Some of our photos in Coron, Palawan
sources:
Google Photos
